Snowbabies

I hope Debbie and Gee Gee don't think it's cheesy to post on a gift I made for our get together. Me, I think I write every aspect of my week when it goes by. Day to day I do different projects and I'm content to jump around, I think it makes for a interesting and rewarding way to be. Course, I LOVE sewing and crafting, I could eat, drink and sleep, making things. These are new to me. I have a big tote of unfinished ceramics, nativities, animals, (don't forget the raggedies!) and these little snow babies. Cute.

Very tiny features taking a steady hand and a keen eye. I know the really old snow babies are all white but I wanted a landscape to blend with a Christmas tree. We did the traditional red and green. I used a face paint that has a peach glitter in it hoping for a sheen (like it did when it dried on paper) and it does have a small sheen but not as much as I'd hoped for.

I used this antique silver glitter from the Martha Stewart line and I kick myself for not purchasing more when it was on sale. It's so hard to find. It's so beautiful acting more like a diamond dust than glitter.

Well, what in the world could I use to give these away in? I hadn't thought of that. It wouldn't be prudent to just hand 'em over! Geez, I saw a perfect thing to use my newest stamp for and I really shouldn't go to Craftmania, especially now that I know they have scads of rubber stamps (just the letters) for like....$.99 to $2.99.

A velvet drawstring storage bag with this cute tag will do the trick "From.....and the year" printed on the other side.

They turned out so cute! They are very hard to photograph though. I tried and tried and tried. Every time the flash was on it looked as if the babies have all these empty spots. The glitter is just to shiny.

This is a truer photo although blurred. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

More on my Sayco Doll

I am consistently re-rooting my play pal doll, I have vowed 2 long rows a day or four short ones, even at that though...it's long going.

I had somewhat of a dilemma once the four rows of bangs were complete, they are thick. While looking closer I noticed a groove in the plastic that goes around the top of the bangs, down to the temple and then swirls up before coming back down to the ear. I figured it must be where the shorter styled locks must go. So....to make this short, I decided to try the top of the head to see how full it will be without the additional planned bangs. The above photo shows two rows, short rows. They start to overlap where I stopped, I'm thinking the crown might go really quick since all the rows kind of disappear. Here she is with 4 complete, short rows. Next posting on Miss Sayco will explain the hair and how it behaves.

I was surprised. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

A New Andy

Squeal! I found a new Andy yesterday....on my way food shopping. I have a single Ann that I thought I had posted on.....I went to look for it and....not there. I haven't unpacked Ann yet! I must get on that! Andy is perfect for her! Andy is 12 inches of minty Raggedy! He's so cute, his is also made for the people by Applause, 2002.

And he must be a 80th birthday issue. Can you believe he is almost 90? Ann already is 90+, where does the time go.

You can't tell real well but he also has his cap. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

A Day Trip

Last Wednesday Madame and I took a trip to see Debbie and her mother-in-law, Gee Gee, (and almost Kathleen, we missed you!). Debbie is a blogger from Maine and we don't live that far from one another, as the crow flies is what they say. Anyway, we took photos but I apparently appear to not take to a camera all that well so you won't find all of us here, much to mine and our relief!
Debbie is a darling, she gave all of us gift bags tailored to our taste. Gee Gee is a riot, she has quite the sense of humor and captured the attention of many "innocent" bystanders (I think small children from a far too!) I must say though, what she captured was many positive comments to be proud of.
Anyway, we met at Cole Farms in Gray, most anyone from around here will know the place, they might even know this face. Our waitress is on the commercial for the popular restaurant, she and two other beautiful ladies give a good promo for the dining place. Well, it was Gee Gee who struck up the conversation, she asked our waitress if she was the one with the writings for the gazette. A local newspaper that allows blog writings. One thing led to another, Madame listening intently. Our waitress had been to Ethiopia and India traveling with Mother Teresa charitable group AND she has a twin!
How marvelous! She spent about 20 minutes talking with us, even a booth nearby sent their approximately 3 year old girl over to give Susan her tip for waiting on them. Well, she is also MISS MAINE, what a nice was to start the day, she has lived a lifetime already with participating in Miss America (all very beautiful). But Susan missed Maine all the while. She was kind enough to give all of us a photo with personal sayings handwritten to the receiver, Madame got one.

The rest of our visit was spent shopping, we hit some of the local discount places, Madame spending all my money along the way. Debbie and I have a lot of things in common, she has her own business ,(so had her MIL!) as do I. I think we all like to craft, Madame and Gee Gee love to paint. We all agreed we liked to yard sale, only hubbies don't care to partake. And 3 out of the 4 hate the four letter word D-I-E-T! I know I do.

The day ended just before suppertime, after hugs and goodbyes my husband called me right on the dot! Literally getting in the truck.

Funny how that happens. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Re-rooting

I started my Sayco doll, and....she will take awhile, let me tell you how I have to go about this.

I have read about two different hand methods to re-rooting a doll's hair, the first one entails removing the head and using a large sewing needle, sew through the holes to the inside of the head where you have a short tail of hair that comes out of the needle once you have made the stitch, come out the neck. Okay, I can't remove the head of my play pal, it has a insert neck joint and even if it didn't, I wouldn't want to remove it.

The second involves the other end of the needle, sellers on the Internet will talk you into a re-rooting tool and let me tell ya, wasting your moula! Basically it's a long needle with the eye cut off, leaving a "v" shaped notch. I have a bit of a rusty doll needle, so for me....the choice wasn't hard to re-purpose it. I used a awl on my doll because she is made of high quality plastic and will "mend" while poking with a smaller sized needle. You put hair in the notch of the needle, doubled size, use awl to reopen you hair hole, glue a dot and put hair, notch and needle through hole, up about 1/2 inch. When you pull the needle back, the hair will stay. It's time consuming and after a while I used rounded needle nose pliers to help insert the hair because it was rough on my hands. When I'm done re-rooting this doll I will cut my needle in half and put both parts in the empty spot of my awl. It will be easier to do a Barbie and I could use the notch in the awl itself.

I tried to post a photo of my Sayco doll with Auburn, she has been made with that color although rarer then brunette. Mine will be auburn and I'll go into more detail about the hair in a later post. The above photo is one row of bangs.
This photo is four rows.

Did I mention I'm keeping track of how many holes it will take?

Yep. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Wedding Wishes

My kids have a cousin getting married this weekend, she is my niece, a twin born to my older sister. My niece has spent a year planning her wedding and I'm sure it's glorious, wonderful and beautiful. We had hoped to attend but it wasn't in the stars. Here she is with my son Christmas of 1996 when she was just about half the age she's at now.

I remember all the nieces and nephews at our wedding but I specially remember what Liz did. At the age of 11 and very smart she was the designated sign maker for the back of the car. She may not remember that she wrote, "Just married" but forgot the "i". We took it off about 200 yards down the road, it worked out well because we removed the cans too. But I just wanted to say...... "BACK AT CHA, LIZ!" C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Pink Rose

It's pink Saturday again, it comes around so quick now-a-days, or maybe it's because I'm so busy. I find it harder and harder to be able to visit alot of the participants lately and I miss all the creative pinks that are posted. I wanted something springy for today's post, I guess maybe because spring is just starting for us up here in New England. So what better to have for photos today...but of roses. The first photo is a long stemmed, the prices for these have become unreachable for me and others. Wow!

These are not my roses but, someday I hope to have flowers as beautiful as these, mine are working on it.

Face on to a tea rose.

I love this Tiffany, I actually have a Tiffany that had on flower many years ago, I think it needs moving, my moss rose is over taking everything.

Isn't this tree rose gorgeous? And it's in a pot, oh to be so good at gardening!

My all time favorite, old fashioned Damask, mmmm. Can you smell it?

This one is a modern rose. Too me, it looks as if it was crossed with a Iris, how pretty.

And last but not least, hybrid tea. I've clipped a few in my garden, they can take up your whole hand!

Visit How Sweet The Sound for more pinks, and her glorious rose beds! C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,C&G Design.

Pen and Ink

I went thrifting last week and I found another unusual do-dad. First though about this lovely box was, "It is a cigar box stuffed with crafts." Well, I was surprised. It's a fancy pen and ink. Where is my calligraphy pen? What a nice set I'll have.

Both my pens have a reservoir for the ink. Both pens write soooo smoothly.

A nice find. C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,

C&G Design.

Playpal dolls, my next project

Every doll collector will tell you...they would do anything for a Patti Playpal doll, she was the first of many others, all just as well but PP is the best.
I found my Sayco at GW about 3 years ago, I paid....if memory serves me right $9.99. Even in her poor condition she is worth it, she also has no particular name. Here is a excellent photograph of her from the Internet, I have another clear picture on one of my other photo disc but I'm not real sure how to lift it. Trust me though, the original dress for this doll is red, always red. My doll in in mint condition, no holes, dents or scrapes.....other than her hair and eye lashes she would be perfect. Well, I've decided now is the time to re-root her hair, a tough job I've never done. We shall see how it goes.

Playpal dolls are 36 inches tall and wear a child's size three clothing. They are not to be confused with walker dolls of 32'' in size. The walkers are made of a lighter weight plastic, playpals are heavy.

My doll has the mirrored hands made to be held by the child who cherished this doll, playpals are often referred to as companion dolls.

She really is beautiful, she will also stand alone, a plus when buying vintage or antique dolls. The Sayco was made in the late 60's.

I know the clothing my doll is wearing is not original but I believe the shoes to be, someone has mended the left shoe at the curve of the toes and obviously I need to repair the buckle part.

Look at the bottoms of the sole! I feel so lucky to have these with her.

Usually it's the other way around with the clothes and shoe. C&G Design.

Happy Earth Day!

Words and photos by Dawn,

C&G Design.

Raggedy Progress

Oh, how I had hoped to have my floorcloth done by today, but since I don't, I'll give an update. For those of you, (my mom!) who guessed the theme of my first floorcloth would be Ann and Andy, you were right! I wasn't sure at the time what kind of Raggedies I would come up with, so here they are..... With the help of CC at Lace 'n Ribbon Roses, I managed to squeak out this cute set. CC has some vintage embroideries she posted on her blog, the Ann was one of them, I adapted the pattern to suit Andy.
I fear the reason it's taken me so long to finish this rug is because, it's very tedious to paint. Now, normally I like tediousness, BUT! Because this is canvas with a thick weave, one must glob paint on the brush to get a decent, solid, brushstroke. What happens when you glob too much on a brush? It tends to drip. I scared myself while painting the shoes, I almost had a drip splatter of black color in my border.
I would of cried! C&G Design
(Whew! No wonder they are so expensive!)


Words and photos by Dawn,

C&G Design.

Spring Sprouting

I love this time of year, everything is new, fresh and pretty. Here are a few things sprouting in my yard just yesterday.
New daylilies, beautiful two tone flowers. Yea! I was happy to see them growing back this year. Planted peonies last spring, hummm....white?

or is the other one white?

The last survivor of the Arbor Day trees, a redbud.

The goats rue sits dormant, doesn't it look like sumac?

My out of control forsythia.

It's so pretty close-up.

Another really strong peony, pink.

My mock orange has buds on it. Yea, again!

The bottle tree lives on.

A really nice clump of sedum.

A grouping of double, ruffled, orange day lilies.

The first year for ladies mantle.

And a first year for my two toned hosta.

My roses.....so full of buds and doing nicely considering the rocks that fall on them from year to year. I need to fix that wall this year, note to self.

Madame's salvaged daylilies are even sprouting while spending the winter planted in pots. She rescued them from her father.

I think my visitor appreciated all my sprouting.

Actually, he's waiting for me to plant the veggies so he can eat my seeds! C&G Design

Words and photos by Dawn,

C&G Design.