Bright and .........Beautiful?

Ok, I can at last reveal what those colourful threads

turned into.

With apologies if you're tired of tea cosies.

This is for a miniature Gypsy lady who lives in

a bright gypsy caravan.

A rosebud.

No new designs but here are some

new works on old designs.

For a boy.

For a wee girl.

Another Collaboration Between Friends

My very kind friend who enhanced

SOME OF MY CROCHET

this time last year,

and offered if for sale on my behalf at the

Hobart Doll Show,

has done the same thing again this year for me!

Dianne is without doubt one clever lady,

She made the little BellyButtonBaby in the romper set

and the christening layette fits the same doll.

I am always amazed at the difference

her clever hands can make to a plain little bit of crochet.

She's a brilliant needlework artist!!!

The photos speak for themselves.

The 2013 Hobart Doll Show

is on the 24th and 25th of this month

if any of this blogs reader are interested

to go along and look.

I'm a Little Teapot.....

Looks just like a teacosy!

New Clothes for the Dollhouse Babies

I haven't done much miniature work this year

but I have managed a little crochet.

First an excited little sun-kick!

When the breeze turns a little cooler and it's time for a nap.

Dressed to go shopping with mum.

And when the summer is over it's time to rug up.

Collaboration between Friends

Remember this gown from a few posts back?

A lovely and clever friend embroidered it,

hasn't she made it special?

She also made the doll,

a very talented lady!

She also did the embroidery on this Heidi Ott crawler doll romper.

I've had a Lovely Day!

I had the chance to meet a lovely blogger

and her equally lovely husband

and charming son

yesterday :)

We had known one another from miniature groups

and blogs for quite a long time so it was amazing to finally

meet face to face.

Sandie

does quarter scale to perfection and she brought

half a dozen of her tiny treasures to show me.

I've often said it's hard to pick the scale of Sandies work in photos

and seeing them up close in Real Life was certainly not disappointing!

It was a real treat to see such beautifully made little cottages

with the most gorgeous tiny furniture you could imagine.

Thanks Sandie.

Today we got together again and went to visit Lidi

and spent a couple of hours looking at her paperclay buildings.

I never tire of seeing Lidi's artwork.

The conversation was all miniatures!

Such a treat for me to meet another miniaturist.

My blog has been quiet for a while,

I've been busy making Midget a new dress but

I didn't want to show it until Sandie got to see the one I made for her.

Midget and Gidget

For the benefit of new readers,
the gown that Midget is wearing
was inspired by a Doris Thurlow design.


Today is the first day that feels like autumn,

Yay!!

Yippee!!

It feels soooo good :)

Enthusiasm returns,

get the camera out and

do some pics!!

A few weeks ago,

Midget

acquired a twin sister.

Her name is

Gidget!

(what else?)

Here they are together.

Gidget never cries.

Midget is a sweet natured baby too ;)

I really love these little ones!

Midget gave Gidget her christening layette to wear

while she waited patiently for some clothes.

Poor naked baby!

Meantime I started working out

a layette for Midget

using finer thread than the previous set

that I'd done as part of the swap for

Midget and Gidget.

With the finer thread I thought I'd try crocheting the entredeaux

instead of using the machine made type.

It turned out quite well,

a bit smaller than the bought version.

Here she is in her

"smalls".

In her petticoat.

And in her gown.

Not ready for a sleep?

Play time.

Best Dressed Babe Around!

Midget is the best dressed little darling

in the world!

Isn't this layette the most precious thing you ever saw?

I can't take my eyes off it!

So delicate you couldn't tell the size

if you didn't know Midget is only 1 3/4" long.

The embroidery is perfection.

Made by a very lovely lady

who is also a dear friend.

Thankyou isn't enough

but I thank you

from my heart.

Something I did a while back....

A little experiment I did a few weeks ago

while working out the size of the gown for

the tiny BellyButtonBaby.

Photo of Midget with Emma Rose,

Midget is tiny!

Smaller in the body than a HO baby

but slightly larger head.

This gown fits a Heidi Ott baby better than it fits the BBB,

the sleeves need downsizing and the HO size bonnet doesn't fit etc.

Another experiment.

Handmade insertion in the gown on the HO doll.

It needs some embroidery!!

Long Time No See..........

Real life gave me some grief over the last couple of months

so

there's been nothing to share,

hence my silent blog.

I'm so disappointed that my courtyard has had to be put on hold

for the time being.

Every week it's been fingers crossed that I could make it to Lidi's

for a lesson

and then

sadness

when it doesn't come off.

Miniature crochet took a holiday too

until

A dear friend suggested a swap!

:)

What better way to get yourself out of a deep hole

than to put some love into

a miniature swap.

I feel like the luckiest person in the world today!!

I am the proud new mother of 

Midget,

a Belly Button Baby,

designed by none other than the very talented

Alicia

who made big sister Adelaide and big brother Christopher,

both of whom you've met before.

Now take a peek at Midget who is modelling the

Christening Layette

that I made for my end of the swap.

Bonnet, bootees, and pilcher designed by me.

Gown and petticoat inspired by a Doris Thurlow pattern

but made of finer thread with a finer hook

and downsized to fit this 1 3/4" baby doll.

And here she is with big sister!

Isn't she the cutest tiny thing?

There won't be any more miniatures happening for a couple of weeks,

my close work glasses broke :[

You might as well cut my hands off as take my glasses away!!

Snowdrops are Early

In spite of high winds there's a feeling of spring

in my garden,

the snow drops have popped out 

8 days earlier than last year.

Yes, I guess it's a bit obsessive to write that on the calendar ;)

The promise of spring,

warm days,

sunshine.

Sunbathing.

A new suit for Christopher

Isn't he the sweetest little angelface?

Adelaide's Clothes

No More Zen Knitting

It feels good to be back to miniature crochet after 3 months of real life poking its ugly nose into my fun.

Adelaide has been naked for far too long. 

An Angel Suit for a little angel!

Adelaide came from Alicia

Baby Shoettes

Two sizes.

Weight Loss Program

Guaranteed to lose 10lb in 4 weeks!  Just pack up your entire house, move out and then move back in again!! 

With life so disorganised miniature crochet is but a memory but I'll share my last larger project that was made in January.  It was a birthday gift so it couldn't be shown before it was received and I forgot to photograph it myself!!  the recipient has kindly sent a couple of photos for me to share.

The gown and petticoat are made from a Doris Thurlow pattern,

resized for finer thread and a finer hook than is used in the original,
the bonnet, bootees and knickers are my own design.

This is the same pattern as Emma Rose's christening layette but made a size smaller to fit the Heidi Ott doll.  It isn't my design but I love making this pattern.  I did design the bonnet and the invisible knickers and bootees.

Lastly, welcome to all the lovely new followers here.  I will make a proper welcome soon I promise! 

Also, thankyou so much Lisa, Susan and Norma for sharing awards!!  I'll pick them up when I have another moment for myself at the computer. 

Mini hugs to everyone, back to the salt mines for me ;)

Sus.