WOYWW...

What a fab week of celebrations we have had.  So many wanted to swap ATCs that I had to make another batch of them.  :-)  I feel so very blessed to have so many blogging friends all over the world.  It really made me chuckle that it cost less to send one out to Slovenia via airmail than it did to send them to my friends in England....the world has gone mad.

This is the latest batch of ATCs I made.  I've dumfed red poppies onto green prefelt and beaded the centres.

I was commissioned to make a child sized Mr Tumble's spotty bag to go out to a little Grandson out in Dubai with one of my Tiny Tumbles.  I also had to make Tiny Tumble a spotty bag of his own too but forgot to snap a picture of it before posting it.....It was a real labour of love because I appliqued the colourful felt spots on the fabric before making the bag up so it took hours.  :-) It's fully lined, and has a velcro fastening and I'm pleased to say the lady that ordered it was very pleased with it.

The other bit of fun I've got to share with you today is what I've spent the last few days knitting a log cabin square in between coughing and sleeping and of course watching all the Jubilee celebrations on the telly.  [Why am I always poorly when I get a few days off from work?].  If you fancy having a go you will find the pattern here.  I'm not sure quite what I shall make it into but I have a feeling I know some little girls that would use it for a dolly's blanket.  :-)

And to finish off my Wednesday's post today is a collage of the beautiful flowers in our garden at the mo.  We seem surrounded by beautiful colour out there.....just wish I felt well enough to really enjoy it.  Thanks for calling by this week.  I've had a lot of wonderful ATCs through the post already but will aim to snap a few to share them maybe next week when hopefully I'm feeling rather better.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

Another week has passed and spring is on it's way [she says hopefully]   :-)

The churchyard opposite our house is full of snowdrops so I snapped a pic for you.  They look so pretty amongst the old grave stones.

Phillip the pheasant likes to come to feed on a daily basis....mostly to annoy our dogs I think cos here he is right outside our kitchen patio door feeding and watching the 3 dogs sitting the other side of the glass  :-)  He is such a stunning bird and is so beautifully marked.

I thought this week I would show you a busy desk.  This was Monday's desk.....and this week the mess was made by just the two of us cos our friend T was unable to join us.  We seem to fill our table with all sorts.....

• fabrics
• glue
• scissors [at least two pairs], snips [at least two pairs], pins and needles
• dolly patterns...yes more dollies in the making.
• threads, trims, beads and buttons in the box in the middle of the table....this is Jo's travelling project box.
• sewing machine [Jo's only cos mine are all behind me as I stand to snap the pic]
• 2 coffee cups [compulsory of course and somewhere there will be two chocolate biscuit wrappers!]
• the canvas pic Jo is working on
• through the doorway in top right hand corner is the ironing board today [Jo put it here so I couldn't see her using bond a web on it  :-) ....and we all know what bond a web on the ironing board is like!]

My family is still growing.  I have had so many people call in and want to buy them that I thought I'd best make enough to fill a shelf in the blog shop.  I have now cut out a further 3 so will be uploading them all in the blog shop as soon as they are all finished.  They are adapted from an 'Oh sew Dollin' pattern and are suitable for children over three to play with [some have small parts such as ribbons and buttons].  Each and every one have instant appeal as all my little visitors have proved and I know at least two of these have found homes already  :-).....and the best bit is I love making them  :-) :-)

Here is my desk today.  These are the next three little dolls in the making...three more little girl dollies and lots of finishing off still to do.  Each doll is different so if you have a little person in your life I'm certain there will be one to suit.

That's it from me today.  Please leave me a little hello comment before dashing off to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.  Hope you all have an exciting week [I have lots planned for this week and will share more after the events [yes there is more than one on the cards for this week]....aren't I a tease?].

Hugs to you all,

Annie x

WOYWW.....and an update

Firstly I would like to thank all who sent me links to the on line sites they use for material.  I have visited each and every one and guess what?.....not one of them sell material that's yellow with thin blue stripes OR blue with little yellow stars.  I have emailed all the sites too and the nearest I can get is yellow with black stripes and blue with white stars.  I've bought some blue with white stars and have tried colouring in the stars with a yellow pen..

It works but is time consuming....thankfully these dollies are only small so I will only need small amounts of fabric for their clothes.

Here is the one Mr Tumble lookie likey doll that I've made so far and I have to say I rather like him.  I am still trying to make some dolls to keep here for the Grandbabies to play with but my little dolls are proving so popular with little people that the one you saw on my desk last week has now found a new home with our Funday Monday friend T's little Granddaughter who paid us a visit on Monday this week .....She was such a sweetie and I'm such a softie.....she left holding her dolly's hand and dangling her by her side  :-)

So this is what is on my desk today...

I'm making a new doll with stripey tights, a pretty pink dress and think she will have yellow hair in pigtails.  I rather like the effect of using stripey material for the legs but think the next one [or maybe even this one] will have shorter pants on so you can see her legs [I've pulled them up for you here to show off her tights]......can you tell how much fun I'm having?

I have finished all the Wedding stationery for now and just have the order of services, table place settings and favour boxes to make now.  We have done M's Wedding dress fitting and I just have to shorten it a little and I have the first of the Bridesmaids coming for a fitting on Sunday....it's all so exciting.

I hope you have a peep at the post below to see what my much older sister has been up to this week  :-)  Leave me a little 'hello' comment before you pop over to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.

Have a great week.  Stay warm and creative.

Hugs,

Annie x

A quick update

Just thought you would like to see that I have now finished the little dolly with stripey legs that I snapped for my blog this morning and today I have added another little dolly to my collection.....there is no stopping me now and I'm taking orders if anyone is interested.  :-)

Mr Tumble is finished...

You will have seen on my Wednesday's post that I had another order for one of my Mr Tumble lookie likey dolls.  

Well, here he is finished.  I promised to put a pic up to show his new owner before I send her an invoice so I really hope she is pleased with him.  :-)

You can see I have put felt 'buttons' on the front because he is for a 2 year old little girl. 

WOYWW

Hello to all my wonderful blogging friends. Since last Wednesday I have sewn and sewn til my hands ache and 

.....my 'done rail' is now full to capacity

.....plus there are 6 motor cross bike trousers in a huge bag below it that have all been finished too [and what a job they were!....stiff and heavy]

....but my 'to do' rail still looks like this and I have much more still in bags waiting to be done.

Plus my ironing board looks like this today...and that can mean only one thing....wahoooooo I have another order for one of my Mr Tumble lookie likey dolls.  The last one you saw sitting here keeping me company went to a really good home just before Christmas.

So, I would have to say business wise it's been a really good week and long may it last cos we have a Wedding to pay for this year as you will have seen in the last post  :-)

Church and Reception venues...... booked

Flowers...organised

Photographer....booked

Cars...booked

Wedding dress.....bought [needs altering]

4 Bridesmaids dresses....bought this week [pretty coral pink and need altering]

Wedding stationery....in the planning stage.....Thinking....Ivory / Coral / Pink / Gerberas / Butterflies.....any suggestions for a simple design are very welcome.

 So?  You see I'm leading a pretty hectic life but that's pretty normal here.  I've still managed a bit of knitting and now have only 4 more squares to make before I can join them together and then crochet the edging on the latest baby blanket.  Do pop over to Julia's blog and check out all the other crafty spaces [I'm sure there are many more far more exciting than mine this week] but do leave me a quick hello comment before you go and I will do my best to pay you a visit in between my sewing jobs today.

PS don't forget to pop to the prev post and make your guess to join in my celebration fun to be in with a chance to win.  No one has got it exactly right as yet....folk just don't realise what a great team we make and how much we can get done in a day [well 5 hours of it anyway] :-) :-) :-)

WOYWW....

I'm a bit like a duck on water this week...I remain calm on the surface in front of my customers but underneath the surface my feet are paddling like mad  :-)  I'm sure I'm not alone.

Yesterday one of my customers had to make 2 journeys to her car to bring in all she had been begging from her friends.  She has previously already brought Jo and I several piles of bedding for our 'dress the girl around the world' dresses that we have been making and yesterday's pile way outweighed anything she had brought before.  As you can see my ironing board was loaded up with some really pretty sheets, quilt covers and pillowcases.  We have had to put the little dress making on hold to find time for all our Christmas activities but we do promise to get back to it after Christmas so this will all be put to good use.

Also this week this gorgeous little gift came through my door from the ever lovely Jo[zart].  As you can see she has made me [and Jo] lovely pin cushions that attach to our sewing machines...they also have a place for my snippers to sit in....this just might stop me loosing them  :-)  Thanks Jo.

In between my many sewing jobs I am also knitting like mad for the special little people in my life.  This is the second of these I'm knitting....the other has sneaked into the corner of the photo above.  These have to be finished by Sunday because this is our family day to all be together for Christmas so I'd best keep knitting ...and quick!

As you can see I still have a Mr Tumble doll looking for a home.  He is sitting here watching me type but would really love to find a new home for Christmas so if any of you know of a little boy or girl who would love him then please get in touch...he was made as an order but the lady let me down at the last minute so he is still for sale if anyone would like to buy him and I can post him straight away so he would arrive in good time for Christmas. :-)

Well folks that's it from me this week....I have a 'to do' rail to clear and rather a lot of knitting to finish so I must keep moving.  Please leave me a little 'hello' message before you pop over to Julia's blog to join in the WOYWW fun.

Also if you would like to give me your vote for my favourite dumfed poppy pic [and I know a lot of you loved it too] that I have entered into a Christmas party draw please follow this link and click on vote under my pic. [many thanks to all who vote for me x] 

Click here to vote and give me your support.

 

Hope you all have a great week and manage to get all your Christmas crafting done in good time.Hugs,
Annie x

 

 

WOYWW.....

I'm a bit late today but I have a really good excuse.  I normally type up my Wednesday post on Tuesday night and put it to launch automatically so I can start my day's sewing first thing on a Wednesday morning but last night I had some rather special visitors that filled my house with love.  The two new additions to our family came to visit with their mummy and daddy and so did their big cousins with their mummy [still playing the waiting game for number 3 to arrive...it won't be long now] and to join in the fun their Uncle M and Auntie G came too.  The first fun gathering of the clan with all our children and grandchildren and very probably the only one while we only have 4 grandchildren cos little Steve will be coming out to play very soon.  :-)

How much love can you fit on one settee? It's only a 3 seater but I can count 8 on there if I can count the one tucked up inside his mummy  :-)

Big cousins enjoying a cuddle with their baby cousins.  :-)

Here is one very organised new daddy showing us how to transport twins.  :-)

The health visitor is really pleased with the twinnies cos little Lexi has gone from 4lb to 5 lb and her big brother Sam has gone from 5lb 13oz to 6lb 8oz.  What a great job M and B are doing.  

 On my desk today you can see the two boxes full of little African dresses all cut out ready to make....and this is just some of them cos Twiglet has lots more cut out and ready up at her house......looks like I have a bit of catching up to do with my dress making doesn't it?

Sitting watching me is the last Mr Tumble doll that I was asked to make.  Yes he is still here....because the lady that ordered him just never emailed me back! Why would anyone order something and then just disappear?

So if you know any little person who would like to own a Mr Tumble dolly then please email me for details....he will have red buttons when finished but these will be made of felt if the child it is wanted for is under 3 years old for safety reasons.

Well folks thats all from me for today....I have sewing waiting for me and the postman should bring me more gorgeous wool today to knit some chunky cardies with so I had better get moving  :-)  Thanks for dropping in.  Hope you all have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

Tumbling while we wait...

As some of you will know from time to time I get orders for a look-a-like Mr Tumble rag doll and all day today I have been head down making this latest one. [in between pacing the floor and taking phone calls  :-) ]

I like to pop them on my blog so the buyer can approve him before paying so thought you'd all like to have a peep too.  It's been wonderful distraction therapy for an anxious expectant Nanny  :-)  The only thing he needs now is red buttons on his top but I am waiting to know the age of the child he is for because if they are under 3years I usually make them out of felt rather than putting proper buttons on for safety.

For those following twinnie progress....M has been allowed home because the contractions have eased now but with strict instructions to go straight back if any further developments later...they only live very close to the hospital so I'm sure she will rest best at home while they wait  :-)

The latest Mr Tumble...

This is my latest 'ta da' moment.  I'm pleased to say I have cleared my 'to do' rail and have now been able to finish my latest Mr Tumble.

Here he is sitting in my chair with his spotty bag waiting for approval from his new owner and then he will be sent first class to make a little boy smile  :-) 

He's such a well loved character by all pre-school children .

....if anyone else wants one making just email me for more details.

Both Twiglet and I have also been working on the new designs for the blog shop so keep a look out girls.

All in a day :-)

As you saw yesterday I planned to tackle making my next order for a Mr Tumble doll.  

As they say..."all the best made plans...."

This is as far as he has got.  The basic doll is made but as yet he has no face, hair or shoes.  I managed to sew stripes on his trouser fabric, make up his trousers and make his top and bow tie.  But thats it!

What kept me? I hear you say.  Well, it was this lot coming through my door!  I had a steady flow of customers [one of which sat herself down for a 3/4 hour chat....not a problem though cos she needed my time more than I did].  I had yet another 2 more new customers amongst all that arrived and between them they managed to fill my 'to do' rail!  I now have 1058 customers!  Of course while I'm doing fittings I'm not sewing and Mr Tumble will now have to wait a day or two to be completed cos I have deadlines to keep with a lot of this other sewing.

We finished off the day with a visit to the cinema to see The King's speech.  If you haven't been yet then make it a must.  It's a brilliant film and well worth seeing.

WOYWW....

Happy Wednesday to one and all.  It's that day of the week when a lot of creative folk share what they have been doing and what they have on their desk today.  Julia really did start something didn't she?  I can't thank her enough....and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

 

As you will see in yesterday's post I have now finished the special puppet I was asked to make and he will soon be winging his way off to his new home.  I have now been asked to make another Mr Tumble doll so today that is what you can see on my desk.  Here you can see I have sorted out the fabrics needed.

 I have got out my 'old faithful' doll making book and have cut out all the pieces I need for his special clothes.

Here you can see all the body parts cut out and ready to sew so you can guess what I plan to be making today.

I would like to say a huge thank you to all who made suggestions on last week's blog.  Twiglet and I have done a lot of planning using some of the ideas and over the next few weeks I'm sure our plans will be put into production.  Watch this space as they say.

Now, enough from me,  please pop over to Julia's blog and check out all the other creative spaces that are being exposed today.  Thanks for visiting and for all your wonderful comments.

WOYWW.....

Happy WOYWW everyone....yes it is a much happier one here today than it has been lately.  My cold/flu bugs seem to have gone and thankfully my sciatica has gone too so I am feeling rather more like 'me'.

I have had my usually busy week this week with trousers, jackets, tops  etc  to alter and of course I have managed to finish a new little friend [see previous post].  

 

Today I am working on 4 huge cushion seat pads for a boat.....yes never a dull minute here is there?  

 

I have to make new fitted and zipped cushion covers for them so am glad I still have a little helper to hold one end of the material  :-) [he was finished yesterday and features in the previous post]. 

I always welcome a bit of help  :-)

"Gosh Annie, does it really take all this zipping for those cushion covers?"

I'm afraid it does Mr Tumble but don't worry I do cut it into lengths and sew it in first so you don't have to stay tied up for long  :-)

Enough of my madness for today.  As you can imagine the cushion covers take a while to make and my 'to do' rail is filling up behind me as I do them so I need to get moving.   :-)

Before I go I just want to share my 'promise of spring' photo I took yesterday  :-) These are the first daffodil bulbs just peeping up through the soil.

Please pop over to Julia's blog and join in the WOYWW fun and I hope to catch up with rather more of you this week.  Thanks to you all for being so thoughtful and caring while I have been poorly.  The get well soon wishes really helped my recovery.

Mr Tumble...

As you will know I have been asked to make another Mr Tumble style doll.  This is the third I've made now and each one has his own special character.  I have just finished the latest one so thought I'd introduce him to you [and to update his new owner on his progress].

His trousers have to be yellow with blue stripes and, as ever, I don't have any fine striped yellow material so I stripe my own  :-)....he's got to be right hasn't he?

I make his hair using long blond fur fabric and, as you can see here, he has had a trim  :-)

Ta da....Mr Tumble is now complete.  I am now going to let his new owner know now and he will be soon winging his way off to his new home....I will be sad to see him go 'cos he is quite a character. 

I do hope they love him as much as I do and he is happy in his new home.

Mr Tumble...

As some of you will have seen on my to do list in the prev post I planned to make my gorgeous little Granddaughter P a Mr  Tumble doll for her second birthday this Saturday.  She loves his programme and is already able to use many of the signs he uses.  She doesn't have special needs but I am certain the more that can converse with children that do the better.


As a lot of you don't know who Mr Tumble is [and why would you unless you have a pre-school child in your life?] I thought I would add a pic of the real thing.  He is a clown played by Justin Fletcher on Something Special which is a programme aimed at special needs children and he uses Makaton Sign language......It's a brilliant programme and all little children seem to love it.

Several asked for updates when I made him so here goes......

 Firstly I have an old favourite when it comes to doll making.  I have used the rag doll pattern from this book very many times and adapted it each time to suit the needs of the doll.  It makes a doll about 16" in height so it is a very huggable size.

I have selected all the materials needed.

I don't have any striped yellow fabric so.....

.....I stripe my own with blue stitching  :-)

Here you can see I have started to make his body.  Iv'e made this pattern so many times now that it is like creating an old friend.

This is the body completed and now I can make him have a personality.

I have made a wig from long fur fabric and glued it in place before stitching it....don't worry he will get a hair cut  :-)







I made the clothes by adapting the pattern to make his waistcoat with yellow sleeves with velcro fastenings, a red dickie bow tieand red felt buttons.....You have to get the details right or they notice you know  :-)

Ta da!

I have added black felt shoes and made him a spotty bag....You can't have a Mr Tumble without his spotty bag can you?  I'm sure I will have one happy Granddaughter on Saturday....don't you agree?  :-)