Look what I found in my garden pond last night!  My very own frog spawn.  I am so happy. Last year I had to adopt tadpoles and grow them into tiny frogs - this year I have my very own spawn, brought to my pond by the frog.  

Happy Days. 

My two little pussy cats, in a rare moment of peaceful togetherness.  I wonder which one of them moved dolly's eyes both into the same socket!  lol

I couldn't resist, a little Goth doll called Abby!  I love her.

 Such cute hair.

My daughter claimed this one the second she saw her.

While waiting for tulle for Dolls' underskirts, I needed a new project.  As my fabrics and cottons and sewing machine are out and all over the place, I decided to make fabric books.  

* * *

The grey stripe has 6 pages made from crisp, creamy calico, with sewn and pinked edges, and thick padding to make it easier to sew things to.  

* * *

The little green heart book has open weave, cotton twill pages, frayed at the edges and triple sewn to prevent further fraying.  They are thinly padded and the open weave makes them very easy to sew into.

* * *

Now I can't wait to get started on filling them.

I think I've finally found the method and look I was hoping for in my dolls.  I'm using tulle for underskirts, which is lovely and firm but not too stiff and prickly, and I'm using beautiful, light cotton prints for the skirts and overalls.  

They'll be for sale in my little online shop very soon. 

This is my little peachy lady, with her dainty matching shoes and hair bows, and her lace trimmed skirt.

And my little boy, with his adorable overalls and cheeky face (I love his ears).  

And with their coordinating fabrics, they make a lovely little pair.

I've been 3 or 4 days playing dollies. . . 
Making patterns and prototypes for beautiful little ladies and bunnies in gorgeous party frocks.  I made my own pattern, inspired by 3 or 4 different patterns that I'd used before for dolls and animals.  I've ironed out a few creases, (and more than a few body parts), and I think I'm happy with the results. I'm about to take photographs of my first 2 little ladies.

 The first doll is pretty, but her head is a little too square, and her underskirt a little too short.  She'll be living with me.

 My second has a better shaped head I think, and her underskirt is made of tulle, and is much stiffer than her sister's.  She's really lovely in the flesh.  The picture doesn't do her justice.  She might find her way to my on line shop, to be adopted.

They are both 18" tall and sit really nicely.

 My bunny has no features or clothes!  Yikes.  She soon will, I bought some lovely fabric today to make her the most gorgeous little dress, and some ivory tulle to make her a sticky out underskirt.  :)

Bunny has lovely little pink shoes.

Easter - I saw a forecast for snow, and yet it was a beautiful, bright sunny day.  While sorting out my little pink craft room, I gradually found all my little Easter decorations, so once again, I set about making my Easter branch.

I cut a couple of nice twiggy branches from the tree in the garden and put them in a lovely jug, and then went to town with the little eggs and bows and ornaments.

Then I set the table for tea. . .

Before my guests arrived, I finished off my little Easter gifts.

I had collected seeds from my favourite plants in the garden last year, and so made some small seed packets and printed myself some labels.

I stamped names on the envelopes and labelled the seeds.

Then I stamped the pots with the plant names, just so they'd know what to plant where - very important!

Then I made sure I matched the pots to the seed packets.

Then I made some little Easter tags, put the pots, seeds, a small bag of soil and a drip tray in brown paper bags, and voilà! - an Easter gift that should keep on giving. 

Testarooney

Tadpole Charl is once again testing the technicalities. =D If this works please like/follow/share or buy!

x

Today I was rooting around in my craft room and came across these lovely cake/gift boxes I made a while ago.  

 The white one is decorated with vintage lace, pearls and ribbons, with a silk rosebud on top.

 Gorgeous lavender, with vintage lace, ribbons, pearls and paper flowers. 

 My favourite.

 Pale green aged with smudged inks and decorated with hundreds of tiny string pearls, lace, ribbons, buttons and paper roses.

Ok, so let's see if this tadpole can get its back legs!  

For a few days now I've been working on a project that I thought would be done in one day, but as easily distracted as I am by coffee out and shopping trips, it has taken rather longer than anticipated.
However, at last, it is done and I am sharing it with you.

 The front cover of the album is padded, covered, and trimmed with layer upon layer of new and vintage lace.

 A feature is made using pale pink rosebud fabric with gorgeous little French knots and a frame of pearls, and the addition of a tiny Tibetan silver cross.

 A further element is the bundle of fabric, lace and organza bows, finished with a Tibetan silver 'handmade with love' heart charm.

 The back is laced and decorated with a slightly simpler design so that the album sits neatly, and is finished with a 'live, laugh, love' ribbon feature, with more French knots, and a 'handmade with ♥' ribbon detail.

 Inside the front cover is more lace and fabric.

 Inside the back cover is yet more lace and pale pink rosebud fabric.

There are spaces for 200 photographs and 5 lines per photograph for hand written sentiments.
So lovely for a wedding, Christening, birthday or anniversary, so that each guest can be photographed, can add their own written message to a page, and later have their photograph placed next to their comments, as a lifetime memento.

This album will be listed in my My Own Creation shop (link at top of page).

Getting started!

My Tarty Frog blog is as yet a mere tadpole - and it hasn't even grown legs yet!