VALENTINE TULIPS

I forgot to do something for Valentine's. My Hb., instead of buying us cut flowers, he brought us two pots of lovely tulips. And I love tulips. Besides, the potted plants last much longer than cut flowers. None of the tulips in the garden, returned this year. So, I am happy to have these.
he brought these home Valentine's. They are still blooming. They open and close. And they have grown to be about 2 ft. tall.

EITHNE-the fashion doll

Here is Eithne. She is the 9 1/2 inch F.G. french fashion mini re pro, that I am sewing a wardrobe for. Her clothes are very intricate. I copy authentic 19th. century styles for her. Although, I have enough experience and knowledge, that I do also, design original fashions for her, based on antique fashion plates.

The dress she is wearing in the picture, is my own design. It is more of a mid-19th. century style. And yes, her clothes are mostly hand sewn.

The doll was made especially for me and given to me as a surprise gift. By my friend Caro and her sweet daughter.

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COMPETITON

You know what? One of the main reasons I got fed up with blogging? I became fed up with all of the competition. If you wrote a poem, someone Else's claimed to be better. That is no way to make friends. If someone made a doll, oh, someone Else's you had to see, because theirs was so much more artistic and better made. And the giving a "prize' for having the best blog on the Internet. Puulleeas?? So everyone else might as well just give up and shut down???
Blogging was supposed to be fun, and maybe a way to find and connect with others of similar interests. Although, I must say, I never have seen any bullying among bloggers, which is a good thing. Unlike those other websites.
That's why, on this site. I just write for myself. If everyone who runs across it, finds it boring.
I am me.

NEW DRESS

It turned out very nice. I made it in a week. And that was with interruptions. The dress is of a cotton fabric. Really cute tiny pink rosebud print on a Lt. tan background. Very period looking. I chose the fabric because it is a pattern that is suitable for 18th. and 19th. century styles. It is very flattering to Philanthe. I already have another dress cut out and I am sewing on the bodice.
This dress is, of course, all handstitched. As will be all of her clothes.

THE SWING

THE SWING
How do you like to go up in a swing.
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it is the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the Air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide
River and trees and the cattle and all
Over the countryside.
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again.
Up in air and down!
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

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Swinging was something I so liked to do when I was a kid. My Dad built us a swing in the front yard. But, our Mom didn't like it. It was an eyesore and a deathtrap, as far as she was concerned. We had it for awhile during one summer, until Mom got so nervous and skittish, Poppa took it down. My cousin had a small swing out in back of her house. So, I could swing there if she was home. It was a low swing. Just small child size, for her, as she is 5 yrs. younger than I am.
The tract where we bought our first house, had a great park. And in the park was a wonderful set of swings. So, for the time we lived there, I could swing anytime I wanted to. But, since we moved from there, I had not had anyplace with swings.
And yes, I miss it. Swinging, believe it or not, is a very good way to exercise.

PHILANTHE

This is Philanthe. Her name means: "Flower Loving". Which is a good doll's name. I wanted to do something a little simpler clothing wise, than what I was sewing on. Eithne's new dress is going rather slow, and I was getting bored. So, I pulled out this doll, and decided to make a dress or two for her. They are just two piece pattern's, a bodice and skirt. No lining. No intricate seams. Very simple.

I carved this doll 33 years ago. She has a wood head, arms and legs. Like a porcelain doll and on a cloth body. She is 7 1/2 inches tall. Just a nice size to sew for. And an excellent 'Travel Doll'. But, this doll was based on the so-called: 'Queen Anne' dolls from the 17Th century. I carved about a dozen or so sets, back in 1976, for the 200Th Anniversary Bi-centennial. You know what? That time was barely noticed. Nothing much was done about it. Crying shame too.

The political climate at that time was ridiculus.

I sold serveral of the dolls. But, typically, after doing six or so, I got bored. I still have about six sets of doll parts in a box to be finished. Tried them on eBay. No interest.

Philanthe has her own shaker style box for her belongings. Another way to make her more authentic. All of her clothes are and will be, hand sewn. That is much more authentic for the era she represents.

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She is signed and dated on back shoulder plate.

DOG SHOW

I have been watching the dog shows on TV. I miss having a dog. I've always had a dog of some sort. But, when we lost our last little guy in 1995. We decided , no more. Too painful. And then even though where we were renting, pets were OK. When we had to move, no guarantees. However, turns out we were able to qualify to buy. By then, our health became a care. We just no longer have the energy to be able to properly care for a small fur companion. We can barely care for ourselves.
When I was a child and used to spend a lot of time at my Grandma's. When i learned to read, she pulled out some books she had kept, that my dad and siblings had read as kids. I was delighted. One of the stories w3as about a little girl and companion standard poodle that cared and protected the little girl. Sounded like a poodles were the greatest dogs in the world. Well, I decided then and there, that when i was grown up, i would have one of those. At that time I think standard poodles were the only size. but, it came to me, that perhaps, by the time I could have one. Maybe the dogs would have been bred down. Yes, well worth the wait. When I was young, I was nothing, if not patient.
As the years went by, I was sort of able to follow stories about poodles. Then in a movie, one of the female characters had a tiny poodle!!! Yes!! Of course the poor little dog in the movie was always dyed to match whatever the actress was wearing. Goodness. In reality, several poodles were used for each scene and color.
But, I had to wait until I was able to make my own money.
I was finally able to buy my poodle when I was 23. I couldn't wait and ended up using part of my college expense allowance, I got every month from my Dad, when I came down here to attend University. Yes, I was a little nutsy about it. But, the little one was well worth it.
I looked up dogs, breeders, kennels in the phone book. My poodle was a female black toy-miniature. And I named her: Pepper. She was the delight of my life for ten years. She died of cancer. The vet said if I had had her spayed. She would have been healthier. I used that vet for haLF OF pEPPER'S LIFE. wHY DIDN;T HE SAY SOMETHING SOONER??!!
I will continue the story later.

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Here are two photos of her. The top is her first Christmas. The second is how she loved to spend the hot summer days.