a dollhouse story

Once upon a time, in a tiny village in the south of Ireland the sun rose upon the last day of term before the Christmas holiday. As ever it is a busy time of year for everyone.

                          

 Poppy skipped off to school with her bag on her back to enjoy some Christmas fun and games with her class mates.

 Her daddy, the postman, was busy delivering his bag full of letters. He even had one for Grandfather from an old friend.

 Indoors Granny was baking her special Christmas biscuits and the house smelt warm and cosy, like Christmas should.

 Upstairs little Pete sat on his bed thinking about all the wonderful things that would happen during the holidays. He had a bubble of excitement in his belly and a grin of anticipation on his face.

 At 11 o'clock, mama sat down with the baby for a much deserved cup of tea. Grandad joined her with a mug of (he claims) ginger beer.

 The house was peaceful and happy.

 Then Granny realised that she had run out of eggs so she took her basket and popped out to the shops.

 When she returned home she found the children playing outside, mama having shoo'd them out of the kitchen while she was trying to cook supper.

As evening drew in Granny and Grandad settled down with a pot of hot tea and reminisced about when they were young and courting.

Poppy and Pete were tucked up in bed but were far too excited to sleep whispering to each other about Granny's cookies, paper chains and whether it might snow.

Mama and Daddy ate their supper together in peace talking of this and of that and of things to come.

The house was quiet at last and eventually even little Pete fell asleep.

I am so excited about this gift for the kids. I have been working on these dolls for weeks now in between other things and today I finally finished them all off. I had thought initially about doing only one doll each, but I got a bit carried away.

 I am so delighted with the doll's houses. I asked Rosario from Ventry Toys to make them for me. They are completely perfect. Each can be a separate house (or garage or barn), but they fit snuggly side by side and they also have special holes and rods in the roof and floor so that they can be securely stacked one on top of the other. 

Each has a door on the side with a little bell for visitors to ring. 

Rosario also made the beautiful furniture. I am such a huge fan of his work, he is always so happy to work with me on my ideas and his workmanship is wonderful. (Don't forget that if you tell him I sent you he will give you a 10% discount on any order over 10 euro...just because he's a lovely man!).

I hope that these dolls and their wee houses will delight the children as much as they do me and that they will get many happy hours of pleasure from them.

Personalized Treasure Chests Tutorial

This year the Buddies are getting personalized treasure boxes as their Christmas present.

Last year each family got a rainbow of play clothes that have been well loved and used. We were scratching our heads what to make/ do for them this year when Susan came up with the gorgeous idea of a treasure box each. Something to keep their special things in, a wee heirloom just for them. 

We found a great source for these lovely unfinished wooden boxes. 

We had hoped to that the mummies could get together one evening and decorate them together but sadly we didn't get the chance. So today while the kids were out with Andy I did the ones for Rebe, Benny and Joa.

First I drew a very faint pencil line around each edge of the box as a border. I just used a ruler as my space guide.

Next I drew out the little illustrations I wanted to use onto paper. You could draw straight onto the box, but I was a little nervous about messing it up.

 I placed the paper with the drawing positioned where I wanted it and went back over my lines using a sharp pencil so that the deign would be indented into the lid.

 I also wrote each child's name in pencil on the lid of the box. The using an old soldering iron of Andy's I traced over the pencil lines.

 I have to say I really loved doing this. A perfect winter craft: the smell of burning wood, warmth from the iron. It is also a slow process, it can't be rushed and must be done in peace and with patience. Definitely something I will be doing more of!

 Next I used watercolor paints to stain the wood a different colour for each child; their favourite of course.

 When the paint had dried I gave each one a wee coat of beeswax polish: to seal it, give some protection and also for it's gorgeous smell!

 An armadillo for Benny

 A wee root child for Rebe

I am really pleased with how they came out and I think the kids will adore them.
They would be a really lovely birthday present or a birth gift. Watch out for the smell of burning wood...they'll be much more around here :-)

basket making

Yesterday I took the day off and went on a basket making course with a friend of mine.

Look what I made! Yes, me! I made that basket! All by my self! Oh my goodness I am so proud of it.

I had the most wonderful day. My friend drove us over in the morning and the workshop itself was held in a huge poly tunnel filled with flowers and raspberries and hay bales :-)

 I was so excited I had to try hard not to giggle! It was really fun learning a new craft and something so different to what I usually make. I loved the feel of the willow and the colours and wow the shape and movement once we got weaving.

 The weather was really funny, raining one minute and roasting hot the next so we kept moving in and out of the tunnel like some kind of dance :-)

 We stopped for lunch for an hour and feasted like kings.

 We were a small group, my friend and I and 2 other really lovely ladies, the weaver and her daughter who was helping out. We could really relax and talk openly, we talked about life and work, yoga and meditation, health foods, gardening and crystals. It was simply heaven (especially as no-one interrupted me wanting their nappy changed or nose wiped).
 After lunch we got straight back to work

 I got quite a headache by 5pm, but I was soothed and helped with tea, cake and lavender oil and kind advise about releasing tension and breathing, but I got my basket finished :-)

 It is so beautiful and I will certainly be seen flouncing around the shops with it :-)

 I will also treasure the memory of such a gorgeous day spent with such lovely women folk :-)