A Doll In A Lime Green Dress 💚 . . . . . & A Garden Gate Revamp

Greetings lovely friends & readers

A few weeks ago now I purchased a gorgeous new length of Oilcloth for my dining table from * Here *..  I chose a pale sage green for a change, then while waiting for it to arrive I seriously doubted my choice. I need not have worried - it was Gorgeous!

Although I only managed one good picking from my Lilac this year, the fragrance was heavenly & filled the house with its perfume 💜

 

Earlier this year my friend Jane messaged me a photo of a doll she'd seen on Pinterest & asked me if I could please make it for her as she'd especially fallen in love with the lime green dress & the primitive "grubbiness" of her. 

This was the picture Jane sent me.  A search of Pinterest failed to turn up any pattern for the dolly so I had to improvise.  After much debate (with myself) I used Rosalie Dekker Linen Angel pattern for the arms, legs & body but drew my own face shape as it needed to be a raggedy style face.  I also enlarged the pattern by 100%.  It was not without it's challenges 😉

We have finished with fires for the year so it feels strange to see the painted legs drying by the fire. I have to curb my perfectionism tendencies when making these primitive style dolls & I find this tricky at times.  Her shoes were painted in black & then sanded when dry.

I had the orange wool in my stash so I made the plaits & then lay the dolly on some paper towels, covered her face & sprayed liberally with hair spray ... 3 or 4 good coats makes the plaits stiff enough to stand out - she very much has a Pippi Longstocking vibe to her 💗  Painting the face was left til last & I was happy with the end result - it's been awhile since I've done this & I felt very nervous about it but I think I captured her expression well.

Prior to making the doll I showed the picture to my dear friend Shirley & said Jane wants this doll made with a green linen dress. "Oh No" said Shirley - that is not linen standing out puffy like that, that fabric is dupion silk!  I think I have just that colour in my stash!!!!"  So I am deeply grateful to Shirley for giving me the offcut in just the perfect Chartreuse green colour

After I'd made the dress & thought how sweet it looked I then had to dunk the whole thing, lace & all, in parisienne essence to tea dye/grubby it up.  This was scary stuff dear friends!! Then I had the not fun job of trying to iron it all out nicely again 😑

Once she had finally come to life & been sent down to Jane I received a lovely photo of her sitting on Janes shelf.  Phew!  💚 I'd quite fallen in love with this sweet little doll & could happily have kept her at my house!

Early last year youngest son removed a falling-down fence across the front of his propertyl  This green gate was attached to the fence & - as I was there helping in my capacity as Steptoe - the gate came home with me.  Last month I finally dragged it out, scrubbed it & then gave it 2 good coats of plain black paint.  I also found this half-round wire basket under my house so this got spray painted black while I was outside painting.

Once I was happy with the gate I affixed it firmly in my garden at the edge of my deck & attached the half round basket using cable ties.  I decided to double line it as I know how the birds pull at this coconut fibre matting & it doesn't last long.  

I filled it with compost & potting mix.  Little One inspected my work, gave it his approval ... then I trimmed the edges of the matting.  I planted 2 punnets of white Impatiens in the basket.  

The plants were tiny & are taking awhile to grow as it's still been so cold here.  I am hopefull they will grow & spill out over the edges of the basket.  A small sign tied to the gate just finished it off nicely.

This is looking across at it through the garden.  Those tall green plants in the foreground are perennial Phlox & have a vivid white flower.  I am hoping the white & black combination will look effective.

I am so thrilled with my green painted drawers planted with the lobelia & also the wrought iron chair filled with petunias.  The combination of the blue plates on the wall just finishes it all off nicely & makes me happy when I walk past it. 💙💚

Dearest friends, if you have not entered my Christmas Giveaway as yet, go to this post * Here * as there are still a couple of weeks left to enter.  Remember I will post to anywhere in the world - be in to win dear readers.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend - I have family coming to visit & then I'm hosting my craft group on Monday so I am off to the kitchen to bake.

Thank you, as always, for your welcome visits here today,

Sending much love & friendship to you all,

A Simple Christmas Giveaway 🎄🎈💗

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Every year as Christmas approaches I plan to do a Giveaway & then time slips away on me.  So this year I have decided to do it now (early) - so that I can allow time to post it anywhere in the world & it will arrive (hopefully) before Christmas.

I really enjoy my blog & the friendships I have made through this little corner of my world.  I appreciate all of you that take the time to read my waffle ramblings, & especially those that leave me a comment.  I have found nothing but kindness through all the folk I have "met" through this platform.  So this simple little festive Giveaway is my way of saying Thank You to all of you ... if I could I would send you each a little parcel. 

 

I have put together a small selection of festive bits & bobs, mostly handcrafted by me but some are purchased items.  These will be posted to you beautifully giftwrapped & tied up with a tag.  

I will post anywhere in the world - anyone may enter.

Here is what will be included in the parcel . . . . . .

A handmade Christmas Cracker (Tilda fabrics of course) filled with some gourmet choccies.  This cracker can be untied & re-used for another gift, not thrown away like the store bought paper & plastic ones. 

Two of my handknitted organic cotton washcloths & a knitted scrubbie in Christmas colours.

A gorgeous fragrant soap in a Tilda bag tied with a velvet ribbon & a snowflake charm

A rustic hanging (or sitting) wooden Christmas sign.

A set of 3 different sizes of my handmade wooden christmas tags.

A cotton towelling tea-towel or handtowel with a festive design.

I solemnly promise to remove any Ginger Cat hairs before posting the package & No Willie, I cannot include said Ginger Cat in the parcel when posting !! 😉

Please enter by leaving me a comment below.  If you have any trouble getting your comment to publish then just email me at stitchedbyjulie@hotmail.com with your comment & I can copy & paste it. 

Anyone may enter - I will post worldwide.

If you feel inclined, please tell me one thing you love about Christmas, but you don't have to share this - I am just nosey curious like that !

If your comment comes through as anonymous please remember to leave me your first name & country - eg ... Julie from New Zealand as I often get many anonymous comments. 

 The Mr will draw a name out of the teapot on Friday 22nd November so it gives me a month for the package to arrive at it's destination.

 

Last week I finished sewing 20 lined Christmas Stockings for my local Patchwork Store.  She fills them with chocolates & donates to the Foodbank who put them in the boxes of families with children at Christmas time.  I have another 10 cut out so am hoping I manage to finish these before the cut-off date on the 20th November.  The store owner is hoping to reach 300 stockings again this year.

Some Christmas decorating began last week here at Threadbear HQ.  I like to pull out the containers & unpack things into the lids as it helps to sort what-goes-where.  It didn't take long for a certain ginger fairy to find the containers - a girl gets tired overseeing these things & has to have a nap along the way.

And some furry family members are just downright unhelpful !!! 😐

That's all for today dear friends - I have lots to share so I may do a series of catch up posts.

Wishing you all a wonderful rest-of-the-week,

With much love & friendship to you all,

A Revamped Rocking Cradle for Juno & Sadie

Greetings lovely friends & readers

Back in June I spotted this old wooden rocking cradle, tucked down on a bottom shelf in my local Habitat For Humanity Op-Shop ... only $20, which I thought was reasonable.

I went home & thought about it for 2 days - certain that upon my return, it would be long gone.  But No - there it was waiting for me to bring it home.  I'd thought it would be wonderful to revamp it for my step Grandaughters Juno & Sadie, who are now 2 & 4.

It appeared to be a sturdy piece - someone had tipped it upside down & written on it with black felt pen ... I think it says "Ashley's Caning Room? and ef I wot"  - but I'm not certain. 

 

I very lightly sanded the pen markings & gave it a good clean.  To be truthful, it was a horrid thing to paint ... all those skinny dowel pieces seemed to take forever.  I actually put it away after I'd done half of it & it sat for another month before I bought it out again & finished it off.  I used chalk paint in the colour Vintage White.  It seemed to take alot of coats to get a decent coverage.

I prefer to spray varnish anything for the little ones, rather than wax.  I find it more durable & hard wearing, & seems to be much more wipeable.  After I'd painted it I noticed a definate "bow" in the top railing on one side - this was not noticeable until I painted it - you could see someone had leaned really hard & bent the railing, almost breaking it.   The Mr was able to screw it tightly together & then I filled the hole & touched it up.  It made it more sturdier.

I wanted to use only fabrics already in my stash for this & luckily I was able to.  I found some sweet Winnie the Pooh fabric for the mattress, then this cute little girl fabric was perfect for the pillow & sheet.  

This Peter Rabbit fabric was a lightweight cotton drill, so it was ideal for making a simple frilled Quilt for the cot.

And I didn't even have to iron it because Miss Pippi very kindly did that for me by laying on it!!!

 

I think this vintage Crochet Granny Blanket came from my friend Sally ... It fit the cot perfectly so that got tucked in as well.  

By fossicking through my leftover transfers I found enough to decorate one end of the cradle - it was wonderful to keep with the rabbit theme. 🐰🐇  I am thrilled with this now it is all done ... I plan to buy the girls a doll each & give them the cradle as a joint christmas gift ... I am not sure how their sharing capabilities go but I guess we'll soon find out.

Last week I noticed my stunning Cherry Blossom Tree in full bloom (Prunus Shimidsu Shakura).  This was the tree that the Plumber said to us "that'll have to go", when our new septic tank fields were put in.  I just adore this tree & am so thankful that The Mr said to him "like hell it is" & stood his ground.  It did not need to be removed at all, there was plenty of room.  

I had to go to the city this week for a Specialist appointment & on my way home I called at the Red Cross Op-shop in Hamilton East & found this stunning blue plate for $10.  I put a plate hanger disc on the back & it looks wonderful on my blue plate wall out on my covered deck area.

These next 3 pictures are especially for Elderberry Rob Betty who frequently asks after farm life here at Threadbear HQ.

The contractors have been making the most of the fine weather lately & there was silage making going on in the house paddock this week.  They cut one day, turn it the next & then on the 3rd day they row it up & then the silage wrapper comes along & bales it.

It is a fascinating process to watch these big balers in action.  They turn the roll like a huge cling film wrapper & when it's covered it pops it out like a giant egg & the machine goes on to the next one.

I meant to take some photos of all the "eggs" sitting in the paddock but the tractor came & picked them all up while I was away getting Sid from school. 

Thank you as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

Wishing you a wonderful weekend - it's a long one here in New Zealand with Monday being Labour Day,

With much love & friendship to you all,

A Slow Stitched Piece, A Quilt Show & A (mini) Magazine Feature

Greetings lovely friends & readers

For my friend Sally's birthday last month I decided I wanted to make her a slow stitched piece incorporating her favorite things ... Books, Vintage, Flowers & Cats.  She actually loves other things but these were what came to mind when I thought about Sally 💗

It was very much a case of make-it-up-as-you-go-along & I worked on it for a couple of weeks just adding in bits as ideas came to me.  I didn't want it to be too large & in the end decided to sew it into a small wall hanging which Sally could just tuck in anywhere.

 

I pulled out some of my treasured Tilda scraps to make the small hexie flower.

 

 Sally has the cutest little white cat called Georgie so I painted this tiny red wooden button white - while I had the chalk paint out painting the scroll hanger.

I knew Sally loved Tilda fabrics so I used a small floral print to back the piece & typed out a label which I attached with some vintage lace.

As Sally works in a Bookstore selling a huge variety of cards I decided to get something a bit different for her birthday card.

  I have followed Maxine's lovely blog for awhile & always admired the cards she creates so I asked her to please make a card that showed Sally's love of cats & books.  I love what Maxine created & Sally was delighted when she opened both the card AND the gift 💛

 

It was the annual 2024 Quilt Symposium for the first week of October & this year it was held in Cambridge, just 20 minutes down the road from where I live - I had to go!!  This stall above just made me swoon ... filled to the brim with Tilda fabrics & kits & patterns & all the things that I love ................ 

I'll take one of each item Thank You Very Much !!!!  No I was very restrained dear friends, as I remembered the rather large container of Tilda fabrics I already had in the cupboard at home  😔

 

This flour sack quilt above left caught my eye because I have some of these vintage flour sacks myself

Above right was a tree filled with hand sewn pears & apples, all beaded exquisitely - stunning 💙

 

There were some absolutely stunning quilts on display & my photos really do not do justice to the talent that was showcased here.  I only snapped a very few photos as I walked around.

 

These were my only purchases above - as I said, I was very restrained. But I really enjoyed my outing together with my friends Shirley & Bev.  And afterwards we went to a wonderful Garden Centre Cafe for lunch - it was just the change of scenery that I needed. 

 

I had a minuscule feature in a magazine article last week.   No dear friends, it was Not for my fashion & beauty tips!  Remember back in * this post * when I won the Resene Voucher as a Runner Up in the Garden Glow Up Competition?  Well they did a feature in the latest Habitat Magazine which is a free issue that comes out twice yearly.  I was delighted & offered my family members free signed copies but for some reason they did not take me up on my very kind offer 😉

We are getting sunny but chilly days - typical spring weather.  

Miss Pippi is lying in the afternoon sun down in the hospital corner of my lounge, where I put any house-plants that need extra care. How I wish I could lie down here myself & someone would lavish extra care on me!

Wishing you a wonderful rest-of-the-week dear friends,

Thank you for your ever-welcome visits here today,

With much love & friendship to you all,