Finding Inspiration

I found myself starring at my doll cabinet today. Due to the "staging" of our home, it no longer contains all my dolls. Now, it's used for neatly folded fabrics and a few "inexpensive" dolls. My favorite BJD's have been exiled to a drawer in my desk. Not glamorous, but it's UV protected and away from prospective buyers nosing around the house.
As I was standing there starring at the contents of the cabinet I found myself feeling very uninspired. The house is sterile and almost museum like. I'm afraid to get anything out and actually start a project even though all I want to do is create something. I knew I needed to find the fabric that I needed for my commission and get started, but I just kept starring at my first BJD, Vena. My mom dressed her all up for show and she was sitting there starring at me with her dolly eyes. I looked at the bomber jacket that I had made...and her jeans.... and her tank top and suddenly found the inspiration that I so needed. I grabbed the fabric I was looking for and I got to work . It's been weeks and weeks since I've used my sewing machine for making doll clothes. It feels so good to be sewing again and I'm so grate full for the commission that I'm working on. I drafted and cut out three patterns today and after this post I'm going to sit down and start sewing.

"Now It's No Wonder That Her Name Is Beauty"

My favorite Disney movie of all time is Beauty And The Beast. I was quite surprised when my oldest daughter told me a few months ago that she wanted to be Belle from the movie. But, not the "big puffy yellow dress Belle", but the "normal Belle from most of the movie". She wants to carry a basket like the one that Belle carries in the beginning of the movie with books in it. I looked online for a pre-made costume but I didn't find one in our budget or one that looked good. So, I dusted off the sewing machine and took a well needed break from gardening. I just love sewing for my girls. And, this dress just made me smile. The fit on her body is perfect. And, with a total price tag of under $10.00 it fit into our budget perfectly.

Details about the dress: I used super cheap blue cotton fabric for the main part of the dress and then I used up more of that white Ralph Lauren sheet that I've used on soooo many projects over the years, for the "shirt" and the apron. I used Simplicity pattern 2843 and made just a few adjustments to it. I redid the collar. The one in the movie looks almost rolled, but costumes that have been used on stage and the one that the girl wears at Disneyland have more of a Peter Pan collar. I adjusted the fullness and length of the sleeves. I also cut off the point on the bodice. Then I made up an easy apron (using the hem of the sheet as the bottom of the apron) and made a large bow for her hair.
The most important thing is that she is so thrilled with the costume. She will have her hair curled and all the accessories for Halloween.

September Phatty

Yesterday I received my September Phat Fiber Box. I love getting this box every month. This month the theme was "Myths, Fairytales, Legends, & Lore". There are sooo many pretties in this box. Last night I sat down and spun up all the fiber samples and the yummy yarn samples have been added to my other phatty yarn samples from previous months. I'm saving up all yarns made/received from the Phat Fiber Box to make a larger project. For the sock/sport weight yarns I'm thinking about making some tall wrist / arm warmers. And, for the larger worstedish weight yarns that I have been spinning from fiber samples I'm thinking of a shawl or a very wide scarf. Anywhoo..... Here are the box pics. I'll post pics of the finished yarns today or tomorrow.
The box top and the "flat stuff" - In here there are some gorgeous pearl buttons, and a stitch marker. As well as a postcard and a matchbox note pad.
The fluff was plentiful this month. Just look at all those yummy colors. They all spun up beautifully, but I think my personal favorites are the "Dark Crystal" one (it's purple and in the backish) and the two batts in the middle. One is called "Fairy Farts"!
The yarns are so pretty this month. I think my favorites are the ones in the package (can't really see them here) and the bright blue one.

It's That Time Of Year Again

The preparations for Christmas have already begun. I've been knitting like crazy and planning what I'll be making. I've gotten a few knit projects finished. A few hats, a pair of socks, and about 4 things still on the needles. For now, I'll just post the socks.
I've finished my first pair of gift socks. I'm very happy with how they turned out. I bought the yarn on the Peninsula when visiting my folks. The yarn is "Jarbo Garn" color 1527, Superwash and Nylon, 150m (164 yards). I wanted to make some ankle socks with it. They turned out much bigger than I anticipated, but they are sooo snuggly and soft. I really like this yarn. I was 2 yards short on my last sock and had to dig up some superwash navy yarn to finish.
This pair is a lacy pattern.... I'll post more pics when I have one sock on the blocker. It's my first sock with a lace pattern and so far I am loving making these.

Good Luck At The Goodwill

I've been finding some great things at the thrift stores this summer. Last week was no exception. I found some great yarns. With the coupon I had, all these yarns cost me under $8.00.
These four were handspun in the grease. They are bulky weight and maybe 20 - 30 yards each. I have no idea what I'm going to do with these. Maybe some super chunky balet style slipper socks?
These two are sooo pretty. Silk and acrylic. I will pair these up with one of the fuzzy ones to make small shawl.
The teal Plymouth Encore yarn will be some socks. And, all those gorgeous cottons will become clothing for some of the knit animals that I will be making for Christmas. More on those to come!

I Hit The Button Load!

It's been really busy the past few weeks. We've been painting, cleaning, and destashing all over the house. We had a big garage sale this last weekend. It always feels so good when were done unloading extra stuff. Monday I did manage to bring home more stuff though. I stopped at Value Village to see if they had any hardcase suitcases. The vintage kind maybe in a happy color like blue, yellow or green. Anyway... no suitcases but they did have a ton of crafting supplies. Usually I don't find much there but I sure did hit the mother load. Here's what I found:
A doll clothing fabric panel. This is soooo awesome! I've been wanting one of these for a long time but haven't found one until now. It's got two outfits for 18" dolls. One is a jumper and the other is a red dress. The girls will each get one outfit for christmas. I also found 2 more sweaters to recycle.
These I just couldn't resist. 3 balls of Katia Magic arcylic and wool yarn. It'll self stripe and it's perfect for Rachel's bavaclava that I'm going to make her. In the button load I found some some buttons that matched perfect!
I hit the button load! I found 4 bags of buttons. They obviously came from the same donator because I found buttons in differnent bags that go together. These aren't just plain ol buttons either. About 90% of them are fun, big, colorful, and decorative buttons. I love love love them all! And, best of all... There are at least 2-6 of every button! I love buttons.....Last but certainly not least. I found some wool roving! I never in a million years thought I would find roving at the thrift store. I have no idea what kinda wool it is. It's pretty scratchy and a funky color. I'm going to spin it up this weekend and see what happens!
I've also been busy spinning and recycling yarn. The pic at the top of the page shows my most recent yarns. Today I've got to finish my Phat Fiber samples for September. I can't wait to get my hands on my drum carder. It's been sitting unloved for far to long.

Heywood-Wakefield China Hutch!

I've been looking for a china hutch/buffet ever since we moved into this house. I've seen many china hutch's at garage sales, thrift stores, and antique malls. But, non of them appealed to either our taste or our pocketbooks. We were looking for something unique, with simple details with a slight art deco / retro feel to it. But not at all scrolly or gawdy.

Quite unexpectedly while shopping at the local Goodwill I saw this one! We were walking do the checkout line when I saw it and I knew that second that it had to be mine. Fortunately my hubby loves it just as much as I do. So, we paid for it, drove home to get the truck, went back to pick it up and put it in the middle of the living room to be cleaned.
It cleaned up beautifully. I'm soooo loving this beautiful piece of furniture. I would love to know more about it. It says : "Heywood Wakefield" inside the drawer and the back is stamped " May 16, 1961" model M2961(on the buffet) and M2962 (on the hutch). I've looked it up but I can only seem to find information about their furniture for the early 40's or so. There is a book on their furniture that I intend to track down at our local library. It's not a piece of furniture that I ever intend on letting go of.