(sort-wash-dry-fold-decide what is needed-write a million lists that I promptly lose)

with a small one by my side, exclaiming “ohhh, how quuuuuu-ooo-te (cute)!!!” and small dolls being last in mountains of baby clothes and bed clothes, we decided to make another little doll to add to the (rather extensive) dollhouse doll collection. 

It is probably about two years ago since I made these little dolls- I used Salley Mavors wonderful book “Felt Wee Folk”- and they consist of pipe cleaners wrapped in embroidery cotton, with a wooden painted head. Grace has been playing with the ones I had made, and loved and was fascinated that we had made these (I had made some and the boys had made some too) so today we embarked on a doll making session which lasted all of about… oh, 20 minutes (crafting with small ones tends to be a super-fast event)

While I wrapped boots, then body, then hands,

 Grace industriously chopped up pieces of yarn into 1-inch lengths (great bit of distraction, har har) Every so often she would lean over to chop whatever embroidery cotton I was using as a help, you understand… (I’m getting ever-defter at dodging these helpful attacks)

(apologies for the photo- I was holding someone back with one hand)

I painted the face, she painted the hair (pink- of course) and then we glued on a little acorn shell as a hat (I’ve been collecting these every year since I read Salleys book. They fit perfectly and hide the hole in the bead)

As soon as the glue was dry (well, just about dry) this little dolly was brought straight into doll-family life (look at those chubby-licious hands!!! And painted tablecloth!!!)

Now.

Back to the: sort-wash-dry-fold-decide what is needed-write a million lists that I promptly lose…

we had our sale over the weekend and are just finishing the packing and labeling for deliveries. We had a really successful weekend (thank you!) and have cleared much of our toy stock. 

Two weeks ago we came to the very difficult decision that we were going to “wrap up” the toy end of things- I simply didn’t have the time, and I didn’t really want to have a “shop” (bricks and mortar) anymore (Our shop was housed in the little log cabin we had built as an art studio a couple of years ago) I wanted and needed a creative space back!! And I want to concentrate on the “handmade” side, the one-offs, the unique and different.

Maybe it’s Autumn, with all its contraction… or maybe I’m mentally winding down as we head into winter… or both…

But as soon as we had made the decision I felt a lovely sense of peace. It felt right.  We are so excited about all the possibilities, and having the space to organise our studio into a working studio again,

(note the shelves groaning with the weight of sketchbooks, paintings, art books…

…soon to be organised beautifully on all the empty shelves!!!)

work on our Sketchbook Project (Fergal and I are both taking part- he’s waaaaay ahead of me!!) and concentrate on printing,

 dollmaking,

crafting,

painting…

This week I eventually uploaded the photos of the blankets we have in our shop (steep learning curve every time something goes “wrong”!!) as well as one or two doll ones that wouldn’t upload. I still have cushions, corsages and some GORGEOUS wooden toys- a motorhome, 4 x4 Jeep and red sportscar- I’ll try to get them up tonight.

I’m in the middle of finishing a doll for Jenny-from-Kildare, so I’m off to immerse myself in wool and body-parts!! Check out our blankets in the “handmade@theNest” section, simply lovely.

In the meantime, days have been jam-packed full of:Delicious sweet scones 

Doll making

and more doll making!

And festive wonderful reading with tea and the afore-mentioned scones!

And guess who got their first pair of ***new shoes***!!!

And hot slow-cooked stew…

In between the torrential downpour, we are running to and fro from our little shop, bringing out all our **new stock**!!!

This is just so exciting for us- the opening of the boxes (this one in the photo is now a Time Machine!!), checking invoices, pricing,

exclaiming with delight at things we haven’t seen before…

and shouts of joy at the old faithfuls…