“Ooh, ooh, ooh, she's a rag doll, such a rag doll ……… la la la la”

A good title for a song that!! Yes, I know, I’ve nicked it :0)

You wouldn’t want to hear me singing! So, here’s the latest of my, as I’m now calling it, ‘Corona Crafting’!

A week or so ago, I was sitting in bed with my cup of coffee (at silly o’clock in the morning as usual) looking at my new (ish) bespoke chest of drawers with Ikea mirror on top and decided it needed a little something by way of décor …. and that décor needed to be ‘me’. It’s only a small space, but it didn’t take long before the idea of a very long skinny rag doll popped into my head to hang on the mirror. My next Waldorf doll can wait a while longer I decided ……. 

A slight digression here, but with reason …….

For want of much decent to watch on TV the evening before (I’m really not into all of the reality shows), I’m going through my favourite DVDs, of which I have quite a few! And I’d decided to watch Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ starring Kenneth Branagh (of course), Emma Thompson, Richard Briers, Denzel Washington (scrummy!) and many other big names. I just love this 1993 film. It’s fun, and with gorgeous costumes – flowing full skirts and corset bodices and filmed entirely at the Villa Vignamaggio in Tuscany …… just call me a romantic! Anyway, those beautiful costumes I’ve referred to above became my immediate inspiration for dressing the doll – the part I always love best about making a rag doll. 

The doll itself is based on the Tone Finanger ‘Tilda’ doll, but with some modifications. I used to have a couple of the ‘Tilda’ books but sold them during a clear-out a few years ago. So, I had to freehand a pattern based on pictures I found on Pinterest. I used some lovely pure white lightweight 100% cotton/linen mix fabric for the dress and added some pretty lace at the cuffs. The bodice is made from a very delicate antique rose stripe fabric (had it in my stash for years), which I carefully inserted some antique style brass metal eyelets (love them). The hair is some felting yarn I had in and then I tied a piece of cheesecloth fabric in a lovely plum colour around her hair. She’s then finished off with painted shoes (to match the hair tie) silk ribbons and a little bit of gold glitter.

All in all, I’m rather pleased with her:0)

AND A SECOND PROJECT

Yesterday, I completed a ‘Reticule’. A good friend bought me a kit at Christmas, which I hadn’t yet got round to making. As you can see from the label, it came from an Alpaca Farm in the Cotswolds. Everything, therefore, is 100% alpaca wool, with added buttons and beads for decoration and is all stitched by hand and was relatively quick to make. I’ve decided for now to keep my dpns knitting needles in it. I wonder what’s next on my ‘Corona Crafting’ list …………….

Angel Doll

Having been out of action the last few weeks following admission into hospital for some BIG surgery, which leaves me feeling incredibly tender right now, I have little sewing to show, so (and as I’m not sleeping terribly well because of the surgery), I thought I could show you what I sent to Deb in New Zealand recently for her birthday ...... albeit a very belated birthday pressie (Deb’s birthday was in July!!!).

Anyway, Deb had sent me one of those lovely Tone Finnangar ‘Tilda’ books for my birthday in May and I got the impression (hope I was right!), that Deb rather liked the angel dolls in the book, so being unable to think of anything else to make for her, I set about making this little lady

I love the way you make the flip flop sandals – so easy and yet so effective.

The thing that really surprised me however, was how big the doll came out. Whenever I’ve looked at these dolls, I had assumed they were about the size of a ‘Barbie’ doll, but, No, they’re quite a bit bigger that that!!

Anyway, I’d better not sit at this compute for too long in case I seize up!!

Take care all

TILDA rag doll

Look familiar?? It’s been well over 2 years since I made my first ‘Tilda’ doll for Katarina for an Easter Swap present (Easter 2009). Little was I to know at the time that ‘Tilda’ would be so popular, because I ended up making about 6 more (to order) ….. and could have made about another 10 if I had given in to the requests I received. Flattered as I was, because they took soooooooo long to make, I decided I wouldn’t make any more – they were stopping me from making other things I really wanted to make. However, somehow earlier in the year Nancy (Promises to Keep blog) managed to twist my arm and persuaded me to make one for her .............. so I decided that while I was making one doll (for Nancy), I may as well make two and that way, I would have a an extra one.

The question now is whether there is still anyone out there interested in buying a ‘Tilda’ rag doll, because this is the ‘spare’ that I intend to sell. All of the others I’ve made have been on the pretty side, but I was always struck by the tomboy images of Tilda and so that’s the way I’ve gone with this one ….. still quite pretty, but in a Tomboyish kind of way …. don’t you just love her brown boots??!!! She has a red blouse and matching red socks and a pair of dungarees made from a lovely chocolate brown floral stripe fabric (including a front pocket)! Her lovely long plaits are made from a deep red wool and she has a pretty red bow in her hair.

This is definitely the very last ‘Tilda’ I shall make (apart from Nancy’s, which is half made), because I really want to get back to working on a patchwork quilt that I haven’t touched for well over a year and I really want to get it finished ……… and then there’s another I want to make after that!! LOL A gluten for punishment, that’s me!!!

So, if there are any interested ‘Tilda’ fans out there, the price in UK sterling is £50, plus the cost of posting and packing, which will obviously be higher the further she has to travel. You can contact me by email or by leaving a comment on this post.

Rosie May and one other!

So, here are 2 of the 4 rag dolls I’ve been working on lately ............. very definately the last ones I shall be making for a good while to come - time now to get some work done on my half-made patchwork quilt!

Doll number 1 ........... the first one (with no name) is made to order for a friend (for her to give to her friend’s daughter at least - I think anyway), which is why I haven’t named her. I’m rather pleased with the doll and think she looks quite cute and not too quirky, but this is where the pressure comes in – I always worry about whether the customer is going to happy ......... oh, the anguish!!! LOL

She has a pretty peachy colour dress with a scalloped hem and a white Broderie Anglaise dress underneath – she even has some white cotton knickers on look – apologies for such a rude display!!

Her big green eyes are painted and varnished with acrylics and the other features are embroidered. Brown wool for the hair, which is tied up in 2 big bunches with lovely coordinating chiffon type ribbon. And her shoes and socks are also painted and varnished with acrylics, but with added lace detail around the top of the socks, plus a tiny button at the side of the shoes – all rather cute I think – don’t you agree? I love those little thin legs!!!

Doll number 2 ........ who does have a name – Rosie May! She has the same facial and hair details and the same detail for the shoes and socks etc. Rosie is wearing a pretty pink dress with green coordinating trousers made from some Nancy Halvorsen fabrics (from her ‘Garden Song’ range I think), which I had in my stash and which I think is so pretty – I love the pink floral in particular.

Rosie is carrying a basket of pink rosebuds – hence her name I suppose!! And she has a lovely big pink coordinating bow in her hair.

I will probably be selling Rosie May if anyone likes her – contact me to discuss if interested.

Next time, I shall be able to show another one of the dolls I’ve been working on ........ she’s one of those ‘Tilda’ dolls that I originally made a couple of years ago and seemed to be quite popular at the time.

Until next time ...........

Look!

......... at this little lot!!

It was my birthday a few weeks ago (51 – not that I’m counting)!! And yesterday, I received some lovely, lovely pressies from my lovely, lovely friend, Deb, in New Zealand. Deb clearly understands me very well, because she sent me this fabulous ‘Tilda’ book - rag dolls, need I say more?

I have a couple of the ‘Tilda’ books, but not this one! And I’m really looking forward to making this lovely little angel – so, sweet!

I’ve only made a rabbit and a bear from the other books, so it’s gonna’ be fun making a doll. Deb also sent some lovely fabrics to help me along …… isn’t the cup cake case of fabric sweet?

and lastly, Deb also sent me this lovely Garden Sampler cross-stitch, which has a sweet little charm in it – this one will be added to the to-do list!!!!!

THANKS EVER SO Deb – I love them all!

Easter Bunny!

I didn’t quite manage to finish my latest project in time for Easter, but here she is anyway – better late than never! Introducing, Bunty, my Easter bunny

Look at those big eyes and those long droopy ears – isn’t she sweet? The pretty floral dress fabric is some that I had in a fabric sale from the USA and have wanted to use for a while now, and her big pink nose is made from a little bit of my wool stash – some I bought from the NEC last year from the Festival of Quilts. I think this is the first bit of the wool I’ve used (been saving it up for I don’t know what!).

I’ve decided not to put my Easter bits away just yet, as it would be a shame to shunt Bunty off into drawer so soon, so I’ll leave her out for another week .... or two maybe.

Well, I have an extra day off work today (yippee!!), but I must get on, as I have to go and buy paint for the new front door I shall be having fitted next weekend.

Say "Hi" to .........

....... 'BERRY' - my latest little fabric wonder!!!



She's quite whimsical/quirky looking isn't she? And are you thinking you've perhaps seen her somewhere before? Well, just scroll back up, - and there she is - the little lady on my 'Bilberry Grove' banner at the top of my blog. I've been meaning to make a rag doll to look like her for a long time.

And here she is too sitting in her very own chair - a 75p bargain from a second-hand shop recently. I'd been looking out for something for my dolls to 'pose' on while I took a photograph, so I was very pleased with this.



And get this:-



my own personalised fabric label - something else I've been wanting for ages and I recently found a web site I could order from!!

Now then, if you like Berry - here she is again ............ but this time, with her twin sister. I thought I may as well make two, while doing one.



And Berry's twin is up for sale if anyone is interested! £25.00 + postage and packing. But just in case anybody who purchased a 'Tilda' doll from me in 2009 thinks the price is a bit cheaper than Tilda was, that's because I haven't had to buy anything to make 'Berry' - she is made entirely from my stash, whereas I had to buy practically everything from scratch for the 'Tilda' dolls ..... sorry, just felt I needed to explain that point.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, email to discuss!

Confession time!!

It's just as well Wendy is such a lovely bloggy friend ..... and forgiving too, as I recently had to confess to her my guilty secret of out and out plagiarism!!!!! I hear lots of sharp intakes of breath, "how could she" I hear you say!! What happened was that I linked to Tanya's blog from a comment left on one of Wendy's posts and discovered the cutest Gingerbread doll dressed in pink that Wendy had made and sent to Tanya, (click on the link to see the original, and best by far, Ginger doll). Then realising I had some of the same pink fabric and the right colour felt, I couldn't resist having a go at making one. So here is my version of Wendy's little Ginger dolls:



Please note, ALL CREDIT FOR DESIGN GOES TO WENDY, not me!! And credit for her forgiving nature too LOL xxxxxx and Wendy is so modest, she didn't even put a picture of the one she made on her own blog ... can't say the same for me though eh!!!

Anyway, now that that confession is out (phew - doesn't it feel better to get these things off your chest??), and talking of Wendy, which I was (I should have called this post 'Wendy' shouldn't I really, instead of 'Confession time') I was going to show what I had made for her ..... firstly a belated Christmas pressie (very belated) is a Prairie Doll:



...... and secondly a birthday present - this cute little Cupid Rag Doll:



So that's the lot for now. I'm working on yet another Rag Doll - it's no use, I just can't resist making them, so I won't try (resist that is)!!

Till next time

Autumn Annie Winner!!

Apologies for keeping you waiting – that's just in case you were waiting with baited breath!! But I’ve been at work all day, so it’s had to wait until this evening.

I don’t know how that ‘Random Number Generator’ thingy works, so I used the old-fashioned ‘name out of a hat’ method – well, name out of a bath anyway – close!!!


Anyway ladies, Autumn Annie’s new home is going to be with ........................................



Roberta in Georgia, USA – congratulations Roberta.

Roberta, I need an email address for you so that I can contact you personally for address details etc - my email address can be found on my Profile.

Thanks to everyone who entered my Giveaway – it’s been fun!

Rag Doll Giveaway!

On the grounds that many bloggers host a Giveaway to celebrate their 100th blog post, I’m a tad late with this, as this one will make my 111th post (all the one’s!!!).




Anyway, this is ‘Autumn Annie’, wearing a red check dress topped with a star spangled apron and holding her little twiggy heart garland. I love making rag dolls, so I suppose my Giveaway had to be in keeping with that. If you would like to be in with a chance of winning my ‘Autumn Annie, these are the rules (much the same as many others):-

• You will receive one entry by leaving a comment on this post;

• Become a follower, or if you are already one, you’ll have another entry - let me know that you have become a follower please;

• and if you post on your blog about my giveaway you will receive a third entry.

There, that’s all there is to it!! Oh, except to tell you that the Giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on Monday 18th October 2010. And one other thing, it is open to anyone – worldwide!!