Looking for treasure

A short trip this afternoon took me to the coast and nearby Morecambe Bay. Being an estuary there is no golden sand but the place has its own stark beauty.

In winter the wind-whipped tree branches are covered in lichen and the dry grasses cling to the gravely shoreline

I crunched my way along the shingle determined to find treasure.

I confess this place is not a treasure seeker's paradise but I kept on looking

A lone feather caught my eye but it could hardly be called treasure.

But then I struck gold! Well not quite gold but it was good enough for me on this blustery February day.

This small piece of green sea glass sat twinkling in the sunshine. My birthstone is emerald so I had found treasure indeed.

Happy faces

After I opened my Dollytime Etsy shop in September 2009 I was thrilled when I sold my first pattern after only two days. I never imagined for one moment that my little dollies would prove popular with knitters around the world so a very big thank you to all of you who have purchased a pattern from my Etsy shop over the past 18 months.

Living in the UK I've always felt guilty that buyers from my own country have been required to purchase patterns in American dollars. Happily I'm able to tell you that I have created a little shop where my PDF email patterns are available for purchase in Pounds Sterling for anyone with a Paypal account.

To view the patterns and purchase them in Pounds Sterling (GBP) please go to http://dollytime.blogspot.com/ where you will find this little dolly waiting to welcome you.

So, what else have I been doing this week?......... I hadn't planned to design any more patterns for a while but the weather here in northern England has been so dark and dismal that I couldn't resist playing around with pretty fabrics and brightly coloured yarn from my stash.

And here is the result.... a collection of little cuties with enormous smiles, each dressed in a different colour. I admit that in their bald state they don't look very promising but I'm hoping to give them hair later in the week when their clothes are finished. Don't you just love bright colours when skies are grey?

Hoping you have all had an enjoyable weekend, wherever you are.

First snowdrops

I love to think

That long ago,

There fell to earth

Some flakes of snow

Which loved this cold,

Grey world of ours

So much, they stayed

As snowdrop flowers.

Isn't that just the sweetest poem. It was written by Mary Vivian.

 Thank goodness these brave little blooms will thrive in freezing conditions.

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!!