Altered Christmas Doll Swap

I participated in the Altered Christmas Doll Swap and i loved it!! I thought-sure i have never done that before, why not give it a go?  I know she has arrived to her new home safely and wanted to share and couldn't wait anymore.
I looked and looked at the thrift stores for just the right gal. that was tough let me tell you. So many were calling from the shelves!
This is who i ended up buying:

She is an Avon Doll. {Didn't know there was such.}


The dress was in good shape and nothing broken on her. First i started with finding and trying out a few different things....pom poms, fuzzy thread, flowers, buttons...everything! It was actualy pretty fun to audition multiple things and see what she really wanted done to her. I didn't end up adding a whole bunch, but what i did - i love!

front

back.

I used some vintage clip on earings for the back of the bow center and her crown in her hair. I added a bit of pink ribbon on the bottom of her dress, a big ribbon-lace bow, a tiny doily butterfly on her front, and some flowers for her to hold. She had a blue ceramic headband that i covered with the sparkly white thread and put some more around her waist with a tiny button in the center. Not that you can't see all of that already. I should just be quiet so you can look for yourself. shhhh.

 Doesn't she seem happy now? Oh, i hope she is......

Mine have arrived!! They came yesterday!! They are so cute. I love them ---both, yes both!! 2

This is just like me, to get stuck in the 'doll' part and then get surpised by someone who thinks outside of the box! I am so lucky she does! Thanks a suber bunch Molly!!!

Thier feathers and extra little aprons are so cute! I saw a few of these in an old wire lampshade as their cage. I am on the lookout for one...... How did you know i needed birds? Thanks Molly!! They are perfect.

Wanna see the rest of the group? The whole swap? Click here!! There are some really goodies.

Starting the 26th of December I will have a

10 Day/10 Winners

for Patchwork Posse.

A lot will be going on and changing around here----

You don't want to miss out on the fun,

updates and all the new stuff!!!

I of course will be blogging normaly fun sewing stuff in between now and then. Don't you worry about that--

And Don't Forget-----

I am compiling a list of the best patterns so everyone can have a

"Make it yourself"

homemade Christmas!!

I have my own, but want to share what else is out there.....so

Do you have a

pattern/tutorial to share?

Is there a pattern/tutorial

that you found in the web world that you love?

Want to pass it along?

These can be either

patterns to buy,

or free tutorials.

Send me the link of the pattern and a link for you.

You can also write a quick summary of the pattern.

Feedback -don't we all love that?!

I would love to include them

and give you credit.

bekntab4{at}yahoo{dot}com

go on do it now! i want it all.

Swappy Stuff

Since my space is clear I started on my Raggedy Anne Halloween Swap!!! i was excited for this one. Here is just a peek.....can't show too much. Still have bit to go, but great start.

I recieved my tin from Lyn. She did a wonderful job don't ya think?

Love the fairy on the top. Reminds me of Water Babies stories. Little Tom tormenting the big fish. Check out the stitches and the ribbon flowers! Love them!

A look inside. Full of goodies.

OOOOOOOO........buttons.

She also included a few vintage cards. Thanks a bunch Lyn.

Well, the goal is to finish the swaps before i move onto something else. So you will be getting a few more updates that way. Today i am off to Layton for Quilt Fest. {big conference building next to Target} There is a quilt show and a vendors mall--weeee

I will share my illigal photos {apparently i shouldn't take pictures of others quilts and then put them on the blog- but then Molly wouldn't have ever known that her quilt was in the show--she quilted it--what to do, what to do} and any little goody that i just couldn't pass up.

Fairy girl

This here is the fairy doll i recieved from missy. This is her great grandmother Belle. Isn't it just great? It is a picture transfer and then she embellished it with some ribbon and thread. I know she is laying down...she will be in my sewing window with a little help from the edge to stand. Plus, do you see the wee little bird in her hand. cute stuff. I also got a little wand with a some fairy dust.. sprinkle, sprinkle....

Would you like to make your own? She has a great tutorial...go take a peak and make someone you know.

Mr. I'm 7

He is 7 now. He is proud of that number. Loves to say, well...i'm 7 now. I am bigger than... I can, because I'm 7....

He got to go to Build a Bear with grandma and Grandpa on Saturday with a few other cousins, and his little sister Eliza. I tagged along and went window shopping with Jerika. Fun times.

We had a family party (ok, just us) on Sunday. Had yummy chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, and chocolate icecream....mmmmmm...sang some songs, opened a few cards and presents. The normal party stuff.

Last night we took him out to dinner. He chose Olive Garden. another mmmmmm.

we are waiting for the food. Jarom just couldn't contain himself with the wine glasses any more. He just had to give it a try :)

Then we went to BOLT. Honey kept on prompting him to go to Bedtime stories....don't ya want to go to?....how about...? He even offered him 4 bucks to not go to Bolt!!! can you believe?! Well, the newly 7 year old held strong to his convictions and we went to Bolt.

Funny- when we were in our seats and waiting for it to begin, we overheard a dad 2 rows ahead of us say.....are you sure? you don't want to change and go to Bedtime stories???? LOL

Anyways. Funny movie, great story line.....I highly recommend it.

Random leftovers:

Kids doing school this morning...i found this...suspicious!


I also figured out the Mermaid Smappy Girl. Isn't she just lovely? She is available in the shop...go take a peak or better yet, give something a home.

Just a few photos taken by Eliza...that little sneak. These keep on popping up on the camera.....

Short Takes of the disappearing Webkinz Croc

Is there an age limit for Stuffed animals on the bed?

So is there? I only ask this question because that is what the honey is getting for Christmas. He has been dying since i made this first one:

About every day he asks......did ya make me one yet? Is it done yet? So being the handmade christmas year that it is I of course made him one. Has he seen it? Does he know? No......I am pretty sure that he doesn't read this blog-----ever, so here is his dog: nameless- any suggests?

He has a removable winter wool sweater and a little wool hat with a tassle at the top. hee hee

But, me being me said.....to me......He can't have his own dog!! What about me!! What do I get? So this is what I came up with:

My very own kitty cat!! Of course it would have to be the opposite friend of the dog. That always makes things more interesting doesn't it? She has stitches in her legs so she can sort of sit just a bit. I got the stitchery pattern from Cinderberry Stitches. she has some fantastic designs. Well, so instead of a bag, i did a cat. The back is the same fabric as the dogs stripe and the front is the same linen as the elf pillow. It seems though that I am reverting back to my love of blue in the room....hmmmmm...

Here we are together. Quite a pair don't ya think? They are both now wrapped and under the tree.

On a quilting note, Here is Ammons' Quilt:

Super heros!! The center block is an 8X8 inch square and then 2 boarders in different colors. The final block ends up at 17inches!! that makes this quick to put together. Half of the blocks were done by others around the state of Utah last year. I do a round robin exchange every year. New block to make for someone each month. This is the one i passed around and then split up the blocks for the boys.

Here is the back. I used a spiderman sheet. My first time doing that. Worked out pretty good. I did just a big meandor on the whole quilt and double batted it for a little more warmth and weight. I still have one more to go..... and a pattern to decide on for next year to pass around.

Pixie Girl Ready for her trade

I finished yesterday a Pixie girl. (that is what she is called by me). The one on the right is my 1st one. I think she turned out great!!! Especially for being only 6" tall...yikes. I signed up for this trade--- mini dolls or bears. Here is the link i use for Swaps: http://swapdex.blogspot.com/ there are some fun ones. I like doing swaps every once in awhile. they get me out of my comfort zone, and let me experiment with things i wouldn't choose to do on my own.

I initially started out trying out a bear...but boy those legs and arms wouldn't turn!! needless to say they will never be turned......so plan B. Let's try a doll!

I have seen a few style wise like this one on the Etsy site and drew one up at 6". I love her hair and her pigtails. These take awhile to make....i don't think they will ever be sold.

After i finished the 1st one...i thought, she is too cute and i need one for myself!! so of course i made one for me. Plus, I need the pattern---right?!

So here they are:

Please excue her- she is such a child!! she is always lifting up her skirt! I guess she wanted to how off her heart. she has sooo much love. :)

I had to do a close-up for her face! I put a little bit of Rouge on her cheeks to give her some color.

So they will be together until the end of the month, when the little sister goes off to her new home.

Until then.........play on!