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. 

The Doll's Wedding....Tasha Tudor Fun Ahead!

Save the date! This summer, my Tasha Tudor friends in Vermont, are having a doll wedding. We will be touring Tasha Tudor's home and then the Tudor family has given us permission to have a doll wedding on the property. We will be able to use the stage. This is a dream of my friend Melinda. Her doll Daisy will be the bride who has quite a Tasha connection. Atticus is the groom and he was made by Marjorie Tudor. Both belong to Melinda.

They are in love! The wedding is drawing near. There will be a reception for dolls and adults at the hotel after the home tour. As you can imagine, we are all busy working on projects for the wedding.
I decided it would be fun to record what I am doing for the wedding on my blog. This is a very special occasion for dolly friends and Tasha Tudor fans.

 In 1955, Tasha Tudor staged a doll wedding on her property in New Hampshire. Life magazine sent a photographer out and I have posted some of the photos from the article. It is so charming and what a treasure that this was recorded then. There is also a film version that has the wedding in it. It is called THE GOLDEN KEY.

Notice the little girls have wreaths that allow them to walk their dolls. I was given the task of making these wreaths for our dolls. Our colors are pink and white.

Last January, Melinda and decided on the garland and I chose grape vine wreaths. I thought I would be able to just glue the garland on, but I ended up sewing it onto the wreath. It took awhile, but it worked out better. I added a few daisies and some baby's breath. I think they turned out great.

I had to make 11 of them. After the wedding, they will be used as table decorations. I am shipping them back east this week. We will have to attach the ribbons in July to get the right lengths figures out with the dolls and the group.

This is the bride's wreath. It is fuller and has more flowers than the other's.

Stay tuned for more wedding adventures! My next project is going to be the dress for my doll the bride's maid. So much fun.

Tea Time Tuesday #163

Happy Tea Time Tuesday! One of my Tasha friends sent me a surprise package and one of the items she sent was a package of Walkers Shortbread. I love it! It inspired me to put together a few Scottish goodies for tea today. Angelia is so sweet and I am blessed to have such a sweet friend.

I was excited to share this lovely cup and saucer which I recently found at an Estate sale. It is so dainty with tiny purple thistles on it. I have always loved thistles.

This teacup is an Ansley, made of bone china and English made. I do love Ansley cups!

Of course, I do love the flowers on the inside of the cup...alway a bonus for me.

Jim found this wooden thistle shortbread mold at the same sale. I just think it's beautiful.

He also found this lovely framed print of Robert Burns. I love the shades and the oval frame.

Here's the yummy box of Walkers shortbread....yum! I did eat a couple of them and let Jim have the rest! We usually enjoy this treat at Christmas.

Tea and shortbread...now that's a yummy combination!

Of course I had to have this package of tea that another friend had given to me.

I found my little Scottish recipe book. The front cover is said to be Robert Burn's home where he was born.

I have had this little linen piece for years. I love the little Scottish guy!

I think I bought this little group of tartan plaid items about a year ago at an Estate sale. How happy to find them just yesterday when I was sorting things. The group is made up of an autograph book, a book of poems and songs and the cutest little needle pin keep.

Much to my surprise, my heather plant was blooming today! I tucked in some lavender to spread it Sout.==== 

Delectable Mountain Cloth

When I was in Vermont last month, my Tasha Tudor friends wanted to take me to a very specials fabric store. I have been hearing about this shoppe...The Delectable Mountain Cloth...store since my first trip back in 2007. Oh, it is an amazing fabric store, unlike anything I have ever seen! I spent quite some time there and could have stayed even longer! It was like walking into a dream...so pretty and filled with so many delightful fabrics.

This is how they displayed their buttons. So much to look at!

 A shot at the magic of it all.

This is the owner and her helper. The owner was such a kick and very helpful. The shop has a great appeal for doll makers. Beautiful silks and taffetas.

Don't you just love all the hats? Wonderful.

A lot of the fabric is on rolled bolts.

I was drawn to the flat folds as it was easier to mix and match the fabrics.

This is my little stash from Vermont. I wish you could really see how beautiful these fabrics are. I am hoping to make some doll clothes.

The fabrics were pretty expensive, but so worth every penny.

Future doll clothes...I am hoping! 

World Doll Day

Who knew that today was World Doll Day? I have never heard of it but my friend in Vermont, sent me the link this week. World Doll Day is fun to explore and learn more about it.

Some of my larger dolls decided to have a little tea party this morning to celebrate the day! Don't they look fine, all dressed up?

Prim and proper little ladies!

This is my latest doll. My next project is to make her a proper dress. I am currently working on some 4th of July sewing projects for an exchange. When those are finished, I hope to create some doll clothes.

A few treats waiting on the little cupboard in the background.

A few weeks ago, one of my Tasha Tudor friend, Julia, sent me this darling china tea set for my dolls. It's so pretty and just the right size.

This is Mildred Seeley pictured on the front of one of her many books. She passed away in 2001. She was quite the doll collector, doll maker and author. She started World Doll Day in 1986. She was very kind to just encourage doll people to give dolls away...to children or other adults. She was very sharing with it all and it was fun to read about her and World Doll Day.

Ebay and Etsy offer many of her lovely doll plates for sale. You will also find some of her many books on both sites if you are interested in them. I have a few on my wish list! Enjoy!