Sunday, June 7, 2009

Bellamere Cottage Has A Sunday Favorite......




Thank you soooo much for coming to visit.

I am participating in Chari's SEVENTH Sunday Favorites Repost....

What a wonderful idea.......and a REALLY easy Sunday post.

Don't miss all the other gals.....and that little Chari??? What a doll. :-)

www.happytodesign.blogspot.com


My first post was 1.23.09.......and this one followed soon after.

Originally posted 2.17.09




My darling daughter, now 37, asked a couple of years ago that I re-dress her childhood dolls for her as a Christmas gift. Oh how I had missed making doll clothes and hopped right onto that little project. The first doll is a Dionne Quintuplet dolly from her large Dionne collection. (She's been collecting since she was about 10). The little "Toile Girl" is her first dolly, Betty Sue. The hardest part of this little project was finding little shoes for the Dionne Quintuplet doll. NOBODY carries doll shoes any more. OK......yes, they probably do, but it's a good idea not to wait until the week before Christmas to try to find them! I didn't know it would be so tough!

I've made many things out of wool and wool felt and actually have enough supplies to make everything from wool felt until I die! And, I'm certain I'll still collect anyway! :-) Is there really a time when we artsy people have ENOUGH of anything??? It drives my Hubby crazy........ God bless him! He is ever so tolerant, actually! ( Our house is six years old and has NEVER had a car in the garage!!!) What a fun medium to work with; very forgiving and so many possibilities. I'll always prefer projects that have loads of hand work on them too. Perfect for taking on trips and get-aways! I've figured out how to hold ALL my supplies on my lap while my husband drives. Bless his heart.

I've been working on a wool quilt for about two years now. I only have five blocks left to do, but my heart hasn't been in it since my Mum passed away. I spent a lot of time working on it while I cared for her and it's just too close yet. It's made from hand dyed felted wool and TONS of beading. It'll only be about 3 1/2' across when finished and will hang in my entry. I'm anxious to have it finished and, hopefully, I'll be able to get back to it soon. My Mum and I picked out blocks in it for everyone in our family based on their personality and what they liked. I'll think of her every time I look at it. She was so proud. Nobody will ever again be as impressed with what I make as she was. She was my biggest cheerleader and always thought I was perfect and everything I did was the BEST in HER eyes. I will always miss showing her my latest project. She was such a cutie!


I miss you Mum!

Blessing you!
Spence

PS........Stillllllllllll missing my Mum.....but, it's great to have met all of you wonderful chickies here....You are AWESOME!


17 comments:

  1. Hi Spence! Oh, how sweetly you've dressed your daughter's childhood dolls! The little coat you've applicaed is precious. So is the little toile outfit. I used to make little dolls clothes too for my daughter, mostly Barbie clothes! :)
    I'm so sorry to hear your mother has passed away. My mother is my best friend! I'll say a prayer for you right now!
    Thanks for coming by to see me,
    Shelia ;)

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  2. The outfits are beautiful. You did good.
    Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will come back often.
    Praying that peacefulness and comfort will be with you at this difficult time. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

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  3. I am going to have to join this Sunday post, saves from thinking to much.
    Sweet dolls and story. And blessings to you on the quilt project, a reminder of happy and sad memories. Everything has a story, just like Betty Sue, and this quilt will have its own little tale. Just listen to your heart, you will be able to hear what mum has to say, having heard her sweet encouragements for many years.

    Enjoy a wonderful Monday,
    Candy

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  4. Hi Spencer, I came to check out your Pink Saturday post, and couldn't take my eyes off of THIS one!! Well, to know me at all yet is to know I LOVE dolls! They are BOTH absolutely BEAUTIFUL, but the little jacket in the top photo really grabbed my attention... Such a sweet style and fine detail. My gosh, if you ever feel you're missing making some dolly clothes, by all means feel free to think of ME! (0; Beautiful work, and by the way.. I believe your Mum still sees and loves EVERYTHING you make!!

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  5. Hello Dearheart...

    I'm so sorry that I'm so late in getting by...it was a very busy weekend for me. We had the estate sale that we've been planning for months!

    My friend, what precious dolls and you've dressed them so beautifully! I just know that this Christmas gift was such a blessing to your daughter!!! Ohhh my...I just can't believe the detailing on these dolls clothes...that little felted jacket is simply fabulous...the detailed applique work is so very beautiful, my friend!!! I love how you paired that pretty jacket with the pink dress! Just precious!!! Ohhh...and the black & white toile outfit...soooo beautiful! Girl, you're such a talented seamstress...these dolls and their pretty new outfits are absolutely amazing!!!

    I'm so glad that you joined in with Sunday Favorites this week...I just loved this post!!! I have 3 daughters (all grown) that I used to love making dolls and doll clothes for! After seeing your post...I miss being able to do that!!! Thank you for sharing with us...

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  6. Well, what could be finer than a doll dressed in toile!!! Great post!! Chrissy

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  7. When you get back to that quilt I'd LOVE to see it.
    Love the doll's coat! It's fabulous.
    My granddaughter still lets me dress up her American Girl doll.

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  8. Thank you so much for visiting and commenting on my blog today! I have had a wonderful time visiting yours for the past 15 minutes or so. You have lovely stories, and my heart about broke when I read about your sweet Mum and also the difficulties you have with your legs. I have my trials and tribulations too, primarily from being hit by a very big truck when I was in my 20s. I will be having knee replacement surgery in a couple of weeks, since I have been on a downhill slide since a fall in the garage last September. It has been bad for 27 years, but it got the final blow, LOL.

    Enough of my rambling! Again, thank you, and I will be sure to visit again. We have named our cottage too - Greyhavens (from Lord of the Rings) - and I love needlework, so we have some things in common! {hugs!}

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  9. What a treasure! I love dolls, I collect them too and you dressed your daughter's so nicely...Christine

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  10. Beautiful dolls, and you are so talented to create such lovely clothes for them. My mother is the seamstress in my family; I'm afraid I never had the patience to try my hand at making doll clothes.

    I'm so sorry about the loss of your mother. One of these days you will feel like taking up the quilt again and hopefully bring back precious memories of your mother.

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  11. Spence, they look SO cute! Love their cute clothes. My grandmother used to dress my dolls for me, and oh, how I loved that! They had such spiffy wardrobes. :-)

    Loved reading this...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  12. Oh My Goodness, you did an amazing job on their little outfits. These dolls are to die for. Your handwork is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing these with us!

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  13. Good morning Spence! I loved seeing this post! I didn't know you were so talented in sewing too! You can do it all! Those dolls are precious! I'd love to see that quilt! I know how some things just bring back too many memories to handle at times. God Bless! Lauralu :)

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  14. Very sweet! Thanks for sharing!
    Hugs,Lisa

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  15. Oh, those dolls are soooo cute in all of their finery! What a seamstress you are! I'm so glad you reposted this. Have you finished the quilt? Is it posted on your blog somewhere? What a great idea to pick out fabric to match the personality of each family member. And what wonderful memories you'll have of your mother each time you see the quilt. She sounds very much like my mother. Did you read my Mother's Day post (I also said that every thing I did was the best in my mother's eyes). Weren't we blessed to have had such wonderful mothers? laurie

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  16. Spencer HI ~~
    Love the table top you painted with roses it is wonderful..love your cottage on the right and congrats on being the winner ..looks like alot of fabulous things to enjoy(:)
    Have fun and thank for stopping in..
    yes friends are wonderful..(:) HUGS Patty

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Sweet and dear little Chickies....thank you so much for your comments. I read each and every one. I always try to make a return visit........sometimes I fail miserably... but you're alllll soooo special to me!

Many, many hugs!
Spencer