A stitch a day.....

Having decided to take up the embroidery networks challenge of visiting an embroidery stitch a day I was all fired up yesterday and ready to go when my dear brother and his girlfriend arrived for a visit which was lovely but also a little frustrating! Of course, we had a lovely time, it was a glorious sunny day so we were able to sit in the garden and take the dog for a leisurely stroll around Old Sarum.......

I did manage to get a bit of stitching done, so here is my sampler...a stitch a day!

A good day....

It has been a good weekend, quiet but feeling productive. I spent yesterday sorting and tidying my workroom. Gosh it feels good, the floor is clear (and hoovered!) and my work table is almost clear.......ready to think about getting some work done!


And now I have three Brus ready to dress and I am going to spend this evening browsing through my costume references to get on with designing their outfits.



And I even had a bit of time to get the missing colour I needed and spent a little time carrying on with this cross stitch, I started this 11 years ago and I have one more picture to do after this one, then I'll decide how to display it...picture frame or wall hanging or quilt?

A quiet day....

It's normally my day off today but Alice is home from school feeling very sorry for herself as she has come down with a very nasty cold. So she is bundled up on the sofa under her duvet watching the telly and I'm pottering about the house quietly. I aim to get some of my project ideas in some sort of order and get started and in that process I came across a box of dolls clothes which I made a long time ago but they all need a bit of 'something'..........this is what I've done so far.

Tiny detail on the petticoat

A Glorious day.....

It has been a glorious day here today, the sun has shone all day and we had a wonderful day in Swanage which is in my most favourite place, South West Dorset. It was the Swanage folk festival, so lots of crafts, lots of lovely music and the last gathering of the year for all the Morris dancers. They always know how to have fun! And I just so love being by the sea, I know that I will move closer one day.

And a bit of Swanage grafitti.....

Back to Basics.....

It appears that there is simply no time....where does it go. I have so many ideas swimming around my head and so much I want to do BUT...getting it all in some sort of achievable order just seams impossible.



And, having taken another look at my website i realise how woefully out of date it all is and I need to spend at least a few days on the computer getting it all sorted. I'm complaining about time again aren't I!


This little Googly is in the totally beginners range of projects that I'm currently putting together. I'm hoping that I might encourage dollmakers to look at Antique reproductions in a new light or encourage those who have never made a doll before to have a go.

Back from our Hols.......

Well, we are back from our holiday in Cornwall and a wonderful time was had by all, I've managed to get a lot of the washing done but there still seams to be a load more....where does it all come from? camping gear washed and ready to store away till the next time, all that is except the tent that has to be put up in the garden for cleaning, drying and scraping off of the Cornish mud!!

Back to work and school on Wednesday but feeling refreshed and ready to rock.........

I have had a bit of time to think a little...but not a lot! and I know what I have to prioritise once I get back into my work room.

And dare I say it? It's not a long time until Christmas if i want to get some presents made..........

Finally its holiday time....

Its finally holiday time....the last two months have been so hectic, school hols, work is getting so much busier and I can't find enough hours in the day. BUT...it is finally break time, no work for two weeks and we're off to Cornwall soon for the annual dose of surf, sea and sand and lets hope the weather is kind to us too. I am really looking forward to some good long walks and big waves!

I have managed to do some work. The first of the brus is nearly finished, still some finishing off to do and the jumeau too

I've been amazed at the abundance of wonderful butterflies in the garden this year. I'm no photographer but I was quite pleased with these.

Oh heck!!

Despite my best intentions I have failed dismally to keep everyone updated on this blog. I haven't been slacking honest but it does seam harder and harder to find any time when I'm not exhausted or trying to keep up with daily chores....ah well! since I last posted I have been working on my French collection and the Round Robin dolls that have been err...doing the rounds!



This is Rita's doll and I managed to dress her entirely with the fabric pack that Rita sent us initially. She is now on her way to Terry for socks and shoes. Prior to this one, I made a wig for Trudy's doll which turned out OK I think. I wanted something very traditional for this one as she was such a sweet traditional type of doll.




And we packed in a Birthday Party as well. I can't believe my little girl is 12 years old now, where did all that time go?

More heads....

New batch of heads out of the kiln, scrubbed up and ready for painting. beginning to get enthused again about this particular project. still have the Brus to finish but they are well under way...it's just those leather bodies!!

The weather has been glorious again, unfortunately the garden and the workroom are in competition for my attention!

Spring lambs

It has been a lovely few days. the dog and i had a glorious walk today around Old Sarum and it was lovely to see the spring lambs.....

New month, new resolutions!

Its the beginning of the month and I am really going to try and keep up to date with this blog. I haven't been idle but just seam to be running out of time. Stop the world (just briefly) I'd like to get off!


The garden has been taking much of my time, says she as I watch the grass grow! but I have been pouring and cleaning up greenware and my round robin doll is made and on her way to Belgium for the first leg of her trip.






I plan to have at least 3 finished french dolls by September for the GDS doll fair, though haven't made plans to go yet, that will depend on child care arrangements and finances nearer the time.

Oh my goodness!!

Some of the beautiful blossom which is filling my garden right now

I simply cannot believe the time lapse here in keeping this blog up to date!!.

Its been a hard couple of months. My health has not been good, work (the day job that is!) seams to have got more stressful of late and the demands are definately increasing. And on top of that and I guess I'm not alone here, is having extreme anxiety provoking times just letting my daughter spread her wings and watch her become more independent in the big wide world.

But....I haven't been entirely idle! I have been painting again and have some more projects planned concentrating on the French dolls. The brus are coming along and I have plans to recreate the 'H'Doll and another jumeau. Will put up pictures soon.