Babushka Cloth Doll

I love all Australian Magazine and when I find one with several projects I really would love to create I save them and hopefully I will find them when the time comes to create one of these special inspiring project.

This Issue of Vol 7-6 of Australian Country Craft and Decorating Magazine has been saved since 1997. There was several projects in this magazine I really like but "From Russia With Love" Babushka Doll was one I like a lot. The pattern was created by Ffranses Ingram Australia. Efranese lived in the desolated Australian Outback where she discovered the joy of creativity and her love for story telling which manifested into works of art like the Babushka Dolls.


I truly loved creating my Babushka Doll with my favorite colors of pastel shades of pinks, purple, blues and green. I used some of the same embroidery flosses I used in "Provence" and included a few more. I used ArtFabrik Hand Dyed Threads, and Kreinik Metallic Blending Filament to add a bit of sparkle to my Babushka Doll. So you can admire her more easily, I included a beaded chain at the top of her head. Isn't her Babushka scarf created by using buttonhole lace stitch lovely along with her heart shaped mouth. After many years of admiring this pattern my Babushka Doll is now finished.

Artistic Impression: Provence, Lavender Fields, PC

This 2005 Calendar called Photographic Journey Through The South of France is the Inspiration for the Post Card I created called "Provence"!! This photo is of the Lavender Fields near Banon France.
I used Shiva Artist's Paintstiks to add extra color to my three fabric pieced Post Card.
This is the beginning of My "Provence" Post Card after adding the Oil Paintstiks colors of green. brown, blue, red, and gray.
This is the back of the "Provence" Post Card where I used a Alphabet Stencil and blotted it with the Purple color Paintstik. This was my first try of using a stencil and you can see I struggle with it a lot. vbg
I find embroidery to be the most fun and relaxing part of creating "My Provence" Post Card. I worked on it for several weeks. I used three simple embroidery stitches in this projects, the French Knot, Straight Stitch, and Button Hole Stitch. I used several different kinds of embroidery floss which includes EdMar Boucle Rayon for the hedge in the grass, along the road and for the purple flowers. I used Needle Necessities Hand Dyed floss for the Lavender Fields. Mouline DMC color variations was used for the field furrows, Almond Tree trunk, leaves and bushes. DMC Perle Cotton was used for the Old World stone house with it distinct Blue Shutters. I also used DMC Mouline, Pearlescent Effects to outline the Mountains.

Artistic Impression: Provence, Lavender Fields brings back wonderful memories of driving through the lovely Countryside of France. I was so impressed with this region that I now have the same color "Provence Blue" painted on the Shutters of our "Home" along with lots of Lavender planted in my gardens.

I hope you all enjoy this wee reflection of Provence. Hugs Judy

Anne Of Green Gable Stamps 1908-2008

I have been a Anne of Green Gable fan for many years. I introduced my grand daughter to Anne when she was very young and now she is 18 years old heading off to college in the Autumn. I feel very blessed because now I have another grand daughter Chloe who is now 2 years old. So grandma plans to share the joy of this beloved story of Anne of Green Gable with her too.

Today in the post I received "Anne of Green Gable Stamps" from Maggie a "Kindred Spirit" who lives in Ontario, Canada. Thank You, Thank You Maggie. I also I love the very beautiful "Rose" Envelope you sent the stamps in. These lovely stamps have been created to celebrate the 100th year anniversary of the story "Anne of Green Gable", created by L.M. Montgomery.

There is many lovely quotes noted in the Anne of Green Gable stories, below are the three that really makes me smile.

"This Island is the bloomiest place. I just love it already, and I'm so glad I'm going to live here. I've always heard that Prince Edward Island was the prettiest place in the world."

"My book came today, fresh from the publishers, I candidly confess that it was for me a proud, wonderful, thrilling moment! There in my hand lay the material realization of all the dreams and hopes and ambitious and struggles of my whole conscious existence, my first book! Not a great book at all but mine, mine, mine, something to which I had given birth something which, but for me, would never have existed. "

"I can just imagine myself sitting down at the head of the table and pouring out the tea," said Anne ecstatically. "And asking Diana if she takes sugar! I know she doesn't but of course I'll ask her just as if I didn't know. And then pressing her to take another piece of fruitcake and another helping of preserves. Oh, Marilla, it's a wonderful sensation just to think of it."

Anne began life impoverished and unloved, yet she managed to cultivate her gifts of optimism, curiosity and imagination. As a girl she was impetuous and adventurous, but she developed into a young woman of courage and independence, as her romantic notions mellowed into a intense appreciation for the beauty and accomplishments.

Though Anne was of a much different era, we can still share those things she valued most. "the joys of sincere work and worthy aspiration and congenial friendships." And perhaps we can be counted among her cherished Kindred Spirits, for she once said herself that "Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."

I wonder what "Anne of Green Gable" would think of our computer age. I reckon she would embrace it because through the Internet one can reach out around the world and definitely find, "Kindred Spirits"! I have NO kindred spirit in the small town where I live but I certainly over the years have had the honor of finding many "Kindred Spirits" around the world through the Internet. My DH and very best friend and I met on a Christian Online chat group and we have never looked back. We are truly "Kindred Spirits"!!

Hopefully one day we will visit PEI and see this lovely Island where L.M Montgomery created, Anne Of Green Gable"!

July Blooms and Violet Dotee

This week I received a lovely Violet Dotee from Cindy who lives in Mn. Thanks you Cindy.

Today is a lovely sunny and warm day here in Western Michigan. Above is some lovely July Blooms from my gardens. I expected my gardens to be at their peak this year because it has been three years since I planted them. Unfortunately even thought they've had lots of rain this summer the "City Deer" deer has taken a toll on many of my lovely blooms. After our very long and harsh winters I truly look forward to seeing my garden come to life but this Season "My Heart" has been very sadden to see the buds eaten by "City Deers" just prior to them opening up in all their glory. Last year this was not an issue because we constantly spray "Deer Out" and they pretty much stayed away.

This year our neighbor put up a large fence around their property to keep out the deer and hence the herds of "City Deer" ( 31 counted one morning at 0500) have wander our way to eat my lovely blooms. What to do? I plan to move some of my lovely plants along side the house because the "City Deer" do not like coming that close to humans. I will start buying plants that the deer to not like to eat for supper. The last resort may be putting up a fence to protect my gardens too. I feel the small town where I live should take action so community members do not have to spend hard earn money on fences.

I hope you enjoy looking at my July Blooms and My New Violet Dotee.

My Sis's Birthday Shoe Wall Hanging

My Sis's birthday is at the end of July and yesterday she received her birthday pressie from me in Melbourne. Australia. Lyn made me very happy when she told me she "Love It"!!! A bit about My Sis. She is a very kind, caring and all around lovely person and she has an immense fetish for shoes. So when I saw this 'Stepping Out In Style" pattern in Issue number 46 of the Stitch Magazine from the UK I knew instantly it was something I had to create for Lyn. The one in the Stitch Magazine had no borders instead it was wrapped around a foam board. I love stitching and so it was very relaxing to sit in the evening working on this special gift for Lyn. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYN FROM YOUR SIS.

Blanket Toss Pincushion

A few days ago I was searching for wool curly locks for wool felting and I came upon a site called Rushin' Tailor's Quilt Alaska in Skagway Alaska. This is a very cool site with lots of Made In Alaska items. I found this very unique pincushion called. "Blanket Toss". It is made by Alaska Creations but I could not find their website. I collect pincushions and thimbles and I just had to add this "Blanket Toss Pincushion" to my collection.

A bit of history about The Blanket Toss. The Blanket Toss today is used as a form of recreation and celebration. But the origin of the blanket toss had much more serious purpose.

Much of the coast of Northern and Western Alaska is barren and flat. The native people of this region would use a blanket made from the hide of a walrus to toss a member of their hunting party high into the air to spot game such as walrus, seal, whale and polar bear. This practice often meant the difference in the success of a hunt.

This pincushion represents not only the blanket toss but also the ingenuity of the Alaska Natives which helped them survive in their often harsh environment.

When I was a bush school nurse in Northern Alaska the children in the village would put on demostrations in the gym doing the Blanket Toss. So this pincushion will remind me of the wonderful experience I had working with the Athabascan Indian children in the Yukon-Koykuk School District North of Fairbanks, Alaska.

Violet Dotee Doll

I belong to the Cloth Doll Group on Stitchin Fingers and we are currently swapping Dotee Dolls. The above Dotee I call Violet and I made her to swap with my partner Cindy. She is now on her way to Minnasota. I am sure she will like her new home.

Brillante Weblog Premio 2008 Award

The rules for receiving this award are:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of the people you’ve nominated.

Yesterday I was Truly Surprised, Excited and Honored to receive this award for my blogging. My friend, Alicia from Hawaii Nominated me for this award. Thank You. Alicia has a very lovely and educational blog called, Curiosities 808. Again, Thanks You Alicia greatly appreciated. You certainly Made My Day!

There is many super wonderful blogs that I truly admire and read often but if I have to chose I will Nominate the following ones. I hope my visitors will enjoy them as much as I do. vbg

(1) Allie In Stitches

(2) Honey Bee's Bliss

(3) Sampler of Stitches

(4) Tricia Let's Create

(5) Carol's Tatting Blog

(6) Gayle's Sparkle Jars

(7) Lynn's Fiber Fantasies

Judy In Sunny Western Michigan

My First Two Dotee Dolls

The above photos are the first two "Dotee Dolls" I have ever created. I was motivated to make these Dotee Dolls for a swap I joined on Cloth Doll on Stitchin Fingers. The original creator Dot of Australia has a wonderful tutorial and a lovely blog called, Dot's Life and Art.

The first Dotee Doll on the left is called Hearts and Roses. I used 100% wool felt as the fabric for her face. Then I used beads for her eyes. I also used Kreinik Metallics Thread to embroidery her mouth and to stitch her onto the rose fabric. I used hand dyed Silk Ribbon to create her roses and leaves. I beaded all the around her wee body and gave her a beaded tassel and a beaded chain for hanging her up.

The second Dotee Doll on the right is called "Rays of Sunshine". She has taken on a bit different shape which I think I like best. My Dear Husband drew her face and I embroidery it with hand dyed embroidery floss. I also used hand dyed silk ribbon to give her "Rays Of Sunshine". I gave her some wee daisy beads. She also has a beaded tassel and beaded chain so she can be hung. I really did enjoy creating these two Dotee Dolls and I hope to create many more.

Dorset Feather Stitchery, Purse Etc.

The above photo show an example of a Dorset Crosswheel Button with a lovely example of Dorset Feather Stitching developed from traditional patterns used in smocking.

The above photo is of a work bag and was one of the most popular patterns in Olivia Pass book.

This photo is of a work bag pattern which was given a sophisticated makeover as a framed evening bag in shades of pistachio and dove gray. I found all these examples of Dorset Feather Stitching in Issue #46 of the Stitch Magazine published in the UK. The Dorset Feather Stitchery by Olivia Pass was first published in 1957 and has been updated with New Editions 9 times. The last being in 1997. This is the edition I bought from the Embroiderer's Guild in the UK. It has many really nice pattern and it cost 6.95 in British Currency which works out to be about $15.00 American. The book talks about how this unique stitch was created by Olivia and it long history of popularity.