Little Lady All Done

With a travelling cape, stocking and shoes, this little lady is now completed. 

She looks like she has rather large feet in the picture above - but it is only some sort of weird exaggeration that my camera does. If I knew a bit more about how to play around with the depth-of-field thingy, I could probably fix it!

I really like the fabric that I used for the cape - it was given to me by my dear friend Rosie Rojas and it has been in my stash for a number of years. I believe it is silk.

A Hint of Autumn

As a bountiful summer draws to a close, we have had the odd hint of what is in store, with a few cooler nights and a little rain. The garden is producing magnificently, with a lot of it preserved for use during the winter. The garden, in our mild climate, does keep producing food right through winter, but the saved summer vegetables make a welcome change from cabbage, parsnips, turnips and carrots!
Here's what we had last night........all of it from our garden and cooked within minutes, except the eggs in the zucchini slice (thinks: must do something about the chicken and egg situation before next summer!) Simple, but delicious.

Meanwhile, work in the studio carries on apace.......I sometimes feel a bit snowed under with orders etc, but I try to keep on top of it. Only one pair of hands though! I have decided this year, to enter some things in the Exeter Show, because it is the centenary show and it is a long time since I entered anything (probably about thirty five years, actually). I also think it is a good idea to try and support local happenings. Most of my work is sold overseas, so lots of the locals have no idea what I get up to. I thought having an Open Studio day a few times a year might be a good idea, too. Here's what I'm working on right now: 

..........choosing from the stash of old lace and fabrics for something suitable to wear!

OK - updating with a couple more pictures of the finished dress......

Florence

...........is finally finished! I made her a red wool coat, hat and shoes with feather-stitched details and now she is ready for anything! The coat is meant to have a deep lace frill around the collar, but I am inclined to leave it as it is. The coat pattern was kindly sent to me by Connie Tognoli who researched all her "Columbian" patterns from original dolls. So apart from the possibility that I MIGHT add lace to the collar, this doll is done!
This doll was made for the MAIDA challenge which ends in a few days. Go to the MAIDA site to see all the "Columbian" interpretations.

Elephants and Cows

We have some boarders in our paddock - our neighbours' sweet, gentle jerseys with newborn calves at foot. I love looking out of the studio window and seeing them right there!

Remember the little knitted elephant I made late last year as a Christmas gift for my youngest grandchild? I'd written enough down to remember what I did, so I whipped up another one while I was away at String camp last week (in between rehearsals etc). I gave him a little embroidered felt jacket and hat. I may write this up as a pattern for my Etsy store........if you can knit in the round on four needles it is pretty easy and straightforward and it makes a great huggy toy for a small child.

Two Girls

String Camp 2013

I'm leaving for String Camp today - a whole week of music-making and NO cooking!

But, before I go......here's how the doll I am working on is coming along. She's coming to string camp to hopefully have some clothes made.

Busy...........

It's such a busy time of year, with the garden producing so much extra that needs to be dealt with - I've made blackcurrant jelly and cassis and frozen a heap of peas. Tomorrow will be beetroot chutney and some rhubarb and ginger jam, if I have time. And an inundation of tomatoes is imminent! I'm very inspired, because Bob is building a wine "cellar" and storage room in a small spare room we had. I need to fill those shelves with delicious preserves!

Meanwhile, in the studio, work continues apace, with commissions and getting kit orders assembled and posted. Did I tell you I love my job?

Here is the Columbian doll made for the MAIDA challenge all finished:

She's a big, handsome girl and I enjoyed the challenge of making her.

For a complete contrast, here is a tiny doll I've been working on and another made using my "Pipkin" pattern:

Here she is in her underwear...

...and fully dressed.

She looks cute in her little knitted hat!

Finally, here is one of the commissions I have been working on:

These dolls are so much fun to pose and play around with.

So you can see there hasn't been much of a summer break around here.......but next week I'm off to   the annual string summer school for a week of music making by the beach. I won't say it will be relaxing, but at least it will be different!