Communicating fungi

 A bit behind with the blog posts again!

Here is a handmade pressie for the eldests birthday back in June.

Free motion sewn fungi, all connected underground - communicating with each other!

Love that Angus

Last year we eventually felt settled enough to get a cat from the RSPCA.

The girls couldn't believe it was really happening at last.

We rescued a medium hair black kitten called Angus.

(he's really a Russian spy though, has a great accent!)

So for the latest birthday here, I made the youngest a fluffy black cat!

(face free motion sewn onto merino wool felt onto faux fur)

And she also got a cat birthday cake too, in the end! :-)

Cake

It was the big girls birthday on the weekend, so the mixer got

a bit of a work out making birthday cake, sausage rolls, cupcakes etc!

I was so busy sorting out things for her party and making dolls,

so the Mr made some pom poms for me (and the cake)!

He hadn't made them since he was 8 years old.

He used the two circles of cardboard method -

which turned out much better than those plastic

 thingys that I've used before!

I strung them up on to two chop sticks -

as she loves sushi (and crochet, hence the wool)!

So they had a lemon cake with blueberries on top!

(she used to suck on lemon pieces when she was little, and still loves them now).

They had a great party with some friends,

and now its the school holidays!

So this morning they both helped make a winter skirt each.

The one on the left is made from a warm woolen op shopped fabric.

They are both looking a bit tarteny! It sounds like we will be 

making a few more of these (as its the only clothing I am able to make 

at the moment - no pattern reading involved...!)xx

A special gift

Some of you will be able to figure out who this doll is for.

It is a gift for a lady I have never met.

It is for someone who has lived in limbo for a long time.

It is for a person who is so so brave.

And I am so grateful to have been online friends with her for a while now.

Cam is an amazing person who now has new lungs.

Donated by a family who had 'the conversation'.

To donate. To give life when life is taken.

I have wanted to make Cam a doll for a long time.

I felt nervous, as its for someone I know - aargh!

But once I found the button that looked like Cam's

Mr Limpy Houdini dog, everything fell into place.

Thanks for being a fabulous, supportive friend Cam.

And I hope to meet you one day!

Much love to you, xxJ.

Weekend

We had a busy weekend, with the 'little one' turning 7 years old! (Miss G)

I eventually got around to turning some of her (and her older sisters) 

old clothes into some skirts for her::

Dress turned into an apron on a skirt with added embroidered doily.

Monsoon skirt extended with the soft blue muslin lining of an old dress

and new fabric waistband.

Dress turned into a skirt and added a blue doily.

(yes, skirts are the only clothing I can sew!)

Cake 

With her favourite dinosaur starring :: Ankylosaurus

A Kantha bed cover bought from Cath at My Bearded Pigeon

for the girl who loves orange and purple.

And a wool rug koala for the girl who didn't have one yet!

We also went to Australia Zoo.

An amazing place - probably the best zoo we've been to over here.

The girls loved the birds flying around the stadium in unison.

This photo shows their most unpredictable croc.

They were right, he went where he wanted and didn't do what they said!lol

We also went to the movies, out for lunch,

and dotted throughout the weekend, I worked on custom orders!

Hope you guys had a great weekend.xx

Eleven

I'm the mother of an eleven year old today!!

Here's a pic I adore (with some added words) framed for her birthday.

And also one of us together in the Greek Islands when she was a toddler.
She would have an afternoon nap and then stay up late dancing - happy memories!

Happy Birthday gorgeous!!XXXX

My Creative Space

I didn't think I would have much to show for My Creative Space this week.

Was feeling a bit without inspiration for a while there.

But eventually made myself sit down with paint and a little brush.

Trying again to get out of the 'norm'.

Not quite succeeding yet.

I've been saving this vintage fabric for ages to make into a cushion 

for a lovely friends birthday pressie. She loves Paris!

Making a start on sewing in some ends,

even though its way off finished!

And here is a gorgeous needle book from Selina's Vintage for my birthday last week.

Its larger than the other one I have, just what I need!!

She also gave me some gorgeous fabrics and felted wool pieces.

I am loving these patterns and they are so soft - thank you Selina!!x

more creative spaces here

I think someone needs her own blog...

Miss "nearly 11" hasn't done any crochet for a while.

Then came the teachers birthday - today!

So she made a flower brooch (which we forgot to photograph before wrapping).

And last night, she made a granny square birthday card to go with it.

Using a 3mm hook and the yarn I used for the popcorn stitch dress on Gertie.

A sewn frame around it and leaving the ends hanging loose.

Then, this was her this morning with my old camera -

gotta do a photo shoot before I take it to school!

Love it.

Happy Birthday to the lovely Selina today too!!xx

Gwilym

Its Friday 13th of April, so its our little one's birthday today!

We turned to Jess of Teddy Bears Wednesday 

to make something extra special for our old lady turning 6.

Jess makes the most gorgeous, expressive bears who are full of character.

This is Gwilym, he's a bit of a goofy bear - a bit of a joker (in a nice way).

He likes ham and cheese jaffles and ping pong as well!

Thank you my friend, this guy is going to be well loved - that's for sure!xx

Two Years Blogging!

vintage sheet cushion cover

I started this blog two years ago today! Its been documenting the 'makes' and how the dolls have evolved. They have changed so much, and still are. The blog has been such a huge part of the creating, it keeps me motivated and helps me move onto other things. Its great to have a record of the custom orders here and look back at them, as well as the challenges and swaps with other bloggers. Making friends through the blogs has been an amazing experience, especially with us moving so much in this last year! 

miss francis

So instead of doing another giveaway - 

there is free shipping on everything in my Etsy store till 

Monday 28th November at 10pm (Qld time).

I can ship direct to - who you want to give to - this christmas!x

ps. just started working on the Blogtoberfest giveaway doll!

My Creative Space - custom made

A headpiece

 and a bit heavy on the eye make up.

(who me?!)

A load of jewellery.

And a full, three tiered skirt.

This is a custom order doll - who is going to be featured

at a 21st birthday party!

Once I had the brief and gathered up everything I needed to include -

this came together quite quickly. I couldn't stop thinking about it, till I had it done.  She'll hopefully be a big surprise for the birthday girl!

Share your own creative space over here.xx

Wordless Wednesday

(more wordlessness here)