Flowers, bunting,journal pages and the village sewing group

The last few weeks I have been busy making flowers and bunting to decorate the tent and all around the wood in readyness for the party we have every year for my birthday. Luckily the wood has about a 1/3 where there are few trees and its quite flat. We have two fabulous irish musicians coming again ,they are very versitile and the music is perfect to dance to or listen.In between I have worked on my other daughters journal,I found a photo of me with my father taken on his 80th birthday and still have many more family photos to use.The other page  is for her to write on. She loves bright colours and I am trying my best.

                                                                                 
 I worked with the sewing group this week and asked a friend along to show us some of the dolls she has made. Every one was very impressed and she explained where the patterns came from and hopefully will come back to show them how to make sculpted faces. Something I want to know too.

Though I doubt somehow I will ever follow other peoples patterns,I love to see them and appreciate how brilliant they are but prefer to muddle along my own way.                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Wonderful French Brocante finds

Tony and I went to a huge Brocante at the weekend,it was 5kms of stands through a beautiful forest. The sun shone and there was so many wonderful items to buy as you can see in the photograph.I long to keep lots of them but have to remember that this house overflows and space is difficult to find .Tony bought most of it but I bought masses of vintage lace,so much in fact keep thinking I should put some on Etsy because I already have several large boxes full to the brim.

       As ever my photos don't do them justice  for example the walnut shell is carved with a hundred   
       faces,there are cherubs and pretty ladies  on lots of things. There is a sponge ware money box I      
      love as well.
      I just said to Tony I was going to bid on the wonderful tiny jewelled crown(perfect size for one of           my dolls)  and he has given it to me!!I am delighted.                                       

    

My not quite finished cloth doll

I have spent  alot of time trying to add the finishing touches to this doll,but couldn't reach a point where I was really happy with her. I feel I need to do something with her hands,give her something to hold maybe and hide them a little. I tried several things but nothing seemed right. I shall have to try again another day.In the meantime I must carry on with my two fabric journals.I wish time would slow down.

The thursday sewing group and their cloth dolls.

  As the  photographs show everyone who comes to the sewing group is lovely.We all chat and share most things and help each other. Most people have finished their first doll,some completly by hand others using the sewing machine.  The faces and hair caused most problems but I did point out that after making so many dolls those two things are still my biggest problem. I have a shoe box in my workroom full of heads I'm not happy with.   I did show them how to get the proportions right and suggested doing quite a few practise drawings were a good idea.

   No bought patterns were used. I took in a selection of arms, legs and body shape drawings and they choose whatever they wanted  to put together  . Sometimes not quite making choices I might have made   but they all were delighted with their first results .I have nearly finished my doll and hope to post her wednesday.