I was thinking of tackling the beginning and end of the story I shot almost ten years ago.  The main character, Aeran, was going to need a gown for her coronation.  I went through my boxes of fabrics and chose some, but the fabrics didn't drape very well. It was exhausting to even think about making an elaborate gown just for a few photos. So I thought I'd try the gold FID gown no one was wearing. It took me a month to bead, back when I made it, and then it seemed too fancy for everyday wear, so has been stored away in a box ever since.

Now, Aeran is not the same size as an FID. She's shorter, slimmer, and is nowhere near as well endowed up front. But I was surprised the gown wasn't nearly as big on her as I'd imagined, and she looked really good in it,  so I took some photos...

So Aeran has her coronation gown, for whenever she will need it....

I keep getting 'Memories' on Facebook of the Olde Curiosity Shoppe photos that I posted a year ago.  That series was one of my all time favourites, with so many great photos, so I thought I'd share some of them here again....

​Holly and her Grandfather...

Lots of curiosities....

Repairing an old knight puppet...

Overrun by rats...

A customer...

The street urchin...

To revisit the whole story - the Olde Curiosity Shoppe

So, awhile back I made a new kilt and cloak for Jude, thinking I might prefer a blue variation....

But I decided it didn't work on him after all.  And because I hate waste, I decided to use the blue version for Jude's lady friend. The kilt was too long, and I didn't feel like cutting off the ragged bottom, so I cut the waistband off and sewed on a new smaller one. Grace seemed rather taken with Jude, so I decided to make my signature 'Celtic Maiden' outfit for her. It would be the fourteenth version I've made.

I also had in mind to finally address a story I'd started almost ten years ago.  Most of the photos had been shot on a trip that year, but the beginning and end were never photographed. So my Aeran, who was the main character, would need a beautiful new gown for her coronation near the end. So I had two dolls that basically needed the other's costume. But they were different sizes, and Aeran's Celtic outfit is her default costume. So Grace needed her own.

​I always like to start with the undertakings first....

Then I cut out and embroidered Grace's tunic....

Sewed it together, and beaded the edges...

Twins...

Grace would be getting chainmail sleeves too, but it hadn't arrived yet from China, so I just proceeded with her costume.....

Her outfit is all done, except for the chainmail....

Since I was fixing saddles, I also addresses the need for more bridles.  One of my horses had come with what I considered to be the most realistic bridle, made of brown plastic....

I had already copied it once for my brown horse, making it out of leather, so decided to do that again two more times, one out of brown leather....

...and another out of black leather....

And while I was at it all, I thought I'd just take photos of each step and give detailed instructions on how I did it. It's all in a brand new Tutorial called 'Horse Stuff'

After fixing the stirrups on my two Western style saddles, I decided to tackle the English saddles as well. I also tried removing the paint from my brown horse's Western saddle. Parts of it had been painted peach and turquoise, which just wouldn't do, so I tried using Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner, and it did take some effort over two days, but all the paint came off. Then I took my tan and wine red English saddles, stained them with brown paint, and cut out the pieces for the new stirrups....

I sewed on all the new stirrups, and covered the side flaps of the English saddles with leather...

This is what the white horses looked like when I first got them at Value Village....

Little girls might love pink, but it just wasn't going to do for my dolls, especially not the knights.
​"You've got to be kidding!?!?"

I took some of the more realistic bridles some of my horses came with, and painted the pink plastic a wine red, and added leather leads. I had already made fancy saddle blankets and trims, and the newly improved saddles completed their look.  So this is how they look now....

Bonnie was collecting the empty shoe boxes....

While Bianca and Yvette admired their new shoes....

"The shoes are gorgeous. You did an amazing job!"

Then the Queen turned to Bonnie....

"Your grandfather makes such beautiful shoes...."

"Maybe some day you'll get a chance to wear some just like these..."

Her grandfather threw her a warning glance....

...and Bonnie knew not to say anything.....

"I sure hope so, Ma'am."

The Queen was very happy with her new shoes, so then it was Grace's turn....

The Queen was the first to try on her new shoes...

 Bianca was impatient and couldn't resist taking a look at her's...

"So, what do you think?"

"They are beautiful, and fit perfectly..."

Bonnie reached for the next box of shoes....

....as Yvette and Bianca admired theirs....

'These are really beautiful..."

 "They feel really good too.."

Nick and Bonnie headed out into the snow to deliver the shoes...

Fortunately the castle wasn't too far...

"I hope they like them..."

"I think they will love them..."

Nick came back from his break...."What is going on here??"

 "We just wanted to look at the shoes one last time....and then....they were so beautiful....that we couldn't resist .......trying them on..."

"Those shoes are for the Queen and her ladies. I don't think they'd be pleased to know you've been playing with them...."

"Well, we didn't take out the ones for the Queen..."

"All our customers are important, and their shoes are not meant to be played with...."

So they quickly put the shoes back in their boxes...

  "That's better!  I think we should go deliver these right away..."