A Year Long Challenge comes to an end...

A year ago today I made a blog post about a 'Challenge of the Utmost Kind' that I set myself.

I think on a whole I have done really well at this.  I had a couple of exceptions...

1.  If I manage to go to the Sasha Festival

2.  If family gift me some cash to buy something for the dolls (highly unlikely!)

I did get to the Sasha Festival and bought some very special and lovely outfits while there which I showed in the festival posts I wrote up after the Sasha Festival.

I did get given some cash to buy something for the dolls (which surprised me!)

Now I wasn't perfect by a long shot.  I did have a couple of 'slips' if you want to call them that when I saw something extra special that I probably wouldn't have made myself and this actually made getting them more of a treat as I really thought about it first.  

This was a really good challenge to do for me and it kept me focussed.  I am going to continue with it as I enjoy seeing my dolls in clothing I have made for them.  Ideally I would like to make them all something for each season.

So far the girls all have Christmas dresses, and an Autumn beret. Most of them have a summer dress.  The boys all have a Christmas waistcoat and most have a pair of cords and a shirt, but this needs to be refined. I think this will be a fun project to slowly work on as and when I feel like it.

It is a great way for their personalities to shine through as well and to get to know each doll better.

Six of the boys have already started wearing their Christmas clothes...I think they are hopeful that they will get to open the Christmas Advent Calendar tomorrow...but they did it last year...so will have to have a think on this!

Peter, Rory, Simon, Caleb,and the twins Connor and James.

Not sure I agree with all their mixing and matching though...so there may well be some changes in the next few days!

Liquorice Allsorts...

One good thing about not having bought any Sasha dolls for some time and also now having less is that I have been enjoying the ones I have more and 'rediscovering' them and their personalities.

I am especially enjoying Cora at the moment and when I saw this pretty dress I just had to have it for her.  I know I am on a 'Challenge of the Utmost Kind' to only make their clothes for the year (with some exceptions which can be read about on the post highlighted above) but sometimes things just happen.  I decided that I deserved to buy this pretty little outfit for her, having made rather a lot of clothes that I have given away to various people and friends and well, quite frankly that evening I was tired, sore and upset, and what better pick me up?

Well I am absolutely delighted I did and feel no guilt what so ever as it is all I expected and more and really suits Cora, who I have discovered very much likes feminine outfits and is not quite the 'tomboy' I had at first taken her for.

What do you think?  Isn't she just delightful in this gorgeous dress?

We have recently heard of the loss of another dear Sasha friend, Jackie Hyatt, one I only knew through email contact, but well known in the Sasha community and it was suggested that she be remembered through the Sasha Auction at the Sasha Festival this year.  

For some time I have had this gorgeous hand sewn Victorian Child's Christening Gown sitting in my room.  I walked past it the other day and just knew what to make with it.  It was difficult plucking up the courage to make that first cut, but once I did, well there was no turning back.  The gown had now been re-purposed to be continued to be enjoyed on someone's lucky Sasha rather than being tucked away in a draw somewhere.  

Made in a Studio Sasha Style, this gown will be auctioned off along with other items at the Sasha Festival this year.  It will be difficult seeing it go as it truly is a one off garment.

I will try to take some more photos to capture the beautiful embroidery work that has disappeared in this photo.

This afternoon when Henry heard we were going for a drive in the car he wanted to come along for the ride.

He admired the wonderful Tulips...

Later on he got up to some mischief - trying to do pull ups one handed on the window openers!

He really is quite the dare devil!

A Sasha/Gregor Challenge of the Utmost Kind

Well it is official!  I have designed my badge and committed myself to doing this challenge for a year starting from 1st December, although in all honesty I have already started it.  If anyone else would like to be mad enough to join in, please feel free to, let me know and you can use the photo above I have designed to put on your blog if you have one.

I have a couple of exceptions:

1.  If I manage to go to the Sasha Festival

2.  If family gift me some cash to buy something for the dolls (highly unlikely!)

Now for two of the three dresses I made yesterday for the girls for Christmas.

The first is being modelled by Molly, who was the one of the first Sasha dolls to be added to my Sasha family and my first brunette.  I bought her from Ronny of Absolutely Sasha and to say that she is still one of my most favourite girls.

She has a sweet nature and I really love her.

Red is so difficult to photograph well I find.  The fabric is a lovely needle/pin cord sent to me by a kind lady on one of the Ravelry groups I belong to.

I think Molly is just so lovely.

Next up we have Alice, my blonde centre part Kilt girl.

She teamed the dress with blue Jean Jensen shoes and hair bands.

She is a gorgeous girl, with lovely eyes and smile.

I think this dress really suits her and she seems quite happy in it.

She is always smiling!

Well must get on, we are preparing our lounge for Christmas decorations today and I also want to get some more sewing done.

On my needles:

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A little reminder that the Secret Santa Christmas Parcels should just about be on their way!

A Challenge...

Having started on my winter sweater project  for my Sasha girls and boys, has got me thinking about clothes and making them versus buying them and I have decided to make a pledge to only make my Sasha family their clothes for the next year, not purchase anything.  With one exception...if I manage to save up enough money to go to the Sasha Festival, then I will allow myself some spending money there.  Although if it is anything like the one this year I only had a budget of £25 to spend so didn't buy any clothes there anyway!    I am going to try and design a banner/photo tomorrow to display this pledge and if anyone wants to join in they are welcome to. 

My pledge will be something like this;

"A Sasha/Gregor Challenge of the Utmost Kind"

I pledge to not purchase any Sasha or Gregor clothing for a year from 1st December 2012.  Instead I plan to sew and knit their clothing only, making use of existing fabrics, yarns, and upcycling wherever possible.

I finally managed to get to my quilting group today after being unable to attend for several weeks.  I had cut out three Christmas dresses yesterday and managed to get them all sewn up today, but by the time I got home it was too dark to photograph them, so will do that tomorrow.  I have some other items that I am hoping to finish tomorrow.

As I have no new photographs to show, I will revisit a couple of older photos...

Tilly Rose in warmer weather when we had some sunshine.

The twins, Connor & James.