Project: Diorama for Mia Mary

For some time now, Mia Mary (Liz Frost's 14" Mia) has been wanting of a room of her own. So it was up to me to provide one for her . . . we can't have unhappy dolls living in this house. :) The diorama is the largest I have done so far . . . measuring 80cm/31.5" wide x 50cm/19.75" deep x 50cm/19.75" high.

This chair, footstool and table was purchased as a raw flat-pack from Le Quak on Etsy, then I assembled, painted and upholstered it all myself.

As this was a bedroom, Mia needed an outfit to sleep in and so I knitted her a set of baby doll pyjamas. They were designed by Jacqueline Gibb of Jacknitss and the pattern is available on Ravelry.

Hubby had made and painted a bed for her some time ago, but I only finished the duvet (using the same fabric as the upholstered chair) just recently. BTW do you remember me showing you these fabrics? Then I made cushions and knitted the throw to co-ordinate.

Had I known when hubby made the bed, that I was going to paint the chair this pretty Spring White (which is really a very pale shade of aqua), I would have told him not to paint it, so all her furniture would be the same colour. But I guess the white bed doesn't look too much out of place, seeing that the pot that the plant is in, is also white.

The fireplace, which you have seen before, also has the mantel painted Spring White. The blue wall and green flooring is fabric stuck to foam-core board. However, I am thinking of re-doing the floor with wood planks and adding a rug to give the room more texture.

I also need to do something about providing a window for her to look out and finish her standard lamp which I am currently working on. The little tea-set is miniature bone china by Wedgwood.

Well that's it for today. Hope your weekend is happy and creative!

Big hugs,

Will I or Won't I?

That's the question I have been asking myself for the past week. It's a bit like "To Be or Not To Be" isn't it? Well it's been a real quandary, not knowing whether I should pre-order this gal or not. I thought this version of Poppy Parker was a stunner, I love her hair colour, her eye screening and those pretty pastel lips. Not to mention her absolutely gorgeous gown.

But I was waiting to hear if I managed to score a PP Looks A Plenty Gift Set which I missed out on last year, by not being a member of the 2018 W Club. Then Alasse reminded me of how much she looked like Misty Hollows, who has been on my wish list since the end of last year.

I figured, if I ever did manage to find a Misty Hollows for sale, she probably wouldn't have all her clothes and accessories and would most probably be much more expensive on the secondary market. But Sunday, of all days, I did find two NRFB's. The first was this one listed at US$425 and didn't even list international postage, then this one at US$499.99 plus US$30 postage.

That did it, there was no way on earth that I was going to pay that sort of dosh for a doll, especially when I could purchase a similar doll for a little over quarter of what they were asking. Luckily I managed to sell something on eBay, and I knew I only had to pay a deposit now, so I took the plunge and pre-ordered her! Heaven help me if she comes in at the same time as my BJD though.

Along with a dress that has a detachable train, so she can wear it two ways, she has a better range of accessories than Misty Hollows, with a second set of hands and a personalised clutch bag.

So it's goodbye to Misty Hollows and hello to Midnight Decadence . . . a win, win to me! YAY!!

May all your dolly dreams come true! 

Big hugs,

X

Blast From the Past

I very rarely share personal stuff on here, but I dug up some old photos (and I mean old) while cleaning up my picture file this week that I thought might make you smile . . . so here's the history.

During my career, spanning some forty plus years, I have designed a wide range of things. It never mattered whether I was working within a clients brief to develop a corporate image, illustrating a children's book, dressing a shop window, or preparing display rooms for the Australian Furnishing Fair, it has always required the use of my imagination.

Aside from work, I enjoyed designing whimsical bears and found inspiration for this range of bears, cats and bunnies right in my kitchen at home! You may wonder what on earth would one find in the kitchen to inspire such a design . . . well, it was the little wooden box I keep my onions in, which has teddy bears painted on the front. Virginia was the first one, which I made from mohair and was five way jointed.

This was the second piece in the range . . . a kitty cat named Daphne. She had a long tail weighted with tiny glass beads and horsehair whiskers. In this photo I'm sure she's saying "What'r you lookin' at?"

Then I made another bear (below). This time I played around with the eyes, which I think gave my creation an even more comical look . . . I called her Lucy in the Sky. She almost looks like she's away with the birds! Or perhaps just a little confused.

Then, I really got carried away and made a very girly Prima Bunnyina. I know she's a bit extreme and glitzy, even her eyelashes sparkle, but don't you just love those shoes? I knew as soon as I saw them, what I was going to use them for. Sometimes you don't need to look for inspiration, sometimes it simply finds you.

The close up of her face shows details of the needle felting and shading. I made her teeth from Fimo with a loop that helps you insert them the same way glass eyes are inserted in a teddy bear.

These were all quite large creations standing approximately 21 inches tall. I have, on very rare occasions, considered making some smaller ones along similar lines . . . and maybe, just maybe, I will one day . . . but only if I live long enough.

Well, my working life was definitely interesting to say the very least. Illustrating, designing, utilising textiles and colour has always played a big role right throughout my whole life. However, to still be able to use all the things I have learnt over the years and more importantly, be able to combine them all into one interesting and diverse hobby, is enormously satisfying. So it should come as no surprise to you, when I say, I'm really enjoying what I do now most of all.

I do hope my furry critters bring a smile your way today and that you are enjoying life too!
Big hugs,
X