Category Archives: knits

Bella is “Ready for Roses”

Ah, and I am ready for the roses to bloom, too! Hello there. How are you?

It is the last week of winter here in the northern hemisphere. Yay!!! We got about 6 inches of snow last week and it just started melting yesterday. When the snow melted off of the garden beds I checked on the little crocuses which were blooming before the snowfall and they still are. I don’t know how those delicate blooms can withstand 6 inches of icy snow weighing down on them for days, but they held up fine. They sure are little troopers.

Last fall my husband and I planted quite a few different varieties of bulbs and we are eagerly awaiting their arrival. The early ones have started showing, but no buds yet.

My Ruby Red Fashion Friend Bella is a bit impatient this year and has skipped right past the start of spring to late spring when the roses will start to bloom. She really cannot wait!

Bella wears a rose print cotton dress with two different styles of cotton lace adorning the skirt. A rosy pink ribbon sash ties around her waist. Faux pearl buttons decorate the bodice’s back.

Bella’s elbow length cardigan sweater is hand knit with merino wool that has been hand dyed and the rosy mauve color custom mixed to coordinate with the dress. I embroidered bullion stitch pink roses at the neckline. The cardigan can be worn open or will close with rosy pink glass pearl bead buttons.

Bella wears a crocheted cap in white bamboo thread. A wool felt blossom and knitted leaf decorate her cap. Her drawstring bag matches the cap in materials and decoration. So that she would have something to put in her bag I made her a tiny hanky in cotton lawn. (This is how I used to fold and iron my grandma’s hankies when I would help her out with her chores.) Bella’s bracelet features a rosebud charm and pearly heart to show that I made this just for her with love.

Bella would like to know if you’re excited for the rose gardens to come into bloom. I cannot believe spring starts next week, can you? Those rose gardens will be glorious in no time!

I hope you enjoy the rest of the week and the upcoming weekend! Thank you for stopping by and visiting with me. ❤️🤗

Bella Has Been “Mushroom Hunting”

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2022, as is autumn, seems to be fading fast. This morning it is snowing here in northern Illinois–and will continue on and off until tomorrow morning. *sigh* I never feel ready for the first snowfall. There are always a jumble of phrases going through my head. Mostly I hear “n-o-o-o-o not yet–too early”, or something silly like that. Last Thursday I was out for a walk in shorts and a tank top (and was still very warm), and the begonias were still blooming. *sighing again*

Anyway,… on to sweet Bella (a Ruby Red Fashion Friend) who has been pestering me to show you her brand new fall ensemble. She may have snuck out mushroom hunting, so I apologize if she has soiled her dress. 😉

Bella’s knitwear is made with the softest silk yarn. It is a little hard to knit with, so I only purchased it in this one color–and also it was quite pricey. But, oh, the luxury! Bella loves it! It is a now discontinued yarn from Knit Picks, Diadem Fingering (50% Baby Alpaca, 50% Mulberry Silk) in the Pearl Solid color way. Maybe you have some in your stash?

I crocheted a gathering basket out of 10lb. hemp cord. It is rustic and gives the effect of an authentic basket. Bella has gathered a few interesting mushrooms. They have been knit with fingering weight wool in coordinating colors and embellished with various beads.

Bella’s dress fabric is one of my all time favorite prints. It’s so cozy, colorful, and mushroom-y. I find mushrooms very interesting… The fabric is from 2015–“Faraway Forest” by Lizzie Mackay by Blend. I previously used this fabric for a Little Darlings ensemble in 2016. You can see that post here.

Bella and I are wishing you a great day. We are making a conscious effort to enjoy the beautiful “white stuff” happening outside. What do you see outside your window? Please say hello. I’d love to hear from you❤️❤️❤️!

“Summertime for Play”

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Hi there! Happy July first! We are about a week and a half into a new season–summer here in the northern hemisphere. And, I am enjoying it immensely.

Talyssa (my fair skinned Kaye Wiggs MSD) has a new ensemble to welcome summer 2022. The fabric I made her dress out of is called ‘Children at Play’ by Sarah Jane. It got me thinking of all those summers when I was young.

How endless the days seemed back then. All the glorious days of playing outside, having picnics, going swimming or running under the sprinkler, staying over at grandma’s and grandpa’s house, picking vegetables from the garden, and of course playing with dolls. They went on and on and on. Those were the days, right? *sigh*

Talyssa is enjoying those days now. She and her stuffed puppy dog love to wander around the garden and look for butterflies fluttering to and fro.

Talyssa’s dress is sewn with a Sarah Jane cotton print. The full skirt is embellished at the hemline with white cotton Cluny lace. A spring green satin ribbon ties around the waist and tiny green buttons are sewn on at the back bodice.

Crocheted leaf hair ties swing freely at the base of Tayssa’s braids as she plays outside.

Talyssa’s cardigan is knit out of melon colored wool. The front and side yoke is embellished with flower-shaped sequins sewn on with embroidery floss. Green leaves are embroidered in lazy daisy style. Green glass beads can button up the cardigan if there is a chill in the air.

Talyssa’s toy pup is embellished with a matching yarn bow and a butterfly button sewn onto her paw. Talyssa wears nylon bobby socks and matching panties which are embellished with a silk bow. Her white stretchy seed bead bracelet includes two charms, a butterfly and a heart (to show that this set was made with love for Talyssa).

I hope you are savoring this time of year. Now that I am older summertime seems to fly by in a flash. I am trying to slow each day down by enjoying each and every minute.

Sending hugs to you from my dolls and I. 🤗 Talyssa sends you many hugs! 🤗🤗🤗 So where does the new season find you? I’d love to hear what you’re up to!

Thank you for stopping by!❤️