Marking Sampler Pinkeep

I had a lot of fun designing this simple little pinkeep using letters I found on an old 1830s alphabet chart. I stitched it on linen and then stuffed it with wool for more of an authentic finish.

The backing fabric is a reproduction calico with teeny tiny blue flowers and is a fabric that I really love. I decided to antique the piece just a little for a nice vintage feel and am happy to say that I got the look that I was going for.....always a nice way to end up a project :)

Here's wishing everyone a happy weekend!!!
Sandy

Great Aunt Rosa's Dolls

My Great Aunt Rosa was born in 1899 and sadly passed away when I was only ten. She was a first generation German American and my own grandfather's sister. I never met her but cherish her memory because of the cloth doll she made for me when I was very young. I always remember having the doll so can't tell you exactly when she was made but 1953/54 is probably about right.

I had many dolls as a child but Aunt Rosa's is one of the few that survived my mother's many doll purges (long story but you probably get the idea). I played with her a lot as a child and always remember the story of how Aunt Rosa made dolls like mine for all of the girls in the family. She was made with two dresses to play with, has brown wool hair and a wonderful hand embroidered face. I never named her when I was little but think she should now be called Clara since that was Aunt Rosa's middle name.


Like I mentioned before, Aunt Rosa made dolls for every girl in the family but I never saw any besides mine until my daughter was born. It was then that my cousin presented me with a doll she had in her family as a special gift for my new baby girl. This doll was obviously in much better condition than my Clara so I think she wasn't played with much. In fact, I think she most likely belonged to my Great Aunt Anna, who was Aunt Rosa's sister. She has a pretty dotted swiss dress and lovely hand sewn shoes plus that same endearing face as my Clara. Her dress is sewn on so I think she was mostly meant for display and not actual play. Her name is Anna.

I am so happy that I still have these dolls today and that a part of my Aunt Rosa may still live on thru me and my doll making. I hope she would be proud.

Sandy

Happy Easter!

I want to wish all of my friends a very blessed Easter. I hope the Easter Bunny brings you lots of chocolate!

Sandy

Happy Earth Day!

Here's wishing you all a wonderful day celebrating this precious planet we call home. Happy Earth Day!!!

Sandy

Gail Wilson Doll Number Two....Finished!!!

I am happy to say that I just completed my second Gail Wilson doll for this year and am really enjoying the experience of working on these wonderful patterns. This newest girl is Pattern 101 called "Dolls To Make With Vintage Fabrics...With Authentic Looking Aging Techniques". While I didn't use any antique fabrics on my doll, I did try to follow Gail's advice for aging new fabrics and am really pleased with the results.

Once again, I stitched every single stitch by hand (I know...I'm a little nuts!) including all of her clothing. I really do love the rhythm of hand work so will probably keep sewing my dolls this way until it starts to not be fun anymore. And then its back to the sewing machine for me!

Her little friend is a tiny Steiff "Molly" dog that I purchased at a local folk art show a few years back. Molly's sweet face pleadingly said "Take me home" so....I did!

I hope everyone is having pretty weather by now. Our "baby" peach tree is showing pink so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will have blossoms for Easter.

Happy stitching!
Sandy