Thimbleprims Studio's Gorgeous Doll giveaway!!

Isn't she just amazing! Spring is in the air for Cindy from Thimbleprim Studio she is heralding the arrival of Spring by giving away one of her precious dolls.
Go visit her blog for details on how to enter. Plus there is a close up photo of Sunny and all the information about her and how she was made.

Thank you Betty Jo & CurlyPops!!

My blind little bunny's wish to say thank you to Betty Jo for our eyes!!

What a wonderful surprise was waiting for me in the letter box yesterday afternoon. A parcel full of brown and gray buttons sent by the very lovely, talented and amazing BETTY JO!! My little critters and myself really appreciate this so much, thank you, thank you, they are just perfect. I can now finish off my Easter Bunny's! Look how happy they already are...oh you can't see them smiling? Well they will be soon. I have another 50 critters on the go plus a couple more big dolls and still secretly working away at a couple of new designs!

Looky Looky what just arrived another lovely parcel of buttons from the mighty CURLYPOPS!!

My kitties say thank you CurlyPops for our eye's, we love em'!!!

Have a great day every body!

feeling pretty chuffed

A couple of weekends ago BF and I went to the Sunday market just out of town. There are a couple of elderly ladies there that sell old knitting magazines, needles, buttons, lace edging, old broken dolls and stacks of doll and bear making magazines. I came across one that had the cutest little outfit, one I that has been in my head for a couple of years now but I didn't know how to make it and here it was Sweet William! I bought a couple of other bits and pieces and was able to knock $5.00 off the magazine...the lady wasn't too happy about it, but she did it any way. I was more than happy when I looked at the pattern and found it was just the right size for my bunny! This is the first time I've made something so tailored as this. It's not perfect but after this first attempt and finding it easy I just want to make more!!The pattern is by Kay Pierpoint-Maguire, I wonder what other out fits this talented women has made?
The magazine is called 'Doll Dressing', no date on it that I could find. Hope I can find some more of these.

Talking about hoping to find things, brown buttons! Little Black Crow needs more vintage brown buttons! My stock of brown buttons is running low. I've bought all I can on etsy...made one poor woman sort out pairs of them from her bag of mixed brown buttons, she was happy to do so. I bought 100 vintage brown buttons a few weeks ago on ebay but hardly any where in pairs, Disappointed. So if you see any or have a stash of unused vintage brown buttons about 1cm or smaller, dark to medium brown, 4 holes are cool but so are 2 holes. Contact me and see if we can make a deal!!
cheerio!!

portrait shots of my little girls!

sold

Sold

These are the dolls that went with me to the market. I'm making 4 more today plus more bunnies, bears and donkey's!

Pink Bunny!!

Here is the little fella that I mentioned a while back. A very pink bunny!! I had him for sale with one of my rag dolls and so many little kids came up and wanted just this little bunny. I might have to make a few more. he is made from very soft flanel with embroidered nose and whiskers. The eyes are painted and penciled in.

Burlesque challenge

The little corset book courtesy of Severina, thank you!!

Just a quick little look at my latest doll for the ADO Burlesque doll challenge.

doll clothes

here are som pics, I had a lot of fun taking these, of the dolls clothes I made, the dresses are adapted from threadbares patterns. I cut close to under the sleeve area and sew a pleated skirt from the same fabric. Only the bottom part of the skirt is hemmed. I was worried about the fabric fraying to much around the sleeve and neck opening so I  blanket stiched around the areas with pearl thread.
As for the pantaloons, don't you just love that word, I adapted another pattern for a much smaller doll. As my girls are a little chubby. Very happy with how these turned out. I loved the white crispness of the fabric especially after spray starching and ironing them.
The pantaloons I attached to the dolls bodies with little vintage buttons. One at the back and two at the front.

The Barn Market day

The Barn Market was just terrific. I was pretty nervous about it all, only my second time at having a stall but as the day progressed it was such a calm and friendly feeling in the air time just flew. The Barn Market operaters, Helen and Miriam, did a wonderful job with organization
and made us all feel comfortable. They even left us all a little parcel with tea bags and lollies when we first arrived at our tables in the morning.

here is my table!

My little rag dolls, they look a little concerened!

Elf Dreams, what a great name! children's clothing and dolls just so sweet!

Kate with her very beautiful jewelry. Loved her knitted wire bracelets.
Not much photo taking was done as soon as I was set up and people started to arrive sales where quickly made.
I sold quite a few of my personal favorite dolls, but I know that they all went to very nice homes!
Two of my rag dolls sold I was very pleased and will need to make more...I need to make more of everything. The book markers sold well oh and I sold a painting!!
To view more photos of the day take a wander over to Rosie from Notions she always does a terrific job with her camera, not to mention her lovely work too.
One of the many highlights was meeting Jenny from Little Jenny Wren, she was so great to talk to and she even bought one of my little kittens! Hope to meet up with her again in the future! Checkout her dolls on Etsy, oh look she only has one doll left....she better get busy!

YEE HAA little black crow and crew are off to the Barn market!!

Join me and my girls tomorrow at the Barn Market. There will be oodles and oodles of great gift ideas for family and friends plus a little or a lot of self indulgence. All handmade by exceptionally talented Tasmanians!

This is The Barn Markets first opening, its all very exciting!!

So if you're in Tasmania this Saturday between 10am and 3pm, heading into Rosny and you are in need of shopping therapy off you go to the BARN MARKET.
Take a look at the Barn Market web site for more information!
If you can't make it keep your fingers and toes crossed for us that the weather stays fine!!

So long Miss Kitty

For the a few months now we knew that Fat Kitty's days where numbered. Poor little girl had developed a brain tumor and because of her age we thought it best not to operate and just to make her as comfortable and give her the best we could provide. The day before yesterday she didn't get out of bed no matter how much I coxed her she just wanted to curl up and sleep. Yesterday there was no sign of improvement although she did drink some water and ate a little food, (which is so unlike her as her appetite was always ravenous!) I brought her out into the sun and gave her a brush, she purred happily. But we decided not to prolong her discomfort as the tumor was quite large and even though she is a tough little bugger, we knew it was only going to get worse and I didn't want to let her go through what my last cat went through.
So we very sadly let her go.
Fat Kitty will be missed by many of the children that live on our street. These three girls used to ride by on their bikes stop outside our drive and if Miss Kitty wasn't already there waiting for them they would call for her and she would come running down to greet them. She was a very chatty kitty not only with children but with all our guest that came over for dinner, she had to be the center of attention and we often put a chair out for her so she could sit and talk with everyone. The life of the party was Fat Kitty.
Fat Kitty loved the sun, we have her now in a little spot in our garden, I'll hope to find a plant for her in a couple of days.

apron patterns

I love these vintage magazines. The patterns are just the right size for my little bunny's and elephants. As I wont be sizing them up for myself. These are apron patterns from a 60's magazine. I'll post some pics of the finished aprons and more patterns soon!

Hey Look NEW things!!

Making things for girls is just to easy1 I've been thinking and thinking what I could make for boys and for the older versions there of. I came up with BUNNY BOY BOOK MARKERS! This is my first 8. I'll be making girlie ones of course. They will be in my ETSY shop soon for a bargain price!!

Tddah!! Here are my first two little/big raggadies waiting for their big day at the market!! They wont be on their own for long..LOOK what the stork brought!!!!

Look at my little babies...oh wait, can you see something odd about two of them...hmmm I wonder what happened there!! Oh well I'm sure they will be as cute as buttons once they dry off and have there little faces painted on!
I wonder what the neighbors thought when they saw this!! heee heee heee!!

Ragdoll of the corn

OOps my first zombi rag doll is out of her closet!!!! Just finished sew her gingham dress. Pretty happy with the dress although it was frustrating at first and I found it a little less forgiving than my tiny little dresses that I make for my bunny's.

I want to add a little collar to the dress and maybe a bit of ric-rac. I was happy with the hair but not sure how to secure the plates. I think there are some instructions in one of my doll books I'll have a look for it later.....Her eyes are even it's just the angel of her head. She will have big brown button eyes, a little stitched on nose and a little embroidered smile. The instructions for this pattern mentioned to use a pink texta for her cheeks, not sure if I'm game enough to give it a go. I'll try it on a piece of scrap cloth first. Oh and she needs knickers!! I bought this pattern from Threadbare Primitives.
I'm making these rag dolls for an up coming market on the 13th of February. I won't be selling these in my Etsy shop I have other new things to go in there soon.