Dolls 10, Stitching 0

Hello!
 My pelvis is finally good enough to allow me to sit and write a post at  last. Thank you so much for all your kind wishes which  mean a lot.  Well, I'm  getting there, still stiff and sore; but it is becoming easier to move. Sadly, the one thing I can't do is embroidery, as I get far too engrossed and I can only sit for 20 mins max at a time, so I have had to put all stitching projects on hold. I have taught myself to do a lot of tasks standing up, but that's one thing it's just not at all comfy or easy to do!

So - very slowly, I have been concentrating on dolls - if there is one good thing from having this  problem it's teaching me patience.

Here's my new stump doll - Jofranka, the Romany dancer. Jofranka  is a Romany version of Frances, and means 'free'.  Her name is also a little thank you to my student Frances, who  helped me get my Singer machine sorted out.

Jofranka is in her best clothes for a Romany wedding. She is dressed in a silk blouse and wool felt bolero with picot bead edging, and a taffeta skirt which  billows out as she dances  around the campfire with her beaded scarves.

I gave her a Frida-Kaloesque sort of face ( can I even say that?)

She wears an assortment of beads and bracelets which flash in the firelight .

I need to design 2 new dolls for workshops in the autumn so I've been drawing up some new patterns for their construction. This pattern is the most complicated design I've attempted to date, and has been challenging! Odd looking body parts have been strewn around a lot!

And I 've been making heads for practice, using some new shapes.(Well, it makes a change from putting flowers in this vase!)

 I've also been experimenting dyeing fleece in the microwave with food dyes. More of this later.

Here's a sneaky peek of the next doll.

Now it's off to the chiropractor for my weekly dose of saying 'ouch' and 'aargh'! x

Not gone, just hobbling

Thank you everyone who's been  popping in and wondering where I am. I have a recurrent problem with  my pelvis which flared up badly at the beginning of the month,  so I'm currently having intensive chiropractic treatment. Walking is difficult, sitting can only be done in short bursts ( so it's hard to  use my PC for more than  a few minutes at a time - and lying down's not great either! I have to keep moving as much as possible,  so it's hard to get much work done - and I'm pretty tired with the pain.

I just wanted to  let you know here that I'm still around and hope to be recovered soon. Hope everyone who reads this is much healthier than me at the moment. and enjoying your spring. If you're in the UK I hope you haven't got washed away in the rain yet! x

Easter - Weasels? and Bunnies

I'm  feeling guilty again! No time for TAST, but I do have some new friends for you.

On April 1st (Such a great date, hee hee!) my beloved was 50 years young!

I'm  sure may of you have those family 'in jokes' that become part of your lives, and which no-one else understands.Some of you will have noticed my odd 'weasely' e-mail. Well, Andy has strong sympathies with these much maligned and actually very intelligent and cute animals. So much so, that I had to create his very own Malcolm Weasel for his special birthday. He is very  mischievous and inquisitive (and a big, big, show off!).

 'I want a big close up'

  'Let me show off my bow tie!'

Malcolm  loves dressing up, but costumes are too hot for weasel fur, so he has a hat wardrobe.

 

'Harry  Potter, eat your heart out'

Well, now you know - we are completely in our own little world here!

From weasels to yet more bunnies. Here's Borro, the Romany Bun ready to  go off on his travels. He has a smart new embroidered felt jacket he's rather proud of.

On the way he found Baby Beach Bum Bun (try saying that in a hurry!) soaking up the early spring sunshine.

 

Malcolm eyed up Borro, but decided he'd rather make a new friend of this giant lepus!

I am longing to stitch - but as you see my desk is full of,  what's that... could it be .....a new doll!?

A very, very Happy Easter to all of you who are celebrating.  May your basket overflow with eggy goodness. And for those of us who will be working hard over the holiday - don't forget to take a break!

Bunny mania - and some interesting characters.

I've deliberately been avoiding the computer to try and get some work done, after an unexpected week off  for family birthdays, and meeting my  new great-niece ( did I mention I'm  a Great Aunty ? No! only a million times,heh heh.) 

Here is the birth sampler I designed for Emily 'A year with Bertie and Floss'* You  see why I have a great  preoccupation with bunnies at the moment - and why  Bertie Bun  appeared! I am  pleased to say it went down well with  mummy and daddy and was immediately put up in Millie's room - I hope she likes it when she's big enough to notice.

     

 I did have fun with this!

 

Embroidery and Dolls this post!

Here are some pictures from my hard working students  at the Bristol Adult Education Service. They  were fabulous - they created some wonderful first dolls - and even did homework between our sessions!

 

Heads down!

 Louise is a yoga teacher -  here's her doll demonstrating flexibility!

 Here are 'the girls', almost complete, modelling against the backdrop of Frances' lovely old Singer.

 Kate's doll - 'Our Mo' - glamour puss.

 Frances' Sweet Susie on her sewing machine.

And our yoga doll and Celia's sweet Victorian schoolgirl!

I  know at least two more dolls are already being planned,  so I'm really thrilled - well done ladies, you were brilliant and I had a ball.

* Bertie and Floss copyrighted to Julies Woolford

My new employee....

I've been busy designing and researching so many new ideas with little time for embroidery, boo hoo. But at least today I took the birth 'sampler' I have designed for my new great-niece, Emily, to my framer. It should be ready next week!

I have managed to use my lovely 'new' old machine - and  grappled with making a new pattern!
May I introduce you to Bertie - my  Adventures in Thread helpmate.

I wanted an old fashioned look but with a modern twist  -  what do you think?


Bertie is a prototype,. There is a specific reason he is a bunny, which will probably become clear in future posts.... I still need to make some adjustments to the pattern, but overall I rather liked him,  he's quiet, he sits beautifully and is very patient - my  ideal requirements in  a companion. Heh Heh.

His wee scarf was lovely to crochet, ( I have been crocheting a baby blanket  for Emily which  has turned out well, but was interminably long to do!)  I think I shall make him  a few more  so he can have his very own wardrobe. Andy  put his scarf on in  a more 'masculine way' - he didn't think my drapery was appropriate for a boy bunny! ( It's a man thing.)

Off now to get ready for teaching part 2 of my doll class tomorrow.

Happy creating!x