Doll or Dolls?

They say laughter is the best medicine; there's even a Bible verse that says "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."  Maybe my latest doll (or dolls) will make your heart merry with laughter:

She is (or they are) a topsy turvy doll, one doll with two change about faces.

The doll is made from a tee shirt knit so she's very soft and lovable.  Her hair is made from yarn and her face is painted.

This is the face that made me laugh; her hair brought back memories of a woman I used to see on the streets of the city when I was a little girl.  She had lots of real dark unruly hair and I was afraid of her.

I haven't decided if this girl is asleep or being coy, but I like her better.

Their aprons are made from vintage linens I purchased on eBay a few years ago. 

So -- another "work in progress" is finished.  There are three more dolls waiting to be finished, then I think I'll pack away the stuffing and patterns and stick with something I know how to do - quilting.  And here's a sweet poem for you who love dolls:

THE DEAREST DOLLS  by Hannah G. Fernald

Miss Winifred Evelyn Constance McKee

Invite our dolls to an afternoon tea

But do not bring them all

For my table is small

Just let each little girl bring her dearest said she.

I felt in my heart it would not be polite

To take my poor Rosa she'd grown such a fright

She is blind in one eye

And her wig all awry

For she sleeps in my bed with me all through the night.

I explained to dear Rosa just why she must stay

And I dressed Bonnie Belle in her finest array

And then do you know

When the time came to go

I snatched up my Rosa and ran all the way.

And what do you think of the six dolls that came

There were four that were blind there were two that were lame

And each little mother

Explained to some other

She is old but I love her the best just the same.

Have a wonderful, happy weekend,

Charlotte

New Stitches

I got a new sewing machine in December as an anniversary/Christmas present.  The Singer I have makes nice stitches but it gives me fits coming unthreaded so much of the time, and with my aging eyes and fumbling fingers, threading the machine is a chore.  The new machine is a Brother from Wal Mart, not a fancy expensive machine, but it has a needle threader! and a button for raising and lowering the needle so it doesn't come unthreaded!  And -- it has a buttonhole foot, another great thing for me.

Another of its features is a multitude of decorative stitches, and of course I wanted to see how they look when put to fabric.  So I made some little crazy patch blocks and added some of these stitches to the seam lines of each piece.

Not all the stitches appeal to me, but I especially like the cross stitches, little hearts, flowers, and leaves.

The machine automatically sets the length and width of the stitches, but as I became more familiar with them, I began to make them longer and wider which gave a different look; I like them better this way.

Now I know these are no where near as pretty as hand stitching and I don't plan to use them much, but for a little doll quilt or doll clothes they can add a sparkle of interest.  It's been fun playing with the machine.  Now it's off to feed cattle -- after I clean up the mess; threads everywhere!

Charlotte

February Apron

February's apron is a child's apron, size 7-8.   After all, no one said all the aprons had to be for Grandma or Mommy.  It is made by a Simplicity  "It's So Easy" pattern, number A2319 which was only 97 cents at Wal Mart.  The fabric was purchased online from Connecting Threads.

Teddy just had to sit next to the apron so you can see the size of it.

I don't have any little granddaughters who could wear the apron, but someday there might be a great-granddaughter I could give it to and she could say, "Look, Mommy!  Mama Charlotte gave me an apron!"

Charlotte

My Girls

I have three wonderful daughters, ages 50, 49, and 46.  These little crewel embroidered pictures say so much about them when they were small:

The oldest wanted to cook and I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I didn't encourage it at the time.

The middle daughter liked to sew.  Whenever they were playing with their dolls, she would rather make clothes for the dolls than mother them.

The baby girl -- well, what can I say?  She liked to play, but she pestered her sisters to death at times.  So we always told her she needed to pray.

The pictures were given to me as a kit, many, many years ago and have hung on the wall, reminding me of their different personalities and the fun they had growing up together.

Charlotte

Farm Update

Last summer I wrote about the serious drought we were in and some of the problems it caused on the farm.  We've had some rain, not in excess yet, but it has helped greatly.  For instance, remember the dry pond,

and all the muck that was cleaned out of it?

Well, this is how it looks now: very, very deep.  Situated in a draw between the hills, it has filled with run-off water.  Also, whenever it has rained enough to raise the water table, water seeps out of the ground and runs into the pond, from what must be a little spring.  

We continue to grind hay for the cattle and find that they waste less than when the hay is rolled out onto the ground or fed in a ring.  So far the hay supply is holding out and the cattle look good.

One more thing you might remember -- The Dog?  Well, he stayed until almost winter, then left as mysteriously as he came.  

Charlotte

January Apron

Last year, Teddy and I had a different doll quilt for each month of the year.  My quilting is at a standstill right now; just can't seem to get into it, although I do have a big quilt in the frames.  This doesn't mean I've lost all interest in quilting, but taking a rest from it. 

I've always liked to sew, and this year I think I will try "an apron a month" project, beginning with this ripply apron made from an online pattern.

I ordered this book from Connecting Threads for Christmas.  It has pull-out patterns for five full-length aprons, six half aprons, and four kitchen accessories (pot holders, place mats, table runner).  With the patterns I already have in my collection, I believe I can have a different apron for each month.

Charlotte

Linens

Do you remember a time when bed linens were bought as separate pieces instead of a matched set, and when most sheets and pillowcases came in white?  Before the addition of polyester in fabrics, the pillowcases were starched and ironed;(o.k., maybe we don't want to remember that!) Women took great pride in embellishing the pillowcases

with hand crocheted insertions,

crocheted edgings,

or hand embroidery.

What a wonderful work of love and enjoyment!  So, I'm thinking, there'll be no more matching sets of sheets and pillowcases for me; I'll buy basic white and maybe make my own pillowcases, and adorn them with colorful threads and stitches.

Charlotte