Flutterby Patch

My Dolls House

Several years ago I received the book Tasha Tudor’s Dollhouse, a Lifetime in Miniature by Harry Davis. I was immediately inspired and began planning my own dolls house project. Tasha chose her favourite 1830s period for her fantastic house and its contents. I chose the 1700s because I love the costumes and furniture of that period. My project is on going. I have made all the characters to inhabit the house but unfortunately they are currently lodging unceremoniously in a cardboard box as their property is still 'under construction'.

Seen above at her tea table is the first character I made, the lady of the house, Rosaline. She stands 5 inches tall and has a framework of florist’s wire covered in fine fabric (pipe cleaners would be a suitable alternative to wire). Her nose and mouth are stitched and her eyes are tiny black seed beads. I used mohair knitting yarn for her hair.

And here is the rest of the family with servants and estate workers; all enjoying a well earned holiday away from their home in the cardboard box. 
1). Lady Alycia Danville. 2). Children - Master Edward, Maria and Katharine with Snowy the cat. 3). Marion Meadows the dairymaid talking to baby Tymothie 4). The Parson in conversation with William Danville 5). Squire Robert Danville 6). Rosaline Danville taking tea 7). Annie Rigg the nursemaid startled by 'Mouser' the kitchen cat. 8). Greasy Joan and maid Emma in the kitchen 9). Bailiff Abraham Byways with Tom Thwaite the forester and Dick Rigg the shepherd. 

Tasha Tudor day - tomorrow 28th

Tomorrow - Thursday 28th August would have been Tasha Tudor’s 93rd birthday (sadly she passed away in June of this year). Clarice at Story Book Woods and blogging chums Cay and Suzanne have come up with the great idea that all Tasha fans could do something special on Thursday in remembrance of this wonderful lady whose art and lifestyle have spread rays of sunshine around the world. Count me in!

Fan of Fairies

I’m a great fan of fairies (pretty not scary). This little 5 ins cutie was made with a pipe cleaner framework covered with fine fabric and then dressed in soft pinks and greens. She has acetate wings decorated with glitter. I wanted her to have long curly blonde hair so knitted a small amount of mohair yarn on fine needles. I immersed it in hand-hot water then squeezed out the water and left it to dry. Finally I pulled back the knitting which resulted in gorgeous curly locks for the fairy. (When pulling back don’t wind yarn into a ball or you lose most of the curl).

Fairy greetings
Her name is Fairy Rosebud and happily she’s very photogenic. So far she has willingly posed for two greetings card pictures. The first with a crib from my dolls house (baby arrival congratulations card).

Posing with a pretty teacup this second card was made as an invitation to a friend for a cup of tea and a chat. She’s had a few troubles over the past year and I thought a little bit of fairy magic and a cuppa might just cheer her up.