My Doll Haven

Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Sunday

Friendship

A little poem dedicated to the many wonderful friendships which are formed through blogging and just to let you know, I am thinking of you.

When good friends walk beside us,

On the trails that we must keep,

Our burdens seem less heavy,

And the hills are not so steep,

The weary miles pass swiftly,

Taken in joyous stride,

And all the world seems brighter,

When friends walk by our side.

Author Unknown

The Monarch courtesy of James Browne

Wishing you all a marvellous week ahead!

Hugs,

Tuesday

Inspired by Dolce and Gabbana

Some of you maybe aware that I made teddy bears for many years, long before I began collecting dolls. It was a wonderful creative outlet and one that I enjoyed for almost 16 years. Often I would look for inspiration to create something new and exciting. However, sometimes, no matter how hard I looked, I could not always find it.

Then there were times when inspiration would simply arrive when I least expected it, often in the strangest forms . . . it may have been a colour, a fabric, a piece of music, a beautiful poem, a child's book or as in this particular case, it was a couple of wonderful Italian designers.

I kept the little clown on the left (Dulcie) and the other (Gabanny) found a new home overseas.

Hope you're all feeling inspired this week. :)

Hugs,

Thursday

Vintage Style for Ivy

I do enjoy sewing, but there are times when I look at my fabric stash and think "Where do I begin?" However, sorting out my storage has helped me focus on something I have wanted to do for a long time and just kept putting on the back burner. In my stash I have some beautiful tana lawn, pretty gauze in pastel colours and lovely dotted Swiss cotton, all of which are perfectly suited to vintage style dresses.

Anyway to cut a long story short, I made another dress using the same pattern I had used for Fifi Muffet's and Mia Mary's dresses. This time adding more lace, a few pintucks, some hand dyed silk ribbon and velvet flowers.

I'm reasonably happy with the way it and her bloomers, have turned out and think the outfit looks lovely on Ivy my Narsha Zihu. What's more, it's inspired me to finally give her a long awaited face-up, which if all goes well, photos will follow shortly.

I may give her a hat or bonnet and a parasol as well, to complete her look. The only thing I am not happy about is her shoes, she has a rather large big toe that tends to stick upwards, which makes finding the right style of shoe to fit, a little difficult. If only I could remember where I purchased these gold ones from, I would order more in other colours.

Well that's about it for today, I'd better move my butt if I want to make this girl come to life. :)

EDIT 4.50pm: Well move my butt I did, but I am so frustrated with the darn eyelashes. Does anyone else have a problem with them? I think I need to try some different ones to the ones I'm using, they just don't curve nicely and I am really p****d off that I managed to get glue on the face-up, so Ivy now has shiny spots on her face. Looks like it's gonna be off with this face-up and a fresh start another day (when hubby's not around to keep interrupting me with cups of tea).

Hugs to you all,