Before becoming a mummy to a little girl I would never have thought that I would spend an entire evening nursing a burgeoning chest infection, yet still happy, happy, happy, and all because of a handful of wooden pegs. And yet, there I was last night creating my army of minions, as Jim likes to call them. And I had a lot of fun doing it. I've still got more to make and lots more ideas but for now and without further ado....
Please say hello to The Girls...
As you can see they're pretty stylish with their Liberty prints and Kaffe prints and Japanese prints - seriously, these girls dress better than I ever could.
And those shoes are pretty stylish too. Although it can't be good for them to stand on pointe all the time. It'll play havoc with their posture.
I think that Clara (2nd from the right, above) is a little self conscious about her legs and thus tends to prefer the longer hemline. Not that she needs to worry, she has a great set of pegs.
When I make something, I almost always think it looks like crap and want to throw it away. But I've learnt to hold off on my harsh judgements and wait until I can view the item in a fresher light. And the best way for me to do that is to leave it somewhere prominent, so that when I get up in the morning or re-enter the room, I get a fresh look at it. This often results in my feeling a lot kinder towards whatever it is I've made (although not always!). I know it's a simple thing to do, but really, if you put your work in a relevant situ and try and catch it from an observers viewpoint, rather than a makers, you really do get a better idea of whether it works.
So last night, after coming very close to chucking these in the bin, I lined them up on the mantle in a mini chorus line and went to bed.
I then didn't notice them this morning until Bella spotted them and started shouting "Mine, mine,mine". And I reluctantly handed them over (because sshhhhh, they're mine, mine, mine really) and watched her try and strip them (I'm going to try some removeable clothing next) and craddle them and lick them (she's a freak) and figured that they've probably turned out ok.
Here's Bella showing her love and concern for her new dolls by 'posting' then down the back of the book case!
Today, I'm in bed, watching my new 2nd series Columbo dvd and trying not to cough too much. I may also eat some chicken soup and paint some more dolls. Oh and I might also finish off a little Valentine Pup that I have in the making.
The shoes are great. A wonderful detail.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 28, 2007 at 02:31 PM
Hope your feeling better soon - love the liberty ladies!
Posted by: rebecca | January 28, 2007 at 03:02 PM
Do you have medicine with guaifenesin in it? Its the best for such situations. I hope you get to feeling better. And hopefully Bella doesn't get ill from all her doll licking! :D
Posted by: Sarah | January 28, 2007 at 03:24 PM
ahem, you girls are waiting in a line on a street corner?
is that really the message you want to send to bella? ;-)
Posted by: capello | January 28, 2007 at 05:00 PM
The girls are super sweet. I just ordered a bunch of pins to make a doll-making kit for my niece's birthday. I'll have to remember the velcro for the dresses. =)
Posted by: sally | January 28, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Sorry to hear you are laid up.The girls are fab - what a chorus line!
Posted by: Jo | January 28, 2007 at 10:11 PM
Hi, followed the link from Chysanthemum. Love your blog, was reading posts from a few days ago. I also live with a mild form of discalculia (nobody EVER knows what that is) so I'm glad to *meet* someone else who does. You do wonderful work, will pop in again!
XO
Posted by: Tola | January 28, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Glad you didn't throw these cuties away...adorable clothes, adorable shoes...so fun.
Feel better soon.
Posted by: Dana | January 28, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Kieran just saw me looking at your peg dolls and he said - Wow, look at all the kids lined up at school. He was very impressed!
Posted by: Grainne | January 29, 2007 at 01:46 AM
You know i see something like your adorable girls lined up and my mind starts racing on what i want to make too-sparked from YOUR creativity. So, i'm very thankful the girls were spared from their demise through the night and that you shared them with us today :-) Plus,,you're spot on about needing to look at our work as an observer to appreciate it sometimes. It regains the "freshness" factor that we've sort of lost from working on something so closely. P.S. I HOPE you keep feeling like you have something to say..cause i look forward to reading your blog everyday and seeing what you've been creating or thinking about..so keep on,,,keep on...
Posted by: Sarah Dugan | January 29, 2007 at 03:01 AM
What a great display, very chic!
Hope you feeling OK, take it easy.
SUzie Sews
PS I read about your No. dyslexia with interest. One of the reasons it took me so long to blog was because I am dyslexic, I can not spell for love nor money and it always upsets me how some people get very angry about spelling and grammer when sometimes is not poor education and we really are trying are best. (OK I shall get off my soap box now)! So thanks for sharing that with us.
Posted by: Suzie Sews | January 29, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Caught up with three days worth today in one go...
Bella looks gorgeous, and let's see the second dress you've made for her when you're better (dress-making is addictive; you have been warned)
The new puppies are adorable! How much are they and can I please please please go on the adoption register?
One of my Christmas memories is of sitting watching Oliver on its TV premiere and making peg dolls from a kit. My daughter, Sarah, would have loved them just like Bella (and probably posted the down the bookcase, too!)
Look after yourself, enjoy Columbo. Is there someone else to cook tea? Now, see you when you're feeling better!
Posted by: Angel Jem | January 29, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Those are really cute. They look like fashion models wearing stylish shawls. (I don't know - it's just the first thing that popped into my head when I saw them.) Hope you're feeling better!
Posted by: meg | January 29, 2007 at 12:16 PM
cheap childrens toys! Brilliant!
Posted by: Rachael | January 29, 2007 at 02:55 PM
Sweet little girls, they look as if they will be well loved!
Posted by: sadira | January 29, 2007 at 09:22 PM
I just found your blog and had to tell you how adorable those girls are!
Simple tools can be great toys and objects. I am so inspired by what you made. Had to get those pegs.....
Thanks for the great inspiration!
Posted by: momo | January 30, 2007 at 06:10 AM
Those are divine, especially when set up as you did with your lovely photography. very sweet, and a GREAT way to use up scraps. Absolutely adorable. feel better soon,a dn a belated birthday wish for your hubby!
Posted by: Jennifer | January 30, 2007 at 03:21 PM
I loved making & playing with peg dolls when I was a little girl and I think i liked to lick them too!?!
Hope your feeling better now :)
Posted by: Lindsey | January 30, 2007 at 08:46 PM