Dog Walking

Whilst it is grey and damp, the rain has at least stopped for the moment anyway...

Henry and Peggy Sue decided to take the dogs out for a walk.  

I must say I am surprised the dogs came back as clean as they did as it sure is wet and muddy in the fields!

Peggy Sue thinks they should start a new business dog walking and asks Henry what he thinks of the idea.  Henry points out that it is okay when it is not raining but sometimes it is really miserable out there and did they really want to HAVE to walk dogs in all weather - at least with their own they can wait for a lull in the weather and nip out when the rain eases up.

The Month of Jemima comes to a close.

Well January is almost at its end and so to is my month of focussing on Jemima.

I have enjoyed spending this month with her being the centre of attention and she has accumulated a little wardrobe of her own.

Today I finished by making her some panties - I also made a longer pair as well. (Not pictured)

Most of her clothes are fairly short though so the longer pair will do for when she gets a more 'studio' style dress to wear in the future, or could be worn under her dungarees when it is really cold.

Two of her dresses were bought, but I took the velcro off the back and sewed snaps on instead.  

Her wardrobe now consists of:

Two knitted tunic dresses,

One knitted skirt and cardigan

Checked dress

Pink Gingham dress

Dungarees, sweater and hat (that she arrived in)

Pair of shoes made by myself

Pair of sandals.

Pair of pink/purple glasses.

Now to decide who to focus on next month from my 2015 dolls. 

A Make and a Missing Muse

My imagination seems to have gone awol - it has been missing for quite a while now and I want it back!  In the meantime I will just keep posting pictures of things I have made, or things I have been doing with the dolls - which doesn't really seem to be particularly imaginative.  I think it is partly because I lost my main 'photographic' area when we did a change around earlier last year, and partly because of the shocking weather.  I need my muse back!

Finished Friday night a blue dress modelled by Victoria.

Google Account Needed for Following Blogs?

As a result of my post yesterday - it seems people who don't have  a 'Google Account' can't follow the blog any more.

So it seems you now need a Google-Account to follow the blog.  Sigh...more changes - not necessarily for the good but apparently that is 'progress'   or  rather controlling.

Copied from the buzzBlogger message:

An update on Google Friend Connect

December 21, 2015

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs.

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

Followers?

Goodness me!  What is happening to my 'followers' - they seem to be dropping like flies....I am sure I had over 90 last week....last night there were 77 and this morning 71!  Is is a glitch in the system, or am I just boring everyone silly they aren't interested any more?  Do people want to see different things?

Not that it really matters as only a very few ever comment anyway - that is not what it is all about, I like blogging for me and to be able to look back on things I have done over the years is a great record.  But it is interesting to know what people would like to see and read about and like most it is always nice to get comments.

A New Dress for Jemima

Still working on Jemima's wardrobe - although this dress wasn't originally planned for her, she is very happy to have ended up with it and I am really pleased with it.  Of course trying to get true colour representation at the moment with the poor light we have is another matter!

Only four days left in January and I still need to make her some underwear!  Must get cracking.

Failed at the first hurdle!

Back in December I admired a doll Shelly had put on her blog...but did nothing about it....  Last week seeing she was still waiting patiently for a new home I could resist no longer.  I have absolutely no will power it turns out!  Only in January and have already added to my Sasha doll collection despite my intentions not to!  Failed at the first hurdle it seems.  

Here are her arrival photos:

Her dress is sweet, but a bit short for her I feel.

I took a few of her the day she arrives as she is just so beautifully photogenic!

I am planning on making her, her own wardrobe of clothes - something I think will suit her personality and style a bit more.

In the meantime she is wearing a corduroy mini skirt and sweater I made a few years ago, teamed with a pair of boots.

I love her hair!  

I think Shelly has done a wonderful job of repainting this girl.  On a whole I prefer 'original' Sasha dolls, but she stole my heart.

She has chosen the fabric she wants me to make her something with!

Quite a combination!  Difficult to get the true colours.  The top fabric is a brown, almost suede type fabric with gold studs, the floral is fine needle cord and the other is a gold textured fabric.

Now to design her first outfit!

Portsmouth Historic Dockyards - Part Two

Henry at Portsmouth Historic Dockyards - Part Two posted here.

Henry visits the Historic Dockyards

Henry has finally managed to post the first instalment of his day out at the Historic Dockyards at Portsmouth last week.  Photos can be seen here.

For Sale: Gorgeous Sasha Girl

Selling on behalf of a friend:

This lovely repaint 'Gloria' by Melody Mock in 2007.  In her former 'life' she was a Blonde 20th Anniversary Doll from 1985.  Her hair has been dyed and her features repainted.  She is in lovely condition, with original stringing and holds her poses well. She has ever such a slight ding on her nose which shows up in some lights.  She comes with her label and her little rag doll.  Please note she will come wearing a different outfit - the tartan one as shown, NOT the smocked dress which is for illustrative purposes only. 

£200 ono

Details on how to contact me on my 'For Sale' page - either at the top or on the side bar.

Introducing Jemima

I have finally finished this post which has been some time in the planning!

I was very selective with my Sasha purchases last year, with only one being spontaneous and one other being well.... almost spontaneous....  All were on my 'wish list' which was also good.  I have done a group collage, but am going to save that photo for the end.

I am going to introduce them slowly over the course of the year - about one a month probably in order to focus on them and take time to enjoy them.  I think sometimes we can get swooped up in the world of collecting that we forget to spend time with our dolls and before we know it another one is joining the family.  My aim this year as mentioned before is to try and focus on what I have and to try and not add to the family...although no promises as most who are in this hobby know just what a slippery slope it can be!

The first is of course my lovely Course doll Jemima who has already appeared here, but not been properly introduced.

She was described as an AI Re-covered Studio/Course doll from 1952 and one of the earliest true Sasha dolls.  Sadly though she was in such a bad way she needed to be totally restored although her original body and stuffing with newspapers dating her are inside her full recovered head and body.  She was also given a new hemp hair wig and clothing made with vintage fabrics.

Here are her arrival photos.  She couldn't wait to get out and explore the garden

She enjoyed hanging about the pond

It wasn't soon before Jacob joined her tadpole watching.

It has only been recently that I have started to get to really know her as I have started to work on her wardrobe - she is my 'Doll of the Month' to focus on.  Of course as I get to spend more time with her, I get to know her better.  I don't especially like her lip paint - but hey, not all our facial features are perfect and she can't help hers and I don't like to change anything unless it was absolutely necessary.

Of course I have already posted some photos of her already this month...

Her first new dress received for Christmas, made by myself.  I also made her shoes.

A two piece knitted outfit made by myself.

Pink gingham dress from 'My Doll Boutique'  

Checked dress from 'My Doll Boutique'  

Taking a pause from reading...

This sweet girl is quiet and studious, but is also curious about the world around her.  

Her 'siblings' are Jacob, Jasper & Joel (Still to be introduced)

I am really enjoying her very much.  

Henry has a Day out in London

Henry has posted over here about his day out in London yesterday...

Secret Santa Swap - Part Eleven - Final Posting

The final posting of the 2015 Sasha Secret Santa Swap!

This time the gifts were sent by Secret Santa Rosie who sent to Laura

Laura's 'kids' had written in their letter to Santa this:

Dear Santa,

Mommy is helping us write this to you as the babies/ toddlers in the Osterdyk family. We would love to have -New toys/stuffed animals/blankets to play with cause mommy says when we get bored we get in trouble and it gets pretty cold in Minnesota.

- We boys would love to have some new outfit as mommy never has time to make us some an a few of us only have a nappy

- We would love to have some new socks/ shoes as none of use have any except the outfit came with them -Us girls would love some sweaters or jackets if possible it is very cold in minn(snow)ta and we need to be ready for the next 6 months of winter.  Mommy said its not really that long but it feels like it.

- Finally we love to connect with other babies we love to see all the different children and were they are leaving so if you could throw in a picture of some of your sasha family and a little letter we would love to see it. Mommy will read it to us.

Thank you Santa for thinking of us this Christmas we may not have been the nicest to each other and we may have gotten into trouble but we hope you understand.

The Osterdyk babies and toddlers 

Didn't Secret Santa Rosie do well?  Look at the amazing blanket and outfits the Osterdyk babies received.

Fabulous!

Thank you to all who participated in this yearly event - I think everyone works very hard and really gets into the spirit of giving.