Thursday, May 16, 2013

Finishing things

Hello dear friends & readers


this past week has seen me finishing a few things that were begun quite a wee while ago
Prior to my last post I had actually finished 2 things but did not wish to post about them until their new "owners" had seen them first ...
the first finish was an order from my friend Leeanne from here


On her last visit Leeanne had ordered a Miss Alice doll
She was to match a stunning quilt Leeanne had made & quilted
You can read her blog post about it here
(Miss Alice is a Mogs Design Pattern by Melissa Duncan)

to be honest I dont think neither mine nor Leeannes photos do Miss Alice justice
she is in gorgeous deep mustards & reds, & a friend who dropped in & saw her, mentioned she looked like a prim Amish girl - which I thought described her perfectly
I was so pleased that Leeanne loved her
(as I had offered for her to come back & live at my house!!!!!)

The 2nd finish I achieved was something a little unusual. . . 


When I visited with my friend Claire a month ago, she had revamped her laundry with beautiful vintage & shabby chic accessories


once again, my photography does NOT do it justice sorry folks

Now I knew Claire was always rather fond of my peg garland

made for me by my friend Elaine.
So I decided to make Claire a peg garland for her "new" laundry
but rather than the prim style I decided to try to go more shabby chic/ vintage style (yes these ideas just all float around in the wilderness inside my head!!!)


I was so happy with the finished result (as was Claire)
but I must confess to you . . . 
there I sat on the deck happily painting/sanding my wooden pegs
& a customer happened along. . . 
when she asked me what on earth I was doing??
I should've lied .... made something up ...

as when I explained I was making my friend a "peg garland"
she commented that I must be seriously bored/ perhaps needed to "get a life" !!!!!
(I didnt reply - I was too stunned - she just didnt GET it 
but Claire & I had a good chuckle about it later)

When the lovely ladies visited in February from here
& spoilt me presented me with this amazing parcel of goodies for hosting them



I was especially taken with this piece of fabric (back left hand corner) - that I had in mind to dress a dolly in & use the ric rac to trim her frock
I was quite delighted with how she turned out when I eventually got finished clothing her


Once again I have used the Rosalie Quinlan pattern "Friendship Angel" from the Homespun magazine

My friend Christine is a mad keen teddy bear fanatic & her house is full to the brim of the most gorgeous bears
(& its a 2 storey house I might add!!!)
She had long ago asked me to make a doll to hang in her entrance that was related to her bear collecting passion
so I dug out my Rosalie Quinlan "Ruby" doll pattern & found I had 2 doll bodies made already
the first one I kept entirely to the pattern



but for Christines order I altered it a little so I could tuck a bear in her arms 



plus I gave her a little felt hat I had made just so I could stitch the little bear button onto it (felt hat from Miss Alice pattern)


I hope she likes her "Ruby" bear-collector doll :-)

We have had some damp foggy Waikato days lately & the fire has been working overtime
it is good for drying dolls shoes when you are in a hurry to add the 2nd coat

No dolls were harmed in the taking of this photograph!!!!!

but you have to keep an eye out that they dont get singed!!!

I had the most special visit today from a very lovely blogging friend that I had met through our craft blogs
Wendy came over to visit with me from here :-)

We had a cuppa & a crafty chat & it certainly cheered my week immensely :-)
Wendy presented me with this beautifully wrapped package
(yes Wendy ... I wrapped it up again to photograph!!!)

Almost too beautiful to open!!

Inside was something I had commented on before on her blog, & had decided to purchase myself a copy in the future



the Simply Rouge book from House on the Hill design
gosh ... how special .... Wendy has made some of the gorgeous red handcraft designs in here
she does the most beautiful work & I am especially fond of her redwork & cross stitch
Thank You So Much Wendy for your very thoughtful gift - I am off to make a little heart out of the book (dinner can wait awhile!!!)
I have been especially lucky through my blog to meet the most loveliest like-minded craftspeople


& I feel very thankfull  :-)
Wishing you a wonderful week folks - happy creating where ever you are
Thanks for stopping by
much love/hugs/friendship,
Julie xoxo

9 comments:

  1. Hi Julie, Love your blog :-) The dolls are forever beautiful! The peg garland is delightful!

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  2. I'm still laughing at the legs in the coffee cup by the fire!!! I wondered if she was washing her hair? Maybe tea dying it!!!! Teehee :-)
    Well you know I love the doll :-) I like the peg garland too, what was that women thinking? She could do with a few hobbies by the sounds. Your laundry room is lovely, I can dream of having one like that one day. Kerry will be rapt to see the fabric she gave you made into a dolls dress. Gee Julie you are so clever.
    Nice you got a visit from Wendy another bloggy buddy.
    Oh Miss Alice is getting famous all this blogging about her........did I tell you I love her.

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  3. Where to start? Love the new doll with the bear-so cute!!! Love all the goodies you got in February, and love the doll's dress you made with the fabric-very cool! As for the peg garland-that is gorgeous! I am sure it will have a special hanging spot in Claire's laundry!! As for that lady!! I think she needs more of a life like ours! Creative people have vision that most don't understand, but our homes reflect. I do love the legs hanging in the mug!!!! And a beautiful gift from Wendy! Enjoy the the weekend, Michelle.

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  4. Oh my gosh you have been a very busy lady....Love everything that you have made and who wouldnt understand the peg garland!!! And dosent fabric look different when dressed on such lovely ladies.
    I too am chuckling about the legs by the fire....cute. Thanks must go to Leeanne for telling me to have a peek on you blog!! Havent been a regular blog viewer - now I know what I am missing out on!!!
    Have a productive weekend especially if its wet and you cant get outside...Hugs kerry

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  5. I love all your finishes, the dolls are gorgeous, Charlie loves her one too! The legs in the mug are such a cute image. I'm so glad you like the book, I look forward to seeing your makes! Thank you for a fantastic morning yesterday, hugs Wendy

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  6. Wonderful Julie, such a feast for the eyes. The garland is really gorgeous. What a trick the legs upstanding in the mug, that really makes you laugh.That book is a delightful book and every project is worth making in it. Have a good week end. Hugs Shirley

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  7. I love coming for a visit Julie... I enjoyed meeting all the new dollies and over happy to see one was a Teddy fan. I love the Peg garland. Thanks for all the eye candy. How lucky to meet the lovely Wendy :-)

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  8. Wonderful newsy post Julie - I love ALL your dolls and the legs in the cup look such hard case!! How cool to meet another bloggy friend :-) Awesome ideas that float around in your head.. that peg garland is certainly a real work of art!! (And maybe your visitor wasn't quite the crafter...?!!)I hope you have a productive weekend with lots of visits from your mojo!

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  9. Hello Julie..how wonderful.. a House on the Hill pattern! When I first started blogging I remember i bought the sweetest vintage style calendar from House on the Hill & I loved every page. I just love your titivation in the laundry. What lovely bottles on the shelf...do tell, what lives in them? Very handy possie to have the coat hangers too..did you make those or find them? The peg garlands are both darling. Unfortunately, I have my laundry behind double cupboard doors..so not too much space in there. It must be very rewarding to create such sweet things & have other people just love them & treasure them. I cannot think why anyone would come & visit your cottage if they didn't intend to have an open minded to the quaint, the cute & the frivolous! Such pretty camelias..aren't they such a delight. Have a lovely weekend my friend. Much love Catherine x0x0x

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