Shabby Charlottes

I am really enjoying making these little dolls.  (I know, I have said that already.)   I love feedback from my family and I posted earlier that they have given me all sorts of ideas . . . so I think I am going to have to keep making them and maybe try selling them.  I usually don't like making items to sell - I would much rather give the things I make as gifts and I tend to not like making a whole lot of one thing.  But I don't want to stop making these.  And each one is a little different.   The kids suggested I come up with a name for my them . . . so they will be my Shabby Charlotte dolls . . . (in honor of my new granddaughter) 

I finished this little sweetie last night. 

She couldn't just keep sitting around in her slip for Halloween now could she?  I do think she needs some beads . . . so I'm going to string some pink beads to put on her tonight.

Do you ever get making something . . . and the ideas just keep coming?  I think I woke up in the middle of the night thinking about Shabby Charlotte ideas.   : ) 

playing with dolls . . .

I had a great weekend . . . luckily I had an extra day off, so I had time to work on my dolls.  When I made the first one of these - I put on the little skirt and picked her up.  They are sort of plain little doll bodies and it seemed like she needed something underneath the skirt . . . so ever since they get underclothes before they get dressed.

Some underclothes are a little shabbier than others.  : )

This one has to be my favorite so far.  I hope to finish dressing her tomorrow.  I am thinking that she may need some bling.

I did get this little vampire finished tonight.  I haven't given her a name yet . . .I have to think about that for awhile.  I had hoped to have them all done by now, but it looks like I play with dolls again tomorrow night.  Actually I think I am going to make up a bunch of these - even after Halloween . . . Luke, Abbie, and Richard have given me good ideas for some more.

For now they sit and wait . . . .

My rock monster can keep them company.

October fun

We had pumpkin carving night this weekend - which included a big pot of chili, a backyard fire, and s'mores.  We had a great time and I love how all of the Jack-O-Lanterns turned out! 

Lily did not like digging out the insides of the pumpkins.  We did get her finally to use the scraper once the seeds were taken out, but she pretty much made up her mind that she did not like this slimy stuff and was not going to touch it. 

She did like making rock monsters . . . I love watching her little hands at work!  I had lots of different colors of paint for her to choose from . . . she wanted to paint both of her rocks black.

They seem to be happy monsters!

And this seems to be one happy little guy!

Owen wasn't able to join us the night we carved pumpkins.  I had hoped to get a picture of all three of the little ones wearing their candy corn beanies.   Owens dad is a San Francisco Giants fan, so I crocheted his using black instead of yellow.  Thanks Ashley for sending me this picture of him wearing his beanie.  GO GIANTS!

And in all of the confusion I didn't get a good picture of Lily and Charlotte with their beanies on . . . we couldn't seem to catch Charlotte when she was awake.

 

I also crocheted a little this weekend . . . another beanie modeled by a skeleton of course (it's October - so that makes complete sense) and a little stuffed pumpkin. 

Try not to worry . . .

I noticed this sitting on the desk of one of my coworkers this morning.  Simply put . . . very good advice.

doll faces . . .

 

We were supposed to carve pumpkins last night - but we decided to wait until Saturday . . . that just seemed to work out better for everyone.  I ended up babysitting both Lily and Charlotte for a couple out hours though - which was wonderful.  I did get a couple more doll faces done . . . but that's about it.  I thought my time was better spent with these two little doll faces!

Decorations and Dolls

I had almost forgotten this little FRIGHT garland I had.  There is just something about Halloween decorations that I like - just can't get enough of them - don't know exactly why . . . the colors, the time of year, the silliness of a little black tree with ghosts and Jack O"Lantern ornaments . . .

. . . glittery spiders!!! 

I only got two of my doll faces on last night . . . but it's a start.  I love embroidering the faces and giving them their own little doll personalities.  I am looking forward to working on them again tonight.  Although we are carving pumpkins tonight - I may have to stay up late to work on my dolls.

Charlotte tried her beanie on for me.  : )  This just makes me smile . . . She just makes me smile!

A baby is a little bit of heaven on earth.

dolls and beanies

My doll bodies are stained and ready to go.  I love staining fabric with coffee . . . each one is sort of unique and I love the smell once they dry.  I just brushed strong coffee on these with a paint brush and put them in the oven at 250 for about 7 minutes to dry them.  Strange looking little doll bodies - don't you think?  So tonight - I am hoping to give them faces.

I crocheted this candy corn beanie for Charlotte last night.  (while I was watching the Cardinals get their butts kicked by the Giants) . . . not a fun game for the St. Louis fanatic who I happen to be married to.  He took it pretty well . . . I think he was happy when the game was over. 

I started another beanie for Owen . . . hopefully will get that done on my lunch break today.  I may have to make one for Lily too - just so I can get a picture of all three of them wearing them.  Next crochet project . . . more beanies for Charlotte.  Our weather has finally changed and I think she has already outgrown some of the little ones that she has. 

Last week I was frustrated because I wasn't making time to do the things I like do . . . feeling much better about that this week.  (I still wish I could somehow get a few more hours added to every day.)

Sunday Smiles

I had some fun with Lily and photo props this week.

She really is a ham when it comes to having her picture taken.

I think she really has the hang of these things . . . I love seeing her smile!

I found this cotton yarn in bag of yarn that I went through last week.  I crocheted a beanie this afternoon and still have a lot of it left.  I remember crocheting some flower shaped wash clothes a few years back - I think I may have to use some of this up making some more.  While I'm thinking about it I can't remember what ever happened to those little cotton wash cloths.  I don't remember giving them to anyone . . . but I can't seem to remember if I still have them either.  (I hate when I do that)  They are pink . . . and would be perfect for Charlotte's bath time.  I will have to look and see if I can find them this week.

Just a simple little beanie . . . some crochet therapy on a Sunday afternoon.  It was sort of a lazy Sunday.  We were up late last night.  Jake, Kasey, and I were sitting around the table talking sometime around midnight and felt the earth shake.  I haven't felt an earthquake in years.  It measured 5.3 and was centered about 300 miles from where we live . . .

 A two hour nap this afternoon . . . means I am up and awake later than usual tonight.  So I stuffed these little dolls that I want to finish this week.  Tomorrow I will stain them with coffee - then the fun part . . . hair, faces, and clothes.  So even though it was a lazy Sunday . . . I did find the time to do what I like to do.  Five o'clock is going to come awful early in the morning.  I better get some sleep.

Daily Halloween Doodles . . .

My calendar is getting lots of attention this month.

Doodle, doodle, doodle . . . oodles of Halloween doodles!

Frankendoodles . . .

Boo-doodles . . .

EEK!  Daily Halloween Doodles!

 

Thank heaven for little girls . . .

Miss Charlotte . . . getting bigger and changing every day.

 . . . and Lily with her Princess Leah hair.  By the end of the day her hair had loosened up enough that her pigtails (or whatever they would be called), hung more down by her ears - giving her more of a Princess Leah look . . . I just had to smile every time I looked at her in her pink Jedi shirt. 

I am finding out that little girls are truly amazing things . . .

I am not all that happy with my art journal pages . . . but I am keeping at it and hopefully will get better at this and eventually like the pages when they are finished.  I told myself I was going to post them whether I liked them or not . . . actually, I do sort of like the right side. 

My weekend went way too fast.  Weekends have a way of doing that.  I have been struggling with time lately . . . rather, struggling with finding enough time to do the things that I want to do.  This is always sort of an issue with me.  I can find the balance between doing the things I want to do and the things I need to do . . . and then I lose that balance and get frustrated.  So this week - I am going to focus a little more on what I want to do.  I have dolls I want to finish, beanies I want to crochet for Lily and Charlotte, and recipes I want to try . . . let's see what happens.

Halloween at Work

My friend and co-worker is probably the only person who get to work before I do each morning.  The last week or so - she has tried to get into the office before I get to work and turn on the lighted decorations.  Since it is dark when I get to work - it is fun to get to work and see the orange glow from the door . . .

 . . . and this smiling Jack O'Lantern wishing me a good morning.

Another co-worker sent me this little solar bobble head.  He dances when the light shines on him.  I guess people know how much I like this holiday. 

'tis near Halloween

My Halloween decorations even made it into the bedroom this year . . . all because of this cute pillow I couldn't walk past at Target.  I am thinking I need to make some Halloween pillows - but had to buy this one because I may not find the time to make one. 

So a cute pumpkin garland . . . and changing things out on the shelf - and Halloween is all through the house.  I think I need to move those scarves and replace them with some that match . . . I honestly own way too many scarves - it shouldn't be a problem.  Wait . . . it actually may not be possible to own too many scarves . . . right? 

 

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.
                                ~Author Unknown