Ready for Christmas

We were so lucky to have been given two trees this year from our good friends' backyard tree farm.  The branches are spare just like the old fashioned trees of long ago.  All the better to fill with lots of ornaments which can be seen beautifully.  I put one in the living room with all the family ornaments on it and one is the kitchen sitting room adorned with all my old vintage glass ornaments.  That one looks just like a jewel box!  Enjoying the tree is one of my favorite parts of the holidays.

Here is a little board of stocking favors I made for friends at my annual Holiday Ladies Night Out.  They are made from wool felt and bits of christmas trim, vintage ornaments and odds and ends.  No two alike and I think the ladies had fun picking out their favorite to take home.

My double chocolate cake with ganache got a crushed peppermint garnish.

Happiest Holidays to everyone!

Walpole Artisans Tour coming right up

I am participating in the 13th annual Walpole Artisans Tour on Thanksgiving weekend.  Here are some of my woodland themed goods.

Toasty handmade heavy woolen camp blankets.  Perfect for snuggling by the fire or for actual camping!

The mushroom and fox were made using an Emma Hall pattern.

My faux taxidermy

For Mother

It's almost Mother's Day and even though my mom has been gone for two years now, I still miss her more than ever.  I always found her a vintage shell pin for her collection and the other day while I was in my favorite junk shop, look what turned up!

I am still collecting and adding to the beautiful collection that she used to wear all the time and left for me to enjoy.  This one is a beauty.  You would have loved this one Mom.

Doll Making Workshop at Maminka Girl Studio

I just finished a doll making workshop with a wonderful group of ladies who all brought a diverse group of talents to create some amazing dolls!

My studio cleaned and ready to go.

The ladies hard at work.

Head and hands ready for the oven.

Painting the heads

Breaking for lunch because we can't create on an empty stomach!

Day One:  Pappa al Pomodoro rustic Italian bread soup with croutons

Mixed Green Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Tres Leches Cake

Day Two:

Curried Chicken Salad with Apricots and Almonds on Homemade Buns

Lemon Bars

Dollies awaiting finishing details!

Spring

I am working on some simple and fun workshop ideas such as this Spring welcome board.  It incorporates a painted and collaged background technique with paper flower making and other vintage embellishments.

A Bit o' Easter

A little bit of Easter crafting using up old paper pulp berry boxes that have been saved and some of my hand dyed crepe paper (which can be seen in my banner above), bits of ribbon and lace, pipe cleaners for the handles and some old millinery flowers.  I made the paper shred using those multi-blade shredding scissors.  It is very hard to find real paper Easter grass anymore.  It is all that plastic stuff.  An enjoyable and quick craft!

Lady Sybil

My newest Downton Abbey character doll:  Lady Sybil.  I do miss her spunky character and wonder if Tom will ever find another true love.  Maybe in America.  I think I read that this was going to be the last season and if that is true, I am broken hearted.  I think they should do a parallel storyline in America with Tom in Boston and Lady Rose in New York leading up to 1929 and the big crash.  Lots of history to be told there!  Julian Fellowes are you listening?

Anyway, here is Lady Sybil in her WWI nurses uniform.  I will make one in her famous harem pants outfit too when I get the time.  These little dolls are very time consuming so I think they will stay in my own collection.  They would cost too much for anyone to want to buy them!

Mrs. Patmore

The Downton crew is growing.  Here is Mrs. Patmore!

Downton Abbey Withdrawal

Just because Downton Abbey is over for this season doesn't mean I can't get my fix.  Here are some little folks I am working on.  I thought I would start with the downstairs crew and work my way up.  Of course this is Mrs. Hughes who runs the whole show (even Mr. Carson) and Anna from the first season when she was merely a housemaid.

I was so excited to find little scissors and key charms that would work for her chatelaine!

More to come... as time permits.  I'm especially excited to make Lady Sybil in her harem pants and nurse outfits.

More Faux Taxidermy

I am having fun creating a Natural History Museum inspired mantle.  I have used a couple of Emma Hall patterns, a free pattern from Mr. Finch and made a moth inspired by him (amazing artist).  The deer head was inspired by a free pattern from here.  I added lace and wire antlers and changed the shaping a little.  I need more practice on making my own animal patterns.  I do not think three dimensionally very well when it comes to pattern making.  It does challenge me and I have more fun creating the details than making the pattern but I have a lot of ideas for patterns that do not exist so I will have to give it a try.