Frugalling Saturday 2

As well as the material, I bought some more interesting things.

Firstly - all the bits and pieces I need to learn a new craft. Something I have been wanting to learn for a long time.


It has a styrofoam pad to pin the lace onto, a dozen bobbins (I already have four - so this is enough to do quite a wide lace piece), instructions and some cotton. Hmmm looks interesting.


A cool apron. I have been thinking about making myself one of these, in fact when I was thinking through what I could do today, making an apron was considered. Now I have one... and love the patchwork printed material.


Two little babies rescued from Aussie junk for $2. Twins I think.

And two more little celluoid dolls - much older, and rescued from Aussie Junk at Mugga Lane. They cry out for love. I love them.


And at a garage sale - bundle of Childcraft books - full of stories and poems and things to do, to be read with the Grandchildren.... because we finished the Winnie the Pooh book when they stayed over on Wednesday night - well actually we finished it Thursday morning before dropping them off home on on my way to work, because we were all dressed and fed, and wanted another story. We all love the cuddle together in Nanny's bed reading a book... ($2)

Super Saturday

Boy am I glad I am not counting ins and outs...

It all started with a visit to St Andrews fair this morning... and found Betsy and Paula who just cried out to be loved again.

Then I searched through a box of material and found this stash (well that is what was left after MiniBella took some out of it).


Then it was the ACT Miniature Enthusiast Doll House and Miniatures Fair at Weston Creek. More photos from that later on (I hope if TSS shares hers... I forgot my camera didn't I!)

Anyhow, I bought some fabric pieces from Jen. 80 pieces of beautiful fabric - even if it is only 10cm by 10cm big.



Then at the end of the show - the unbelievable happened. I won the basket of Minis Raffle. Apparently buying 6 tickets and stuffing them into one box worked...

That is kitchen furniture, an old cast iron stove, some crockery, little pots, books, a tea set, and oh so much more... Thank you people.

It followed me home - can I keep it!!

First of all - here are the three premmie hats I made - and the latest wash cloth made from the cotton yarn I picked up at Salvos with TSS

I was such a good girl - I took the Shopping trolley FULL of things to Vinnies - and these all lept into my hands, and pleaded to be taken home. I am resistant to most dolls calling out to be loved these days - but these two just snuck in under the radar. Just love the orange knitted jacket - it cries out for a little dress under it, and matching booties.

Look at that wool - 10 balls of 50g Sirdar Pullman for a man's scarf and what else for $7.50 and 5 balls of Patons Caressa for$4.! The material would make a nice T-shirt for Liz.

Which reminds me - I promised two young lads a new T-shirt from my material stash - and they are coming to visit some time soon - so I really ought to get it out and make up shouldn't I?

So that makes totals for this week (including an extra shoe rack and laundry hamper taken to Vinnies)

Ins 287
Outs 662
TIAA still 111

Seven Things Summer - Week 8

Oh Dear. This is not the sort of week I want to confess to.

IN - 35
24 pieces of material
1 bag fabric scraps
1 knitting rugs book
1 background stamp
1 set 12 month flower stamps
1 bag yarn pieces -TSS
1 miniature dolls furniture
3 sticker sheets
2 packets Chrissy cards - sale

OUT - 1
1 suitcase - freecycle

Turn it all about - 2
2 face cloths

TOTAL:
IN - 180
OUT - 396
TIAA - 101

That sure sounds like I have had a lazy week doesn't it. I certainly haven't been deliberate in moving things out of the house. I have been knitting - I have made several knitted squares in a variety of stitches using left over wool in stripes. It will eventually be patched into a rug for my daughter. That means of course that I am getting through the left overs section of my wool collection. I enjoy it when each little ball of wool gets finished.

AND... I did clean up my fabric stash - now I look at it and think of all the things I could make

I had yesterday off at home, and had our carpets cleaned. This meant moving all the babies out of the lounge room so he could actually clean the floors. So they got a little cuddle, and a couple are sitting naked on my desk awaiting some new clothes.

Arhhh Taph - I love my collection of dolls, they bring me so much pleasure. the babies get a little cuddle every now and then, and the big girls join in a conversation. No, I am not going crazy - well I don't think so anyhow. They don't really talk back - well most of the time. Sometimes they do though.

I nursed (you know - cuddled) a brand new baby last Sunday in church. What a pleasure - and she was the size of my babies, but so much more cuddly, and soft and warm...

Hilda - reloving my dolls

Meet Hilda. She is all dressed up to go out in her new satin outfit - which comes with a petticoat and bloomers. Isn't she wonderful.



P.S. I have decided that the bonnet is just too small for her - so it has been donated to another doll, and I will make a larger, more generous one today.

Seven Things Summer - Week 6

This has been a reverse week for me - so much "stuff" came into my house, and not too much went out. Well, I guess it will all balance up in the end. So here goes my confessions:

INS:

• First of all there were two wonderful surprises in the post for me. M1K1 sent me the most exquisite miniature knitting for my Granny - a little shawl, a wicker bassinet and knitted little blanket. They are made from such incredibly fine thread, a sight to behold. (3 tiems)

• 
  
• Cass sent me another little parcel with the most wonderful tapestry style cushion cover (to be made up) - just look how it matches our sofa.
• ... and two parcels - one with a maroon satin pillowcase kit (Exactly the right colour for my bedroom - I have some jaquard maroon pillowcases already - and I have about 6 pillows on the bed), and a huge bundle of ribbons and satin bias strips (2 items - well that is all I am counting anyhow)
  

• Then there are my freecycle gains - two boxes of goodies - fabric left overs, enough special yarns for about 3 big projects, and some other wool/cotton yarn. (probably 25 items)
  

• Knitting needles - much appreciated, including some tortoise shell ones.
  

• Then today - I went shopping in Covic - spent a gift voucher for Christmas and got the tin of DERWENT water colour pencils - a luxury I have been wanting for many years, as well as some stamps, ink pads, little dolly ornaments and some buttons for cards
  

• 2 packages of knitting yarn - frugalled
• 2 pieces material
• 2 Zapf dolls
• 1 very large Dulux dog (Bob)

So the total of INS this week: 49

OUTS: (Total 5)

• 2 T shirts - grandies
• 1 card and wash cloth - in return for knitting needles
• 2 Cards - grandies

TURN IT ALL ABOUT: (Total 7)

• 2 Tshirts - grandies
• 2 wash cloth
• 1 mini blanket
• 1 baby doll booties
• 1 Time Thief Beanie

That is very definitely a reverse from the last couple of weeks - and I guess there is balance in the world somewhere...

TOTALS:

• IN - 133
• OUT - 362
• TIAA - 96

Re-loving dolls

The clean up of my dolls brought to light that I have many babies just crying out to be loved, and clothed. So I have been working hard to meet their basic needs, and be a good mother.

These two dolls have had little jackets made for them. It is an interesting pattern where you create the jacket all in one piece, and join it up along the shoulder/top arm seam. It involves a lot of increasing and decreasing, and looks really weird until you cast off, and pull it into shape - and hey presto, it fits. OK, OK. I know the little one is a little rudey - she has the fabric and lace for a little skirt all placed beside my sewing machine. Just need to get and do it hey!

This little one has a nautical theme - sort of. He could do with a sailor cap couldn't he ... and white shoes I suppose.


These two were created from the same pattern. The dress starts from the neckline, and increases in a raglan style pattern. Then increases at the waist creates little holes for the ribbon. A nice little easy pattern to make.

Sure, she is not quite as cute as the others - but I love all my babies equally, even when they are a little 'different'.

This time, I created a lace pattern in the skirt.

Now you can see why I need to make the "Old Woman Who Lives in a Shoe" dolls house to put all of these babies in. A lot of the Cupie dolls are out of scale though, and I am getting quite a little collection of them - they will need a display of their own soon.

Pictures - Gothic House - incomplete

This is a kit house I got from the Reject Shop - and like the others, not yet complete.

But this week, the fun has been making the furniture from printies I found on the Internet. It is in 1:24 scale, and so not as easy to get dolls and so on at the right scale. But it is coming together slowly. There is another floor to be done yet - really must get that out again.

Pictures - Craft Shop - incomplete

This is the miniature craft shop I am making - again for the Show in March.

The top floor is a Christmas Shop - and in the customers from the Post Christmas sales have left it in a real mess. It needs lots more attention.


The second floor has two rooms - the right hand side is a paper shop with wrapping paper, cards and lots of scrap book supplies, as well as paints.
the left hand side is the threads and beads shop. As you can see, the stock is still being set up.

The bottom floor is the fabric and patchwork shop. Some completed quilts are available for sale. I wish I could find the miniature sewing machine (an old singer model) that a friend gave me 12 years ago when I had a dressmaking shop. But it seems to have disappeared somewhere.
The shiny cover in front of the material bolts is a piece of sticky tape to help hold them in place. Without that, earthquakes were far too often, and the fabric spilled all over the floor.


Still to do:
Lots more to the Christmas shop - there are quite a few things available, and I need to decorate the tree - beads I think for baubles.

More things in the paper shop - some scrap booking albums, and display the stickers I have and all sorts of little things

More threads and beads, and patterns, and books, and ... well I am sure you can imagine what else. Maybe some knitting and embroidery to display.

Some patch working books, sewing notions, some patchwork in progress on the table, and sewing machines etc.

Pictures - Old woman who lived in a shoe house (incomplete)

Here are some pictures of my dolls houses - works in progress.

The theme of this one was "The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe" - the house is to be based on old Queenslander style houses from my childhood. Now no Queenslander was a 3 storey house - that is my artistic license. But is has weather board outside, painted walls, tongue and groove interior walls, corrugated iron roof, perched up on posts, and will have verandahs on the first and second floors.

But the motivation for the house was my ever expanding collection of re-loved miniature babies and child dolls which needed to be displayed.


Top floor is Adult's Retreat and the nursery. That is Granny on the rocking chair - and she eventually will have some knitting to do - you can never have enough knitted goodies when you have more than 20 children!

The second floor is the bedroom - with a distinct lack of beds at this stage. I need to make some bunks to include, and probably a hammock or two. At the moment it is the play room. the section where the kids are playing on the mat will be the verandah.

And finally the kitchen/dining room. With 22 kids, they had to eat in rotation I am sure. It must be family allowance day because there seems to be plenty of food available at the moment.


Still to do - making the essential "posts" under the house - thus creating a new area for play. Curtains, windows, food and kitchen equipment, more beds, carpet in the Adult's Retreat/nursery and lots of little things... - oh as well as a "greenhouse" under the front verandah, thus creating the toe of the shoe.

Just when I thought I was nearly done - there is a LOT more to do!

Doncha love holidays

Arhhh Holidays - time to do what you want. I have been sorting through my craft gear - in particular the dolls corner.

Here is a cute little baby doll - all of about 8 cm long, with her new knitted layette. She needs a name doesn't she? How about Holly?

This year for our ACT Miniature Enthusiasts Show, we are doing Break-away rooms (see Charlene's here).
This is my contribution - not yet finished with all its little bits and pieces, but getting there. It is a bedsit for a Uni student/s in the 1970s - when I went to Teacher's College. Need a bean bag, lots of books and paper, a granny square rug for the bed, put up the macramé hanger - with a pot plant (probably dead!) oh and lots of posters - PEACE, LOVE and so on!!

Back again

You probably didn't notice me gone did you? But we had a scare just before Christmas - Bob tells me we had used up the 24 Gig of download for the month, and we were being charged per MB. I couldn't believe it, but we went Internet free (just about) for several days - until we found out we have 5 Gig left for the month. I was beginning to think my fascination for craft blogs was going to be an expensive hobby!

Anyhow - I got some tidying up done - and even organised what Bob calls "my family". There are more - they are just the decent ones, clothed and in one piece. I have a couple of boxes of dolls that need some tender loving care - and horror of horrors (please don't report me), in those 3 drawers are - well probably hundreds - of little babies. They all need clothes.

Talking of clothing the dolls - Here is Nicolette - so named by TSS because she is nicoless - or is it knickerless. It all started crocheting a cape, and then she needed a skirt to go under it, and a hat of course, and then a little bag. The tiny doll in the hand bag is from TSS - part of the 54 items she gave me yesterday - just to stuff up my INs and OUTs and to make hers look better! Wicked woman.

Seven Things Summer Week 3

IN:
I am trying to remember if I have any ins this week. That is right:

• A little miniature face mask from TSS bought in ?? Bali ?? (Was it TSS)

OUT:

• A wine bottle apron (gift)
• 1 Christmas Hot Mat (Gift)
• 1 Miniature Japanese Doll and Oriental mat (Gifts)
• Knitted Jumper, 3 face cloths, doll - donation gift
• One Diana Ceramic Doll - gift
• 150 plus hand made cards and rolls and rolls of Christmas Wrapping Paper in my stash cupboard - wrapping presents for the Christmas Feast
• 45 dolls - gifts for the Christmas Feast (note: Many of these came back, so I didn't count them in the totals for December. I now have a lovely display of International dolls)
  
• 6 gift boxes for surprises
  

TURN IT ALL ABOUT:

• After such a creative weekend, I don't think I have finished anything this week. Been working on a doll's blanket made out of garter stitch knitted square - 16 of 25 squares finished.
  

More creations - again

Well I am having fun still with creating things. Meet Camille. She is a real sweetie - and will be adopted by a little girl (I hope) at the Christmas Feast.
A blue teapot cosy for the teapot at work - knitted in Fisherman's Rib. I want to be able to make a cup of tea at work, and actually use the second cup in the pot before it gets too cold.... (Work in Progress - needed to be sewn up to be finished.)


A special Granny Square Christmas mat - to be given away at the Christmas Feast. (work in Progress - just required final rows to finish off)

Crafting

I purchased these 10 facecloths this morning from Best and Less ($4) and I have crocheted around all 10 edges today. My hands are feeling it a bit - but they look good. I always think that facecloths that are crocheted around last a lot longer.


Then there is Nellie - I made her a new dress this week. She is so sweet.

Where have I been all week

Dolls and Crafts
Oh dear - it has been a busy week, and I haven't been here. What has happened. I made up a dress and jacket for a baby - will include a photo later on. She is a beauty.

Liz came over yesterday - and she and the kids were here when I got home from work. She raided my material cupboard, and took 4 pieces of material to make stuff for the boys. Rosie gave her a sewing machine for her birthday - and so it is fun for her.

I finished another facecloth.

Seven Things Summer
I am going to start the record of what I buy (in the way of craft and other non-essentials) each week, and what I get rid of during the week - as well as what I use to make into something else. Here are the rules... The idea is to try and get rid of at least 7 more things out of the house in a week more than you bring into the house.

Today is the first day of summer... so what I get from today on counts. Bother - I just bought 10 facecloths to crochet an edge around and give away as presents at the Christmas Dinner. I guess it has to count, because I am going to do something with them.

Christmas Feast
I have also been collecting gifts for a Christmas Dinner I am part of planning this year. It is being held at our church for people who don't have family to share Christmas with. Actually, for those of you looking for an outlet for unwanted items, I am interested in collecting anything you may like to donate to use as gifts. I will include some more information on it later on. thankfully, what you bring in, in order to give away doesn't count on the list :)

OK then - I have some accounting to do - not the most pleasant of jobs, but the appointment with the accountant has been made fro Wednesday - got to get it finished...

Blessings
Janet McK

Introducing Trinity

This is Trinity. One of my babies from Taphophile She is a beauty - a fairly modern doll made with a porcelain head and arms/hands and legs/feet, with a soft body.

But to make Trinity more interesting - she has three faces (inside the bonnet). Depending on the mood she can be asleep...


awake with a wicked grin ....

or crying.
This is Trinity before her makeover...
She is in a beautiful baby dress which used to belong to Taph, and which I have altered around the shoulders to fit her a little better. I also lined the basket for her to lie in. She just calls out for a cuddle when you see her. She is called Trinity because of her three faces.

I have never seen a three faced doll before, but they come from a long heritage.

Ideal Dolls from America have one. Here are some pictures of some more.
And a story of a doll which frightened this actress.
Some history of a three-face doll maker.

I think she is beautiful