Ruby

This is the last doll I wanted to make for my friend Janet’s store. This is Raven by Cindee Moyer, but I’ve done her in red for Christmas. Although you can’t see it in the picture to well, I’ve put a small ornament size Cardinal on her shoulder. A large one in her hands. The base I made with an evergreen bough rather than the straw wreath, of course because she’s now a Cardinal nesting over Christmas.

She’s quite eye catching in the window of the store. Every person that walked by couldn’t help but turn and look. Not because I made the doll, I don’t mean it that way, but she’s just so brilliant in this colour. Love her to bits, and hope she finds a good home soon or I might go back and get her…

Storefront are always so hard to photograph, there’s always a reflection from something or other.

Penny and Oliver

And you’re saying to yourself, is she really working or is she just watching movies. Yes I am really working. This is the latest. This is Michelle Munzone’s new Christmas pattern. Aren’t they just the cutest elves. Of course now she’s posted her next creation….Love it… Here now are Penny and Oliver and some close ups and of course the rear view. I have this need to see dolls from all sides, it somehow gives me more perspective.

Holiday in Handcuffs

I don’t generally watch this much tv, but since You Tube has all these Christmas movies on there, I watch them while I work, so I figure that’s okay. I’m getting lots done though, being entertained while you work is quite motivating.

The submission this time is about a boy and girl as a couple, then they’re not, then there’s a couple again, with a twist. It’s a romantic Christmas comedy.

Another just have fun with it kind of movie. Don’t take it to seriously and the characters in it we can all relate to. Everyone trying to be who they aren’t and of course you just know it’s all going to reach explosive levels at some point…. Watch for it. '

It’s in 10 parts.

Comfort and Joy

While I’ve been sitting and making my dolls for Christmas selling, I’ve been watching Christmassy movies on You Tube. I haven’t heard of some of these, but thought I would share them with you. They are family friendly and you will have to watch them in parts, but if you download all the parts to real player, you could then watch them at your leisure rather than online. Most of them have 9 or 10 parts to them.

This one is Comfort and Joy starring Nancy McKeon. It’s a female version of A Wonderful Life, but with a twist. I love these movies that are so simple but effective and nobody dies and no nasty language throughout….Just good family viewing. All the movies I find and post links to will be that way, so no worries if your little people are around…

I’ve just posted the first episode, you’ll have to click to each episode thereafter on You Tube..

Just for fun!!

Are you starting to feel that anxiety that comes with Christmas. Well, how about taking about a half hour out of your day to watch this. As most of you probably are already well aware with Mr. Bean, he is the total package of craziness. What he brings to every day life I’m sure nobody else could….

If you’ve seen Merry Christmas Mr. Bean, it’s always worth a second, third, fourth viewing.  If you haven’t seen this, you are truly in for a treat. I can never view turkey the same way since I first saw this…

Just sit back and watch. It’s quick, hilarious and you will love it…. Rowan Atkinson is at his very comedic best and you can’t help but be thankful Mr. Bean is not your neighbour… ;o)))) 

Enjoy…..

More Reno’s

This year has been busy for reno’s. Not as expensive as other peoples, but then again we tend to do things as we can afford them, not go into debt for it (at least not for more than a couple of months) and then think about what the next thing is.

While this isn’t a huge project it was necessary. A coat of paint can hide the sins for only so long and then you have to deal with it. We needed to have the roof of the gazebo replaced, but who to call. We made a couple of enquiries, but to no avail. This isn’t a job for the untrained. Hubby called the lumber place that we originally got the gazebo from and they gave us a name of someone to call. We did and boy oh boy were they good.

Allard Renovation came and what a great job. Guy and Luc spent most of the week here, and one day even worked non stop on a rainy day, from 8:30 to 4:00 without even taking a coffee break. The weather was not being co-operative at all, very wet and the surrounding garden area, very muddy and made for having to be ultra careful not to fall. I was so worried they would sail off the roof because it was slippery, but they were okay. But, on the positive side, I would recommend them in a heartbeat for any renovation work. I’ve never seen more dedicated workers to their craft. They were precise, meticulous and took so much pride in their work. We will for sure have them back next year to do our biggest reno to date, which will be the flooring in our liv/dining rooms and stairs. Maybe even the front entrance with get new lino….it’s all about cost.

Here are a few pictures of the new look for the gazebo. It will get a good primer and coat of paint in the spring when things dry out, but for now, I will enjoy looking out and enjoying the patterns in the wood and remember how hard these men worked for this job. This first picture is from a few years ago after a fresh paint job, but since then, not looking so good. Cedar will only last so long and while hubby did paint it and put a sealer in the paint, what it needed was a primer. The original roof also didn’t have tar paper under the boards. Not the fault of the builder, it wasn’t part of the kit we bought for the gazebo and tar paper wasn’t something we knew anything about. Now it does have that, not only on the main frame but under each spine (as I call them).

Look at the big pile of kindling we have to start the woodstove with….NICE !

One thing that delayed the work, was on the Monday night, big big storm blew through. I was sure the tarp they had put on, would not be there in the morning, but it held. At one point the wind really was verging on hurricane force, but that lasted about an hour and then settled in to a regular big wind that we are used to around here, over the fall and winter months. Thankfully the tarp was on, or they would have had to go and get more tar paper as you can see, it was wanting to blow off.

So back to work…..

And by weeks end….the final look. What a great job. I kept watching from the bedroom window to see the progress. I totally enjoyed watching how they worked together (they are brothers) and how accurate they were with every detail, right to the top knot. They spent hours on that alone. Thank you Guy and Luc for a job more than well done….

Raven again

I had a request for a Raven doll. The lady came into the shop where I’ve been so lucky to sell my dolls. I made those art cards a while ago and one of them was for Raven. Without actually seeing the doll and just going from the card alone, she asked Janet if she thought I would make a doll for her. She is visiting from the US and is leaving on the 26th. So Janet called me, I spoke with the lady and got her requests and it’s now done.

She asked for Raven to be made with the black feathers but with silver accents instead of gold. I gave Raven a bit of bling to hold in her hands and around her neck and in my stash I found this perfect piece of stretch velvet with silver sparkle paisley type patterns to make her body and arms with. I used a stretch silver lame to make her hands, and must say, these are the tiniest fingers I’ve ever made. I redrew the hand pattern because I prefer individual fingers.

On her head I used two colours of Angelina fibres and left them a bit loose looking just so they would stand out a bit more. Although you can’t see it completely, her skirt is made with three different colour and types of material. The underneath is black organza, the middle is a silver organza and the top layer is black tulle. I used a black Venice lace on the top of the that with a black metallic trim to finish it off.

I think she turned out so pretty and now I will be making a red one….stay tuned as always..and of course this is a Cindee Moyer design, offered as an online class. So watch Joggles for it. If you put in a request for the class, Barb might offer it again in the next session.

     

Colleen Babcock is coming to town!

In April 2011, our doll club is hosting Colleen for not one, not two, but three workshops. Might as well do the most we can given that she’s coming from such a long distance.

The first workshop is a one day class for “Drafting Doll Clothes”, something that many doll makers want to learn to do. That will be a great class as that is something I have wanted to do for so long. I can manage basic shapes, but to have someone with Colleen’s background teach it, so much the better.

The second workshop is for 2 days and will be her sweet little “Finders Keepers” exclusive workshop. A mischievous little imp that will find all your treasures and hide them on you..

The third workshop will be her “Stitch in Time” exclusive workshop. This is Colleens brand new workshop that offers another of her wonderful creations with yet more fun techniques to learn.

Click here to go to Colleen’s blog and read more of the details of each of these classes and perhaps your doll club might want to host her while she’s in North America. If so, just make contact with her and see how she can organize her schedule around her time with us…

See you soon Colleen…. ;o))

Midnight Patrol…

This has been the most hellacious week in forever. I’ve know for weeks that the time was drawing near that I would have to make a gut wrenching decision, but hoped that perhaps it was premature to think it. I was wrong and Mother Nature was right.

My poor darling Patrol was declining in health at a very rapid pace. I knew it but didn’t want to face it. For the past week, in particular the last 72 hours, I have had little to no sleep. Closing my eyes only and listening to our poor little pet pacing relentlessly around the house non stop. Resting only for minutes at a time she would then continue, yowling and pacing and it made it worse that I had to bar her from the bedroom where until now she has slept with us, at the end of the bed on her lambskin. During the day it was in and out of the house, the door just simply left open because she couldn’t stop.

This morning I called the vet and said it was time. I am eternally grateful to have such a caring and compassionate vet as Sue McTaggart. She told me she could come in 15 mins. or it would have to be tomorrow. Today it is and with that, I wrapped Patrol in her towel to say goodbye. Sue arrived it was gentle quiet and pain free. My little darling just simply went to sleep. During the first stage in sedating her, Sue heard the music on the tv and it was a version of Rock a Bye Baby, pure synchronicity. After the procedure was finished, she gently folded Patrol’s legs into a sleeping position, tilted her head down and finished wrapping her in the towel.

Tonight we buried her in the garden in her towel. It’s the towel I would use to wrap her up when she would come in from the rain. We would sit together on the sofa and I would cuddle her until the wetness was soaked up by the towel. She’s now at rest and I’m whipped.

She was coming up to her 19th year with us, and she was a feral cat to begin with, so what a journey she has had. She came to live with us in 1992, the very day we moved into this house. She was the neighbours cat but was determined to be here with us. Her name was Midnight, but her prime objective being with us, was to rid our new property of the rodents that had become to comfortable in various places in the yard. In no time, she had totally rid the place of them, hence her name was extended to Midnight Patrol. What a warrior she was.

These aren’t the most current pictures, but some of my favourites. Here is what she would do when it was time for us to go to bed. Simply stand in the way and that’s that.

I’m sure it was a bird she was watching.

How is it that cats can look so darn comfortable when they sleep.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
 
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

I’m sure that she’s on her way now over the Rainbow Bridge, and somehow I think she’ll always be watching over us. Forever loyal and loving to us. My heart aches for her but I know she’s out of her pain and stress and her spirit is soaring.

A Free Thing!

When I do grab a few minutes to wander around and see what others are doing, I find all kind of interesting things. When they’re free, well there’s the bonus.

This may be useful, it may not, but there are a wide variety of Holiday decorating projects for kids and we bigger kids. If you have time, take a look.

Inspireco

When you get to the site, scroll down a bit until you come to the cover of the magazine “Inspired Ideas” with the Holiday theme picture, click on that. What you will see next is a page that you can click on the pages at the bottom and see them larger. At the very top of the page is a print option for those pages that you like. If I read it correctly, it’s 172 pages, so you might want to choose carefully what you want to print…

There have been requests to make the magazine available for download, so you can always wait and see if that happens to.

There is  an Autumn version….just as wonderful. I’ve downloaded this issue, but be warned. It’s 34 megs and if you have a slow connection, you may want to just view online.

Autumn

Enjoy…

Little Singers

My, or should I say, Jill’s “Little Singers” are done. What a lot of fun bringing them to life, so to speak. Each one is different and just so darn cute. If you haven’t tried this pattern, do check it out. It makes great gifts. If you can knit, be sure to knit the little hats and touques. I think more than anything, that’s what makes them.  I went online and found some mini christmas music, then made up a cover and put together little song books. Of course you’ll never get to see all 5 songs I put in them, but that’s okay.

These are my plus size girls. What can I say other than, whoever said all carollers are pencil thin. These gals are ready to belt out those tunes with the rest of them.

The pattern actually creates little stand alone dolls, but I wanted to make them into ornaments, so instead of the base and the weight, I just gathered the bottoms and attached buttons to finish the look off. You can think of these as Little Singer bums..

Now my friend Pat said they definitely needed a little trim somewhere, so I got busy and gave them all a little trim or bling on their hats. I had to do it to each of them, otherwise there would have been trouble….Now they’re so much better. Now with their trim and bling they are really getting into the mood. Cute huh!!!! ;o)))

Now I’m off to get things together for the next project, so check back again soon…..