Birthday gifts

My younger girl had her birthday during February.  We gave her a collection of all sorts of smaller gifts rather than a 'big' present, all wrapped up in 2 cardboard boxes.  Each box contained something doll-related, but she also got several books, a DVD, some lego and nano blocks.  She was delighted with all her gifts and so were the dolls, as the doll related gifts were a handmade classic yoke dress (Liberty fabric with lace trimmed collar & cuffs) I had made on my new sewing machine for Laura, another rocking chair (found in a local charity shop) and a Habitat model bicycle from Homebase.

Laura in her new classic yoke dress

Laura's beret is a 'Hattie hat'

Lace cuffs

close up of the lace trimmed collar (hence the blurred face)

I had bought the bike several months ago after seeing one at Dawn's Sasha gathering in June 2013.  It was the last one in the shop, I'd reserved it online and went to collect it but found it was shop soiled (paintwork a bit scratched) so managed to get 10% off the price.  The bicycle also needed some adjustments as it the wheels were not turning evenly and pedals were catching (another symptom of 'shop soiled/not set up properly when made) however my husband was up to the job of fixing it and did a fine job.  Our daughter's face when she took the bicycle out of the box was a picture of delight.  I pointed out the scratches and said I had an idea for a doll story for that, so watch this space.

Discovering the bike and rocking chair in the birthday box

Winding the bike pedals

Nicolas James and Laura with the new bicycle

The new bicycle and rocking chair (which doesn't rock)

Hopefully with improving weather and spring on the way the dolls, bicycle and scooter will venture outside again soon.

A double rocking surprise

Yes, Christmas is over, it is Epiphany now so why mention Christmas day again?  Because I haven't yet told you about our double rocking surprise from that day.

About 3 weeks before Christmas I spotted a doll sized rocking chair in a local antique shop (the same one where I bought the doll sized sleigh 2 years ago).  It wasn't an antique and was a sensible price so I brought it home as a gift for my younger daughter.  On Christmas day we spent part of the day at home, when the girls unwrapped some gifts including a second hand radio flyer scooter from the USA which Nicholas James and Reuben were particularly pleased about, then travelled to visit my cousins for a couple of days.  We took a couple of our daughter's gifts with us, yet to be unwrapped, along with all the gifts for my cousins.

On Christmas evening we gathered around their tree and exchanged presents.  When my cousin gave me a funny shaped box and I unwrapped it I started to laugh because inside was a doll sized rocking chair (newly made) which she had bought from a craft fair (she is a lovely cousin, she gave me some gorgeous fabric too, she knows me well).  I was delighted but chuckled because my daughters hadn't yet opened their final gifts.  A short while later I gave them their gifts and my younger daughter was stunned and then laughed out loud to see that both she and her mummy had received doll sized rocking chairs for Christmas!

Our Sasha family had all come with us (well, compared to some people I know we don't have a large collection of Sasha and Gregor dolls, we have 7, we could bring them all in one bag) so Laura took possession of my daughter's chair and Reuben sat in my chair.  Several days after we came home I finally took photos of the dolls and chairs, though it has been so rainy this holiday the light hasn't been good for photos.  So I will take some better ones with a proper scene when the weather improves.  My daughter wants to make a cushion for her chair.  All for a future post, but in the meantime enjoy these photos.

Miranda and baby Leo
(I love this one of Miranda even though she didn't brush her hair!)

Miranda and baby Leo in my rocking chair

Laura and baby Mabel in my daughter's rocking chair
(Laura wearing her gorgeous American cow girl outfit)

Nicholas James and Reuben with their new Radio Flyer scooter

Florence in her lovely Christmas dress from 2011