CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

  May the joy,  goodwill and blessings of Christmas be yours today  and in the coming year.

Day 9 & 10

 The challenge was Santa  Claus nothing relating to that in my photo file and no suitable props I had some fun with the photo collage app. Then for day 10 the subject was picnic,  I decided that rain had prevented a picnic and showed the dolls sitting and chatting on the back deck.

I hope to get both photos posted here, my computer I’d down, crashed and the iPad is a little limiting when it comes to adding photos.

6-7-8

 Day 6  was Rainbow  and my photo was one I took for Eve’s book with a rainbow unicorn and the dolls as fairies.

Day 7 of the challenge was naughty and I had Kaytu stealing Poppy’s Easter egg

Next up Day 8 was nice here is Rosie with sugar and spice and all things nice, putting the finishing touches to the gingerbread house.

DAY 5

 The theme for day 5 was nutcracker.... here’s my effort. Each day there is a lucky draw and yes I won day 5... a new Blythe dress is coming from Australia.

RED, GREEN and MORE

 I am taking part in a challenge with the Facebook group Blyth Dolls Au,  we have been given 12 subjects to post photos one a day for the next 12 days, I am mostly using photos that I have  on file I would have loved to had more time and be able to create more interesting settings and photos, however I have learnt a new skill of adding different backgrounds to photos.

Day one’s theme was red. I posted this photo of Poppy in her red dress, day 2 was green and I used a favourite photo of Rosie. Next day was flamingo and thcat was a challenge and that’s when I picked up the new skill. 4th day was tree I had already shared my photo of decorating the tree earlier in the month so needed to create something different.lm really enjoying the challenge, and will share more with you in the next few days.

EVE' S BOOK

 

Eve's Book has arrived from the printers  here is a brief look at some of the pages.

LATEST CREATION

 Fiona brought me some scarves, one took my eye and was put aside for a future project, this one did not inspire me at first glance, then I took it apart  and then inspiration came...I discarded the spotted net layer. and the cream piece formed the skirt of this new gown for Belle

The cream ribbon roses were left over from another project and completed the outfit perfectly.

now the fun of taking photos to get that perfect shot starts. interesting how the light at the time changes the finished result.

And maybe these photo's will be the start of a new photo book.

THIS MONTH

This week Fiona and I went up to the Felt Factory in Inglewood, Rosie and Poppy went with us as I was shopping for them. Rosie wore the outfit I planned to copy, and Poppy just wanted to check out which colour would suit her best. Just love seeing all the lovely colours, what did we decide on, that will be revealed later.  I also bought more grey felt as I am making Christmas mice at present.  The first one was my gift for the Guild Christmas party  and it  is a little different to the ones I am making now as they wont be sitting on a jingle bell. Plan is to make a set of five holding different items to send to the grandchildren in Wellington for them to hang on the Christmas tree. I visited them just  after Halloween and the house was still decorated, what fun there were decorations in every corner of every room and out in the garden.  I wonder what is planned for Christmas. 

I have finished the photo book I was making and look forward to seeing the finished result when it arrives.  I'll sign off , with a photo Taken for the book  of the dolls in their Christmas dresses

Birthdays

 

One of the small stories in the book for Eve is Rosie's Birthday I made her birthday cake with real icing the rest of the food  is play food and was bought, Yes Poppy did come to the party.

and the birthday gift.....

a camera

 I am now working on the dresses and props needed for some Christmas photos to complete the book.

The other birthday cake was a Salted caramel Cake- dark chocolate cake layered with salted caramel buttercream and topped with caramel sauce. Fiona brought it in on Wednesday for morning tea and it was delicious. 

Decorating the Christmas tree

Rosie and Poppy are busy decorating the Christmas tree

 

 

I wanted a small Christmas tree

I wanted a small Christmas tree for the dolls, living in a country town I find shopping on line suits me well. and everything bought has arrived promptly and just like the picture advertised.... ..........till now!

This is what I ordered 42cm tall ideal size  for Blythe dolls.

This is what I got.! even the stand is different but at least it is 42cm 

 Yes I could have returned it and asked for a refund but that meant packing it up , a trip to the Post Office and cost of return postage, so decided to remodel it instead.    The result.......

and yes Rosie thinks it will do fine, now to add the Christmas decorations and take some photos.

ROSIE IS READY TOO.

 I am thrilled with how Rosie's little witch outfit turned out . this morning Caitlin and I had a fun time doing a photo shoot with the dolls. Lots of moving the props round till we got everything looking right. here is the result.

the dolls are ready for Halloween and to go to "Trick or Treat" and we started planning the next project.

a birthday party for Rosie.

Poppy is ready for Halloween

 I have finished Poppy’s outfit for Halloween and hopefully will complete Rosie’s one this week.

Getting ready for Halloween

 After spotting the Halloween fabric at Spotlight store, Jan suggested I made the dolls Halloween outfits, we each chosen one fabric and I have taken up the challenge with first up a hat for Rosie to go with a planned witch’s outfit, will keep you up dated with my progress.  Let the fun begin.

Poppy’s new dress

Poppy’s new dress is finished, I enjoyed seeing what could be made with the different shaped pieces of fabric, the dress is high waisted with three tiered skirt and puff sleeves, the braid trim was also in the parcel Ann sent. Plan to add a frilly peticoat using red and white lace.

Choice of Liberty fabric for Poppy's new dress is June’s meadow from Liberty 2013 collection
 

 

CHOICES

 Ann has sent me a big packet of Liberty Fabric pieces, what fun Rosie and Poppy were each to chose a fabric for a new dress ......my photos are not the best as it’s wet winter weather and the light is poor but here are the girls making their selections. Poppy chose a red and white floral, and Rosie found a fabric that would go with her winter coat. Now it’s over to the dressmaker (me) to get busy....

I'm trying to post from my iPad.. and hope to post more often in this shorter format.

Who’s the star.?

Someone is making sure she is the star of my planned photo session, had not finished setting up  when

Kaytu was there making a pose to look her best.

Rosie.

Poppy

Belle

I have had a book made of the photos of Rosie's first year and the dress I made, it was a fun project and I now plan another calling it and then there were two, so this time it will include Poppy, have plenty of ideas and my phot sessions will need to be indoor ones as much as I would like to take photos in outdoor settings I can no longer work at ground level. -mobility problems which I am told are just old age.It is limiting life a little and I think has slowed me down but at least I can still stitch and about to go and look through a lovely pile of liberty fabrics that Ann has sent me and decide what to make next for the dolls.

Winter weather has been very extreme in parts of the country, wet and windy here but we have been fortunate no flooding. Good reason to sit and stitch.

JUNE AND JULY STITCHING

Its been too cold to come out to the computer hence no postings, have to admit to staying most of my time in the living room where the heat pump keeps the room warm. Today has been bright and sunny and that makes a big change, Lots of stitching over the past couple of months mainly dolls clothes, so here is an photo update of what I have made.

I started to set up to take some doll photos, it had to be inside as the weather outside is wet and windy, someone thought the table had been moved for her to use.

here is Poppy ready for a winter outing new jacket and slacks with scarf and hat knitted by Fiona.

Rosie also got a pair of slacks along with a waist coat and jumper. I would like to have had more of the lovely wool fabric I used for both doll's outfits.

 The jumpers were an idea I found on Pinterest and are made from very small socks .and I made several they were quick and easy 

Next both dolls got tops to wear with slacks 

or leggings.

and then new dresses, Poppy's was made from two different Liberty fabric both in the same colours and similar flowers with the small print one forming the dress bodice. its rather fun using fabric scraps and seeing what I can make from them.

 

 

I will share the new aprons next time and sign off letting  Kaytu have the limelight again 

 

 

CATCHING UP

My Easter tree is still up  and when the family came up from Wellington to visit the weekend after Easter, the children loved it, I invited them all to chose their favourite egg decoration, and to the four chosen will make more ready for next year so they can have their own Easter tree. Jan set up an Easter tree, this year this is her display

and requested some felt bunnies, and has said she would like a few more eggs decorations for next year so when the mood takes I will be stitching  eggs and bunnies instead of Christmas decorations each month. I also need to have small projects on hand to stitch because when Kaytu curls up on my lap its hard to manage stitching on anything other than tiny things. I have been good and trying to keep my feet up which Kaytu thinks is an invitation for her to join me.

It has been a busy month and not a lot of stitching time, however I did get the apron finished for Rosie  This time it has a cross stitch squirrel on the pocket with the tiniest acorn charm the  fabric is very pale apricot shade most suitable for Autumn. 

We have had some really lovely warm sunny days and I have managed a little time in the garden, The garden is in need of much attention and I have had to admit to the fact that age is catching up with me and now have the help of a gardener. My sister Joan and Denis   have just been over for a few days visit and there were lots of reminiscing and realising how fortunate we were growing up and experiencing the changes of the times. There is so much to count our blessings for.