Dotee Dolls ... the beading .....

One of the most fun parts of a Dotee is the beading.  Well, it is for me anyway.  I love making the "danglies" and the hangers.  It's fun to arrange the lovely colours to complement the dolly.

Over the past few months a friend and I have been doing a lot of origami ornaments.. she saw some of mine before Christmas and wanted to learn how to fold and assemble...I was thrilled to have somebody to play with..so we spent many an enjoyable hour doing those.  Now, I'm making some in Easter colours...for my Easter Tree.  They have a little gold thread to hang them....with beads on it to complement the colours of the papers of the ornaments.

 I seemed to acquire lots of colours and sizes ..but, you can never have too many beads, right?  They are even fun just to look at and run your fingers through.
Last week, with my 50% off coupon at Michael's, I got this.

A whole container with thousands of seed beads...   whopping total ....  $19.49.  I bought a fairly large string of them at the bead store for $7.00 a month ago...  ...but..... they were all the same colour.  So, if I bought only 3 strings of beads in different colours... I would already have spent $21... what a bargain.

It is a good idea to scrutinize every aspect of it very carefully though...and to make sure how to open each of the containers so as not to spill out any ...(or plenty!) of the seed beads.  Trust me on this.  You turn the carousel on it's side and jiggle and shake it back and forth gently to make sure all the beads are settled into their various compartments.. BEFORE opening the lid.   And, then, when you close the lid... make sure it is done properly and is securely fastened.  See that little crevice in the photo below? (on the red beads) ... a lot of tiny beads can fall out of that opening!  And ... they did!  'Til I figured it out.  Much blue air ensued after the first careless closing.  I failed to realize that the lids fit just so, and must accommodate the corner tabs inside the lid properly, before trying to close the snap tabs on the outside of the lid.   And beads must not be on those little dividers either ..or the lid doesn't close properly.  It's a good system and it works ..if you pay attention.  Just sayin'......... if you buy one .... make certain you have it figured out ... please...

 Then, get a glass of wine and do some beading...oh, just a minute ...I'm empty... hang on I'll go for a refill.... .................  .........................  ......................

Don't you love my clutter?  It's the way I work.  Everything within easy reach ... and as I know you are aware ..all of a sudden, all of it is all over the place.  Soon I'm working in a pretty small space ... like ..  about 8 X 8 ....inches, that is!

Works for me.

It's still kinda organized....  (the ex-dental assistant) ..hahhaha....

....   and don't think I don't use every single tool on that mat either.  They are indispensable.  Every single one of them.


Of course, there is doubt, consternation and downright curiosity from various onlookers....

Well, of course, not everybody is interested in beading.....

Each to his own ........

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you all make it a happy one in some way or other  ....

Today I read ..if you don't have huge expectations for it ...you will be happier.  That sounds good.

I always think too much is made of certain days of the year ...mostly to generate sales of anything and everything... and we fall for it ..of course.

Days like Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.... hmmm.... we should make those days special all year 'round.  Well, that's how I feel about it anyway.

Here are a couple little furry guys to wish you all a Happy Heart Day.

Tuffy, Posie and Scruffy... playing with the heart cookie cutters.  Think they are lobbying for cookies? .... oh, yeh....

And.... here are some chocolate dipped strawberries....... yummmmmmmm

Little Darla says please have one.... "they're luvly"....
                                                                                 


... and, some chocolate covered cherries....... why not?

I'm giving them all to you ... because... right now I am on a chocolate, wine and coffee hiatus..... sigh...
My gut is giving me grief and I am trying to figure out what is causing it.  And, I definitely am not giving up breads and cookies or thinking gluten right away  ...forget that !!  I'll give up the other three before I give up bread.
I love breads...as a matter of fact...today I am baking pretzels... a first time for me but had to give it a go after seeing some my neighbour guy baked ... Trevor, the Renaissance man.... baking and cooking and .... well, he does it.... so why can't I? ....

'Tis the season to be.... sparkly!!

... and, I've been making more origami ornaments like I do each year since I learned how to make them.  I love doing them and using pretty foil type wrapping papers.  My neighbour gifted me a strip of beautiful, sparkly, almost fabric like paper...wow...it folds wonderfully and looks great!

Yesterday I heard some little noises in the front room and poked my head around the corner to see what it was.....


(click to enlarge them!)

Uh, oh.... sure enough, there were these two on the coffee table... playing with the half done papers ............  Tuffy deciding it must be a party hat .... but, then...  complaining because it was waaaay too big for his little head.

..... then, more muttering....something about,'who the heck was it for anyway'? ....

Frikkles, on the other hand, decided he would claim the one with turquoise and pink papers.... because it matched his big ol' hand made glass bead..... and ...he loves that colour!

I tried to explain to them that they were actually ornaments for the tree .... and, now .....they are lobbying to sit next to them in the tree when I hang them........ hmmmmmmm... trouble comes in all sizes ........

flying over the ocean...

Oh, no, sorry...didn't mean me..... no... I mean this little guy ...  he flew in yesterday from the UK .....  well, actually not he himself...but, this great photo of him..... thanks Helena...he's great.  Could be some inspiration to make a little needle felted one again....

 That's two days in a row for something sent by Royal Mail... oooh... it sounds so posh doesn't it?  So much more interesting than Canada Post ...  hahahhah

Bob T Bear (Esq.)'s "sekritry" sent it to me....  she said it reminded her of my little bears.... how sweet is that?  She has one of the bears because she participated in a Pay it Forward I had a few years ago.....
The one in the middle went to live with her...

They are all pretty tiny ... measuring only about 2 to 2 1/5  inches, max.  ... although this gal looks pretty large compared to her little bobbin in comparison ... maybe these are smaller bobbins... or maybe that little guy is reeeellly teeny...who knows for sure.... how do people knit things that tiny anyway?

I don't knit or crochet... don't even know which it is ...but, maybe I could make up a little needle felted doggie shape from my puffs of wool that could be similar.  That would be after my quest to make a small wrapping cloth...and then a pin pillow(cushion) and also a little, ah.... uhm.... 'a thing' ...  for 'somebody' .... and well, by then I will be taking another stitchery class I think.....hmmmmm... anybody have a few weeks for sale??   anybody?


Just remembered....I did one time make a little doggie ....  his name is Henry....the hound dog..... he is hoping someone will play fetch... look, he even has his own stick....

 "Please"? ... "anyone wanna play fetch with me"?

Check out Annie's blog for some other Friday Smiles...

A Doodly Bird

...popped out of my mailbox yesterday....

He brought me some bits of trim from the UK!  Lynn... (who I always call Ms. Doodly Bird .. behind her back) ... is taking the same "wrapping cloth" class from Karen Ruane.  As a matter of fact, it was on her blog that I saw the info about the class.  She is taking several classes at the same time.... acckkkk!  She must have a ton of energy.

Another thing she does is make Doodly Birds .... like this guy... although, usually they are painted... this is a Sewing Dood.... hahahh...love it.... thanks Lynn.

Anyway... back to the fun ... she offered to send me some bits to add to my stash...and I gladly accepted the offer.  I'm in the very early stages of creating my "stash" of white and off white fabrics and trims for making these "wrapping cloths"..I'm definitely going to make more than one.  As I mentioned before, I'm going to call it my "friendship cloth" because it will be made with gifts of fabric and trim from blog buddies, relatives, friends and friends of friends...  I've already added several to my first three blocks....

Here are some of the goodies in my Doodly Bag.... thanks so much Lynn.  What a great addition they will make to my next block...or in the case of my third block.. because I am debating taking out one bigger piece that seems to jump out at me and I'm not convinced it belongs....

As usual.... every time the postman comes to our house, ...'you-know-who' is on top of it.  Or in most cases..several 'you-know-whos'... barely left the room for a minute to get my camera and when I got back.... they were all sitting there having a great time on the new fabric..... hmmmm...

"Look, I found a snowflake ... the colour of ...  me !"  ....

"Ooooo .... can I hold it?"















"Uhm, .... not now.... maybe later....."

..."or........ not........................."  "I really like my little snowflakey"........

"Never mind.... found my own".....

"oh............"

"us too".... "look there's enough for everybuddy"

...  Frikkles and Posie found some too.....

... and, my other birds were eager to chat with the Dood .... about his long flight and all I guess .....

We all love the goodies Lynn....!

maybe third time's a charm...

Definitely not the second.

Remember how long it took to piece together my first block of fabric for my wrapping cloth? .... and how I thought maybe the second one would be a bit easier and therefore take less time?  hahahahahha..yeh...right.... it took even longer if I'm not mistaken.

But, I love it. ...   and, that's all that counts really isn't it?

Mooooommmm.... c'mon... hurry up willya? .... how 'bout this lovely lacy hankie? .... ..

The guys and Buttercup were getting exhausted trying to help... poor little tykes.  Still burrowing in and out of all the lovely whites .... trying valiantly ..holding  up bits every so often for approval .... Mikki just finally fell asleep under his hat...which is not his really...he just "found" it and wanted to wear it even though it's a bit girly and quite obviously far too big for his little head.

I used a few bits from my newly acquired 'stash' from Twig too.  See the fabulous lacy looking scallops at the top right ? ...I love that piece... and just under it...the one with the cutout circles? a portion of a little blouse or dress top...  this is a piece of the collar... so soft and fine that cotton is...  there is one other piece of it with a button still on it...that will go on another block... definitely leaving the button in place.

My Friendship Garden is well under way now.....

.... today I'm going to cut up some hex shapes to piece together .... that's my new found info from Karen for this week ...

and...in other rnews..... whoops..I mean news..... it is snowing........................better get out to shovel too..........

I'm a lucky bunny!

Look what arrived in the post yesterday!  Bits and bobs from the UK, most of it vintage .... wheeeee... woohooo !! ......

Which is exactly what Ms. Goosie quocked and honked as she got just as excited as I did when I unwrapped my parcel.  There was a lot of flopping about (she still has no feet) ... her wings flapping madly ...  picking up this and that .... and a grin from ear to ear... do geese have ears? ... They must ...how do they hear if not?..hmmm... one of those questions ...I'm full of 'em......

Anyway.... look!  Look at my treasure from  Twiglet .... who knows exactly what is needed to do this type of piecing together of special fabrics.
She makes lovely cards with fabric bits.. this particular one she sent is perfect... it celebrates lace, embroidery and soft colours.... I love it.

This piece of silk is sooooo delicate I must find a way to protect it when I do use it... I wish I knew more about fabric...so I would know exactly what it is.

Obviously all the flapping and squawking got the attention of others..because this morning when I walked into the kitchen ... there they were ...looking slightly guilt ridden ... caught in the act ...  playing in the pile of goodies....

oh, sorry.... just let me smooth this down for you...

Yep...I'm goin'......but, make sure you use this piece in the next block willya? ...

Absolutely, Percy....I'll just get right on that.......

Thanks so much for all my treasure Twig!  love it!  What a fun day.........

WOYWW

....ahhhh...finally I can reveal the rest of the secret to those WOYWWers that stopped by during the "unavailability" days  ..... the secret that Olaf was guarding so zealously several Wednesdays ago.

If you want to know what WOYWW is all about ...check it out sometime over at Julia's .  The list is long and the ATC exchange is about to happen too....excitement all 'round.

So ...anyway...back to the story.  Sorry... longer than most people like to look at or read...but, it is mostly photos anyway.... please scroll on.... and on..... you'll love their little faces, I promise.

The last two little bears have found their forever homes....

This little guy is the only one who stayed in Canada...and he found his way to Dolores...who was one of my 4 Pay It Forward recipients.  (from over 2 years ago if you know the story.. and it is only supposed to be one year..so they were definitely all surprised!)
Now ... she will find some who want to play Pay It Forward and they will do the same and on it goes.... little gifties winging their way around the world.

She has named him Rusty..and blogged about his arrival here.... True Blue Canadian...

He had a lot of fun playing in his papers....

choosing just the right ones.... getting all comfy and making sure he could streeetttchh... right out...all 2 inches of him... if that.......

And, this little girl, all by herself ... found her way to Anne in Scotland... and for some reason I never did a pic of her playing in the papers... but, I got one of her before she was complete....

sorry little girl... almost like showing you nekkid....

your little arms were teeensy....and it was dangerous work..... for me!

Here they are just before getting on planes.... wondering how far they would be flying and how it would all work out.  They were pretty nervous ... but, they got all comfy in their little tissue-for-blankies and off they went...so brave.

Group hug.

Awwww... what fun it was making them and for me...the best part is...my arm/hand/elbow is once again finally able to do some needle felting!  I'm a happy felter!.  It's not perfect..but, if I work at it a bit at a time...I can still make some little guys.  Boy, does that feel great.