Detail Dolly

Linen Dolly

I have made this wee Linen dolly for the 'Sew Mama Sew'  Six weeks of Softies competition and the criteria was  DETAIL, so that's what I have focused on.

I have made her hair from darning wool, it came in graduated shades of brown which suited her Linen face.

The blusher on her cheeks is just stamping ink and I ironed it to set the colour.

Her little pinafore is made from some beautiful Linen I had tucked away.

Her little boots have a button detail and the petticoat peeps out from under her dress.

A little felt flower finishes off her hat, so those are my DETAILS in this project.

Tiny Easter Rabbits

Teeny Tiny Rabbits

I found this sweet project on Tilda Blog  here  and I thought they would be a cute Easter treat to make.

I have used just a plain fawn cotton fabric and a contrasting colour for the inner ears, just choose a small pattern as these Rabbits are tiny.

I cracked open the eggs then washed them thoroughly to get rid of the membrane inside.

Were they fiddly you ask, they were, the turning in the ears was the hardest.

I thought they looked cute amongst my eggs.

I just used a permanent marking pen for the eyes and pink craft ink for the blusher.

Soft toy doll 'leah Honey'

'Leah Honey' dolly

I have been working on a dolly since before Christmas but its not proved to be easy, we have four rejects in my sewing basket.

 This little one however I'm pleased with and I have named her after my gorgeous eldest Granddaughter 'Leah Hannie', she's a teenager now so she won't want one.

Iv'e tried to keep her a little bit old fashioned I didn't want an adult doll I wanted a sweet dolly like my children had.

The beautiful fabric I purchased from my local craft store  here  in Gisborne NZ, I love the butterfly fabric which has the pink, green and yellow in it which blended with my other choices.

The little face is simple, I did it all by machine because that's my thing but hand sewing would be as good if not better, more precise.

Its the first time Iv'e used felt for features on my toys and it has been a learning curve, please don't do what I did and choose the wrong grade of felt.

Quality wool felt is the only way to go, mine shed fluff on my dollies face, actually on all my fabric.

Look at her cute pantaloons with the little lace trim and the border detail on her skirt, I love details, they build to create a great overall look.

The shoes are so simple just a layer over the foot and the little ankle strap is just ribbon.

I will be publishing this pattern shortly but I like to make at least three so I'm sure its truly tried and tested.

I often use buttons to trace for the perfect round shape for the eyes and cheeks and even plates to get a good shaped face.  If I am sewing the eyes on with my machine I set the needle in the down position so that when you stop the needle is in your work and you can pivot around the shape.

I do one stitch at a time, pivot slightly then one more stitch, leave long threads when you start and finish, pull them to the wrong side of your work and secure with several knots.

The little red one is to be a gift for a special little one, this pattern is now available on my Etsy and Felt shops.

TIMI TABBY Kitty Cat PDF sewing pattern

'Timi Tabby' Kitty Cat

I have just finished this project which kind of evolved as I went along. I'm hoping it will be popular as I have tried to keep it simple for beginners. 

You can see Iv'e used my favourite blue and cream again, this retro fabric I bought on a recent trip to the States. The little green one is to show a different look, cute also.

The little feet I have left unstuffed the thickness of the fleece is enough to hold the shape, I haven't stuffed the tail either.

The freckles or whiskers are optional but I do like them, gives them a happy look.

                             

Just a simple cream ribbon is all they need to finish them off.

 

The little tail allows them to stand but they look just as cute lying down.

Little Country Mouse

Soft Toy 'Little Country Mouse'

We are having such a hot summer here, its really too hot to sew and we have had a never ending stream of visitors too.

 When I get a chance I sit down at my computer and write up the patterns, as I make the toys I photograph the stages and take notes.

This is the first time I have sewn Minky Fabric and although its not as easy as Fleece it adds a soft feel to the little mouse. The cotton fabric is so lovely, Strawberries and Forget-me-nots, I have matched it up with the hot pink spot and the lime check, a winning combination.

I have the pattern available on my shops and I have tried to keep it simple for intermediate level sewers. The Minky must be cut with the pile all going downwards and because its shiny on the inside the stuffing doesn't grip so it needs to be firmer especially in the little nose.

                 This one I have used cream fleece for the little face and added a little mouth and eye lashes.

                 

                                       The fabric is gorgeous a real English garden floral fabric.

Soft toy Rabbit

'Ollie'  the Roly-Poly Rabbit

This is my latest Rabbit and he's bit of a change from my other ones but he's really rather cute. I am always on the lookout for interesting fabric and colours that inspire.  I love this blue, is it China Blue or Wedgwood Blue I'm not sure but I had to have it, just two fat quarters.

I had seen a little book illustration of a fat little Rabbit and he was sitting and his little feet were just poking out from under his belly. That was my inspiration for 'Ollie'

 I wanted him to stand up which took a bit of figuring out, in the end I got him just right and stable.

He would look so lovely on a shelf in the nursery. 

I always make two or three, sometimes more so as to get my patterns just right, there are plenty of failures on the journey  to success.

My wee Granddaughters are hoping for pink ones, maybe!

I have put little bells around their necks but this is purely styling while  photographing and will be taken off when I sell them, not safe for little ones.

I have even given them a sweet wee tail.

New Zealand Summer

Glorious New Zealand summer

We have had such stunning weather lately I thought I would share some of my photos perhaps they will capture for you the essence of a Kiwi summer.

I love to showcase our wonderful country, our place in the sun.

                                                                 Looking down over Wainui Beach

                                                             Sun rise over Okitu Beach Gisborne