Thimbles and Dollmaking

I'm trying to get a few things in here as I keep remembering things that I wanted to mention. Continuing with the haberdashery shop I thought you might like to see one of my little thimbles. The big one I've used for all my sewing since I was 12. My aunt brought it back from her holiday in Toledo. The mini thimble was made by Danny Shotton.

Danny Shotton also made these cotton reels and date stamp.

I bought them at a fair but you can order his work from Swann House Miniatures
I've been struck again by migraine this week so rested the eyes but last weekend I did manage to dress Gertrude (you remember she was naked in my last post?)

 Her skirt is from a curtain off cut.

I bought Gertie's hair clips from the Chinese shop, also her engagement ring which is a 'belly-button' ring, her earrings and her belt - which is a bra strap!

She wears a real gold necklace with 'G' for Gertrude (which was mine but I let her borrow it) and the chain is an ankle chain! Yes, I did wear one in the 90s! I painted her nails with fabric paint. I think she looks very glamerous. I hope I look this good when I'm her age!
I'm off for early to bed, so good night!

Zips, Art Dolls and - Christmas?

Another buy from a few years ago which I just found amongst my hoard of useful stash in my most embarrasing, messy drawer were these pressed metal zips which I bought from The Dollshouse Mall

Glue each one onto a piece of ribbon for quite an effective look in a work basket or hung on a card with your haberdashery. Here they are on a real size zip.

 Oly and I did wander off subject for a while during the summer as we were excited about trying to make some cloth art dolls. Oly has made several for gifts and they get better and better as she goes. My first attempt is ok and I'm giving her to my friend who collects fairies. Here is Titania from the book by Jan Horrox.

She was fun to make and a relief from the intensity of making miniatures. Now I'm working on another doll; this one is to be a gift for my mother! She's called Gertrude and she's one of the 'Slightly Weathered Ladies' by Jill Maas. Excuse the nudity!

Now, I'm planning Christmas, can you believe?!! Kaisa has asked me to swap an Advent Calendar with her. I'm really looking forward to choosing all the little things for her to open.
Christmas seems a long way off from here - we have yet another beautiful, sunshiny day!
Thanks for calling in,

Back to Work on the Sewing Shop!

I have darted back to this project again. As paint dries on one I work on another. Several days ago I made loads of thread cards. I thought I'd get bored, winding all the thread but I found it very relaxing.

I have a collection of vintage haberdashery so scanned some, changed some of the names and copied others to make a pretty shabby set.
Now I've finished making some wooden boxes to display them. I painted them with acrylic in pale grey/blue and I'm really pleased with the colour.

Sonya of http://minisonja.blogspot.com.es/  contacted me and kindly gave me some really good links and printies for more haberdashery so I can feel a few more sets coming along yet. She has a really lovely collection of minis so take a look at her blog which is full of tips and links which she very generously shares.

Now I just have to vent!!! I've tried to leave a message on a really nice blog tonight and failed 5 times to copy the secret words to prove I wasn't a robot. I know I've mentioned this before but life is too short to waste on this so from now on I'm not going to leave messages on these blogs, sorry but it's SO frustrating!
Ok. Now I feel much better!
Have a good night,

Ribbons, Hearts and Baubles!

I'm pleased to tell you that the problem with my printer is solved - it was a faulty ink cartridge. I was so happy to be able to print again. I made loads more reels of fabric ribbon.

While the printer wasn't working I made some hearts to hang using cold porcelain.

And I've really been feeling Christmassy! Normally I'm never ready for Christmas so this year I started earlier.
You can never have too many baubles!

The cone candles are fun, I've made them in all colours! Other candles in this photo I made last year. My Christmas collection is getting bigger!

Also I've made Christmas cushions.

 Some of these new things are for gifts, others will go on Etsy - some already are - and I've even got some for myself!
I'm having a fun weekend, I hope you are too.

Ribbons

Today was my last day of being 'home alone' and I made the most of it. I made printed fabric ribbons on pretty spools and a box to store them. I love all things haberdashery full size and small ones even more.

I'm off to bed early as the drive to the airport takes an hour and a half and I have to be there for 8.30am. Now I must clear everything away and pretend I've been tidy all week! Good night.

Haberdashery Day

I've worked all day, my kind of work of course - making minis. As I love haberdashery so much I made some in miniature.

Then I dressed up the little sewing machine. Can you see the turned bone thimble? I bought it at the London Kensington fair many years ago and still have it because it's stuck to the table with a huge lump of Grip Wax!

Then I was thinking about gifts. Perfume, baby gift bags, new baby card scanned from my daughter's birth card (1978) and some pretty gift tags. 

The little 'Eat Cupcakes' gift tags in the centre were made from some lovely designs I bought in full size from
Olga who lives in Athens.
Now I must go and cook, my husband wonders if he still has a wife -I've been hiding all day!
Have a good week,