I've Been Sewing Doll Clothes...

Making pretty things for dolls is my favorite activity in all the world. Piper's dress isn't new, but Poppy's (the baby) is. My new camera is definitely good at taking closeup photos.


This dress was made for Ellery back in the fall, right before my camera quit. It's hand-embroidered and the bonnet and booties are hand-crocheted. The props are by Re-Ment.

Brr!

This was the scene in upstate NY this morning. It's so pretty!

Small Toys

My camera was back. It worked for two days then died the same miserable death it had before. I gave up with the hassle of trying to keep a 5-year-old camera alive and just bought a new one. The new one is a Canon Powershot A1000IS and it's great--better than my old one, but don't tell my old one! I can finally blog some of the things I've been working on for a while.

This cupcake is part of a gift for my niece Alexis for Christmas. I made her smell like strawberry and she has glass seed beads for "sprinkles." The pattern is from Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli.

The hedgehog is a gift for my vision-impaired nephew, Noah. In order to add interest, I put a bell inside so he jingles when he's shaken. He's from a pattern from Tiny Yarn Animals.

Also for Noah, a bright-colored Scottie Dog toy with crinkly stuff inside. He's embroidered on corduroy with fleece on the back for extra texture. The pattern was from Sublime Stitching.

Hooray, Camera's Back!

And here's The Brother to demonstrate how adorable gray cats sitting at the top of cat towers can be. He's not so sure about the camera in his face, but right after this picture, he came down and sat in my lap while I uploaded the photo to the computer. He has his ear at quite a jaunty angle in the photo!

Phooey, no camera!

Well, my trusty Canon is in the shop AGAIN being repaired and was supposed to be back two weeks ago but still is not. I have a lot of things to photograph but no camera to photograph with! I have recently made some super-cute hedgehog themed things for my baby nephew, Noah, who is vision-impaired and needs some toys with texture. I made him a hedgehog toy that has bells inside for sound and is made of eyelash yarn for texture. I've also made a few new things for my 14" Kish girls, and hope to share photos soon.

It's SNOWING here. We have about two inches on the ground. And it's cold, too. Winter has arrived early this year.

On the new project front (just what I needed, a new project!) I have finally purchased a new dollhouse kit for myself. I have not been happy with my old dollhouse for years, because I assembled it when I was 18 and it's not put together well. I have gotten the April Cottage from Dolls House Emporium in England and can't wait to get to work on it. It's a massive undertaking, though, and I'm still in the materials-gathering stage. The photos of the house are here:

April Cottage

Autumn in Upstate

Autumn in Upstate NY is a gorgeous blaze of color, especially this year. These photos are from about a month ago, at the peak of the leaf color. Above is the ramshackle tree house in the corner of my lawn.
My front door with the mums (which have now been frosted and don't look anywhere near as nice!).

And sunset's last rays accent the warm colors of the hillside behind my house.

Don't Forget to Vote!

It's election day! I voted! I hope you do, too!

Don't mess with crafters!

Hey, someone just pulled up beside my house and pulled out my yard sign for Obama and Biden! I was here when they did it, at about 1:40 PM today! I heard a car idling outside, so I went to the window to look and someone was pulling away in an SUV (Bronco II or Cherokee-sized, dark colored, possibly burgundy or black) and my sign was GONE! I went up to the road to see if I could catch the license plate, but I couldn't, so I hopped in the car and drove madly down the road to see if I could figure it out, and the only person I saw even roughly matching that description was a lady pulled over past the next intersection down in a Bronco which was black and had some Sunoco stickers on the back. Not sure if that was the culprit or not.

So I came home, boiling mad and reported it to the County Sheriff's office. I'm waiting for one of them to arrive to take the official report. Now here's where I'm glad I have a well-stocked craft room. I googled up Obama printable yard signs, printed off one and mounted it on foam-core board with some YES glue. I have used a pencil sharpener to sharpen some dowels and glued them into the bottom so I have my own, new Obama sign. Lickety-split--new sign. And I'm tempted to print off fifteen more and make a giant banner of signs across my front yard. Stupid idiots.

THE NERVE OF SOMEONE TO STEAL MY YARD SIGN RIGHT OFF MY FRONT YARD! YOU CREEP! SHAME ON YOU.

There, that's about as excited as I ever get.

Now back to waiting for the sheriff, and I'll post my homemade sign when he leaves.

Here's the link to the printable Obama signs for anyone who might have a need.

Free Printable Obama Yard Signs

Ringo Perfect in Purple

This baby kitten looks purrfect in just about anything. Her bonnet was a little tricky to get right around the ears, but I think it worked out OK.

Handmade Reversible Bag

I made this back in the summer to go with my skirt for my sister's wedding. I just remembered I never showed it off. I made it from two coordinating colors of turquoise fabric and it's completely reversible. I didn't use a pattern; just gathered a large rectangle and sewed it to a small one and repeated that again for the back and both pieces of the lining. I then sewed both outside pieces together around the sides and bottom, repeated for the lining, and then placed the lining and outside pieces right sides together and sewed around the top, catching the handles in the seam and leaving a 3" gap for turning. The handle is just two long strips of the fabric sewn together and turned, and I quilted along it to add strength. After the bag was all sewn together I turned the whole thing and then hand-sewed the opening closed. I put on a pretty button and it was done!

Gone to Atlanta

I'm in Atlanta at the AAFP Conference, learning about feline urinary tract disorders.  Be back on Wednesday!

Photo Courtesy of Will Pate (thanks)

The Littlest (and cutest) Acorn

I've been in a fall mood lately, and Ellery seemed to need a fall outfit. I am possibly also planning similar outfits with sunflower, apple and pumpkin motifs. This outfit will be on Etsy in the near future. The dress is all designed and handmade by me, with an original acorn embroidered motif on the bodice, hand-crocheted jacket and acorn hat, and tiny wool felt booties with itsy bitsy acorns on them! It was fun to make and I just love how the photos came out. I took them in the mossy glade behind our potting shed. It was a perfect venue!

Awww, cute dogs!

Awww, see, they like each other! Here is Mia waiting for her mother to come home from Biology Lab this morning.

Afternoon Roses

Lark is modeling a classic style afternoon tea dress in a pattern of vintage roses with a square neckline. I spent last weekend drafting the pattern for the dress and I made it yesterday. The lace is 100% cotton delicate lace that one of my dollhouse friends sent me years ago. I used pearl seed beads to make her a little necklace, too. I didn't show it, but the back closes with snaps that I placed pearl beads over. I just got Lark's cousin, Piper, too. I'm loving these Chrysalis girls! Piper is just too cute with her freckles. I will be making her something new to wear here sometime soon and I'll show her, too.

I ordered Lark some nice pale pink mary janes (please excuse the coral shoes) but they haven't arrived yet. It's surprisingly difficult to find shoes that fit her. I ordered some that were purported to fit her but they are too loose. Anyone have a BJD or other doll that fits a 58 mm shoe? I have two pairs up for grabs for $5 each (one yellow, one cream). Just drop me a line.

Purely lovely...

This girl loves to be photographed! I made the dress Friday from a pattern I designed. I think she'd look good in just about anything.

New Blog Banner and New Etsy Shop

I embroidered myself a new blog banner! If you click on the above image, you'll get the full-size banner to show all the detail, since blogger shrunk my image quite a bit.

I also finally set up my etsy shop. It doesn't have much in it. YET.

New 14" Kish Girl--Lark Creamsicle

I haven't had any chance yet to make her a handmade outfit, but here she is with Bitty Bethany and Belle, enjoying the afternoon sun on this lovely day.

Toby

Toby is nine, just turned, and I just need a forum today to say that he's a Good Boy. He's been very good with having my sister's dog here and seems to just accept it, even though I thought he would try to bite her!

Toby was a research beagle where I went to vet school. He was bred to have a heart defect and was purchased by my vet school's cardiology department so the resident could practice correcting the defect. Once he was corrected, I adopted him, because I was working for the cardiologist. He's been a good dog from day one. The only difficulty we had with him at first was that he was too scared of EVERYTHING, because he had never been outdoors. He wouldn't pee for the first 36 hours we had him because even the leaves blowing in the wind terrified him. Now he loves being outside and pees on everything. :) He gets great pleasure in life out of eating and playing with his stuffed toys. This year, he finally is starting to seem like he's getting old. He's sleeping a lot more and doesn't play as often. But he still totes his hedgehogs (toys) around and honks them when he's happy! And I always get a happy dance when I come home or even when I come in from doing chores in the yard. He's just a Good Boy.


He's even tolerant of Mama making him look foolish. :)


And he loves his kitty.

Kitty Success and Other Things

I would call that a successful gift. Lauren just turned six and she seems to have enjoyed the ballerina kitty! Too cute!

I haven't had much time to make crafts lately, but hopefully will have time again. The month of June was a busy one; I worked three out of four weekends and traveled on the weekend off (the 14th) to attend Becky's wedding shower and visit my family. I also brought my youngest sister Sarah home with me for the rest of the summer. We have been having a nice summer, so far. Yesterday we made a picnic dinner to eat on the deck for the Fourth. Today we are planning on having a crafty day. Hopefully it gets warmer outside, though, I'm freezing!

Vintage Fourties Style Baby Quilt

Done at last...hard to photograph this inside. I'll try a better photo some other time when it's not 90 degrees and humid! It didn't come out as perfect as I'd like...I'm fussy. I think the baby won't mind, though. He was born on June 2nd and is 7 pounds 7 ounces!

Pattern for embroideries are from Patternbee and the print fabric is Merry Bonbon reproduction fabric from Japan via Reprodepot. I may have mentioned before, but the embroideries are reprints of the same ones that were in my Grandma Wood's sewing box that I inherited when she died. I didn't want to use them (I wanted fresh copies) so I contacted Vicki at Patternbee and she had them available and sent them to me very quickly. I worked all winter on the embroidery!

Ballerina Kitty

This sock kitty was constructed with directions from this book and I made her a tutu to make her into a little ballerina for my niece Lauren, who will be turning 6 in a few weeks. Her tutu is made from 6" wide tulle, which I threaded onto a ribbon using a yarn needle and tied in the back. I embellished it with a ribbon rosette or two and a few leaf-shaped beads that I've had sticking around for a while. I need to think of a name for her before I send her on to her new home.

New Kish Kid

This is Audrey (Little Pippi by Helen Kish, about 8" tall, jointed). The pattern for the dress is from Rosemary Ionker's pattern book Fashions for Small Dolls and the embroidery is my own freehanded design.

A Perfect Afternoon

Today is 70 degrees, beautifully sunny, and there's a nice breeze swooshing in the trees. As it's Thursday, it's my day off, and I made my first bento lunch in the box I ordered a few months ago. There are slices of rolled up egg pancake with a tasty sauce, cheese cut into heart shapes, carrots and cucumbers, and the bottom layer has rice and some cherries. It was most delicious!


After lunch, I took advantage of the sun on the back deck to embroider for a while. I worked on the embroidery for my new nephew's quilt. He's due to arrive in a few weeks, so I need to get it done SOON! One more block left (the rocking horse).


While I was embroidering, I noticed a bandito sneaking up in the bushes to see if he could find something tasty beneath the bird feeder. Sorry about the blurred photo--he was far away. I scared him off after the picture--he's not supposed to be out at 1:30 in the afternoon!

Cute Babies

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal were very busy entering and exiting a bush at the corner of the house by the living room window. When they were on the other side of the house at the bird feeder, I took a peek and saw three brown-speckled creamy-colored eggs. I was careful not to open that window or disturb them, and today I heard a tremendous amount of peeping and tweeting from that area, so I looked out the window and this is what I saw! Two chicks, fluttering awkwardly from bush to bush, with two frantic parents trying to get them to behave. The parents are feeding them as they bumble about, and I got this rather blurry shot through the window screen. It's cold and raining today, but they don't seem to mind at all.

Last week, I noticed something in the grass behind the deck. It was this tiny baby bunny with two adult bunnies eating grass. He (or his friends) keep coming out every night after 5 or 6 PM and munching the grass by my kitchen window. It's hard to get a photo of him because he won't hold still, but he's too cute for words.








This is either his Mama or Papa; I'm not sure, but she or he sometimes is out with the baby, although I think Baby is pretty much on his own now.

These are just a few of the reasons that I love living where I do.

My little sister...

My little sister, Becky, is graduating from college on Saturday, set to enter one of the most admirable of professions. She'll be a wonderful teacher. She has that kind of patient, open manner that appeals to children, but has the spirit and discipline to guide them well. Best of all, she's one of the smartest people I know and guided herself through a home-schooled high school curriculum and got herself into college and on the right path in life. She's a wonderful mother to Alexis, who's growing into a beautiful young girl. Becky is thoughtful and giving, and I'm honored that she's my sister.

Gift Making

My little niece Alexis turns six in a few days. It's hard to believe that it was that long ago that she was born! I don't get to see her as often as I like because we live too far apart, but I was able to make her a gift for her special day. The bag is blue because her mom says that's her current favorite color, and I made the lions because they are her current favorite animal. Hopefully she has fun with my gift!




I used one of Floresita's Vintage Transfers for the flower sprig on the right of Alexis' name. The little wool felt lion is from a Japanese craft book pattern, and the amigurumi lion is from Ana Rimoli's pattern book.

Margot's News

Miss Margot would like to introduce you to someone.





This is Ringo, Margot's little sister.

Catnip PARTY!

Zoe's birthday was on March 29th and I've finally gotten a chance to upload the photos of her with her presents. We got a GREAT catnip mat from etsy seller MeowWow.

She shared with Brother, too.

First Flowers of Spring

It's simply gorgeous out this weekend. It's supposed to be 81 today, which is rare at best in Upstate NY in April. I'm enjoying every minute of it. The sky is a crystalline, perfect blue and the birds are beginning to match the brightness of the flowers with their colors for Spring.



Besides admiring the first few blooms of spring, I need to get organized with my projects for this spring.

1. Finish the embroidered baby quilt for my brother's baby
2. Make birthday gifts for my nieces Alexis and Jewel, then for Lauren (too many birthdays all at once!)
3. Find and hire a receptionist for work. I have 30 resumes to go through. Not a fun spring activity.
4. Graduation gift for my sister Becky (no hints here!)
5. Wedding gift for my sister Becky (hey, quit reading!)
   
6. Hmm...I'll be adding to this list as things pop into my head.