Today, September 18th, is International Coastal Clean Up Day, and several of my kids went down to the beach to help pick up the trash....
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A few days had gone by and Baron and Naomi were settling into their new role as parents...    The cradle was moved down to the main hall every day so they wouldn't feel quite so isolated in their apartment.       With the Phantom's costume finished, it was time for one last fitting before the performance.  The jacket had turned out a bit short, so I had to add an insert between the top and the bottom tabs, making it look like a belt. I also wanted the cords of his cloak to hang nicely in front instead of choking him, so the cloak corners have hooks which hook onto loops on his shoulders.     Now I still need to make his staff with the skull on top, and then he can put on the mask and hat, and go onstage for his performance.
Holly and Efreet were taking art classes at the local gallery, and because it was September 15th, National Dot Day, they had been asked to draw pictures using only dots....  ...in the style of the gallery's famous Hibiscus Painting...  "Wow, that's a lot of dots!!"  "It sure is! How many you think there are?"
"At least a hundred."  "No, more like a million!"  Later that day, after everyone had had a good rest, Miho took Dominic up to Baron and Naomi's apartment to see his grandchildren for the first time.  "How are you feeling?" Miho asked Naomi.  "I'm feeling quite well, thank you."
Dominic cradled the little girl. "She's so beautiful."  "We are naming her Fiona Amelia Elizabeth..." said Naomi, "in honour of Baron's Mother."  ".. and Elizabeth after Naomi." added Baron.  Dominic was touched, "That's wonderful."  "I think your Mother would have been so pleased."  "And," continued Naomi, "we are naming our son Daniel Ian Alexander..."
"Ian was my father's name." explained Naomi.  "and then Alexander after Baron." 
"Both beautiful names..."commented Dominic...  "..for two beautiful babies."  Monica went to congratulate Miho and Dominic...
"Congratulations! Twins! You must be so happy, and relieved."  "I can't wait to see them."  "Yes, congratulations!'
"Twins! That's such wonderful news!"  "So, you're both officially grandparents now."  "Yes, and we are both very much looking forward to it."  "Well, I'm glad we dropped by and heard the wonderful news. But I think we'll take our leave now, and let you all get some rest."  Lawrence turned his attention to the Doctor,  "We came because we wanted to pay our respects and thank you for everything you did for Baron. But this is clearly not a good time."  "Maybe after you have all had a good rest, I could send someone to escort you to our castle."  "I have some ideas that I'd like to discuss with you."
"Yes, of course your Majesty. I'd be honoured."  "Well, congratulations again!"  "We are so happy for Baron and Naomi, and for you."  "Yes, please tell Baron and Naomi that we were here, give them our love, and pass on our congratulations."  "It truly is wonderful news, and we are thrilled for them, and we'll return in a few days for a proper visit."  The Doctor joined Miho and Dominic for breakfast.  It had been a long night and everyone was both excited and relieved that the birth of the twins had gone well.
But they were all very tired, so after a quick breakfast they all planned to get some rest.  "It's a little hard to believe that we are now grandparents."  "Yes, and of twins no less. After we all have a rest I'll take you up to see them."  The maid came in. "Sorry to interrupt my Lady...."  "But we have visitors."  "The King and Queen are here." 
Everyone rose, "Your Majesties."  "We were informed that the Doctor had arrived yesterday and we wanted to come and pay our respects. But we seem to be interrupting."  "Yes he arrived yesterday, and it's a good thing too."  "Naomi went into labour last night and none of us has had any sleep. So we are a bit late with breakfast."  "We hope everything went well. How is Naomi...and the baby?"  "Thanks to the Doctor, everything went well...."  "...and Naomi safely delivered twins...a beautiful little boy and girl."  "Twins! How wonderful! That was certainly fortuitous timing!"
"It was good that you were here. Well done, Doctor!"  September 10th is National Sewing Machine Day and we find Emily with her Mom Daisy in her sewing room...  Emily has chosen a nice blue gingham...  and found a matching thread...   She just needs to decide what she wants to make out of it.   I've been continuing to work on the Phantom Red Death costume. His tunic required a lot of piecing of different fabrics and trims, each being hand-basted before being machine sewn. Normally a top like this would open in the front, but with it being so complex, and there being a huge cloak worn over it, I decided to make the opening at the back instead. I tried it on Rex to check the fit...  The next step was to make the sleeves. I built them up in layers, basting then machine stitching each row of gathers one at a time...  The completed sleeves sewn into the armholes...  I have a special technique for when I make a top with huge puffed sleeves and there's an underarm seam. I always hem the edges of each puff before attaching them, and then sew each puff onto the sleeve lining just up to the side seam allowance. Then when I finally sew the underarm seams I make sure the puffs are folded deep inside the sleeve and so they don't get caught in the stitching. Then when the sleeve is turned right side out, the puff edges are loose and I'll line them up and stitch them together by hand....  September 6th was National Read A Book Day. Holly loved to read,  and spent many happy hours in the family library.  She especially loved fairy tales...  ..as they opened up entire worlds of fantasy and adventure.        |
AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
December 2023
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