Laura visits Sasha Village

Last year Dee of Sasha Village ran a mini competition for her followers to volunteer one of their dolls to visit the Village and take part in solving a mystery.  Laura volunteered to go and was amazed to win, along with Kristie from the USA.

Arrangements were made and soon after I had finished making Laura a new classic yoke dress of Liberty fabric, she took her rucksack (containing waterbottle, apple, notepad and pencil), her pet owl and a chocolate gift for the Villagers and set off on her adventure.

Laura and owl all ready for visiting Hattie and co 

The note my younger daughter wrote to the Sasha Village clan

She featured in no less than 8 posts on Dee's blog:

• Visitors arrive in the Village
• A little modelling
• The visitors go visiting
• Things that go bump in the night
• Breakfast toast and bears
• The hunt is on ...
• A discovery is made ...
• How?

On Thursday she travelled home and arrived safely on Friday much to my younger daughter's relief, who had missed her and keenly asked every day if there was a new post for her to read with her breakfast.  None of the others had the heart to play or go outside while Laura was away so they had big plans for her return.

She brought some very generous gifts home with her from Hattie, Dee and all the others in the Sasha Village.

Today our Sasha's held a tea party to celebrate Laura's return.  The weather wasn't kind enough for this to take place outside (sunshine and showers), so they used our dining room table and sat picnic style to enjoy the feast, when they were joined by a new member of the family:

Laura's owl perched on her head, in the hope of cake crumbs

Miranda was determined to dress for spring

A little fuzzy creature arrived...

... and peered longingly at the tea and cakes

he sidled onto the table and smiled at everyone

before making his way to Laura and her cup of tea

which he tried to pick up

Florence almost forgot her own tea in her surprise at the new bear

Laura introduced him to everyone
"This is Clemence, he came with me from the Sasha Village
and is going to live with us"

Reuben regarded the new bear with interest

while Leo and Mabel leaned forward as they held their bears and the
owl came down for a closer look as his travelling companion

Clemence snuggled up to Laura while the owl looked on 

Everyone welcomed Clemence and Laura and Owl's return with tea and cakes

My girl was thrilled with her new bear, who is a OOAK Bramber Bear, he has already proved a reliable mascot at a local quiz night on Saturday (my younger girl's team did quite well).  In addition to this lovely gift Dee also sent a fold out paper sheep (which made us watch Shaun the Sheep on Friday evening) and a bunny tin filled with chocolate eggs for Easter.  Thank you Dee for such generous gifts and for inviting Laura to participate in adventures at the Sasha Village.

The following photos show what my younger girl did with Laura, her owl and her new bear on Friday evening at bedtime.

Laura and Clemence bear (in a glove)

Laura's owl snuggles in to Reuben's pyjamas

Clemence in the glove

On Saturday morning Clemence wanted to see what Laura had been doing at the Sasha Village so my younger girl re-read about Mr Mossy's safe return after Laura and Kristie went on a bear hunt.

Clemence reads about his cousin Mr Mossy and honey toast

Some of these photos are not great, taking photos on the dining room table with sunshine from the garden back-lighting the dolls wasn't easy, however at least we had sunshine!

Thame Dolls House & Miniatures fair

For the first time in several years we've managed to attend a Dolls house and miniatures fair (the last time we went to one was Miniatura about 5 or 6 years ago).  I've not been able to give my half built Greenleaf Westville the attention it needs for completion as for many years I was studying while working, then we moved house and have had lots of decorating to do.  However now, with just a bit more full size house decorating still to do, I can at last justify turning my attention to miniature home building.

On Friday my younger daughter and I dusted and tidied the Westville.  Some of the furniture and the family were at home and my little girl loves to sneak into my room and rearrange the family and play with them (she is always careful).  I looked through all my furniture boxes to remind myself of what we have already for the house and had another think about the proposed/half built extension and whether to go ahead with it.  The jury is still out on that question, however I'm determined to make some inroads with the house in the coming months.

Yesterday we made the journey to the Thame Dollshouse and Miniatures Fair.  My husband enjoys miniatures so was willing to come (and drive) and my little girl was very keen (big girl stayed at home doing holiday homework). I had a strict fairly small budget as I mainly wanted to attend to get some inspiration and had a couple of particular stalls I wanted to visit.  My little girl had a small amount of birthday money and some pocket money to spend.  We agreed that we would look around the entire fair before buying anything and we stuck to this.  The organisers had very helpfully published the floor plan and list of stallholders in advance on their website, so I printed this out and had it with me when we arrived (they did have printed versions available and my girl used this so we had two floor plans).

I had a useful conversation with Celia of KT Miniatures. I showed her the earliest photo I have of my Triang dollshouse and asked her if she could identify the wooden piano - despite the darkness of the photo she was fairly convinced it was a Barton and that the china bath which I no longer have looked 1930s, the lead bath the dolls house now contains is apparently 1950s.  KT Miniatures had some vintage dolls houses for sale which we admired and some adorable jointed bisque German dolls of the 1930s.  I ended up buying one of them (she is only 2 5/16" (60 mm) tall.  I will make her some clothes and put her in my doll cabinet.  They didn't have a Barton piano unfortunately, however I shall keep looking.

My girl was enthralled by Sandra and Pamela's stall (Tower House Dolls - Diminutive Dolls & Toys) and decided that we would come back to them for her pocket money spend.  When we did my husband had a conversation with them about glue and the wheels on Pamela's tiny doll carriages while I took my time choosing which kit to buy.  In the end I bought a Wicker Toy pram kit and a mini baby for it which I will dress and my girl bought a tiny ballerina dressed in red which she has named 'Lily'.

I drooled over Little Trimmings wares but didn't buy anything - I've bought from them online and will do so in future, but it was lovely to see they stock some very fine ribbon, various kits and fabrics and miniature buckles.  I also loved the two stalls with miniature plants and flowers, I had bought a flower kit from one of them at Miniatura and as I haven't made it up yet, I couldn't justify buying another just yet.

We loved the wide choice of miniature books by Dateman Books - I'd seen their website online so was really pleased to see their tiny printed books properly.  They have 1/12th scale books and larger sizes for bigger dolls.  I bought 'Little Women' for the Sasha dolls.

The displays of miniature scenes by the local club was very interesting, some lovely work.  I didn't take photos of any of them even though I had the camera with me (in fact I didn't take any photos at the event at all as I wasn't sure if stallholders would like it and I didn't see others taking photos).  We bought 2 raffle tickets (but didn't win anything) and my girl played the Tombola and won some miniature ice creams.

We admired the Mini Mundus kits stocked by Jennifer's of Walsall, the Grand Piano is amazing and I'd love to make this one.  We saw wood flooring at a couple of stalls at the fair, however I was keen on the Houseworks flooring Jennifer's of Walsall stocked, though they'd run out of the colour I wanted (so another online purchase in due course).

I spent ages at Jane Harrop's stall, she had so many lovely kits to choose from and it was hard to decide.  In the end I bought two kits, her book of children's toys (35 different things to make) and some tacky glue.  However I think I'll be buying online from her as well once I've made up my current collection of kits.

The Barrel horse kit (the Little Wooden horse) and a go cart kit from Jane Harrop

Glue, book and kits bought from Jane Harrop

Ballerina doll, Wicker pram kit and baby doll from Tower House Dolls

'Lily' the red ballerina and the miniature baby from Tower House Dolls

Sasha doll scaled book from Dateman Books

I had to buy 'Little Women' for the Sasha dolls

My tiny bisque 1930s German jointed doll bought from KT Miniatures

Now I need to get working on the Westville house...

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.

Trying out the scooter

Reuben and Nicholas James have been desperate to get outside and try out the scooter which my younger girl got for Christmas, however the weather has been so wet and dull it hasn't been possible to let them go outside.  Today dawned extremely frosty and clear however by the time the boys had got dressed into warm clothes it had clouded over, the frost had melted though was still very chilly.  So the boys and Laura ventured out for a quick try-out on the scooter.  My younger girl helped with this photo story.

Look Reuben, we can use the scooter outside today

Hi Laura, yes of course you can join us

I'm trying the scooter first

Its tricky getting my balance on the scooter

My turn now, I am using my foot to get some speed to help balance the scooter

May I have a go please, Reuben?

I may be stylish but I do like to have fun outdoors too

I don't want to wobble

Well done Laura, you've got the hang of the scooter

Reuben is wearing his oversized Gotz hoodie and hat which he brought with him when he arrived and his sweater he received for Christmas, Nicholas James is honouring Ronny's son in his 'Elliott hooded shirt' and skinny jeans (Passion for Sasha) and a Dollydoodles beany hat.  Laura is wearing her new (Chat n Snap) Sashapotomus top, her swap jacket from the 2012 Sasha Festival, the leggings from her Millie outfit, Ugg boots from Rosemarie S, and a Hattie Bonham Carter hat and scarf set.

The Radio Flyer scooter I bought from Caryn M who came to the UK for a couple of weeks in November and brought it with her (which meant I paid UK rather than international postage and the asking price).  It doesn't have its stand, so we improvised with a slotted block fitted to the back wheel and a block under a foot when needed.  I could have edited them out, but decided to leave them as they don't detract from the action.

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

Christmas gifts for Lexie and Jenny

These dresses were too big for the stockings by the fireplace, however Jenny and Lexie were very pleased to have Christmas dresses this year.

Lexie and Jenny in their Christmas dresses

I bought these lovely felt dress sets from a seller on ebay.  Clothes for these adorable girls by Heather Maciak come available so rarely and I was lucky enough to be the only bidder.  Each dress has a matching faux fur hat and long sleeved top.  Apparently they were made by Karen P.

Jenny and Lexie (and I) would like to wish all those who read this blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2014.

Sasha Secret Santa Swap 2013

Once again I participated in Lorraine's Secret Santa Swap for Sasha dolls.

I was asked for the following:

My wish: I would like someone to sew for either my Sasha babies or Gregors. We live in Australia so summer wear would be great but the Gregors are happy to wear long pants. Maybe a romper for the baby. We are happy with surprise. Many thanks, Sonya

I asked what Sonya's boy dolls were called and their hair colour and she sent the following via Lorraine:

My red head boy is named after my red head son, Jacob. My blonde boy is twin to my blonde son, Ben. Rodney is my brunette boy named after my hubby and Caleb was named by trendon! My sexed baby boy is Jack.

I set to work at the sewing machine to make summer clothes and came up with the following:

• (for Caleb) This dashiki with hat and summer shorts is made using traditional, genuine Shweshwe fabric from Cape Town, South Africa (made by Da Gama fabrics http://www.dagama.co.za/).  A dashiki is a colourful top from West Africa – see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashiki.  It normally isn’t made with shweshwe, which is a South African fabric.  For the history of shweshwe see http://www.dagama.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=164.  So this set is my own design based on African designs.  It could be worn by a girl or a boy.
• The t-shirt, shorts and hat (for Rodney) and baby romper and hat (for Jack) I made too, using patterns from the three Ann’s book (though I adapted the t-shirt pattern slightly from a simple top).
• (gift for Sonya) The beads are traditional African beads, Sasha dolls could wear them around their waists, in their hair or you could wear them as bracelets. 

Baby Leo models the romper and hat for Jack

Nicholas James in the elephant themed outfit 

Reuben in the Dashiki outfit

African beads

Reuben, Nicholas James, Leo and visiting baby Drake in the outfits I sewed during November 

I received the following message from Sonya when the parcel arrived in Australia:

I hope you do not mind, I asked Lorraine for your email so I could write to thank you so much for my beautiful Sasha gifts! I didn't wait for Santa before opening them. You have such creative talent! I wish i could sew. Only very basics for me! I do knit a bit. I love elephants so your choice of fabric for Rodney was brilliant! We have a spoilt dog in our house so I loved the doggy paws fabric for Jack too! Caleb is so handsome in his African outfit, they are sitting next to the Christmas tree looking very festive for our Aussie summer. Thank you so very much. God bless and merry Christmas
Love sonya

Rodney, Jack and Caleb in Australia wearing their summer outfits

I asked for any 3 of the following:

• baby boy shoes (t-bar or lace ups, blue or white) for baby Leo
• miniature book(s) for babies or Sasha/Gregor
• miniature pencil crayons for Sasha/Gregor
• boy dungarees for baby Leo (blond hair)
• winter duffle coat for Laura (red hair)

On 23rd December I received the following from Kim in the USA (which we didn't open until Christmas day):

• Khaki trousers and brown sweater for baby Leo
• Beige Crochet shoes which fit Gregor/Sasha
• Adorable sandals which fit baby Leo
• A domed treasure chest made of wood
• A crochet Christmas tree decoration
• A straw angel Christmas tree decoration
• A wooden nutcracker Christmas tree decoration
• An 'Our Generation' dolls backpack with apple, water bottle and pen set (for 18" dolls but fits Sasha nicely)
• A box of Christmas chocolates
• A sparkly mini notebook
• Christmas stickers

Thank you Kim - what a wonderful collection of goodies for the Sasha/Gregor dolls, they're going to provide a great deal of fun for my girls and me.

As it happens I had just made Baby Leo a pair of denim dungarees and Christmas fabric shirt which he wore on Christmas Day, so a different outfit from what I had requested was very welcome.  In the following photos baby Mabel helps Leo show off all the things we received (wearing her Christmas dress I made and new tights).

Leo wears his sweater, trousers, sandals and shows off the nutcracker

Mabel shows off the Christmas angel

Leo's sandals

The Our Generation backpack and accessories

Christmas stickers, domed chest, chocolates, crochet decoration,
sparkly notebook and beige slippers from Kim

Straw angel and wooden nutcracker from Kim

Mabel and Leo with the lovely swap gifts we received from Kim

Thank you Lorraine for organising the swap again - it was a lot of fun to participate (planning and receiving surprises).