Tag Archives: nature

Daffodils, Magnolias, and…

 

This is daffodil season here in northern Illinois.  They are blooming prolifically alongside the roadways and in gardens.  Last week, on the way home from picking up my daughter, I took a little detour to see if this roadside garden of daffodils was blooming.  It was!  Isn’t it gorgeous!  I snapped a few pictures to show you this glorious garden of daffodils.

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I thought there was only one variety blooming here (basic yellow), but on closer inspection saw tiny daffodils and cream/yellow varieties as well.

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This was my very own little clump of daffodils ten days ago.  Ugh, snow!  Luckily, the snow didn’t kill my daffodils; they are fine and still blooming.

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We are starting our second week of springlike weather.  So happy, happy, happy!  It is finally spring and oh, so wonderful outside.  These are my daffodils today.

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Truthfully, I think they liked getting snowed upon.  They are still doing great ten days later.

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The magnolia bushes didn’t like the cold snap much, but luckily they were just starting to bloom, so we didn’t lose many blossoms.

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And, here is a photo from about a month ago that has nothing to do with daffodils or magnolias, sorry, but I wanted to share it anyway.  When I was with my mom in January she gave me this puzzle.  She saw it at the store and thought of me as it depicted many of my favorite things.  Even though I am busy making things for our dolls, I finally had to put it together.  It is the last (material) gift she gave me.  Thank you, Mom!

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I hope you all are having a great start to this new week.  I know some of you had snow over the weekend, sorry about that.  I hope it melts in a flash, so spring can come back… and stay!

Bye for now!

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.

This Week

Happy Saturday to you all!  I don’t have doll outfits to show you today, sorry.  I should have at least three by the end of next week, maybe more.

I do have some photos of works in progress and photos of a few “detours from work”, such as this pile of old cards that I dug out of my memories box.  Lately, and due in part to Pinterest, I have developed this nostalgia for vintage illustration.  Not only are these cards vintage, but they are from my loved ones, so are even more special.  (So glad I kept them!)  I even found a signature from my great grandma.  I long forgot how she would sign her name.  And, many are from my younger siblings before they had their own families; they would give a card together from the three of them, so long ago…

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The sun was coming up so beautifully this morning.  I went outside with my camera to see if I could capture the rising sun’s golden glow and long shadows.  I found our bird feeder empty and looking a bit ravaged.  Raccoons?  I think they are the only ones who could knock the tray down.  I know that the squirrels are mostly responsible for emptying the feeder.  They sit there, sometimes one on each side, for the longest time, and eat and eat.

02-23-16 588I dyed some rayon ribbon this week.  It took a few tries to get the right shade and then I ended up using a previously dyed piece.  Oh, well!

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Earlier in the week some of these pieces were in progress.  Patience is now dressed in her dress and sweater ensemble.  She’s looking very cute, I might add.  The pink sweater (for Talyssa and/or Gracie) has been blocked and is waiting for embroidery.  The little yellow dress for Pukipuki is also waiting to be embroidered.

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Another mid week shot of my work space.

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That’s all I have for today.  Hope all of you have a relaxing weekend.  Bye for now!