Thursday Dolly Day

So here it is Thursday already! We have been spending so much time working in the yard. I was sick so many summers and had surgeries and then last summer we were gone for 2 weeks. Our yard has been neglected for 5 years. With sheltering in so much, we have been working on the yard and gardening. Jimmy has taken an interest in it again, so it's been something we can do together. I just forgot how much time it takes and how little time you spend inside when you work outside!

My doll came.  I got another one of the Tudor china heads that were once sold at the Enchanted Dollhouse in Vermont. I used the rest of my Etsy Mother's Day gift card for her. She was put together and is a bit larger. She came with her dress and pantaloons.

Her name is Emma. She is about 15".

I did make her a little slip using a larger item vintage item. It already had the pin tucks and I added the tiny lace.

I didn't like the collar, so I tacked it down inside. I also turned down the belt and added a little button to change the look. I added some lace along the bottom for a bit more length.

I do love the under sleeves. I need to add these to some of my doll dresses.

So here is her dress with the changes. I think it's much better around her neckline as you can see her face.

Here's the family!

Emma

Sally

Meg

Nell

My Tasha friend told me there was one more...Molly. I found her on a Tasha Tudor book site...the Cellar Door in CT. I know the owners and they are sending her to Portland tomorrow. I will have to make the doll's body and her clothes. I think she is larger too. It will be fun.

I hope you are all well. The doll world is a bit of a pause from all the sad things happening in our world. I am still trying to be safe. 

Monday Made: Tea Wallets

Good morning Blogger friends! It's a new day and a new week. I've kind of lost track of how many weeks we have been sheltering in, but does it really matter? Jimmy and I are both doing fine and making progress around the house and with projects. I do believe staying home and staying in as much as possible has made a lot of difference in our state. Not everyone feels that way. Our governor is starting to work on some plans for opening up the state but she is being cautious and I am in agreement.
So weeks ago, one of my Tasha Tudor friends Niki, contacted me and asked if I would be willing to make 12 little tea wallets for her. She is giving her sister a garden party birthday this summer and wanted tea wallets as party favors. Niki lives in Florida and has the most beautiful garden I have ever seen. She is so sweet and has sent me kind words and little gifts over the years when I was recovering. She asked me this way before the virus, and I was just kind of down. It was such a blessing to get the special order! It just was a jump start for the winter blahs. I thought I would be working on them when I went to my quilt retreat in April but that was rescheduled to June and just this weekend, it has been canceled until next April. Such is life.

 I went thought my fabric stash and of course, I had all the pink and green floral fabric I needed. It's fun to go shopping in your own sewing room, especially when all the craft stores and fabric stores are closed due to the virus. Don't they know that sewing is essential...lol

I do have a funny story. I have had this little pattern for over 20 years. I have copies of it. Do you think I could find the pattern? I spent several days looking for it. I am pretty organized and it was driving me crazy. I like this one as it has a little quilt block in the center. Well, I went over to my storage unit (close to home) and found it right on top in a tub of fabric. Don't ask...I just did a happy dance and said a little thank you prayer!

It was so fun to choose the fabrics. That's one of my favorite things to do when starting projects.

Lots of pieces waiting to go together! there are 12 pieces for each tea wallet. On of my friends said I was crazy to so such a detailed little project. I didn't think so and I know Kiki will love them.

You can see the progress in this photo. Oh, I was having so much fun.

The next step....all lined up after being sewn together. I thought they needed something in the center.

I dug out my charms! I had 8 little teapots. They are 1/2 charms so they would work. I got on Etsy and found a vender here in the USA who could send me 6 more quickly. They are very inexpensive. They arrived in just a few days. YEAH!

This is the inside of the tea wallets. They can actually hold 4 tea packets.

I added 2 tea packets...STASH tea from Oregon. There is room for Niki to add 2 more of her own choice is she wishes.

This is my very first tea wallet I made about 20 years ago. My sewing room is decorated in Mary Engelbreit colors and fabrics. I carry this in my sewing basket where ever I go.

I enjoyed the project so much and I enjoyed doing this post. Sewing and fabric makes me happy. I pray you have a good week ahead and find a little fun and joy this week. 

Vintage Bonnet Pinkeeps and Sewing

I've been spending some of my time working outside weeding and inside sewing. I'm working on an order for a friend. It's quite a fun project and I will share that later. When I was down in my sewing cottage, I came across my little collection of handmade bonnet pinkeeps. I think they are adorable.
They make me happy and I wonder what they would tell me if they could talk!

This one has a few thimbles tucked in the middle. So cute. I like the fabrics on this one.

Lots of pins inside this one! Lots of 1940''s fabrics.

I like the little ruffle on the outside of this one. It's a bit larger.

This little plaid one is the smallest of my collection. Notice how the owner tucked straight pins along the edge~

I just happened to come across directions to make these little babies in a pile of things I was looking at. Perfect timing. I'd like to try one when I finish my projects that are waiting.

It was such a pretty day outside yesterday. Look at that blue sky! This is my neighbor's flowering tree. The virus has given us some lower pollution and it shows!  Have a great day blogger friends. 

Tea Time Tuesday # 168...Another Day With Ava

Ava was over today, so I didn't have time for tea. One of my Tasha Tudor friends was asking to see some of our tea cozies. I was working down in my sewing cottage with Ava, so I was looking at some of my ME tea things. I love this book. It's really just so charming. I never tire of it.

A great Jane Austen quote with a wonderful illustration by Mary Engelbriet.

Summer means more time babysitting for Grandma Linda. I had Ava today and Otto tomorrow. I love being a grandmother, but I sure get tired out.

This is my tea cozy that I made years ago. It's my favorite pattern for a homemade tea cozy.
I have made many of these but I have given most away as gifts.

This is my funny tea cozy. She is more like a doll. Her head is painted on a large wooden bead like object. She makes me smile.

 
When Ava arrived this morning, I decided to make stamp shortbread cookies with her. It fun to watch her in the kitchen. She enjoys it and even knows how to clean up.

Ready for the oven!

They turned out great and they are so good with tea. They are almond flavored.

I also wanted to start teaching Ava to sew on the machine. She has done a bit of handwork. Her other grandma sews, but Ava wasn't to interested to do it with her. I made a big deal about her doing so well and we made a simple pillowcase. It's a beginning. She was really proud of it.
Soo

Monday Made....Pin Cushions

It's Monday and some weeks, I share something on my Tasha Tudor site for Monday Made. Today, I posted some pin cushions that I made or that were given to me. I love pin cushions and if you sew or quilt, they seem to be everywhere! Please excuse my photos, as I took them last night in my sewing cottage and the lighting wasn't really good.

When Peggy and I were running quilt retreats, we had different themes and would gift our customers with a pin cushion. This is one of my favorites. We had a laundry theme that was so cute and we made these little wash tubs filled with the wash and tiny clothes pins.

My quilting buddy Tierney gave me this one that she made out of wool. It's nice because it's heavy.

LaVonne saved a little old leather shoe and turned it into a pin keep for me. She used her wool for the stuffing. She knows I love old buttons, so she added a few...cute idea.

My Tasha Tudor friend Robin made this little bird one for me. It sits on a spool. If you look under it's wing, you will see a place for needles too1

Another Tasha friend and quilter, Jan made this one for me. It has a tiny miniature block in the center! It's so well made and is also good because it's weighted so it stays put. Jan is an excellent quilter too.

This little mouse is probably my favorite and most used pin cushion. One of my friends hoped it wasn't a VooDoo mouse! Goodness, no! This was a gift at a quilt retreat from a wonderful lady who ran the best retreats! Sadly, she had to stop doing them too.

So there you go...lots of fun to enjoy. And yes, I have many more!!!! Happy Monday and have a great week ahead. It's still very hot here...our 3rd day of 90 + in a row with one more to go. Jim is finally feeling better. He sure got hit hard with this stomach flu.