Category Archives: Flowers

In & Out of the Studio

How’s the first week of this new season going for you?  It started out pretty nice for us, but it is rapidly going downhill—cloudy, rainy, cool cold today.  Oh, and it will get worse as the week progresses; snow flurries are predicted.  Happy spring!

I had two outfits to pack up and mail on Monday.  Thought I’d show you how I wrap up my outfits in case you are curious.  It’s no big production, just the way I package right now.  I put my Amelia Thimble and Pukipuki sets into a small box.  This way the hat will not get crushed, which is especially important for the crocheted brimmed hats.  I sew the pieces onto card stock like how the first Barbie® clothes were packaged.  I use plastic envelopes for mailing these little boxes.  They can be mailed first class as they only way a few ounces.

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I don’t use a box for the larger doll ensembles; they aren’t needed with the Priority boxes I use.  First, I put all of the accessory pieces is small zipper bags, wrap the knitwear in tissue paper, stuff the sewn dress with tissue to keep it from getting wrinkled.  All of these pieces fit in a larger zippered bag.  I then wrap the bag in tissue; you can see the package below.  I used to use ribbon to tie the package, but ran out one day.  I got the “brilliant” (ha ha) idea to use coordinating or matching yarn from the ensemble to tie up the package.  The yarn can then be reused for hair bows or whatever other creative purpose my customers can think of.  I print out a little thank you note card with a photo of the ensemble, its title, and month/year made to include with the ensemble for future reference.  I use brown paper to wrap up this package and into a Priority box it goes.

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Outside of my studio I found this tiny clump of crocuses that naturalized a few feet away from the main grouping of crocuses.

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On Monday this was what a few of my dolls were wearing.

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I still had my husband’s macro lens on my camera, so took a few more close up shots of the orchids in the bay window.

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And,… that was how the beginning of my first week of spring went.  How was yours?

Oops, forgot to mention that Jpop will have a few Gracie elves and humans for sale on Thursday night.  Here’s the link:  Extra Gracie BJDs.  Also, I think, but not positive, that you will need an account with them, so I’d make one ahead of time if you don’t have one.  I imagine that these will get sold in seconds, so good luck.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

Both yesterday and today we’ve had the most perfect springlike weather here in northern Illinois.  It was so glorious today that our happy little crocuses woke up from their long winter’s nap.

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As I was sewing yesterday (Millie is getting a new dress) I kept glancing up at Gracie.  Hmmm, wonder what she’d look like in another wig… I decided to try Talyssa’s “messy braids” wig on her.  I have no idea the name or maker of this wig.  The braids stay braided very nicely though— I like it a lot.

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Does anyone know who makes this type of wig?  The fibers aren’t as silky as those on a Monique wig.

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I am getting tired of the few mohair colors of yarn that I have, and wanted to see if a finished sweater would dye up nicely.  Because the fibers are so long and fuzzy, I don’t even want to try dyeing the yarn; I fear a tangled mess.  I wanted very light colors, so mixed up super light dye.  The sweaters came out darker than I expected and a slightly different shade than what the dye bath looked to be.  The sweater ended up being very pretty pastel shades though.  I dyed the real thing today and took photos of the process to show you soon.

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My husband bought me a bunch of yellow tulips this weekend.  Sugar took one look at the bouquet and had to check them out.  She said that they were so pretty and they matched her dress perfectly.  Whoa, hang on tight, Sugar!

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She made it!  What a little monkey!

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Thanks for stopping by!  Bye for now!

Frost & Flowers

Happy Sunday everyone!  Hope your weekend is going well.

I worked diligently on Patience’s Christmas outfit yesterday and only have to make the tights before it is ready for photo taking.  Yay!  Next, is a Christmas outfit for Patsy.  (See, she is getting some attention!)  I think after that I will make something for Amelia Thimble.  Sorry, no doll photos today.

Last Friday was my anniversary.  I woke up to this bouquet of roses from my husband.  There were 5 or 6 different fall-ish colors and types in the vase, so pretty, and they smelled wonderful all day while I worked.  My husband and I enjoyed dinner together.  We had sweet potato chili and cornbread.  The chili was cooking in the slow cooker all day, so the house smelled yummy.  I put a little cinnamon in my chili, just half a teaspoon, but it sure makes the house smell nice.

anniversary roses 659We had our first frosts yesterday morning and this morning.  This morning’s frost seemed heavier than yesterday’s.  The icy grass looks so white, like snow, and it is sooo cold.  I guess it is time for cold weather since October is more than half over already.

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frost roses 728As for the melons, these tiny ones got hit with frost.  I did pick the two largest last week, one was a cantaloupe and the other was a honeydew.  (They were seedlings that sprouted from store bought fruit in our compost pile.)  The fruit was ripe, but quite flavorless and almost bitter.  My brown thumb lives on!

frost melons 729Bye for now and thanks for reading.