A Special Doll

Rainy Wednesday Greetings dear friends & readers

Well over a year ago Quite some time ago my friend Christine asked me to make her a very special doll

Her instructions were .  .  .

- she must be in blues (but I could add a touch of maroon)

- she must be a large country doll (not primitive)

- she must look like a girl doll (again not primitive)

- she would like dolls appliqued on her dress (!!!)

After I had finished making the cot blanket for my grandson here I felt confident enough to tackle the applique.

A lengthy look through my doll patterns unearthed an old pattern I had long ago been given - "Millicent" by Lyn Hyland of Lil Blokes.

 I decided to use this as a guide for the doll as at 85 cms long, she was certainly one tall girl

I finally finished my version of Millicent (Milly) today after spending several weeks to-ing & fro-ing on her

I am hoping she meets with Christines approval .... I altered the pattern quite a bit & changed my mind about several things along the way as I often tend to do

As pictured above, I left half the entire back seam of the skirt open so that when she sits, the applique dolls are displayed nicely & not half hidden from view

I was able to bring in the "touches of maroon" in the appliqued dolls clothing

I originally cut down a crochet doiley to make her a collar & had this sitting in place .  .  .  but then changed my mind as I felt she was a "country doll" & this was giving her more of a vintagey look

In the end, I didn't give her blouse a collar at all.

I thought she was complete, & she sat on a chair for a day or more, while I walked past her.

 But I felt she needed "something in her hands" somehow .  .  . though nothing covering up the appliqued skirt - 
not a handbag, not a toy, not a doiley .  .  . I was very undecided ???

These chunky wooden hearts were unearthed in my sewing drawer - I think they had been on a wallhanging in a previous life.  
I drilled some holes in the maroon one & added some raggy strips to make a small country swag for her  .  .  .  this is only pinned in place at present as I am still a teeny bit undecided .  .  .

.  .  .  & may wait to see what Christine thinks.

What do you think dear readers . . . swag or no swag ???

I do love Milly & her country colours - she will look perfect in Christines beautiful home.

After all my painting endeavours last post using the beautiful Escape colour, I found this old toolbox in my sleepout

In fact, it has been in there for so long I am actually unsure whether I bought it, it was given to me ... or just grew out of the piles of detritus in the corner of the sleepout!!!

It was ratty & tatty but I felt it could be given a make-over.

I waxed it & painted it my gorgeous Escape colour ... the Mr pointed out to me I had "forgotten" to paint the inside base, but I was planning to insert a lining, so why waste paint

This vintage cotton sheet was the perfect match for the blue colour so I made a padded cardboard base, covered it & glued it in place

As the edges were rough & uneven I disguised these with a lovely braid I found in my stash ...

winding the braid around the handle reminded me of a vine climbing along a trellis

Last week my dear friend Shirley popped in for a brief visit - the box was sitting on my dining table in a stage of half completion.

Shirley loved it so much, she asked if she could buy it (when finished) for her new craft room

I was so pleased it would be going to such a lovely home

When I hand-delivered it a few days later, Shirley showed me where she was planning to put it .... it looked simply perfect in her craft room holding some creative bits & bobs.

Likewise this table got completed, but this one I did in the lovely green shade, Amulet

We had some brief patches of sunshine this past week & dear little Pippi enjoyed sitting out in it watching me paint

She is looking so much better after recovering from her surgeries

Well folks, with my first group due this Sunday the Cottage is looking full, but all I can say is thank goodness they are not a Garden Circle !!!! The Garden IS a sorry sight indeed.
Thank you all for stopping by today - I hope the rest of the week is kind to you all
with much love & friendship,
Julie, Blackie & Pippi Longstocking 
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