Country Keepsake Dolls

Hello at last !!!

I don't know where the year has gone, the other day on the 25th of June I thought to myself that it's only six months till Christmas Yikes !! half the year has gone already.
I'm not very good at this blogging, I always think my life is quite ordinary and don't have a lot to say.
I also started off the year with a bad bout of my Tinnitus, I've had it in my left ear for nine years now and it suddenly decided to start up in my right ear, so I went crazy for a few months there and didn't feel like doing anything, I was pretty low. Any of you ladies out there who suffer with tinnitus will know what I'm talking about, sometimes it's like having a jet engine in your head, not very pleasant and very debhilitating. Although I know a few people who have it and it doesn't bother them, it must just be us tempramental types. It's actually amazing how many people do suffer with it. I'm now going down to Sydney once a month to see a pschyologist for tinnitus re training therapy, they teach you not to listen to it, I hope ! Some one said to me the other day couldn't I have some nice classical music playing low, wouldn't that take my mind off it, I told her that I would need all of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing in my house to drown the tinnitus out !
The other stressful thing that's going on at the moment is we have our house up for sale and that's not for the faint hearted I can assure you, I'm dreading if it sells I'm going to have to start packing and I'm not looking forward to that
Anyway thank goodness for sewing, I don't know what I would do without it, be bored silly I think. I've had a few new design out since I last blogged, only two new doll patterns but I've branched out into designing stitcheries. So far I've only done Christmas designs so I think my capabilities in that department could be limited as I can't seem to come up with any other ideas, I do love Christmas things though.

This is Hunny Bun, she was in the Easter issue of Homespun in March and will be available as a pattern at the end of this month. She is holding a banner that says" Dream " which I think is very apt as she looks very dreamy, I think she's dreaming of carrot soup no doubt or a bit of peace and quiet from all those off springs!

Hello Dolly Daydream, hasn't she got the cutest face, she's one of my favorites. She has a round head that is sewn in four segments, very easy. Painted eyes and a stitched nose and mouth with a shawl collar and lovely big ric rac along the hem of her dress

It's never too early to start making your Christmas decorations. These "Jingly Dangly Things"  are just perfect for all of you ladies that are in a sewing group, these would make perfect little presents for your Kris Kringle or secret Santa. One can be made in an evening. Once the stitchery is complete the felt backing is very quick to make. 

and once you've made six you'll be sure to want to make some more so here is another six.

This is "More Jingly Dangly Things " so there are twelve designs in all. They would look great on your tree

Unfortunately you can't see very clearly on the photograph the three angels, they are all the same with the exception of the words on their dresses and the middle one holds a heart while the other two hold stars. This is called " Peace, Love, Joy "Once again very simple designs and very little patchwork involved, the five tags at the bottom have  a background circle of felt with a white felt snowflake on top of that, finished off with rusty bells. I decided to get away from the typical Christmas fabric and used a dark pink star fabric for the inner border and a lovely pink and dark red tulip design for the outer border.

Meet Snuggles, Huggles and Cuddles, this is a design for the baby or toddler in your life, they are mostly made of felt with bright fabric for the trim, the tummy patch and faces were machine blanket stitched on, which is a lot neater than my hand blanket stitching. There are no removable parts so are perfect for small children.
All of these patterns are available either from www.homepatch.com.au  www.marallycraft.com.au or
www.sewarmadillo.com.au  Both Home patch and Marally Craft have a wide range of good quality felt.
Also if Thereasa at Raggedy Station reads this, I am so impressed with the quality of your work, your dolls are just perfectly wonderful, what an amazing job you do.h
Once again the day seems to have flown by, I was supposed to do some baking for my sewing group who are at my house tomorrow and haven't even started, so it looks like a late night again.
And if anyone is interested in buying a house in a small peaceful country village I'm happy to hear from you !!
All Best Wishes and I'll try not to leave it so long again...........Annie