Naomi was starting to feel quite comfortable... ...and she was having a very nice time.... "So...what are your plans?" "Well....there's the wedding..." "I've always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, and your Mother has the most beautiful garden...." "So....that means not until this summer then?" "Yes....I suppose so...." Baron was secretly a little disappointed. Summer seemed like such a long way off. Monica turned to Naomi...."Have you given any thought as to what you'd like to do in the meantime? Baron tells us that you are quite the accomplished seamstress." "Yes, I've always loved sewing, and working with beautiful fabrics. Back home I had a dress shop, and I was thinking I might like to do that again here as well." "That would be wonderful! Our Royal Dressmaker left last year, and we've had to have everything custom made just by measurements, then sent here from the continent. It was so much nicer to be able to chose fabrics in person... as well as being able to go for fittings and watch the gowns being made. Plus, I think it's important to help support our local economy. So, if there's anything I can do to help, please let me know." "Thank you Ma'am. I really appreciate that. Being new here, I will definitely need some advice on sourcing supplies. Especially when it comes time to make my wedding gown."
It was a 'casual' dinner, with just Baron, Naomi, and the Royal family...although some thought had gone into the seating arrangement... Baron was seated beside Lawrence like usual... ...and Naomi beside him... ...in the middle between Baron and David.... David was only too happy to be sitting beside Naomi.... He had quite the crush on her.... Ringo wasn't too happy that he wasn't sitting beside her.... But at least, from his seat across the table.... ...he had a better view than his big brother.... The two Princesses always liked sitting near their Father....especially little Nami.... It was a wonderful dinner.... ...and Naomi was starting to feel quite comfortable...
When everyone was seated for dinner.... Lawrence rose, to make a toast.... "Here's to a wonderful Christmas...." "...and to family...." "...and good friends..." "...and an especially warm welcome to our newest friend, the lovely Naomi...." "Thank you Sire, It's truly been an honour to meet you all today...."
While David was busy defeating Baron at chess, the ladies were playing some cards.... While Ringo tried to teach his Dad to make a snowflake. His first one didn't turn out quite right. "You have to fold the paper like this...." While Shadow made the rounds....
I continue to work on the teensie Forest Dweller outfits. I chose a salt-dye turquoise for the Chipmunk girl's dress, and a gray floral, striped, print for the apron... The pieces are so small that many things need to be sewn by hand, and everything has to be basted by hand first before it can be run under the sewing machine.... But I finished it.... So that's two done....and three more to go....
David approached his uncle... "Maybe you'd like to play a game of chess with me?" "Yes, I would enjoy that..." "You set up the game, and I'll be there as soon as you're ready..." "Okay let's begin..." Lawrence came over, "Best of luck..." "David has become quite the champion of late. He even defeats me most of the time now." Baron hadn't played chess for a while....and it showed.... "Hmmmm..." ....but David was just too good...
Shadow, the King's 'dog' had followed the men back from the stable. Naomi, who had always been rather drawn to animals, came over to look... "But...he's a wolf..." "Yes, he is..." "Papa found him when he was just a little orphaned cub, and brought him home. His name is Shadow." "He's perfectly gentle...and has never hurt anyone. He's the best 'dog' I've ever had." "He loves the children, and they love him..." Naomi was intrigued... "Hello Shadow..." "Seems he likes you..."
I finally finished the first outfit for my new Forest Dwellers. It took five whole days, which is just as long as it took to make Naomi's current gown. Personally, I much prefer making the bigger clothes. Like everything recently, it took a lot of redoing. I cut the sleeves out of the skirt fabric by mistake, and didn't notice until after I'd already hand hemmed them. So I cut a second set of sleeves out of the correct fabric, hemmed them, then it looked like they were going to be too long, so I picked the hem out, cut a little off the ends, and hemmed them again.
I decided to just do some chain-stitch embroidery at the ends of the sleeves, as a fabric binding would make them way too stiff. Her pantaloons were another major frustration. my first three mice have wider pantaloons with lace gathered at an elastic at their knees, and the lace comes right down onto their feet. I wanted this mouse to have shorter pantaloons - and without the elastic in the legs. So I cut them shorter, but they still ended up the same length s before. So I put tiny tucks in, but the lace was still coming down too low. So I decided to start over again. Then I didn't have enough of the dull gold crochet thread to make her 'straw' bonnet, so I made two - a brighter yellow and a dull beige/brown - and chose the one I liked best. So, after five days of work, One little mouse is finally dressed. One down, four more to go..... "How was the foal?" "Good. She was up and about, drinking from her mother. They are both doing great." Ringo tried to get his Dad's attention.... "Dad!! I want to show you something!!" "And how's everything here?" "Great. Your plan worked beautifully. By taking Baron away, we gave Naomi the opportunity to get used to us slowly." "We've been having a really nice time together..." "DAD!!!!" "You better go...." "He's really excited to show you something..." "Look! We made a snowstorm inside!!" "Naomi showed us how to make paper snowflakes..." "I made that one!" "..and that one..." "....and this one..." 'They are beautiful. I've never seen anything like it. But....I'm just wondering......where did you get the paper?" "....Ummm....from your office..." It seemed that Ringo had helped himself to a stack of parchment paper, reserved for special, royal documents, but Lawrence didn't want to dampen his son's excitement on such a special day.
"It really does look very impressive.....just like a snowstorm." The paper chains were finally finished.... So Naomi and Nami started to drape them in the tree.... But she couldn't quite reach the top of the tree.... "Would you like some help?" Baron was back.... "How are you doing?" "Good..." "They are such a lovely family, and I've been having a very nice time." "I helped make these paper chains, but can't seem to reach the top of the tree...." "Here....let me help you..."
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AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
May 2024
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