Can it be?

Hmm....what do we have here?  Henry wonders to himself.

Suddenly he gets all excited.

Bobby!  Come here!  Henry calls.

Bobby wanders over.  Is that what I think it is?  He asks.

Oh I do hope so, says Henry.

Rory, come quick!  Henry calls out again.

Rory comes over, Henry calls for anyone else that might be hanging around.  The excitement at finding a huge tub of Celebrations.

Perhaps Mum is going to let us celebrate Halloween after all?  Rory suggests.

She must be!  Most unlike her though as she always says 'We Don't Do Halloween' and she has already stuck the Police notice up on the door.  Henry informs them.

Bobby kneels down, Here help me open it, I'll lift the lid up to you Henry.

WHAT?!  They all look rather stunned.

GUINEA PIG FOOD!  WHAT is that doing in here?

Must be a trick.

Nah, I think it is what those people dropped off the other day, and Mum must have forgotten to take it out to the Cavy Lodge.

Phooey!

Oh dear oh dear, three very disappointed boys.  Especially Rory...

Never mind Rory, Bobby gives him a pat on the back.  Come on lets go and play before dinner time.

Secret Santa Swap 2012

It is that time again, having crept up on me very quickly!

I've decided to use the same image as I used last year.

  ‘Secret Santa Christmas Swap’  

So how about it folks, a swap especially for this time of year?

It’s that time of year for letters to Santa, or just simply a wish for winter for those who don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas.  It would be lovely if anyone who wants to join in can, regardless of faith or beliefs. 

This is how it works.

1. You will write a letter to Santa (or Make a Wish) for Sasha, Gregor or Baby Sasha/Gregor.   WE do need to know the size of the doll you are asking for J

You can ask for up to 5 items, BUT SANTA WILL ONLY SEND 3. Remember we never got everything we asked for either!!

Keep in mind that not everyone participating can sew or knit. So you can ask for things like toys, hats, blanket, pj’s, outfits, puppy or pet, teddy bear, books, play food, dishes…etc…you get the idea.  For example, my Sasha and Gregor kids are desperately in need of socks!  Or if you are happy with surprises, just say so. Please note down if you have any allergies for example, are a diabetic and can't eat sweets/chocolate so that your Secret Santa is aware of this.

2. After you write your letter you send it to me (via email:  lorraine(@)takaro.co.uk {removing brackets} ) You must send the letter by Sunday 4th November 2012.  Please include your postal mail address so I can give it to your Secret Santa.  If you could also include in your letter what type of wishes you feel you would be best a fulfilling (eg. Shopping, knitting, sewing, crochet, woodworking etc…) that would be very useful.

PLEASE REMIND ME IF YOU TOOK PART LAST YEAR AND WHO YOU WERE PAIRED WITH SO I DON'T DUPLICATE PAIRINGS.  FOR THOSE WHO WANT SURPRISES I WILL TRY TO PAIR WITH THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR, DEPENDING ON HOW MANY WANT TO TAKE PART.  

3.  Once I have all the letters I will assign them to your Secret Santa and forward the information to that person by Monday 5th November 2012.

4.  All swaps must be mailed by Friday 30th November 2012  This will allow you four weeks to prepare your package and to allow plenty of time to get to Sasha/Gregor or Baby by Christmas, especially important for those posting overseas. Please remember no more than three of the items should be sent, and a small item for the Sasha/Gregor/Baby’s mummy is always appreciated. Keep it fair for everyone. 

5. If you have any questions, please contact me and ask and remember most importantly…HAVE FUN!

A separate page with all the details will be listed here

Letting her hair down & a new dress

Apparently Lucy emailed Aunty Kendal (who used to be her previous mother) last night to get her to ask me if Lucy could wear her hair down.  Talk about feeling slightly second best ;-)  Anyway how could I refuse such a request really?  So here she is with her hair down wearing her new winter dress made this morning.

Trying to get the right light today has been very difficult.

Such a pretty fabric.

I love this style of dress on Sasha dolls and as such it is one I make often.

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Later today will be the details of the Christmas Swap.  I've been sewing all morning so need to make it look like I am busy doing housework now!

Coming tomorrow...

Details of this years Secret Santa Christmas Swap!

Progress report...

So how am I doing at reducing my debt and selling my dolls you may be wondering?

I have managed to sell 7 of my beloved Sasha/Gregor dolls, but am happy to report they have gone to some really lovely homes.  It has been really hard and a couple of dolls in particular I really miss.  I have sold almost all of my Tressy collection as well as various other dolls, amounting to about 45 dolls in total, (oh I wish they brought in the sort of prices Sasha dolls do!)  including the Sasha dolls.  Sadly some I made the mistake of starting the listing at 99p thinking that I would get more than one bid, only to have to sell a gorgeous Crissy family member in her original clothes at that price - heartbreaking!  On a whole most buyers have been really lovely, but I did strike one pretty horrible buyer unfortunately.  Then of course there are the dreaded evilbay and paypal fees, that seems to reduce the amount brought in significantly as well!

I have managed to reduce a significant part of my debt, (will feel so much better when the dreaded credit card has been cleared) but do have a bit further to go so will have to do some more hard thinking and reducing.  I am finding it easier to resist, although it is still difficult at times!  Especially hard was going to the Sasha fun day and looking at all the wonderful items available and having to say no.  I am learning what I really like and making do with things I already have.

I have started doing a 'Doll Inventory' going through all the dolls I have collected and gathered over the years and accessing the what, whys and wherefores...  quite an interesting process.

I am making reasonable progress at the sorting and tidying, but it has to be done in stages, depending on how I feel physically.  I have volunteered to do the Christmas dinner this year, so I have a deadline to get things really sorted and cleared for now.  Usually my MIL has Christmas round her place, but she found it really difficult coping with it all last year, so I said come round here instead.

Well just a little update to let those who were thoughtful enough to email me and give me their support, wishes and ideas.

Pretty cardigan/jacket for Lucy

Lucy is such a quiet unassuming girl, very happy to just wear the same dress all the time.  I thought that she might like a new outfit.  I have some fabulous fabric that will match this cardigan/jacket that I just finished today for her.

She is much happier to be warmer.

A nice fit for her indeed.

Equally nice unbuttoned, although the buttons could be smaller.  I will have to keep an eye out for some smaller buttons.

I am looking forward to making her a matching dress to go with this cardigan/jacket.  I think the colours will be a good match.

She is  now off to go and play with Meredith and Amber with the dolls pram that they enjoy so much.

Warmer clothes for Bobby - At Last!

Bobby is so much happier, he is finally out of his shorts, and not before time!  I had a little time this afternoon to make him a pair of trousers which match the cardigan I made sometime last year for the Gregor boys, but was too big.  It fits him really well and suits his colouring.  One much happier and warmer boy.

A change of clothes for Alice

Allie (Alice) decided she really didn't like wearing a dress and has claimed a pair of jeans to go with her sweater and fabulous JJ boots.

I knitted the sweater in NZ in February/March and only now has someone worn it.

She is a fun loving girl ready for adventures.

A parcel from New Zealand

A fabulous package from New Zealand arrived today.

Baby Grace couldn't wait to feel how soft it was.

Such a pretty colour it matches her jumper

Grace is having a closer look at the colour and softness of this sheepskin rug.

Thank you so much Erica on behalf the Sasha's here, they like it very much indeed and it has gone down a treat with Grace!

Hopefully your little package will be on its way to you by the end of this week, I've been out of action (again!) but hopefully back to things now.

Sasha Fun Day.

Yes Aunty Kendal, you were right, Henry and Rory were off to the fun day, and fun they had indeed!

Henry says hello to some of the girls, he has met before, while Rory entertains some of the babies with his frog puppet.  He then wanders over to join Henry to say hello to the girls as well. 

I think the toddlers got tired and wanted to have a lie down.

All dressed in a wide variety of clothes and uniforms

I especially admired the Union Jack outfit Steve's boy was wearing, just fabulous.  It was also nice to see Clementine again.

A lot of fun was had at the felt hat making workshop led by Laura.

Such wonderful vibrant colours, I would have loved to have joined in, but I knew my arm wouldn't cope with some of the strenuous activity that was called for in the process!

As illustrated by Laura and Judith, with huge smiles on their faces.  Everyone certainly had a lot of fun and I am hoping to have a go when I am not in quite so much pain.

Lots of lovely goodies on sale.  Although I had my hands firmly in my pockets, no spending for me!

There were lots of wonderful gifts donated for both the tombola and raffle.

Raffle prizes.

All the tables had a wonderful selection of items available for a little retail therapy for those who were able.

Even Bobby's twin was there, although I didn't tell him as he would have been so disappointed he had been left behind.  This lovely lad belongs to Jane who made all the wonderful knitwear shown.

Hattie was selling her hats joined by one of Gill's lads selling Gill's wonderful knitwear.

Lots of wonderful Sasha and Gregor related items for sale.

including some things that I didn't expect to see for sale

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All in all I think I can say we all had a wonderful time, it was lovely to catch up with friends, enjoy good company, some wonderful food and have a good laugh, even if I did have to pay for it the following day, it was worth it!

Thank you Judith for putting on a wonderful day.

Outside

What are Rory and Henry up to I wonder?

Blue & Pink

I'm hoping to go to a Sasha Fun Day tomorrow and have made a coat as part of a Raffle Donation, however due to having been in so much pain the last couple of weeks and still suffering I'm really not sure I am going to be able to make it which will be such a shame.  Had hoped I could convince my hubby to give up oh about four hours of his day...two times two hours return!  Needless to say I wasn't successful.

Anyway here is Julia modelling the raincoat.

I'm hoping it will be suitable...