Crafty Sheep

I packed up two dolls this morning… Sniff!

Lavendula and Cuddly (no name for that one, cuddlies have to be named by their little owners!) are now on their way to the United States, where they’ll be reunited with my pink ballerina doll, Rosalina! I finished the cuddly yesterday evening, and for the first time ever, I am now confident about embroidering eyes! I’ve found that all I really need is one strand of embroidery floss, instead of the often recommended two or even three strands. That, and a good lamp plus a magnifying glass… Ugh. Whatever happened to my eyes? Must be middle age approaching…

Anyhow! Crafting can now resume as normal – back to Gwendolina! Although I also found this extremely sweet pattern – Wasabi the Gregarious Pug. O!

Available from Rebecca’s Etsy store here.

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My whole house currently smells of lavender. I’ve been working on a custom cuddly doll for Francesca, a little girl turning one in June, and yesterday evening, it was lavender time! I often use dried lavender from my mother’s garden to scent my dolls, but there is one drawback to that – if the doll were to get so dirty that it needed a bath, soaking it completely would in all probability cause the lavender to mould… and that is just not something you’d want to happen!

I have therefore started to use lavender essential oil instead, especially on the cuddlies. When I see the kind of love Nynke’s cuddly doll gets, and the grubbiness of the poor thing after more than a year of cuddling, well… Essential oil it is! It is more fleeting in scent, but the upside is that it can be reapplied after washing! Just a few drops will do the trick.

So. I’ve been trying very hard to get started on my other (or should I say my ‘real’? Naaah…) job today, but this smell, it just keeps distracting me… poor little faceless dolls keep calling out to me… finish me, finish me… No, no, no. Work first, play after!

But before I go – I also wanted to show you Gwendolina’s new ‘do!

See? Better, no?

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I’ve been saving the money I’ve been making selling my dolls and bunnies on Etsy. I wanted to buy something special from what I’ve earned. What better way to spend it than to buy something from another Etsy-seller? I am sure you all know Sarah Jane Studios – and if you don’t, please go take a peek at her shop!

I’ve had my eyes on her calender prints for quite some time, and now that we’ll be moving into our new house soon (two weeks until we get the key! two and a half months until we move!), I thought we needed a housewarming gift. So I finally did it: I bought the full set of calendar prints. They will look so very lovely, framed in simple wooden frame, above our nature table! I just know it. And the best thing is: I’ll be able to put up a new one each month as the months go by!

Image courtesy of Sarah Jane Studios.

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By way of Ravelry, I came upon the little sheep you see in the picture to the left. Of course, you all know I have a soft spot for sheep – and these are no exception. So sweet! And the best part? Eli over at Flutterby Patch has made the pattern available – for free!

Now I’ve got a lot to do this weekend – I’m going to try and finish the custom cuddly doll I’m making, which has to be on its way soon, and of course Gwendolina still needs some more clothing, but perhaps I can find a little slot of time for one of these sweeties?

(Picture courtesy of Eli.)

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See? I am being a good girl! I’ve been working on nothing but my gnome girl, Gwendolina. (Okay and one tiny teensy custom order, shhhh!) And making good progress, too! Gwendolina’s hooded cape is finished. And the hood just fits around her hair, too, which pleases me to no end! When the hood is down, I am not so very satisfied with the haircut, though. Must think of what I am going to do about that. Snip a little bit here and there, perhaps. Or strategically bunch it up into two little buns. Not quite sure yet. It’ll get to me soon.

Now, I must run, because I need to finish preparing dinner before Olivier gets back from his swimming lessons. And I also should check on Nynke, who is usually doing any number of naughty things in the garden when I’m not looking. Byeee!

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It’s funny, the way dolls have to grow on you. It’s almost always the same when I’m making one: in the beginning, I’m not so sure that it’s going to be what I’d planned, and then, somehow, halfway through the process, there is this magic turnaround point. My doubts start to disappear and the doll comes alive. That’s also usually the point that I’ll be able to come up with a name.

My gnome girl Gwendolina here is the exception to the rule. She’s starting to grow on me, but the name actually popped up much earlier. Not in my mind, but in my friend Stefanie’s. For which I’m forever grateful, of course! Anyway, she’s almost done. Finally something to add to my store! Okay, by almost done, I mean that I still have to finish her hooded cape, knit her some underwear and make her some booties. Plus I’ve got a couple ideas for accessories. So, er, yes, it’ll probably still take a month, but… We’re getting there!

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