A few photos of Mika and Gabi taken with the lily of the valley this spring...
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Just wanted to share what I've been working on since we got home from our trip. I always need to be working on something, and while putting things away in the front closet I noticed the short green lace sari dress that had been hanging there for years. I thought it was finally time to make something out of it. So I took it down and started picking it apart. The embellishment around the bottom went all the way around the front and back, so it would make two gowns.  After picking the dress apart, the next step was to make the bodices. I wanted to use the same new elf bodice pattern, but didn't have the right colour green fabric for the lining and petticoat, so it required a trip to the fabric store. After making the bodice, I beaded the neckline, and chose some flower petals the same colour as the appliqués on the bottom of the skirt....  Trying on the bodice, with the skirt pinned on. The fabric from the front of the dress had five appliqués further up, and one ended up right in front of her crotch - which was totally unacceptable - so I spent hours carefully picking it off. If it had been any other fabric than lace the holes from the satin stitching would have shown, but on the lace it didn't show at all. Thankfully.  Then the bodice was further embellished to match the bottom of the skirt more...  And the back of the skirt also needed some work. The original dress had HUGE wide seam allowances where there was no beading, so after unpicking the side seams - which would be the back edges of the new dress skirts - there was a wide unembellished space at the centre back seam of the new skirt.  It needed embellishing. There was nothing I could do about the actual flowers themselves, but I did my best to fill in the area and make it look as much like the rest of the skirt bottom as I could...  Then it was time to try on the gown. To me it suggested an Edwardian style evening gown, so I made a pearl necklace and some long white gloves.  I started by making a nice slender glove, which fit perfectly on Sarah's left arm, but her right hand refused to go through the wrist because of her wider right hand. So I had to design a wider glove for that arm. Which is why it looks 'baggy'. But there was nothing to be done about it.  Then I made some matching hair clips...  Then it was on to finish the second gown....
The biggest, most challenging scene to put together for Miho and Dominic's back story was the Banquet scene. I wanted a totally different 'great hall' so pushed the dining room table up against the china cabinet and used the background props from the 'cathedral' set. I have a long wooden board which extends the top of the table, as well as a table cloth specially made to fit on it. Then I placed three banners over the table cloth to help break up all the 'whiteness'. I needed a large group of fantasy figures, but couldn't use any of my other fashion size dolls, except my newest lady, Serena, who wasn't a relation to anyone. I also couldn't use my Wizard bjd since he was the Bishop performing the wedding ceremony later in the book. So, I gathered as many other fantasy MSD dolls, as well as several of my old OOAK art dolls. The art figures were all standing, attached to bases, and couldn't sit, so had to be positioned on boxes and crates behind the table to make them the right height and look like they were actually seated at the table. Then to add some interest in front of the long table, I positioned two groups of smaller figures. The entire set up took me several hours.  I took some photos, and cropped in on the scene.  I was really happy with the photos, and emailed one to my sister. She was impressed and though it would make a great two-page spread in the book. But then I'd have to reshoot it straight on with a bit of a space in the middle so Dominic wouldn't end up in the centre spine. So, I tried creating a wider space in the middle by moving the dolls a bit further apart towards both ends of the table. And while I was at it I gave Dominic a more prominent seat, since it was his castle after all.  Then I took more photos....straight on as requested....  I sent the photo to my sister and she said Dominic was looking straight into the spine, so could I turn him and reshoot? Yes I could.  Then I realized that I'd forgotten to include the Raven, so perched him on Dominic's arm, and reshot AGAIN. Then I had to wait to hear if the photo was good enough before I could take the set down. And it was. Here's the final two-page spread... with a space and small overlap in the centre for the spine...  Once I heard that the final banquet scene was perfect, I could strip the set for the next scene ...  ...which was the private dinner...  That afternoon I needed to tackle the Gathering photos. It was hot and humid and I was tired, but it was only five days until we had to leave on our trip, and the next few days were going to be even hotter, with chance of showers, so there was no choice. Thankfully Jan offered to help me. I didn't want the same old patio background as usual, so he moved the patio table onto the grass so the blooming bridal wreath spirea bush would be in the background. Then he brought out the old table top which I've used several times before for large outdoor gatherings. I laid the floor covering, positioned the styrofoam pillars and arches and the nicest baskets of million bells. Then brought out all the dolls and a laundry basket full of chairs, and positioned them in a circle with the smallest figures at the front.   One of the photos taken slightly elevated a bit above straight on so the figures in the foreground wouldn't obscure the ones at the back.  One of my favourite photos ...  Then as we were taking everything down, I realized I'd forgotten to include the unicorn as well as the Raven. But there was no way I was going to set the entire scene up again and reshoot. I was exhausted, and I was done.
In the end I'm glad I made the effort to photograph Miho and Dominic's back story when I did, and it makes a wonderful addition to the new book. Taking a look at some of the scenes shot for the Miho and Dominic back story. It was just two weeks before we were going to leave on a month long road trip, so I had just one week to photograph the entire story. The first set of photos were taken at the Guild Ruins Garden. It had to be right away, before the Greek Theatre became a stage for the summer productions, or I'd have to wait until September. So I packed up Miho and Dominic and we went.  I got down on the tarp to take the photos at the doll's eye level. I don't normally like to take photos in full sun, but it was a very hazy day from all the wildfire smoke in the air, so the filtered light was perfect.  That afternoon I tackled all the patio scenes. I created Miho's terrace using the pillar unit and baskets of million bells...   I especially liked the bridal wreath spirea and blue pansies blooming in the background  The next day I photographed all the letter writing scenes, then piled all the furniture and props to one side to create Dominic's library....  and take the photos of them close up at the window end of the room...  "But I was also a little concerned about your reaction, since it had been just the two of us for your whole life.  Dominic suggested I needed to just talk to you,  and that he was confident that everything would be fine.  Which is why I've called you here today. I have been keeping my relationship with Dominic private for quite a while," continued Miho, "and I felt it was finally time to tell you.”  Baron was a little bemused at the thought of his Mother falling in love, and just sat quietly listening.  "I haven't felt like this for a very long time.” she continued, “I never expected to find true love so late in life, and with Dominic moving in with me, it's time to take the next step and make our relationship public. I would love to have him accompany me at your wedding next week, but I wanted your blessing first."  Baron took her hand...  "Of course I give my blessing. You deserve to be happy just like everyone else.  If you love this man, and he loves you, and he makes you happy...then I'm happy for you."  Miho got up to give her son a hug.  "I love you! Thank you for understanding."  "So, when do I get to meet him?"  "Well, how about tomorrow evening at dinner?” she suggested, “I'm anxious for you and Naomi to meet him, and he’d really like to meet you as well.”  * This ends the newly expanded insert into the story from 2022.
To see the entire new segment in the proper order - Miho & Dominic, A Love Story It ends with a link to the next part of the story. "Dominic and I continued to stay in touch," continued Miho, "but letters just didn't feel like enough anymore, and our visits became more frequent.  I found it increasingly difficult every time one of us had to leave and go home.  Then one evening on his last visit here, he told me that he'd fallen in love with me,
...and he proposed that we make our relationship permanent, move in together, and become life partners. I told him that I felt the same way about him.  I loved him, and I said 'yes'.  "In the evenings we'd spend hours in his library." continued Miho...  "He had the most amazing collection of interesting old books.  Having been alone for so long,  we had both been a bit hesitant to get involved too quickly at first,  but our feelings for each other soon began to blossom into something more.   "So, I went back to Dominic's castle with him." continued Miho, "We both loved riding, and would go every day.       "Dominic and I enjoyed quiet dinners in my garden...." continued Miho...     "But the time seemed to pass far too quickly....   We really enjoyed being together, and he invited me to go back home with him when it was time for him to leave."  "After a few months of communicating by letter," continued Miho, "I was really missing him, so I invited him to come for a visit.  We took long walks...  
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AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
February 2026
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