An art journal cover that I’m practicing hand quilting on (and I really need the practice!)
Peg dolls that are painted but as yet unclothed, I’m trying to figure the best way to dress them without interfering with the attached arms. Hopefully I’ll have a tute up for these soon too š
A pair of shorts for one of the girls from recycled clothing.
It sure is a long while since one of my dolls was included in an Etsy treasury, but here she is! It’s always exciting to be picked for a treasury. I’m not supposed to be here (see last post!), I can still use the internet but it costs a fortune when you overuse your allowance. I’ll be back on Tuesday with an update and some photos, I promise! I can also catch up with all of your blogs, I’ve been having serious withdrawals!!
I’m working on a bunch of stuff in between the feeds, nappies, schooling, crying (the baby, not me!)
See you next week š
Its the little one’s 2nd birthday on Monday, so I couldn’t let it pass without making one of her favourite things – a doll! This is one of my little 6 inch dolls and I knitted her a little dress and matching headband out of lovely soft baby yarn.
Another wee waldorf at 6 inches, she is in the Etsy shop now.
Its very challenging making clothes for dolls that small!
I’ve been doing a great deal of pondering lately, as I often do towards the end of a pregnancy, knowing many changes (and a lot more hard work!) are ahead. The main thing that has been bothering me is the fact that for 9 years (since my first child was born) I’ve tried to find work that I can do from home to contribute to our income. We have enough to get by but we want to move back to the country while the children are still young and for that we need more income. I also dislike being dependent on the government for income support, particularly as our family grows larger.
I’ve tried a myriad of things to earn money from home and nothing seems to work, I end up losing money. Ideally I would like to be paid for a skill I already have but have not found any demand. I’ve even placed ads in the paper to do ironing (I hate ironing!) but received no response, so I often feel that I’m at a dead end. I have made very little money from making dolls and put in many many hours for little reward, my sales seem to have dried up too.
So what to do?
Well, next month I’m hoping to apply for a study grant and undertake a diploma in graphic design, which would be learning new skills but also using the creative skills I already have. I’d be doing this with hope that I could then work from home. I have no idea if this would work out and whether I would get any work, but I feel that I have to try something. I was always financially independent before I had children and find it brings me great satisfaction when I can contribute.
Sorry about the ramble, I guess it helps to share what’s on your mind occasionally š
I love sewing soft furnishings, I love sewing dolls – so I combined the two! The doll is 6 inches tall and is designed to slip into the pocket (a place to rest at night and a place to not get lost!)
After an awful start to the day in the form of a glass sliding door having slid off its track, it then dropped onto my foot when I was trying to fix it. Ouch! There I was sitting with offended foot up and a packet of frozen peas thinking – broken toes? Anyway, a few hours later I’m hobbling around (definately not broken).
Then I received this parcel in the mail from Fabric Direct (excellent customer service) and things started to feel right with the world again, some beautiful Tanya Whelan, even a fat quarter of Matroyska dolls, what a treat. These lovely pieces are now flapping in the wind on the clothesline awaiting the next step. What will that be? Hmm, the thinking cap is on.
I came across the recipe for “Chocolate Mug Cake” in the local paper and tried it out. So easy, just done in the microwave. I overcooked mine a little, they were dry. Here is the recipe:
4 tblspn SR flour
4 tbspn sugar
2tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3 tblsp milk
3 tbsp oil
3 tbsp choc chips or chopped cooking chocolate
Mix well together in a bowl or in the mug. Fill a mug about half way with the mixture. Microwave on high for about 1.5 minutes (try to leave a bit more moisture in than I did!)
This will make 1 – 2 ordinary coffee mugs or one huge coffee mug.
Let me know what you think if you try it.
The giveaway is up and running, see my last post.
How exciting, one of my dolls has been featured in the Natural Kids Treasury, you can check it out here.
wait – reverse that!” The famous words of Willy Wonka. 
A coin purse kit from Nicole Mallalieu Design .
Their customer service is excellent, by the way.
Lovely wool parcel from Stokesay.
I couldn’t believe how quickly these came in the mail.
I’m also working on 2 dolls and clothes, a quilt for one of the girls, still tweaking that embroidery and knitting some bears. Wish me luck!
So here I’ve been whinging about my lack of doll sales, now I’ve sold 2 in 2 days! So today will hopefully consist of starting some new dolls and maybe finishing my embroidery (which incidentally has somehow become a wallhanging).
A big thankyou to all my customers and others who support my crafting efforts, its so lovely to be rewarded for what you do!