Oops I've Done it Again!

Well naughty me!  Look what's on it's way!   Yes it's that naughty Paula tempting me again!  It was her Christmas House and I've decided to copy lol, and this will be a Christmas house again.  I really shouldn't have but it's a lovely house!

I've decided that half my problem is that i'm always so busy trying to make a few pennies making things to sell, that I never seem to have time to actually do anything to my own houses!   Have got some Christmas orders to make and then I shall concentrate on doing stuff for ME!   Got to make a new quilt for Bill's cabin ships wheel bed, also need to make a quilt (and finish the rest of Beacon) for Betty,  Luckily they are only single quilts so not huge!   Also need to make another Christmas quilt (like I made for Paula last year) for the new residents (not found yet) of the Christmas house.  Think it will be a fairly modern house so needs some younger residents, but not that young lol.

Then I must also get on with the shop, still undecided what will be on the middle floor of that, but think I best get the ground floor sorted first.   Got to fill it up with "craft" supplies, well knitting, sewing, x stitch, that kind of thing.

I did dig out the mini knitting and made a few jumpers, will probably do a few xmas jumpers soon as well, at least they don't take too long.  Here are the few that i've made so far

I've still been knitting baby outfits as well (life size) but have to say i'm bored with that at the moment!  I also started another knitted bunny, but got bored with that.  Finished the two red bears for my friend's grandchildren and they are now in their new home

Have to say the bears are probably my favourite things to knit, they are really rather cute, which is a good thing as i've got so much wool to knit them in so many colours!  Think I could easily make another 20 of them with the wool i've got.  In fact the amount of wool i've got is crazy!  I really will have to seriously think of selling some of it all!  So much baby wool, wool for teds, wool for bunnies, wool for toy knitting, it's really rather silly!

Oh back to the house, mind wandering again, it's my age you know!   Well of course I don't have room for it (sure that's why I sold Lobster and the little shop) well took the plunge and bought a new chest of drawers for my bedroom, really hope it does fit!  I did measure but well that's me so it may not!  Of course it's flat packed ewwwwwwwwwwwww, hate flat pack furniture!  Will probably have a go at building it this weekend, then hopefully I will be able to get 2 houses on it.  That's the plan anyway.  I've moved the pink shop (newly named The Crafty Quilter, thank you Paula for the name and Bethany for the signs) next to Cove Cottage Tea Rooms, and fingers crossed the Christmas Cottage and Beacon will fit on the new chest of drawers, providing of course I manage to build it without it collapsing!

Well i've been rambling for a while now, so think it's time to go!  Will post some pics when i get my new house, it's on it's way so should be here tuesday or wednesday, soooooo excited!

Well Slap My Wrist!

Thought it was a long time since I updated my blog last time, but this time i've been even worse, can't believe it's been nearly 2 months!  I just don't know where the time goes!  Well I do, it's called life!  We've had weddings, birthdays, etc. and just general life and mundane things in general!

I'm still on my weight loss kick and have now lost 5stone 13.5lbs, and that's been keeping me busy, although I don't really know why!

Anyway, enough excuses, what has been happening?

Well Lobster Pot Cottage is finally on it's way to my bestest friend Paula, I know it will be well loved and given a gorgeous makeover when she gets her hands on it!  I sort of lost interest in it when I moved the tea rooms to Cove, and it just sat in the middle looking very out of place!  So i'm not really sad to see it go but very happy that Paula is going to love it!

I've decided that no more dollshouses for me, ha, well that was until I spied Paula's pretty pink shop, so am in a quandary now!

I did actually buy some bits and pieces for Beacon, the downstairs is going to be a haberdashery/wool/craft shop.  Just bought the furniture, have got to pretty it up as the dresser is bare wood, so needs painting and papering and generally making it look nice.  As there's not much room have just got a counter/display in the middle with a few white wire shelf units to put things on, there's not a vast amount of room so have to be careful, i've got a wicker chair in there at the moment as well, mainly because I didn't want to get rid of it, but not got anywhere to put it either!  Got to make a heap of little boxes to put things like buttons, cottons, etc. etc., in and can't say i'm looking forward to doing that all that much, that sort of thing doesn't float my boat!  But on a tight budget so got to be done, sure i can find template for the right sort of box, I can never work these things out!  I did get some pretty papers (not dollshouse, but think they'll do) in a "freebie" from hobbycraft so hope to make them out of that, they don't need to be strong boxes just strong enough to make things in, if not the paper can be stuck to the card and the boxes made out of that.  Anyway here's a picture of Beacon so far

Think i'm quite happy with the upstairs, and to be honest there's not a lot of room for much else up there lol, so it's just the downstairs.  I've still got to sort my little shabby shop out again, now i've rescued it from the cats, it's just sitting under a table at the moment, i must sort it out though.  Just reminded me seein the doll in Beacon cos i'm pretty sure she is from the shop and that i just rescued her from the shop and she ended up in beacon!  Still nothing in the little annexe for beacon, still don't really know what to put in there, there's not much room at all in there so it can't be much!

I seem to have been busy knitting bears and baby clothes recently, not had a lot of time for mini knitting or quilting.  Did a little bit of mini knitting (my worst nightmare doll lol, and some xmas stockings) and that's been about it on the mini front.

The rest of my time has been knitting baby/reborn baby clothes.  I am quite enjoying doing these, but the reborn dolls that I spent so much on, I have to say have remained in their boxes in the wardrobe!  I am seriously thinking about selling them, lovely as they are, not much point in keeping them if they are in their boxes hidden!

These are the reborns and I have to say they are amazing!  All handpainted and have rooted hair, beautiful really.

This is the latest bear that i've made, he was a custom order to co-ordinate with a bedroom.

These are some of the baby clothes i've been knitting (and yes i am trying to justify my time away from the blog lol)

Well that's enough of that!

I have a yearning to make a new mini patchwork, not sure what, but probably a pretty flowery one or a cath kidston one.  Will finish the custom baby outfit i'm doing and then may give it a go!  Think i'm being inspired by myself lol, fingers crossed a "how to" tutorial I did at the request of DHMS magazine should be in the November issue, well it was meant to be in the October issue, but they had to put it back, so it might not be in November's, it could be next year or it could be never lol, but i was very flattered to be asked to do one, I was just going to start on a quilt for a lady so I used that one in the tutorial pics.  I thought it would be easy, how wrong was I!   Not that easy to explain in words, so whether it will make real sense or not remains to be seen!  Anyway I will let you know if it does get printed.

Right, well it's getting late and i seem to have been rambling for yonks!  Must not leave it so long!

Fishy Jacket Finished

Finally finished the fishy jacket, at long last!  Have to say it's taken me even longer than the reindeer jumpers, but i'm quite pleased with the finished result.

Think it took so long as it's absolutely full of pattern, so involved many balls of wool hanging off the back and immense concentration lol.  Anyway it's done now thank goodness. 

Haven't really done much else today apart from finishing the jacket.

I've got to have a play with Beacon as only 2 out of the 4 lights are working at the moment, no doubt they have come a bit loose during transportation, will have a proper look when it's daylight again, sure it's just going to be a bulb loose or a loose wire in the plug.  It looks lovely lit up (well the upstairs and outside) as well.  Will sort the lights once it's light enough to see the wires properly lol. 

Don't know what I will be doing next, should really get Lake View underway, but am still very daunted by it, but hopefully once it's out it'll be easier than I think, famous last words!

Fishy Jumper!

Having finished the quilt, what was going to be the new project.  Well if truth be told it should have been Lake View, but of course it wasn't.

Have had this little fishy long jacket pattern since before Christmas and decided to give it a whirl!  It's taking ages I have to say as the pattern is absolutely everywhere, so it's a slow slog, but I do enjoy making them.  Here's a piccie of it so far, this is the back (excuse the pins, am just blocking it as it has a tendancy to curl up, which is fine once it's sewn up but annoys me hugely beforehand!)

Will try and get this finished, although it will be slow old job!

And in other news, I've now paid for Beacon Cottage and it should be on it's way to me on Friday, unfortunately i'm out all day today and tomorrow so asked Julie if you could wait till Friday to post so I should get it Saturday or Monday, can't remember if they deliver Saturday or not!

Here is Beacon Cottage, had to pinch the piccie off of Julie's page so it's her Fisherman and plants outside, will post more when I get it.  Still no idea what to make the house into, so answers on a postcard please!

That's about it for now, won't be getting that much done today as i'm over at my mum's and then at Fat Club tonight, so no time for mini things.

Even More Mini Knitting

Have to say the mini knitting seems to have taken over again!  I do enjoy doing it though so I mustn't complain.

Over the weekend I've completed 2 more of the mini rag dolls for a lady on Facebook, here's a piccie of them

Then this evening a made a few little bobble and beanie hats, for no reason in particular lol, and have put them on ebay now!  They would be great for a little display in a shop or just for dolls to wear as it's still a bit chilly out there.  Here's a piccy of them

I think that's all the mini knitting i've done since the little school jumpers.

I have finished a little jacket for my great niece, don't know if it fits yet as i've not seen her but my sister will take it down to her next week.  That's been about it on the knitting front.

I've been naughty this evening and ordered more fabric for mini patchworking!  Why do I do it, i've got tons of fabric already  lol, sometimes it's just hard to resist!

I shall be trying to keep busy now as i'm back on the Slimming World wagon, so best to be occupied and not constantly thinking about food!

Lake View still hasn't made it out the cupboard!  I've no excuse really, just the scale of the job putting me off!  Why oh why did I buy it in blank kit form!  It must be done though, am hoping when i do get it out the box it spurs me on to build it and doesn't put me off forever!

I've still not made a "selling page" on my blog, slapped wrist again, but if you do see anything i've already made either knitting or patchworking then just give me a shout and we can sort it out, can do many colours other than those shown, if i've got the colour I can make it!

Just been browsing ebay again looking for a little poseable baby doll as i'm itching to knit some mini baby clothes got some lovely patterns, but would like to display them on a baby doll, think they always look better and it makes it much easier to get a decent fit although saying that different dolls seem to vary in size so it doesn't really help!

Just going to watch Ripper Street (Mr Selfridge is recording) and then I think an early night is in order again, must try and get a decent nights sleep!

More Mini Knitting!

How's everyone enjoying the snow!  Luckily most of it's gone here, although the roads and paths are still treacherous, hopefully it will all be gone completely by Sunday.  Think we may be due a bit more tonight but am hoping it won't be very much if we do end up with some.

Not been able to go very far in this weather but have not been idle, well maybe as far as housework is concerned lol, but have been doing quite a bit of crafting, started knitting a jacket for my great niece, but of course mini knitting soon overtook!

Had an email from a very nice lady asking if I could make her 2 grey v necked school jumpers, for her "twins", of course I did, any excuse for a bit of mini knitting!  Well I managed to get them finished today and here they are

Although they are very plain, I really rather like them and they are very reminiscent of school days!


Also my dearest friend Paula asked me to make a few hats to boost her supplies in her knitting shop, so managed to make a few this evening which will be on their way tomorrow.  I do like hats and scarves and things like that as they are so quick to make.  Here they are

Paula's also asked for another doll, and I just happen to have one in the cupboard!  I'd forgotten about it, but a lightbulb has just come on and i've remembered I'd sold the golly doll but not the dolly doll, so that can head off tomorrow as well!

As you may have already guessed Lake View still hasn't made it out the box, it will do, it's got to!  It can't sit in the cupboard much longer, it's got to be done!  I've also got a gift voucher for hobbycraft from Christmas and i'm itching to use it!  I'm sure if I start Lake View i'll be finding lots of things to spend it on!

Well, that's enough for tonight, watching CBB and really hoping that Speidi don't win, keep hoping they are going out and they're still in grrrr!

Mini Knitting for Paula

Although i haven't managed to update my blog, I have been busy mini knitting for my dear friend Paula for her shop at Quayside.

She wanted some Christmassy things for her wool and christmas shop, so i got busy with the mini needles!  I have to say I think my favourite is the reindeer jumper, i'm really pleased how it turned out

I've also done a bit of mini christmas patchwork as well.  Have made 1 mini double quilt and also a little wall hanging as well.

As well as these, have also made a snowman, santa and snowflake jumper and hat.  Also a little doll and golly, so I have been quite busy!

These will all be on their way to Scotland tomorrow

Halloween must be on its way!

All I seem to have been doing recently is mini knitting!  Lake View hasn't made it out the box yet, and in fact not much else has been done at all ANYWHERE!

I've recently tried my hand at some spooky halloween knits, no patterns for them, just been made up and adapted from other stuff.

These are the 4 i've done so far, have to say i think the only one I really like is the pumpkin one.

I've also finished the mini knitting for my dear friend Paula as well, and have been doing a few other bits and pieces for friends as well, plus another 3 of the little dolls!  They seem to be popular I have to say, but very time consuming and very very fiddly!

Anyway here's the little stash that I sent to Paula

Well that's been about it really, nothing terribly exciting!  Not sure what the next project will be, probably do another couple of halloween jumpers to put on ebay, see if they sell, and maybe another bunny one, but I've other stuff I need to do as well, like finish a nativity set, knit a fireman sam for my nephew and also got to make some mini christmas quilts, plus mini xmas jumpers as well!  So much to do really I frighten myself sometimes lol.

Mini Knitting & Quilts Again!

Been quite a busy week really, don't seem to have been at home very much which makes a nice change!

Oh dear the dreaded Summer holidays have started today as well, 2 teenage boys one of whom is autistic as well, are going to make for an interesting 6 weeks lol.

Had the dog groomer over on Tuesday so the dogs are looking and smelling a bit better now.  I've got a pic of Sophie the westie, but Berry absolutely hates the camera and ends up hiding from it, she's also very black so she never photographs well either, plus she'll just keep backing away!

Here she is just chilling after her haircut!

Onto mini-ing, have done a little bit of knitting, made quite a cute jumper with a rabbit on the front which I sent to my dear friend Paula as I know she loves rabbits, unfortunately I forgot to take a pic of it before I sent it.  I really wasn't too sure about it, it ended up facing the opposite way that I intended, but I don't think it was too bad for a first attempt!  Will have a go at making a couple more and see if I like them any better.   Also did a little mini set for a dollshouse lady which I quite like as well.  But I'm easily bored and ended up making another quilt!  I am definitely addicted to them!  This one is much more subdued that my usual ones, I've decided it's an autumnal one!  Have already sorted out the next lot of material which will be a darkish blue flavour one.  Then back to my favourites of Cath Kidston and florally ones.  But I must remember that I still have more nativity sets to make as well, must not get carried away too much with the quilts!  I must put them on ebay as well, I keep meaning to, but then keep forgetting!

Right here's the piccies.  Will have some other housey pics to show you next week, Paula's daughter, Bethany has made me some new signs, one for the shabby shop and one for Cove Cottage, which I will reveal next week.   I've had a sneak preview of them and they are absolutely gorgeous as usual.   That certainly is one talented family!

Anyway here are the pics of the mini ladies set and the newest mini quilt.

Horrible Horrible Weather!

It's been an absolutely yukky week weatherwise, rained most of the time, really not inspirational!

I have managed to add a few bits of the Pavillion Holiday Let, it's more or less finished I think now.  Still got to do the roof, got the paper just not got round to do it.  I must get round to it, not really that much added, just a few more bits and pieces, I will still add to it, but for now it can lounge around lol.

Have been doing some mini knitting as well, and just ordered some more mini wool as well, so can do a bit more, need more colours as my colour stash is very depleted.

Got the dreaded milk diet to start on monday again, oh I'm not looking forward to that, but I've done it before (for the failed gallbladder op), must make sure I don't get ill again this time and that can finally have it done.  Last time I lost about 18lbs in the 2 weeks, so hopefully it will spur me on this time and also hopefully I'll go on a diet after i come out of hospital, and try and lose some weight again.

Anyway here's a few pics of the pavillion and the mini knits

Neglected Garden Pavillion!

Seem to have been neglecting my mini-ing recently, but had a recent burst of activity and have made a start (albeit a slow one!) and have started the garden pavillion again.

Managed to get a few pieces for it, I did want a kitchen as well, but there just isn't the room.  Have to say I didn't realise how little floor space there is!  There is a garden part as well, but honestly don't think there's any room for it, so I probably will just leave that well alone.  The garden must be about the same size as the pavillion itself and I just don't have the room.

So it's ended up as just a bedroom come living room really.  It's still pretty bare, I need some bits and pieces and things for the walls as well, so trying to keep the seaside theme going, so will have to go hunting on ebay!

I've still been doing the knitting, tea cosies at the moment!  Not sure what I'll be doing next, will just see what sells and what doesn't!  I've got all the wadding now for my full size patchwork, so that really should be my next job.

I've also got the shabby chic bug real bad at the moment and have decided to do the dining end of my kitchen in shabby chic style.  I think I shall require the services of the shabby chic expert, Paula, to help and guide me, it's her cottages/shops that have got me all fired up!

Anyway here's the progress on the pavillion so far.  Still not decided what to do with the roof!

More Mini Knitting

Seem to have been doing a lot of knitting at the moment!  Made a few more little jumpers and hats, and thought I better not leave the girlies out, so made a lady's outfit as well.

Still not done anything to the pavillion, I really must get off my butt and sort some things out.  Better get over to ebay and sort it!

Mini Knitting!

Have been busy knitting some mini jumpers and hats for my friend Paula.  I really quite enjoy mini knitting, am going to do a bit more over next few days, some more jumpers and hats, all different designs, also going to give some knitted trousers a go, now I'm not sure about knitted trousers, but thought I'd try them for a change. 

Have got some nice wools so am going to try some aran and cable jumpers, and will do a few "girly" bits as well, they need some jumpers and cardi's and maybe the odd skirt!.  Might do a little bit more "baby and toddler" knitting as well.  Will keep some of them and probably sell some on ebay as well, need to make pennies to fund my dollshouse habit!  Still lots of things to get for the Pavillion Holiday Let and hopefully this will help me buy a few things.

Will probably do the knitting over the weekend and then see what takes my fancy next!  I have a feeling it may be another patchwork, I'm dying to do a lilac one, so can see that being next, would like to get to the fabric shop again and see what other fabrics I can pick up, but think that may just confuse the matter!

Anyway, here's the little jumpers for Paula

Mini Red Patchwork

Haven't managed to do much mini-ing again, but have started a litte red patchwork quilt.  Have done the boring bits of cutting out material and papers, and tacking, so have just started to sew it all together, which is the bit I enjoy.  This one will be a pretty random one I think, and will use one of fabrics as the backing and binding as well.  Not sure what I will do with it, may try and sell it on ebay or may just use it in the pavillion holiday let.   Went to hobbycraft at the weekend (very briefly grrrr) all I bought were some lolly sticks though lol, not very interesting.  Am going to have a go at making some shutters for Lobster Tea Rooms (an idea pinched from my good friend Paula lol), also am going to have a go at making a wooden floor from the larger lolly sticks, not attempted that before so no idea how it will turn out, my wood skills are not great even with the humble lolly sticks lol.

Seem to have been sidetracked knitting tea cosies of all things.  First my sister asked if I could make her one, and now my daughter has said "ooh we need one, can you make us 1 or 2", so here we go with the knitting again!  So many jobs to do, I end up with too many on the go and never get round to any of them!  Should really do a bit of time management and have a day of each craft, rather than trying to juggle them all!   

Nothing else "mini" to report, not even bought anything off ebay, it's so boring, I hate the postie just walking past without a bundle of little parcels for me.  I really need to win the lottery so I can "spend spend spend"

First stages of papers & patches

All Tacked and Starting to Sew Together

Tea Cosy for my sister

 

Easter Bunnies!

Well, didn't expect to be home this week as though I'd be in hospital having my gallbladder out.  Unfortunately i got a rotten cold and the anaesthetist decided I wasn't well enough to have it done so was sent home!  So just got to wait for another appointment now.

Not done any mini-ing as wasn't expecting to be home this week, but I have made some rather cute bunnies with easter eggs!  I'm really enjoying making these and shall put these on ebay at some stage along with the few easter chicks and a couple of creme  egg cosy things I've made.

I did sew up some cushions etc., to go with the patchwork quilt I made, but haven't got round to stuffing them yet, must dig them out (put everything away in readiness for being away lol), and then put them in Lobster and see how they look there.

Not really anything else exciting, not sure what I shall do next.  Think I will paint the inside of the pavillion in readiness to laying the floor and possibly the wood panelling for the bottom half of the walls.  Then must put the windows and doors back in and see how they look.

Glad to say the outside seemed to dry ok and can't see any cracks of anything, think I will leave it white.  Need to decide what I'm doing with the roof as well, think it will end up with just some roof slate paper on the top, but not 100% sure yet.

Anyway here's a couple of pics of the bunnies

 

Updated At Last

Well finally got around to playing a bit of dollshouse and updating my blog!

Had to move Boathouse and Driftwood today, they have taken up residence in my bedroom.  Needed the space downstairs for the christmas decorations!  Moving them was a good thing though, gave me a chance to add some little bits and pieces here, and add the lovely things Paula sent me, gorgeous driftwood picture, glasses and shell basket for Bill and Maggie's new cats and bag and other little bits and pieces here and there.  Also had another play with Lobster, added some little cakes and tea things to the living room and tea rooms, also added some little bits and pieces that again Paula sent me (what would I do without her!), and a couple of extra ornaments for the bedroom.  

Bill had to lose his outside lavvy, it's had to move into the garden at Lobster so he'll have to have a little walk when he needs the little boys room!  Never mind he's got his glasses now so at least he can see where he's going!

Am feeling quite smug at the moment as I've now wrapped all my christmas presents and wrote all my christmas cards today as well.  Have started with the decorations but only got a few up so far.  Got to do the tree and all the hanging things as well, oh joy!

Have still been busy knitting as well!  It never ends!  Have sold a couple of the nativity sets on ebay, and a few other bits that i've knitted.  Snowmen are my latest favourites, am knitting them for my niece and nephew, hope they like them, I have to say I'm rather fond of them, may sell a few of those on ebay as well!

Think that's about it for now, must get on and do something!