playing with dolls (no spooky pics)

It’s that time of year again . . . when I’ve been very busy with crafting (sewing, knitting & crochet) but can’t show you what I’ve been up to as it’s mainly been for Christmas gifts.  However, I have also found time to play with my dolls recently and did some dress-making.  With a pattern by My Dandelion Dolls, I redrew the  bodice part of a dress I’ve already made in Disney Animator size, and I made up a pretty blue floral dress for my Sylvia Natterer doll.  While pattern pinning & cutting, I did also cut out pattern pieces for an Animator sized doll too . . . and ended up with two very pretty doll dresses.

If you want to see what these look like on dolls, you’ll have to click and hop over to my doll blog:  Claire’s Collections. 

Not only did I make these, but I also did lots of cutting of cardboard & paper, after having seen a very good tutorial by Ariadne’s Threads to make little doll-sized clothes hangers.

I printed the template out at 100% and also at 80% so made two different sizes of hangers.  Then, I also played around making a few hangers just with wire – which is ever so quick and easy to do, but does use up a lot of wire.

 

The next thing I need (I can hear you say) is something to hang these from . . . but never fear . . . the husband has been busy and I’ll reveal all on ScrapHappy day!

best layer of the month # November

A photo today of Miss Moneypenny who, I can tell you now, is NOT the best layer of the month lol.  In fact,  of the 79 eggs laid in the coop throughout November, Miss Moneypenny didn’t lay a single one!  In her defense, she was having a massive molt late October and early November, and is only just beginning to look like her old self again.  Whether or not she starts laying in December, remains to be seen.

With a total of 79 eggs from the other three hens, they were all very industrious and eager to earn their keep.  Mauricette came in 3rd place with 20;  Ruby in second place with 29, and it was Florence (of Medicis) who was this month’s best layer with the grand total of 30 eggs.  She didn’t take a single day off!

SAL “Bag Ladies” – it’s a happy dance!

Another 3 weeks have sped by and I am thrilled to bits because, I have a happy dance to share.

There’s the last cat, peeking over the top of a bag far left

.

That mouse is still there, in hiding.

And here are the cats you’ll remember from the far right.

Overall view

And . . . as if a finish wasn’t enough . . . I actually had time to finish the finish – yay!  So a very energetic happy dance!

Please join me in some blog hopping to see what other members have been up to.  I believe I’m not alone in happy dancing this week.

Avis, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie

I already know what project I’ll be starting next but I’ll keep it a secret until next time!  So, see you all again on 15th December!

surprise mail – sent & received

Two photos of some surprise mail to share with you today . . . first, something received.

This lovely little pouch was made and sent by Karine of Mes101Luby.  The little story behind it . . . back in August, Karine’s husband sent out a secret message to followers of her blog asking if we could send a doggy birthday card to their dog Emy, who was 10 years old on 1st September.  I, of course, sent a card, wishing Emy a very happy birthday lol and Karine very kindly decided to send a hand-made present to all the people who had sent a birthday card. 

Next for something sent . . .

A pair of fingerless mittens crocheted following a video tutorial by Loopy Mabel.

I made these in Stylecraft DK Special “Pomegranate” for a good friend to help keep her hands warm this winter. 

ScrapHappy # November & a happy dance!

Today is the day I link up with Kate, Gun and a big group of other crafters worldwide, to share photos of what we’ve made this month from scraps.

I am so thrilled to be having a happy dance this time, with a finished lapquilt.  Before I do the unveiling . . . here are photos I shared with you during the process.

I started off with my bags of scrap and cut some 2.5” squares . . . and the lapquilt took shape from there.

and then the happy dancing!

Quilt is only small: 37” squares (or approx 94cm if you prefer) but I am thrilled to bits with how it turned out.  Fabrics on the front are all from previous patchwork or clothes-making projects over the years.  While the spotty dotty fabric on the back is (almost) the last of a huge piece I bought as backing fabric for my F2F2 quilt.  Since the F2F2 quilt, the spotty dotty fabric has featured in baby toy sewing, doll clothes, a tunic for myself, and now this colourful lap quilt.

Below is the list of links of all ScrapHappy members.

Titti, Heléne, Eva, Sue, Nanette, Lynn, Lynda,
Birthe, Turid, Susan, Cathy, Debbierose, Tracy, Jill, Claire, Jan,
Moira, Sandra, Linda, Chris, Nancy, Alys, Kerry, Jean,
Joanne, Jon, Hayley, Dawn, Gwen, Connie, Bekki, Pauline and Sue L.

“Nature’s Walk” CAL progress

Above photo to show you my new colours which arrived . . . so I finally have colour scheme sorted for Nature’s Walk.  I’m using Stylecraft DK Special in:  Spring Green, Meadow, Magenta, Wisteria, Clematis, Bluebell, Sherbet & Cream.

Here are the most recent set of 6 squares crocheted up, in Wisteria

These are following the pattern “Buds”, and have a “popcorn” stitch.  Quite fun to make, but these squares will definitely need blocking as they tend to be a lot springier than the others.

So far, I have 6 of each of the above.

I won’t promise to have the next 6 squares done by next week, because I’ve allowed myself to become side-tracked with knitting and sewing for dolls. 

If you’d like to see these being modelled by dolls . . . you’ll have to hop over to my other blog: Claire’s Collections.

SAL update “Bag Ladies “ # 19

Ooooh the end really is so close now!

Three weeks ago, I showed you this

and now

That’s the final bag stitched!  Now there’s one more cat to make an appearance, and a fair bit of backstitch to catch up on.

How have other SAL members been doing?  Let’s do some blog hopping on links below to find out.  A few members have left the group since last time due to other imperatives in their lives, and Connie joins back in the fun.

Avis, Gun, Carole, Sue, Constanze, Christina, Kathy, Margaret, Cindy, Linda, Heidi, Jackie, Sunny, Hayley, Megan, Deborah, Mary Margaret, Renee, Jenny, Carmela, Jocelyn, Sharon, Daisy, Anne, Connie

And next update on 24th November.