Three lads

Sorry not much of a blog post today...been just too sore to do much...so here is a photo of three of my lads that I took the other week.

Caleb, Simon and Patrick.

Mix n Match outfits for the American Girl Dolls.

Some photos of a couple of my American Girl Dolls today and some clothing I have been making him.

Now I blame the Sasha group for me having the AG dolls.  I didn't really like them when I first saw them but decided to get one so I could make some clothes for them and well they have rather grown on me.

I wanted to make some mix and match outfits for a couple of my girls.  One is a blonde with freckles and blue eyes (Kit) and the other is a red head with freckles and green eyes (JLY37)...yet to be named.

I was given some great fabric from a friend of my in Germany when I visited her last year and had just enough fabric to make two pairs of capri pants and two simple tops.

I got rather carried away with the picture taking as the last few days have been so lovely.

Second pair of capri pants.

Relaxing in the shade.

The other day I sat in the garden and did some knitting working on a great pattern by Debonair Designs called Cabana.

I just love Deb's patterns they are so clear and easy to follow.

This morning I made Deb's Bohoh bag to go with the outfit, using a contrasting button to bring in the colours of some of the outfits in the 'Mix n Match' set I am making.

Enjoying the garden

I also did a bit of sewing this afternoon and finished the second top.

The girls enjoying the garden wearing their new outfits.

I'm looking forward to the June KAL (Knit a long) in the American Girl Knitters Group on Ravelry to make some more little outfits to compliment these that I have made so far.

I seem to be getting rather a list of things I need/want to be making!

Giving & Playing

`Having been given the little teddy bear 'Harry' from Harry in the weekend, Henry thought he would give his little Paddington Bear bought down in Devon to Claudius.

"Claudius, I thought you might like a little bear to play with and  cuddle at night"

"Tank you Henry"  Claudius says as Henry hands over Paddington

Henry sits beside Claudius and tells him the story of how he got Paddington Bear in a wonderful Teddy Bear shop full of lots of Teddy Bears looking for homes and how he thought Paddington was just the bear to take home.  Claudius looks very happy with his bear and plays with him while Henry is telling the story.

Simon and Harry have just started playing a game of chess.

Having a chess programmer in the family means that there really is no excuse for the boys not to be able to play chess...

Harry thinks about his next move.

I think they are having a lazy morning still in their pyjamas...

Beautiful Brunettes

Just a small post today...

The boys are recovering from their 'talking all night' camp out :-)

Brunette girls, all in dresses I have made except the longer smocked dress.

Emily, Melody, Molly, Maggie, Monica, Maisie & Liebe

Emily's little bolero was made by my friend Gill.

Missing from the photo is Tilly Rose

The boys go camping.

"Let's make a bivouac shelter to camp in tonight"  

"That sounds like fun"

"We'll need to gather some poles and sticks"

They gather some long poles and start making their shelter by pushing them into the ground at angles.

`'Make sure they are in the ground firmly". 

"Do you think that is good enough?"  Henry asks.

"Sure.  Now we need lots of ferns and brush to cover it up with"  Harry says.

"I don't think we are going to be able to find any of those in the garden"  Henry replies.

"Well perhaps we can use an old cloth or something instead?"   Simon suggests.  "I don't think it is going to rain tonight so we should be okay".

"There, that should do it"

The boys rush off to grab a blanket for the ground and their sleeping bags.

"There, what do you think?"  Harry asks, as he sits back on the sleeping bags looking up at Henry.

"Looks pretty good to me" Henry replies.

Simon seems somewhat distracted.

"What are you thinking about Simon?"  Henry asks.

"Well....we should gather some wood and make a camp fire"  Simon replies.

"Oooh do you think your Mum will let us?  Harry asks

"Yeah, sure..." Henry replies doubtfully.

Simon and Harry make an area for the fire while Henry gathers some firewood.

"There, pretty good don't you think"  Simon and Harry ask Henry as he approaches.  

They seem rather fascinated by the fireplace they have made.

"Does look pretty good"  Henry agrees.

"So what do we need now?"  They boys ask Henry.

"Food of course!" Henry replies.  "As I gathered all the firewood, you two can go and get some food and something to cook it in.  I better check with Mum that we can light our fire"

Simon and Harry go and get some cooking utensils and some food.

Henry checks with Mum about the camp fire and receives very strict instructions about what to do.

Simon & Harry come back armed with some cups, plates, a tin of spaghetti and some bacon, sausage  & eggs.

"You can be cook Harry"  

"Simon you keep an eye on the fire"

Henry collects some more wood while the boys cook the dinner.

"Just in time Henry"  Harry tells Henry as Henry drops the firewood.

"It's time to eat now".  Harry dishes up the dinner and they all tuck in.

A little while later, the dinner is finished and the plates and cups are all sitting in the frying pan waiting to be washed...

Henry is finishing his hot chocolate drink and Harry and Simon seem to be attempting to play with their slinky.

"I think you really need stairs for this to work properly"  Henry comments.

"Nah, it is working"  Simon replies.  "Look"  He lets go of it on the rock they are sitting on and it drops down.

"Well I guess it sort of works"  Harry says.

The boys enjoy sitting in front of the camp fire telling each other stories.

"Don't tell any scary ones"  Henry comments...

"Don't worry Henry, I've got something for you that will keep the nightmares away"  Harry says and he rushes off to get a gift he has been waiting for the right time to give to Henry.

"It is especially for you"  Harry says.

Henry looks surprised while Simon looks on.  Harry hands a cute teddy bear over to Henry.

"Oh, for me?" Henry gasps.  "Thank you so much, I LOVE him".  

Henry gives his new teddy a big hug.  

"I'm going to call him Harry"  Henry tells Harry.  "That way I will always think of you and our holiday together, even after you have gone home"

"Don't worry Henry, I have got a few more weeks with you yet"  Harry reassures Henry.  "Don't forget we can always write or email each other"

With that the boys get into their pyjamas ready for the night.

They enjoy a game of Ludo first.  Henry makes a move. 

"Your turn now Harry"  

Harry makes his move.  "This is good fun isn't it?  He says.

After a while when the game is finished they snuggle down into their sleeping bags for the night.

Harry's Mum Carol made two of the great sleeping bags and pillows especially for Henry and any guest he may have staying with him.  The one in the middle arrived a couple of days ago from a friend in Germany who thought of the boys when she found it.  Wasn't it nice of her to send it over for them?  I am sure Simon is relieved otherwise not sure what he would have slept in!

Henry has his little bear Harry tucked into his sleeping bag with him.

Mum checks on them and makes sure the camp fire has been put out which it has.

"Goodnight boys"  

"Night night"  They chorus together.

They chat for a while, a long while...before they fall asleep.