Doll Mum's blog: hobby horse

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Jenny and Lexie visit Washington DC

I was extremely fortunate recently to have the opportunity, for work, to attend a conference in Washington DC. It was my first ever trip to the USA and to say I was excited was to put it mildly! About 3 weeks before the trip I happened to mention to Lorraine in an email that I was thinking of buying the third 3 Ann's book about Sasha dolls and having it shipped to the hotel for me to collect when I arrived but she made a much better suggestion and put me in touch with her friend Norvell, whom I knew online via the Jenny and Lexie (Heather Maciak) collectors group. Norvell contacted me to say that she would be in Washington DC at the same time as me and we made arrangements for the Sasha Identification book to be sent to her apartment. Suddenly I was even more excited about the trip than before, I had known of Norvell for about 4 years and was delighted that we could meet.

Norvell picked me up from the hotel, gave me my beautiful book and took me for a drive around the centre of the city to see some of the main places, such as the Washington monument, the Capital building (dome covered in scaffolding), several of the Smithsonian Museums, the White House (from a distance, you can't get close by car), Washington National Cathedral and the Pentagon. We found a restaurant on our way to the mall at Tyson's Corner and had lunch. I had brought my Jenny and Lexie dolls with me, Norvell had one of her Sasha dolls sitting on the back seat and had her Lexie with her which was fortunate as I had brought her some gifts I had made for Jenny and Lexie. While we had lunch I gave her the gifts (Sasha 1 miniature sailing boat, a miniature beeswax candle from a shop local to me and some local leaflets, some Scottish shortbread biscuits and two miniature hobby horses for Jenny and Lexie). The hobby horses were scaled down versions of the hobby horses I have made for the Sasha dolls, I started making them as soon as I knew I would meet Norvell.

Norvell's Lexie was pleased to try out her new hobby horse at the restaurant. We compared the two Lexie dolls - Norvell's Lexie has slightly bolder freckles on her face than mine, apart from that they appeared to be identical.

Norvell drives me over the Potomac river towards
the Washington Monument and Jefferson memorial

View of the Capitol building from Norvell's car

View of the back of the White House from Norvell's car

Norvell helps Lexie ride her new hobby horse

Lexie and her hobby horse

I took the following photos of the two miniature hobby horses I designed and made before we flew to the USA.

The two hobby horses for Norvell's Jenny and Lexie dolls

The other side of the two hobby horses for Norvell

Close up of the two hobby horses for Jenny and Lexie

My Lexie and Jenny try out the hobby horses before we flew to the USA

I think they are hoping I will make them a pair of hobby horses for Christmas

After we had lunch, Norvell and I drove to the mall at Tyson's Corner and went to the American Girl doll shop - however that is for another blog post.

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Chat n Snap

My younger daughter and I attended the Sasha Chat n Snap yesterday organised by Dee of Sasha Village and we had a great day. The event ran in her local village hall in Hertfordshire with Sasha enthusiasts from all over the country attending.

We arrived 30 minutes before the official 11 am start and had plenty of time to set up the few items I had made to sell, chat to others as we set up and admire each other's dolls and accessories. Sale start time wasn't until 12 noon which meant later arrivals still had time to set up. We were pleased to be between Gill and her wonderful knitting and Chris M and her variety of accessories and dolls. Early on we made a beeline for the dolls which Angela was selling (she had brought about a third of her collection) and were attracted to the early 70s sexed baby boy she had for sale, as I've been looking for one for some time.

My girl helped set up our stall, prowled around all the others spotting items she wanted us to buy and chatting to people.

I had made some Garden Games sets, inspired by the prototype set I had created for Lorraine for the Simple Summer Swap, with the addition of a fourth game. It has taken some development, a lot of drilling, sawing, sanding, filing, painting and gluing (and a lot of pleasure, I have particularly enjoyed using the pillar drill in our small workshop). Each set contained 1 rope ladder, 1 skipping rope, 1 quoits set and 1 croquet set (which was the most time consuming to make). I had no idea how it would be received at the CnS, so was gratified to sell 3 of the 8 sets I had made and take an order for a garden quoits only set. My daughter had made 3 of her lolly stick chairs (with my help) and although we succeeded in dropping and breaking one during the day (oops) she sold the other two (one was a direct trade with Chris M who had a felted hat my girl liked, and proceeded to spoil her with a few other items). I had also made two hobby horses, inspired by the one I owned as a child. Neither of these sold, however there was plenty of interest (maybe the price was too high) and I did sell one of the 5 skipping ropes I had separate from the Garden Games sets. I need to calculate how much postage and packing will be for the unsold items.

Theresa pointed out to me that the baby boy for sale had eyes very similar to those of a baby boy doll who had been painted by Sara Doggart, we compared the eyes and I decided to buy him. We immediately went to Michelle who was selling the Sashapotomus outfits and bought the new baby his own onesie with a VW Combi on the front (we had already bought one for baby Mabel). My girl took him to the playpen where travelling baby Drake (just back from Spain) was playing, took possession of the camera and experimented with photographing our new baby. She tentatively named him Joey, but when we got home and checked the name book, we chose Leo as his new name (Angela had not named him) and I had personal reasons for favouring this name.

The 3 shop fronts which Paul had made for display were a big hit with everyone, as were the boys polishing the car they were too young to drive. One of the shop fronts was raffled (along with a few dresses), we didn't win anything though. Buffet lunch was available for donations to the Alzheimer's Society.

I will write separately about the other items we bought in addition to baby Leo. I had a number of good conversations with people during the day, it was lovely to catch up with people I had met at the festival last year or at Dawn's house in June as well as meet others I hadn't met before. I wish there had been more time, it was all over too soon!!!

I would like to thank Dee, Paul, their family, Gill and her daughter and everyone else who helped organise the event - it was a fun way to spend the day and I hope Dee has the energy to organise another similar event in the near future.