Project: Window by the Bay (Part 1)

I haven't been sitting idle, nor have I forgotten you all, I have been playing around making a new 3D backdrop to photograph my Iplehouse KID's and my new Kaye Wiggs Mini dolls.

It all began with a piece of white corflute board (30.5cm wide x 42cm high) which has been sitting around in my studio since the year dot. I simply added an A4 print out of an open window with a view of the beach to set my scene. Of course you can adapt this easily . . . just look on line until you find a scene you prefer yourself.

I also found a length of 6mm dowel (it's amazing what I find hanging about in here) which hubby was kind enough to cut to 32.5cm, I will add a trim of some sort at each end to stop the curtains from coming off at a later date, like when I find something. :)

Searching in my stash I also found this pretty floral fabric to make a pair of curtains. It measured 25cm x the width. Beginning with the longest sides, I turned over 5mm, then a further 15mm, pressed with my iron and using my sewing machine, stitched along each of them. Then I turned over 5mm, then 35mm each of the short sides, pressed and stitched. (Normally I would have cut off the selvedge but I needed it for the length.) As these were to be the end I wanted the rod to pass through I made a casing by sewing 15mm down from each edge.

I put them on the rod, measured the length I needed, cut and hemmed them the same way as the heading. This left me with a small piece of fabric, which I made into a flounce to go in between the side curtains. By the time I stitched the head there wasn't a great deal of length left, so I added a row of lace.

I still have to make the seat to go in front of the window, but that will follow in a further post. I have a lovely green ticking which will coordinate nicely with the curtains, Here is what it looks like so far.

I may need to add some weights to the bottom of the curtains to get them to sit perfectly, as I used quilting fabric which doesn't drape well over a short distance. If you decide to try this yourself, I would recommend you use a softer fabric such as Japanese lawn.

(to be continued)

Tea Sets for Dollies

I have always been a soft touch when it comes to dolly props and this week I was so lucky to find not one, but two pretty Wedgwood tea sets at reasonable prices. Being all excited, I thought it would be nice to share a little about their history and trade marks with you.

Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, commonly known as Wedgwood, is a fine china, porcelain and luxury accessories company founded on 1 May 1759 by English potter and entrepreneur Josiah Wedgwood. After Wedgwood's death in Etruria on January 3, 1795, his descendants carried on the business at Etruria until 1940, when the factory was relocated to Barlaston, near Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The Etruria site is still used as part of the "National Garden Festival" and Wedgwood's great house can still be seen as it has been incorporated into an hotel.

Throughout the 18th century, creamware as it was known then, became successfully more refined, technically perfect and more aesthetically excellent, until it reached its zenith with a fine form, thin body, clear and brilliant glaze which formed a perfect background for the ingenious enamellers as well as other more mechanical forms of decoration. Creamware is one of the most versatile and long-lived ceramic bodies, it was perfect for its purpose being used for everything from elaborate and ornamental vases to humble utilitarian wares.

Wedgwood's innovatory cream coloured earthenware was called Queen's Ware after the successful completion of his first commission for Queen Charlotte secured in the summer of 1765.

This mark starting in 1940, is being used today on Queen's Ware. In 1974 the circled R was added to back stamps to indicate that the name Wedgwood is a registered trade mark.

It's this mark, shown quite clearly on the back of my Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit set, which helped me to identify that the set was fine, cream-coloured pottery made from clay.

When I checked measurements I found this set would be the perfect size for my Gotz dolls to use with a table and chair set I bought and renovated some years ago. (Tea Pot: 11.5cm high, Sugar bowl: 4cm high, Creamer: 6.5cm high, plate 11cm diam.) I was also fortunate that it also came with two extra plates . . . which I can use for high tea goodies. I have already ordered play scale cookies from BEADSPAGE :)

-oOo-

Jasper, the most famous of Josiah's inventions, first appeared in 1774 after thousands of experiments. An unglazed vitreous fine stoneware, it was made in blue, lilac, green, yellow, black or white; sometimes one piece combined three or more of these colours. Upon these delicately coloured grounds would be applied the classical and contemporary reliefs which are still made today from moulds reproduced from the originals. The iconic light blue jasper gave rise to the expression "Wedgwood Blue" and remains a recognizable Wedgwood signature worldwide.

I haven't found a Jasperware tea set at a price that I like yet, so the search for that shall continue. :)

-oOo-

Wedgwood had increasing success with hard paste porcelain which attempted to imitate the whiteness of tea-ware imported from China, an extremely popular product amongst high society. High transport costs and the demanding journey from the Far East meant that the supply of chinaware could not keep up with increasingly high demand.

In 1812 Wedgwood perfected and produced their own bone china which, though not a commercial success at first, eventually became an important part of an extremely profitable business due to the second son Josiah Wedgwood II (1769–1843), who had succeeded his father as proprietor in 1795.

I purchased this miniature bone china set with the Mirabelle pattern for my tiny wee dolls.

This mark (developed from mark of 1878 when the manufacture of bone china was revived) was used from 1962 and is still used today on Wedgwood's bone china. In 1974 the circled R was added to back stamps to indicate that the name Wedgwood is a registered trade mark.

This is shown on the back of my bone china set. **

When I have time, I promise to post photos of the dolls using them. :)

Do you ever enjoy adding something a little vintage to your dolly collections?

**Mirabelle by Wedgwood 1976

Description: Bone, Green Dotted Edge, Floral Rim
Pattern Number: R4537
Status: Discontinued 1998

A Curious Expedition

Some time ago I read that these lines came from the books in Canterbury Cathedral and thought they would be appropriate to share with you.

If nobody smiled and nobody cheered
And nobody helped us along,
If each, every minute, looked after himself
And the good things all went to the strong;
If nobody cared just a little for you,
And nobody thought about me,
And we all stood alone in the battle of life,
What a dreary old place this would be!

Around the same time, I  went on an internet excursion and found the most magical site. If you love books, have an interest in old buildings or beautiful art, you would have absolutely adored this place! It had a wonderful collection of photos, some of which I found to be quite haunting, others full of the richness of the old masters and some just plain intriguing, unfortunately the site is no longer there.


The photo above was amongst my favourites, it facinated me and there was a familiarity about it.


This one almost looks like it has just popped out of a Harry Potter movie!