Inspirations

One of the bi products of creating YO-YO Flower Pincushions is a lot of fabric scraps! If they are bigger than an inch I absolutely cannot bring myself to throw them out. I used to toss them in a basket for future rummaging but found the time it took to locate the exact piece I was looking for to be exorbitant. I decided to be a bit more organized this time around by using a kitchen tray to collect my mini scraps into a color wheel of sorts. As it turns out, I love this system . In working from the tray, however, I began to associate it more so with a painting palette. Just like those long ago days of college painting classes I began to hold the tray in one hand, while with the other, dabs of color would be picked up and applied to my canvas. I have to say the cheery red gingham "canvas" of my ironing board is much less intimidating than those big blank gesso covered ones that used to stare me down! As one thing always does seem to lead to another around here, these painterly reflections reminded me of something awaiting my attention. . . . .

. . . . . a very unusual "canvas" and in the third dimension no less. I cannot tell you how scared I was to actually perform this next step in the doll kit. That first brush stroke was really hard to do but within a few moments I was enjoying the results. So much so, in fact, that I went a little "paint happy" in areas I was not supposed to. The directions show the Basic Doll is to have only her upper torso painted and the Doll's Doll only half her legs. I on the other hand painted it all...oops! I also think my button placement on the shoes is incorrect but that's what makes her mine! And now that she's mine it's definitely time to name her. . . . . so let me take a moment here to introduce you to Nellie and her wee doll Sally Anne.

Having recently received a sweet rosebud mouth Nellie was quite anxious to put it to use. It was from this source, in fact, that I heard tell of Lily Red and a possible painting project in the works. I headed over to make inquiries but found Wayside Cottage deserted for the day. Paint swatches and sketches were scattered about and her pencil roll left unfurled. Perhaps the sunshine outside her window was just to tempting. . . . .

. . . . . and Lily Red was out greeting some early spring shoots!

My jaunt over to the cottage was not in vain, however, for my brief peek inside was enough to inspire a bit of planning for my own humble abode. Does anyone remember the fabric I ordered form the T-Party? It arrived way back in January and ever since then I've been collecting bits and bobs to coordinate with it. Putting it all together in a pile helps me to visualize the next steps. I've got some big plans to make a very small room something special. To be honest, anything will be a vast improvement over the space's current condition and I'm not saying anything more than that until it's all done! Oftentimes, when I talk too much about a work in progress the end result suffers terribly. I like the excitement of not knowing exactly how things will evolve and in most cases it's very different than I initially envisioned. When I share my early plans with someone, I tend to confine myself to the boundaries of those descriptions. And so, as you might imagine, I've got numerous project plans going on at any given moment. Some are acted on immediately, others take years, and most will never see the light of day.

Here are the beginnings of one such "secret" project with origins stretching back way over a year ago. Can you guess what it is? Of course, by now the wooden pieces are highly recognizable as the main components of those clothespin dolls that are all the rage. When I discovered a lone packet of these pins and beads I was desperate for a wooden doll of some sort. Not feeling confident enough to carve my own I saw these as a great alternative! My only disappointment was in the fact that the legs could not bend. The "secret" project to amend that situation is still under wraps but in the mean time I found an alternative use for the upper body. The donut shaped mutant next to them is a key element and also was a real booger. You don't even want to know how many failed attempts I made trying to perfect a method for creating what is really nothing more than a stuffed "O" . . . . at least I did them all in muslin first! Thank goodness for all those YO-YO Flowers because that is when real inspiration struck. Believe it or not, what you see here was actually a great revelation and only a few steps away from success.

Once again painting was involved only this time with real paints and palette.

Referencing scribbled doll ideas in an old sketchbook made painting the faces really quick and easy. . . of course that's not counting the hours of doodle time put in over the years!

And so in the end, what began as my desire for a little wooden doll has materialized into this. . . the creation of a "Pick-a-Lily" Pincushion. She will soon be joined by others in my shop where each will be thoughtfully named and the picking may be done.

Collections

I do believe it's in response to this snowy, snowy winter (another 12" this weekend past!) that I have begun making these YO-YO Flower Pincushions. Initially I made a few only to replace what had sold in my Etsy shop. They were such a cheery sight, however, that I decided to make another...and another...and another. I might not be able to get out in my wellies yet but there's nothing stopping me from creating a cottage garden of blooms right here in my sewing nook!

So far this one is my favorite. I call it "Hitty Red." Somewhere, in my recent obsession with Hitty dolls, I stumbled upon an image of one wearing a dress made from this very same print. Being that I already had a stash of this fabric squirreled away for some future project, I took it as a definite sign that I must get myself one of those dolls...and create a wardrobe for her!

In amongst my obsession with the YO-YO Flowers I received a request for more of these patchwork pin pillows. These are always fun to create, especially if I can get my hands on a new fabric with images small enough to for the center charm pieces. My exciting new addition to the collection is the gardening girl with a watering can. Someone else also make it into the batch . . . .

. . . Little Bo Peep! Some of you may recall hearing tell of her most unfortunate accident with a rotary cutter last October. I'll have you know, when it became necessary to size up her patchwork block this time around, scissors and a steady hand were carefully employed.

While working on those pin pillows I thought quite a bit about the recipient of them. She is a pincushion collector. How very strange that I had never considered collecting these items myself...until now that is! I've got oodles of them scattered about but they exist for me in a purely functional manner. I've still got this first one I ever purchased. I think it came from the dollar bin at Jo-ann Fabrics and boy does it look it! It's long since been retired to the back of my sewing drawer, pins and all.

Yes, I've become a pin snob. I absolutely love the longer version with the shiny colored balls on top. Not only does the bigger size make them easier to work with (and find when dropped on the floor!), but they add a happy sparkle to everything they touch. Most days you can find an entire forest of them here in what is probably my most used pin keeping device . . . .

. . . . this doll's chair is a favorite of mine (and yes I do have a collection of these too!) It was a consignment shop find several years ago and found its way to my sewing table from pure aesthetic taste. Then one day, having failed to set out a pincushion before sewing I randomly jabbed a pin into it's cushion and the habit was born.

By the way, I must tell you, that's my beloved Emma sitting in the chair. She's a Sewing Star creation that I purchased at a Back Road Event teddy bear show. It was great fun and the artist's creations were amazing. I bet you think I'm going to say I have a teddy bear collection too. Not so unfortunately, therefore explaining why I purchased a pink elephant at a bear show.

It is with this piece that my pin cushion collection will start. It is actually the only one I have that serves a purely decorative purpose. I originally bought it because of the three little pastel pins which I thought were so darling and such a perfect match. I'll be keeping my eyes open for some "friends" to join him. Believe it or not flea market season is only a few months away and I can only imagine what treasure I'll find!

Cottage Caretaking

February school break has come and gone leaving mom with her head spinning. Numerous play dates, doctor visits, dentist appointments, late night TV watching, bowling competitions, and more pizza than I care to remember have left their mark. So once those dear little student bodies half dragged themselves to school on Monday I set out to reclaim the house! After taking stock of the situation it was determined a good deal of scrubbing and sorting would be in order. And it seems I wasn't the only one with some housekeeping on her mind...

...for Lily Red was hard at work over at Wayside Cottage! With apron on and broom in hand she tackled each and every corner of the place. By mid-morning the cottage had been cleared of all its' jumble.


No sooner had the broom been set to rest than Lucy popped in for a visit, as was becoming their habit. "Oh, I'm ever so happy to see you," said Lily Red. "And what good fortune you've brought your scissors along as I'm ready to start unpacking my things. If you'd be kind enough to help by cutting the twine I'd be forever grateful!"

Lucy of course was more than happy to assist her friend. Luckily, Lily Red had a ladder (previously employed to reach the ceiling cobwebs) and so Lucy was able to reach just the right spot to make the perfect cut.

As the twine tumbled down Lily Red was able to pull away the lid and finally release the contents of the box. A lift top desk and a four poster bed were revealed along with some smaller treasures. Lucy relished hearing all about them. She was most interested in a portrait painting which Lily Red explained was of a very famous author. "Someday I hope to be an author just like he was," explained Lily Red. " I've even got the tools of the trade, a journal and a favorite pencil. With them I'm going to write about our adventures to come!"

Before long everything was tidied up. Lucy was hoping to cut some wire to hang the painting but Lily Red wanted to wait. "You may think me attempting to be a Renaissance Woman, but I do believe in addition to becoming an author, I'll try my hand at painting...walls that is! "

Bits and Pieces of the Weekend Past

What a vast improvement a working furnace can make to one's weekend! Free from the coats, blankets, and five foot radius around the portable heater, I was amazed how much I as able to accomplish. First a little TLC was given to my sewing nook. I've actually surprised myself at how well I've been able to maintain the orderliness I worked so hard to achieve during my "Where I Create" overhaul last fall. My main goal this time was to dig current works-in-progress out of a hutch in my bedroom and find a more "inspirational" method to store them...one that would not foster the "out of sight, out of mind" dilemma. The stairwell banister proved to be an excellent solution! By draping an old baby's quilt over it I can even pin up smaller projects so as to keep track of them. It's my very own little design wall and production line all in one.

Having re-discovered these pastel nine patch squares I made several years ago I set to work making a mini quilt top out of them. Several weeks ago Humble Needle posted a great tutorial on making the tidiest mitered corners when attaching the binding to a quilt. I've wanted to try it out ever since I saw it...and soon I should be able to!

I've also been wanting to acquire a book I read about over at Blueberry Cottage, "The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady" by Edith Holden. What luck it was for me to accompany my husband to a "new" old bookstore he discovered several towns over, for not only did I find that treasure but another little gem too, "Cottage Gardener" by Jackie Bennett. The illustrations in both are quite beautiful although one of them in particular almost negated the sale in it's entirety. . .

. . . for wouldn't you know it, my first flip through Holden's book landed me on page 50 where I was introduced to the Adder who is apparently "very plentiful in some parts of England." Oh where are those wellies when you need them! Luckily I was soon distracted by Bennett's sweet pea trellis suggestion.

Speaking of England, did I ever mention I finally acquired the long sought for Christmas issue of the British Country Living? Well I did! I have enjoyed reading this one over and over again even though the holiday is now long gone. It might even be my new favorite so far. Lucy's too apparently. . .

It seems she's been doing a bit of moonlighting! If I'm not mistaken, I do believe she is perched there on the second shelf down in a hutch pictured on page 127.

Someone else is finally able to "perch." By Sunday night my basic doll and her little friend had been assembled and let me tell you it was a lot harder and took a lot longer than I ever would have imagined. Granted, putting the legs on backwards, having to CAREFULLY remove them , and then reattach them in the correct direction didn't help. The arms remain separate on purpose...apparently they are to be attached after the body has been painted and may require a pair of needle nose pliers to ease the sewing procedure!?! Wish me luck!

And the winner is...

I do believe Lucy and Lily Red are fast on their way to becoming the best of friends. Once the details of our February Giveaway had been shared the two sat down and got right to work...and a more perfect match I couldn't imagine. Lucy took to cutting out some lovely hearts while Lily Red wrote out the entrants names in the loveliest penmanship. Then, when it was finally time for the drawing, a most amazing thing happened. My children, yes those very same creatures that previously rolled their eyes at my doll play, wanted to participate! There was even a bit of a rumble among the three as to who should get to perform the actual selection process. In the end it was unanimously decided that I should organize two more giveaways in order that each should have their own turn! So stay tuned! For today however, I am happy to announce the lucky winner to be. . . . .

. . . . . Martha from Miss Van Droo! (Please e-mail me with your address and the Sweet Hearts will be on their way.) Her doll book recommendation was Hitty by Rachel Field which I am currently reading and thoroughly enjoying each and every page. So many of the books have been quite delightful but I have to say my favorite thus far has been. . . . .

. . . . . The Doll's House by Rumer Godden recommended by Suzanne at Blueberry Cottage. I love Tottie, the little farthing doll, as much as the Queen did! And the fact that Tasha Tudor illustrated the story was an added bonus. It's a story that warms the heart!

I extend a big "Thank You" to all participants and an even bigger one to Wayne, the repair man who fixed my furnace today. It's ever so nice to have a warm heart AND a warm body!

Winter Blues and the Arrival of Lily Red

Oh woe is me...considering the events of the past weeks I have devoted this day to a bit of self pity. It began innocently enough with a car that wouldn't start due to the extreme cold. That in itself is to be expected at least once a year here during a New England winter. Ditto on the perpetual colds that take up permanent residence in our home every January. The sudden "death" of the digital camera, however, was completely out of the blue as was my broken tooth with crown work to follow...Yeah! And for a little added spice to my days it seems the checks I ordered form the bank have been lost in the mail!

A spot of tea and time spent knitting to sooth the soul you say? Not so I reply, for a sensor in our furnace broke and now the vile thing blows out a stream or cold air through the vents. Good news, however, one small part and it can be fixed...next week once the distributor sends it! So for the second time in two months our home is without heat. The teapot therefore, is to warm my hands and the knitting one of the few projects I am able to work on while huddled under a blanket. I have promised myself that should I ever win the lottery, the construction of a fireplace will be my first extravagance!

Apparently wooden dolls are quite tolerant of the climate for a wee one was spotted making its way through the bramble earlier today.

Imagine our surprise when that same wee wanderer was seen peering in the window at Wayside Cottage! Could it be...

Why yes it was! Our long awaited Lily Red had finally arrived. Introductions were made all around followed by a brief inspection of the cottage. Lily Red found it full of possibilities and being quite anxious to make it home Lucy presented her with the key. "I'm ever so happy your finally here," she said. "And your timing is perfect as something very exciting is happening tomorrow. Do take off your cape and I'll tell you all about it!"

In the Mail...

I happen to live on a road referred to by our town as a "private way with public access" and as such we are prohibited from having mail boxes on our properties. Instead they must be posted out on the main street a short walk from our home. While some may consider this situation a nuisance I have found it to bring a bit of a village air to our block. More often than not a fellow neighbor is encountered along the way and several minutes are easily passed exchanging pleasantries.

The delivery of a package, however, is a different story. Our mailman is kind enough to provide doorstep drop off on these rare occasions resulting in an uproar of excitement amongst the wee ones as his truck passes down our road. Small faces are pressed against the windows and squealing voices wonder who the lucky recipient could be. Today, by chance, it was little Lucy's turn! A lovely brown parcel, tied with string and labeled "Handle With Care" was delivered in her care along with a small envelope addressed to the "Proprietor" of #22 Wayside Cottage.

The envelope was quickly opened and the letter revealed. "Dear Proprietor," it read, "I have heard tell of your jumbled cottage for rent. Being a bit of a fixer-upper myself I feel we would be a very good match! Most Interested, Lily Red."

The rest of the afternoon was spent in joyful anticipation. Lucy was most anxious for Lily Red's arrival and sat right down to her ribbon work. It was a bit difficult for her to keep her mind on the task at hand due to her curiosity concerning the contents of the brown box. Luckily another book selection had been posted as entry to the Sweet Heart Giveaway and we were both quickly swept up in the adventures of dear little Hitty!

It's amazing how one thing leads to another and how easily distracted I can become. By page two I was hooked on the Hitty book. By page four I was dreaming that my husband would carve me a Hitty doll out of mountain-ash wood being that he graduated from college as a sculpture major and all. By page seven I faced reality and accepted the fact that he would do no such thing. A few more pages and I remembered a name, a name of someone who did make Hitty dolls. The book went down, the computer went on, and Lucy was on her own. Within moments I was there...Gail Wilson Designs! Oh how I love her Hitty dolls and their accessories too! It was a delight to browse through her site until I browsed one step too far. I found myself looking at her Early American Doll series within which is included the Basic Doll kit. Not only did I have that kit but I started it two years ago. A walk upstairs to my sewing closet followed by a brief search and she was discovered. The poor thing is still in pieces...and her little doll too! How could I be so cruel? I'm afraid now dear Hitty will have to wait as a guilty conscience will not allow me to ignore my poor "Basic Doll" any longer.

Correspondence

I truly feared my only audience left would be the family dog! I had so much fun with my previous post that I recklessly shared it with my children later that evening. As I read it out loud to them I watched their faces for expressions of delight and anticipation. Would anyone rent the cottage? What reading list would we acquire? And who would win the Sweet Heart Giveaway?

I have to say my teenager's look of perpetual boredom had disappeared...unfortunately it was replaced with extreme bewilderment. Was I now going to start building houses for squirrels? Did I really think I could rent them? And deep inside I'm sure he was questioning his mother's sanity. My preteen, never one to tip toe around issues, asked me outright, "Aren't you worried people will think your crazy?" My seven year did give me some hope! His bright eyes and smile, however, soon faded when I told him under no uncertain terms were we getting a real lizard to live in the little cottage!

While their reactions gave me some cause for concern it was short lived thanks to all of your lovely comments. I'm having such fun reading each and everyone of them. Lucy and I are making a list of all of the doll books mentioned. Some of the titles are already in our possession while others are easily gathered from the local library. Lucy said she is not one bit afraid of heights and so hopes the pile grows very tall!

While our good intentions are to read one book a day there is one bit of business that must first be attended to. For lurking in the back of my mind is the pesky fact that I never got my Christmas cards out. If you recall I had resigned myself to having them posted by New Years, but that too has come and gone and long distance friends are now calling my mom concerned for my well being! Luckily my card selection this year featured a pair of mittens on the front. With some slight alterations to the message inside I was able to transform them into "Winter Cards." And just to make sure I remove all traces of guilt from my conscience, I am now in the midst of creating tiny gingham envelopes and filling them with morning glory seeds from my garden. I plan to attach them to the cards along with a note about the promise of spring to come which means I better have them posted by March 20th!

Although not very timely with my own correspondence, I seem to be doing very well on the receiving end of the mail box this week. I'm supposed to be making more "Sweet Hearts" to post in the shop but I keep getting interrupted by fun surprises. As if receiving the new issue of Mary Jane's Farm wasn't enough, the fabric I so wanted from T-Party's shop arrived as well. It's very hard to focus on the task at hand when all I want to do is dream up new projects to make with it! I've got some interior decorating ideas in mind which opens up any number of creative decisions to be mulled over...paint colors, curtain design, furniture rehab. There really aren't enough hours in the day!

Meanwhile...somewhere far away, yet another correspondence is in the works...

Giveaway Merriment!

The decorations have all been packed away, school has resumed, and there's not much going on around here except for snow, snow, and more snow. Being stuck inside a very quiet house all day has made my little friend Lucy wistful for a bit of merriment. With an ever growing list of sewing projects ahead of me I knew I would not make for the most entertaining of company...but I did have an idea! For squirreled away I had a house, a tiny house in need of some tender loving care to bring it to life.

" What if," I said to her, "we put it out to rent in exchange for that care? Perhaps someone would respond, a wee someone who could clean it up and possibly give it a coat of paint. And with your fine scissor skills you could cut a beautiful ribbon for the cottage key. Who knows, you might even become the best of friends!"

Lucy was tickled with the idea and so we got right to work. I found a small pole while she made a sign. It only took a few moments before we had it posted and Lucy sat down to wait...and wait...and wait. I knew she was anxious to get to her ribbon work but we hadn't yet had any responses. What to do in the mean time? Luckily I had another idea!

"What if ," I suggested, "we have a Giveaway? Faraway friends would see it and send us messages that you could read right away. I'll even let you pick the prize!"

Lucy thought it was a lovely idea and knew immediately what she wanted to give. A pair of "Sweet Hearts" were selected. I definitely approved as they are one of my favorites...especially this pair with the red check and periwinkle rose print. They were patchwork pieced, stuffed, and adorned with ribbons and tiny buttons. Hanging from those buttons are removable tags with the words "Hugs" and "Kisses" written on them.

And then we had yet another idea, only this time it was Lucy's.

"What if," she said, "we ask that they enter to win our giveaway by leaving a message telling us their favorite book about dolls. Hopefully we'll get a big long list and what fun it would be to read them all!"

What fun indeed...so please, do leave a message! Share with us a favorite book or maybe even two. As long as they are about dolls and are received by the first of February consider yourself entered. A winner will be selected at random on February 2 which should allow plenty of time for your "Sweet Hearts" to arrive by Valentine's Day.

Good Luck Everyone!

Frozen Charlottes

I've always loved Frozen Charlottes...little dolls with a big lesson in vanity and disobedience. For Charlotte, you see, refused to muss her dress by wearing a coat to the big winter dance and as a result froze to death en route! I've been poking around Etsy's vintage listings for a few months looking at these little sweeties but am having a very difficult time choosing just one! Throughout all of my ruminating on the topic, however, not once did I ever consider the possibility that I could become a Frozen Charlotte myself!

It sure felt that way last week when our power went out due to the big New England ice storm. I have to admit we do loose power quite frequently in our neck of the woods, but with a maximum outage time of maybe five hours. This time it lasted FIVE DAYS!!! We toughed it out for the first 24 hours and even enjoyed our time spent playing games by candlelight. By day two reality set in...it was really cold! Why we ever bought a house in New England without a fireplace is beyond me...what were we thinking? Luckily the power at my parents' house was restored by then and we were able to relocate up to their place for the duration.

The joy of returning home was great but short lived. In the midst of unpacking my eyes feel upon our calendar and the realization that Christmas Eve was only one week away stopped me in my tracks. With oodles of laundry, a barren refrigerator, numerous unfinished Christmas gifts, and two more major snow storms on the way something had to be done. . . or actually, left undone! And so it's going to be a "make-do" Christmas. I've had to surrender to the fact that our cookies this year may have to come out of a box, our Christmas cards will be mailed in time for New Years and heaven help me I'm going to have to step foot in a mall. Many of my handmade Christmas gift projects have been stashed away to finish for next year, let's just hope I can remember where I put them!

Needless to say in the midst of all this I never did acquire the much anticipated December issue of British Country Living. So in the spirit of "make -do" I adjusted. The 2007 edition was dug out, the kettle was put on, and the last of the Dundee cakes (found thawed in the freezer) was sliced. All in all, I must say it was my most enjoyable tea time of the season!

Holiday Housekeeping

My Thanksgiving pies (which were previously baking in the oven) are long since devoured at this time. The day itself was deemed a success by all involved and included not only a huge feast but also a birthday celebration and a Yankee Swap. As an extra surprise my mom created an entire Christmas village with a personalized house for each guest to take home (mine is the Piccalilli Patchwork Quilt Shop!) It was so pretty all set up together it was almost a shame to dismantle it at the end of the day. I'm glad we did though because now there's a cute mini village set up at our house.

So cheery and festive was the sight of it in fact, that I was driven to devote the rest of the long weekend to holiday housekeeping. Each year I am repeatedly amazed at how time consuming the process actually is. First a bit of spring cleaning frenzy occurs as each room is dusted, vacuumed, and boogied of lingering evidence of past seasons (this years round up included bike helmets, water guns, wellies, terra cotta pots, a pumpkin or two, and lots of empty Halloween candy wrappers.) Next the holiday boxes are brought down from the attic and opened by a whole troop of helping hands. Fast forward two hours later and the "helping hands" are fighting over the remote control, the wise men are in league with a troop of power rangers, and the now empty holiday boxes have become a fort. At this point I begin to wonder if it would have been more relaxing to go out shopping on Black Friday than to decorate at home.



In the end, however, all is well and by Sunday night we are able to enjoy our first hot cocoa of the season by the twinkle of fairy lights. It was all very peaceful and Tasha Tudor like...until one of them discovered candy canes make great light sabers!