All righty then. So Winston's Bakery was created, with dozens of scrumptious donuts, just waiting to be 'appreciated'. No sooner were the doors opened, than eager customers arrived to try them ...
Yesterday, November 5th was 'Donut Appreciation Day', and I had wanted to take a picture, but didn't have a clear inspiration, other than knowing who I wanted in it. Then Jan reminded me that there was an abandoned diner that could reopen as a donut shop. All righty then. So Winston's Bakery was created, with dozens of scrumptious donuts, just waiting to be 'appreciated'. No sooner were the doors opened, than eager customers arrived to try them ... Not only did Winston bake all kinds of donuts from his own recipes, but he also carried donuts by his competitors - in other words, something for everyone! Byuri was eager to try some... She had come with her brother.... ...and her friend, Nami. And of course Willie was one of the first customers into the shop as well... ....always eager to support any of her best friend Winston's undertakings.... "These look, and taste, amazing!"
Iris was in the nursery with Sena... ....when Eric came in carrying two of his favourite teddies... "I thought Sena might like this teddy of mine..." "It's just her size..." "That is so sweet of you!!" "Here, come around to the other side, and you can show it to her...." "I think she likes it!" "I'm not surprised. It has always been one of your favourites too." Eric let her grab it.... "She really likes it!"
We go to our Value Village every week on Senior's Discount Day, and lately there hasn't been much of interest, but yesterday I scored big time. Found a cute fox that needs a bit of repainting, and a huge sandcastle. Also some more china platters, and a package of small 'ice cream sundae' candles. And then there was a sari with a really fine edging that I couldn't resist either.....
I've slowly been working on warmer outfits for Mini Missy and Layla, and wanted to take some photos of them before the last of the fall leaves were gone. So caught them coming home from school today.... Layla's sweater and hat were knit back in September before I had to stop knitting, and their ruffled denim jumpers were made from a baby dress I picked up at Value Village. I can't be knitting much these days, so Missy was lucky that I had this spare sweater and hat set, which I knit last year, but turned out too big for the BIDs it was intended for....
Every time I look in the Victorian nursery, Iris is sitting there leaning over the cradle..... ..looking at, and playing with, baby Sena....
After a month of 'creative drought' I'm finally starting to get some inspirations again. Fabricland had a big sale this weekend, so I went with the intention of looking at their half price trims - something that could be used for an 18th century fancier coat for Rex. I didn't expect them to have much, and they didn't, but there was one trim I thought I better get some of - just in case. Then in the 'Stretch Velour Ends' bin, I found two black velours that spoke to me. First one with gold metallic stripes, perfect for Tudor or Elizabethan sleeves. And a second black velour that had rows of long fuzzy, ragged yarn sewn on, that reminded me of the furry collar of a costume from Game of Thrones (not that I've ever seen the show - but I've seen photos of the costumes) There was also some really soft pale gray fabric that draped beautifully, just in case I ever decide to make Claire's wedding dress from Outlander, because if I do decide to make it and go back at some later date, you can bet the fabric will be gone. And earlier in the week I'd picked up two peacock feather print 'capes' from Value Villages' half price Halloween costume stuff. I thought it would be nice for a fairy gown for one of my bigger ladies for next summer.
Anyways, I'd been wanting to make something for Lawrence, and think I finally have an idea. I gave up trying to think of some way to tie all the Fashion dolls together with the same theme, and just go with whatever inspires me. I had really wanted to make another Boromir inspired outfit, since the one my JID Kyle has is too small for the FIDs, and I love that costume. But now with that fuzzy velour, I'm thinking something that's a cross between Boromir from LOTR and Jon Snow from GoT. But first I have to finish the fall outfits I'm working on for my Kaye Wiggs Minis. Hopefully really soon, before I change my mind and decide to make something else for someone else. It wouldn't be the first time that's happened. When inspiration finally starts, it can come in fast and furious, with way too many ideas all at once, and then I get distracted.... After Sena was old enough that her bed could be moved into the Nursery, Nyssa invited her friend and cousin over so she could show off her new baby sister.... Her friend and cousin were both the youngest in their families, so didn't have much experience with babies.... "She's the same size as my dolls!" "She's actually wearing some of my doll's clothes! I gave them to my Mom so the baby could borrow them...." "I think she likes you!"
Today marks the ninth anniversary of my website going online! So, of course, I needed to come up with an appropriate birthday photo.... Every year the cakes need to get a little bigger, to accommodate the growing number of candles, and it continues to be a challenge to come up with some kind of floral display with flowers taken from my garden, which is usually on life support by now, if not actually dead. So I went out in the pouring rain yesterday to gather anything that was still hanging on and looked half decent... ...so I'd have an opportunity to take some nice photos.... After all, who knows when a nice 'birthday' photo will come in handy? Looking back, it's been a 'mixed' year, with lots of worsening health issues, but I was still able to take lots of fun doll photos. It's fun to look back at all the photos and stories.
This year I finally started bonding with the Fashion size dolls, especially my Rex and Bianca. I loved so many of the photos I took of them on our Newfoundland trip. I now have six Fashion size dolls, with a seventh on the way, and need to decide what direction to go with them. I have too many ideas and can't decide whether to continue on the 'Outlander' inspired period, and make some more 18th century outfits for Rex and Bianca, and the others. But I had always envisioned Baron as a mix between something Tudor or Elizabethan, or Lord of the Rings, with Rosie as his companion. And who knows where Lawrence, Monica and Miho fit in? So do I make all the Fashion dolls 'related' costumes so they will all work together, or let inspiration be the guide, and who cares if they can't be photographed together? Except maybe at a costume party. Problem is, I've developed major wrist problems the past few months and have had to seriously cut back on my sewing, creating, and computer work. I overdid it making all those Outlander outfits for sale while processing all the photos from our trip, and now I have not one, but TWO, ganglion cysts in my right wrist. We purchased an ergonomic gel bar for the edge of my desk for when I work on the computer, and I'm learning to limit my 'repetitive hand motions' like hand sewing and knitting in hopes things will eventually heal. Jan has been telling me for some time already that I should just focus on making stuff for my own dolls, but even that has to be measured now, and needs to go depressingly slow. For example, I started a sweater set for Mini Missy way back at the end of September, and at my old normal rate of doing things, it would have been finished in my spare time in just a few days. The scarf would have taken maybe three evenings, if that. I've been working on it for weeks now and am not even half done yet. But at just a few rows of eighteen stitches per row each night, it doesn't go very fast. I've really been enjoying taking photos of my Victorian family. I had really wanted to sew some new Victorian dresses, so Iris could have lady friends come over to see the new baby, and so she'd have something new to wear in the future after her baby, but that didn't happen. However, the stories will continue for a little while yet, by just making do with what I already have on hand. In fact I thought ahead and took several 'taking the baby for a stroll' photos outside in my garden before things started to look too bedraggled out there. I've recently discovered a new love for Kaye Wiggs' smaller dolls. I love my Mini Missy and Layla, and find them to be so much more versatile than the bigger MSD ones, who pretty much only made an appearance as clothing models. Plus her dolls have a fun 'doll-like' look to them that makes a nice counterpoint to the high realism of the Fashion dolls, and they can still join in with the similar sized Iplehouse kids. I can see including them in all kinds of fun activities. Once they have some more clothes. I think my wrist is ever so slowly getting better - or I'm getting used to the pain - so I want to try sewing some simple clothes for Missy and Layla. It's a place to start, and then I'll see where it goes. I did have a lot of plans for this coming winter, but everything is on hold right now. But one can still dream, and hopefully the coming year will still be fun and productive! |
AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
April 2024
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