Alice in Wonderland

Greetings friends. I've been enjoying enforced hibernation for a couple of weeks as my computer decided enough was enough and simply refused to turn on. I now have a brand new one so am up and running again.

Before I tell you what I've been making I'd like to tell you about a blogging chum of mine who had never picked up a pair of knitting needles until a couple of months ago and now she is knitting little dollies. All her dolls have real character and at the moment she's working on a grandma. You'll find her at Space Within. And just look at that giant cup of tea she's enjoying.

You'll be pleased to know I haven't been wasting my time and have produced two new characters for my Etsy shop. My Alice in Wonderland dolly was nearing completion when I decided she must have a White Rabbit as a companion. And so, after several weeks of frantic knitting I have two new rascals to show you.

If you are familiar with Lewis Carroll's story you may remember that when Alice fell down the rabbit hole she found a tiny key that fitted a tiny door behind a curtain. When the door was opened a beautiful garden was revealed. So, just in case Alice decides to pop back down the rabbit hole she has the little key on a ribbon round her neck.

And as for the White Rabbit? Well, he is invariably late and so I have given him a pocket watch for his waistcoat pocket.

I'm sorry I haven't been able to pop in and see you all recently. It looks like I have a lot of catching up to do.

Until next time

Little Dolly update

I've given many of my dolls a companion and this little lady was feeling left out as she didn't have one. And so I made her a tiny Baby Bunting doll to cuddle.

I hope you're enjoying your weekend. We are having continuous wind and rain here in the UK but thankfully it is snug and warm indoors and I'm looking at gardening books!!

Little Dolly

Greetings friends. It's been a while since I fluttered by and I confess not a great deal has been happening here at the 'patch'. As it's horribly dull and wet today, and taking photos would be impossible, I thought I'd show you the dolly I've just finished making. But first, a little verse that I'm rather fond of.

Tabitha Meg has a head like an egg,

And her body is short and squat.

Though her legs are thin and her hair is straight

She's the beautif'lest dolly I've got.

She's a kind-of-a, sort-of-a homemade doll,

And a birthday gift for me,

For my Granny is clever at things like that,

And 'Tab' is her work, you see.

I shall always love my Tabitha Meg,

And when I am old and grey,

I shall keep her safe in a cardboard box,

And give her a cuddle each day.

Whilst creating new characters I like to imagine the many knitters around the world all putting a great deal of love into making little dollies for children.

Inspiration for my latest little girl came from the drawings my daughter did when she was very small, and so I made her with tiny tots in mind. She's very easy to knit and extremely huggable with a 'soft as a pillow' body. Her arms, legs, hat, hair and eyes are all firmly stitched on. Should she enjoy plenty of jammy kisses and falls from the baby buggy then she would be washable (with care) in warm soapy water. The knitting pattern for her is now in my Dollytime Etsy shop.

The very last thing I add to a dolly is cheek colour (in this case done with a beeswax crayon). I thought I'd show you pictures of before and after rosie cheek treatment. Just look at the difference it makes.

Dolly has now taken on her own personality and this little girl is very definitely a rascal. See what happened when she found my box of coloured pencils.

Thank you for dropping by today. Over the past few weeks I've watched on TV the many disasters and weather events that have occurred around the world and I sincerely hope you have not been badly affected by any of them. Wishing you the Very Best for 2011.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing you all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas

Let's play in the snow

Rosy cheeks and tingling toes....... how well I remember that 'snow play' feeling.

This delightful picture is on the front cover of the 1951 Lucie Attwell Annual. Don't you just love it.

Do read this little verse as I think it speaks for children everywhere.

This little tot's wishes have certainly been answered here in Britain as Mr Forecast Man has been warning us all week about imminent 'normous falls of snow. And now the white stuff has well and truly arrived for the second time this month. Children everywhere will be whooping with joy whilst their unfortunate parents are most likely snowbound with no hope of reaching the shops for all those last minute Christmas essentials.

Fortunately I acquired my Christmas tree from a local farm yesterday before this recent snow fall but I won't be bringing it indoors for a couple of days (it's currently staying warm and dry in the garage).

I hope your Christmas preparations are going well whatever your weather.

Until next time.