Calling All Models...

When I asked Cathy if she had any dolls that she wasn't using that could be used as models for my doll clothes, she answered as the wonderful and gracious person that she is.   

Emma, made by Barrie over at Moonchild Dolls, arrived yesterday.  I could not be more delighted!  Emma is a 15/16 inch Waldorf-inspired doll with brown curly hair and green eyes...and look at her feet!  It will be so much easier...and certainly more fun!...to have a model to work with. 

Emma

Because she had been placed on the wrong postal truck, Emma arrived very late in the day.  I am thankful that the carrier made a special stop to drop her off, though, instead of taking her back to the substation where she would have had to sleep overnight.

Emma was very worn out from the long trip from Virginia...

She promptly laid down on a pile of quilts with a little brown dog, who certainly seemed to welcome the company.  

I think I'll give her a few days to acclimate herself to this household and then we'll start in.  In those few days, I need to work on this next quilt I started...and I definitely need to think seriously about what I want to make for Emma to model.  Not that there is any shortage of ideas running around in my head...it comes down to which of those I can actually bring to fruition.

Cathy is sending two more dolls who are apparently very excited to be used as models.  All I know about them is that one is a girl and one is a boy...and that they are smaller.  I will let you know when they arrive (was there any doubt about that?).  Those two will remain with me.  Thank you, Cathy!  Emma is on loan, only.   Someday, she will be returned to Cathy.  Someday.  

And, in the meantime, there is some very exciting (almost beside myself) news in the making!  No details have been worked out, so I don't want to jinx it by saying anything.  Stay tuned!

Have a great weekend!
  



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

And So The Adventure Begins...

Not only is this the start of a new week, it is the official start of my new business.  (I've alluded to this before - here - but never actually spelled it out for you.)

What, you ask?

Isn't it exciting enough that I am retired?

Well, yes.

A big, emphatic, YES!

However, one must have goals and plans and things to do.

What, you ask?

I don't have enough to do?

Well, yes.

A (not quite so) big, emphatic, YES!  

But, one must follow the path that opens up before one.

Do you not agree?

(lots of questions in this post!)

One must use one's talents.

One must do fun and exciting things.  

One must do what one is led to do.  

Therefore.  I have - with God's help - decided that I am going to make a business of making doll clothes.  Let's call it, "The Chocolate Puppy".

YAY! 

Remember when I received Aubrey from Cathy?  (Her blog is here and her facebook page is here.) 

Since then (2010), I have been fascinated by the Waldorf-inspired dolls.  I have closely followed Cathy's business and stalked been fascinated by others who also make these wonderful dolls. 

It was when I was sorting woolens a few months ago, that I had that EUREKA moment!  That it hit me.  What lovely pieces of wool...ohmy...wouldn't these make lovely hooded capes for dolls?  ohmy.  YES!

And, I was off and running...so many ideas...so many plans.  I am inspired and motivated.

In my retirement, I am going to work at something I love!  Though, truth be known, I don't actually consider this work.    

One step at a time, though...I don't want to get too far ahead of myself.   

First up, then, is to make some carrycots and sleeping bags and pillows and blankets.

Are you with me?

Okay.

So, this a.m., I was cutting fabric for a carrycot and was all set to start sewing when I realized that I didn't have enough fabric for the binding.  oops!  What now?  (ohplease...lol...I didn't really say/think that.)  What I did was this...I went to my jar of leftover bindings.

And, lo and behold!, there was a nice little roll of binding in the fabric I needed...ready to rock and roll!

I knew I was saving those leftovers for something!

Besides the fact that they look darn cute in the jar on my shelf. 



Hope your Monday is as fun as mine is!!!


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Lotta Stuff...

I am very happy to have several different things to show you...works in progress and a few finishes.

I finished the curio quilt top...and the backing, too!  Here is the top...I love the secondary pattern the background fabric makes...

 

I made mitered corners for the very first time!  It was actually much easier than I thought it would be...and I am really liking the look!

The backing is pieced, of course, though not as much as many of my other quilts...

Now to get batting...meanwhile, I need to think of how I will quilt it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I received all the fabrics needed for the Lotta Jansdotter patchwork quilt I mentioned in the previous post.  And, I must say...Pink Chalk Fabrics absolutely rocks!  I wanted a solid to match the purplish/pinkish color in the Echo line and couldn't find what I wanted in the Kona colors.  So, I called the ladies at Pink Chalk and they found the perfect match in a Kaffe Fasset shot cotton...thank you, ladies!  I cut 5" squares - 182 of them...

 This one should be fast and easy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also pulled out some blocks I've had for awhile...from my friend, Cathy, of Quilting On Turtle Hill and Pink Petunia Cottage Dolls.  I had made a quilt using these prints/blocks a few years ago...see it here.  I loved this quilt so much and will be making exactly the same quilt for an upcoming happy event. 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of Cathy...when I first mentioned that 'knitting is my therapy', Cathy asked if I wanted some yarn that she no longer had a use for.  I thought she might be sending a skein or two...should have known better ~grin~.  Here is what I received - 11 skeins!

WOW!  What a generous soul!  I already knit two doll sweaters with yarn from her.  This one is a bit small for Aubrey...would fit a 12" doll nicely...

I made this one to send to me Mum...she has a little bear that she dresses up to fit the occasion...

It takes me about 3 hours to knit one of these doll sweaters...they are so easy and fun to make!  Thank you, Cathy!  You're the best!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And, last but not least...I continue to make the soft cotton face cloths. I love the pattern on this one...simple knit2, purl2...stitch count can be whatever you want...multiples of 4 plus 2 so that you begin and end each row with knit 2.  I use 34 stitches to knit the face cloths, making them to be about 7" square using Peaches and Creme yarn with size 5 needles. 

So.  That's what I have been up to.  How about you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A special note...in six more days, Tag E. Butt will be 11 years old.  And, a week after that is my birthday.  I am thinking a giveaway is on the horizon...stay tuned for more information on that.

In the meantime, have fun doing what you love.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11