Kelly Casanova Weaving Lessons

Kelly

A new Lil’ Mim in the shop!

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I’m on a roll with my dolls at the moment! This little lady is ready to attend a tea party.
Her cape and shoes are made from a beautiful raspberry hand dyed wool felt. The wool felt is from Winterwood. I made some cute little beaded clips for her hair.
Her hair is made with alpaca yarn, I love it, it’s so soft! Her pettiskirt and matching sleeves are a tea party print from Retro Mummy. Her body suit is a navy and aqua spotted knit from Crafty Mamas.

        
                                                    She is in my Etsy shop now.

My dear old Nanna

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They don’t make them like this anymore!

My Nanna, who is in her early 80’s lives in another state so we don’t see each other very often.  We do, however,  exchange letters frequently. After sending off my latest letter to her a couple of weeks ago I received a card from her today.
Here is a section of the writing:

“Hope you will be able to read this as I have managed to get shingles on the left side of my face and my eye has completely closed. Things seem to be blurred, but here goes”.

She then goes on to tell me of the long anticipated hip operation she has booked for next month, and finishes with:

“Sorry I can’t write more, but will again when I feel up to it.


Love Nanna xxxxxx”

Boy, does this make my heart swell! This woman who lost her husband 35 years ago to cancer, has endured cancer and partial bowel removal and other constant health setbacks without complaint, has worked tirelessly for her community and with whom some of my happiest childhood times were spent is an absolute marvel. Such is her care and courtesy in writing me a letter when she is so unwell and she even included a newspaper article she thought would interest me.

God bless her!

A life filled with dolls

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I don’t know how it all began, this love affair of mine with dolls.
I would be quite content to sit all day and make them, one after the other. If I had that sort of time I would make them all manner of accessories, quilts, clothes and toys.

It’s an absolute wonder to me how you can take beautiful pieces of fabric and form and stitch them into something that almost seems to have a personality. I just love them!

My latest Lil’ Mim is slightly larger than the last at 12 inches (still petite). She will be in my Etsy shop shortly. I hope she captures someone’s heart as quickly as her sister did!
SOLD – THANK YOU AMY!!!!!

Lil’ Mim giveaway!!

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Here she is – the first Lil’ Mim I made after drawing up her pattern. I’m so darn pleased with my Lil’ Mim dolls that I’ve decided to celebrate by giving this one away. As I’ve previously mentioned, I plan to put out a pattern for this doll and some cute Lil’ Mim stitcheries when I can manage it.
This doll is 10 inches tall, made with cotton tricot and Hilco knit, stuffed with carded wool and her hair is a beautifully soft cashmerino aran. Her hair is styled. Her dress and pettiskirt are removable.
To enter please leave a comment. For an additional entry please blog about this giveaway with a link back to here and mention that you have done so in your comment.

The winner will be drawn randomly on Saturday 20th February.

Second dyed silk blankie

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Well, we made it home in one piece, it’s funny that you go away “for a break” but for parents of young children there really is no break, just a change of scenery. No matter, the change of scenery was welcome.
So… here is my second silk blanket for daughter aged 4. I find dyeing so captivating, the whole process – from mixing your colours to unveiling the prize at the end.
This time I dyed the flannel backing too, a beautiful lime green which is her favourite colour.
Tomorrow I’ll be starting the promised Lil’ Mim giveaway so I hope you’ll be back to enter!

Lil’ Mim

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I have a new design and here she is! I created Lil’ Mim from a character based on one of my girls. My first thought was to launch a pattern for this type of doll, but I’m coming to accept that I can’t always do what I want all the time, in other words – the pattern will have to wait, I don’t have the time at present.
Did I mention she’s available in my Etsy shop now?
She is a smallish doll at 10 inches, simply because over the years I’ve discovered I like to make smaller rather than larger dolls.
I will be making a bunch of these in various colours and styles, I really love the pattern and feel it is the most “me” design I’ve come up with so far.
I have the prototype doll that will feature in a giveaway here next week, she is quite different to this one in her colourings.
My family and I are going away for part of the weekend (hooray, what a treat!!) so I won’t be around for a few days.
I hope your days until then are filled with many blessings.
Lil Mim has SOLD – thank you!!

Today is….

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Enjoying the cooler weather and baking homegrown zucchini loaves. I must give you the recipe, it’s fantastic!
Feeling thankful for the overnight and much needed rain and bountiful harvest from the vegetable garden.
Watching new personalities emerge from lovely dolls.
Roasting and grinding coffee, filling the house with a beautiful caramel scent.
Making another batch of homegrown tomato relish.
I love a cool day after a hot spell.

A successful barter and a whinge!

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Remember my post about bartering? Here is what I received in the mail today, thank you Gilly, what a welcome parcel! I don’t own many crafting books, so you’ve just doubled my collection. I just love surprises!

Now for the whinge. I picked up my sewing machine yesterday after it jammed and had to wait a week whilst it was (apparently) repaired. Naturally, I was very eager to use it yesterday, but what with h.schooling starting back today I had a lot to organise. Anyway…… I managed to steal a few moments earlier to work on a skirt, and, lo and behold – it’s still jammed!!
This is the point where I had to stem my natural inclination to run to the phone to ask the repairer if there had been a misunderstanding, as in – I give you $80, you give me fixed machine. Yes I appreciate your dusting my machine, after all it was a bit dusty, but I actually wanted to use it not just look at it. Ok, Ok, now I’m getting snitchy, but surely not without justification?!

On a lighter note, our first day back at h.school after the hols’ went brilliantly despite a toddler with a tummy upset and it has generally been a very good day.

Off to the sewing centre I go…………

WAHM ideas

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I know many of you who read my blog are stay at home mums, as I am. For the record, I haven’t been able to find a way of making a regular income from home even after trying for 10 years! I’ve tried selling books, second hand clothes, I’ve even advertised in the local paper to do ironing with a total success rate of 0!!  I’ve been able to sell a few craft items here and there for the equivalent of slave wages – not very sustainable. I wish it was as simple as following your passions and “what you’re good at”. However, I haven’t given up and I’m more determined than ever to earn money without having to compromise my family by seeking work outside the home.

1. Sell your crafts

2. Online shop

3. Clothing alterations

4. Market stall

5. Childcare (Family day care in your own home)

6. Freelance services (bookeeping, financial services, design etc)

7. Employer arrangement to work from home

8. Write ebooks

sites to check out:

www.workathomemums.com.au

www.wahm.com

www.wahm-ideas.com

www.wahmbizsuccess.com

Maybe this will be your year? (and hopefully mine!)

An empty space (sniffle..)

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X marks the spot on my work table which is the home of my faithful Janome. As you can see, nobody is home today, nor tomorrow, not the next day either. In fact, this space will be empty for a whole week! A week of listless glances in this direction as I wander past. A week of concocting projects I can cut out in readiness for her return.
Perhaps it’s a good thing she jammed and is “in the shop” (in the middle of a doll order I might add!) Perhaps I might finally catch up on all those assignments I owe my tutor, perhaps I’ll clean out those cupboards that need it.
I don’t think I realised how integral the sewing machine has become to my life, what a great release it is to be able to sit and sew. The lady at the sewing centre said “Oh well, you can have a rest from it for this week” to which I replied “It is my rest!!”