My First Handmade Rag Doll.

At the request of a friend, I am writing a little bit more about Alice, Peggy Sue's rag doll.

This little rag doll was given to Peggy Sue back in January 2013.  I found her in a box of sewing notions (possibly belonging to my husband's Grandmother, I can't quite remember) in pieces unfinished.  I gave her little fingers by sewing her hands and put her together, sewed her facial features and gave her hair.  I made her a pair of pantaloons, and she is wearing a dress I made for Tressy back in the nineties.  She is nine inches tall.

I guess you could say this was the very first rag/cloth doll I made.

A Really Hot Day

What a hot day we are having today - not that we are complaining here at all - just doing things in the shade and enjoying the weather.

Peggy Sue has decided that it would be a good idea to sit out in the garden and read some books.

Little Owen and Peggy Sue's little rag doll are already sitting on the seat waiting patiently.

Let's read Nancy Drew.  

Peggy Sue gets so involved in the story she ends up drifting off and staring into the distance...

Little Owen leans over the book to keep on reading while Peggy Sue imagines what it must be like to be a girl detective!

Music Making

There has been much music making happening this weekend.

Ruby has heard there will be a concert in the summer and has started to prepare her pieces in the hope she will get a chance to perform.

She seemed to be at the piano each day.

It is good to see her so passionate about her music.

Elsewhere in the cottage...

Peggy Sue was delighted to find Alice who had been 'missing' for a while.

She just loves her rag doll.

Where IS my parasol?

Esmeralda was searching frantically through the hat box.  Hats were being tossed here, there and everywhere.

Just what are you doing?  Divinia asks (having informed me last night that her name WASN'T Demelza as there was no way SHE was going to be named after a chicken even if Esmeralda was.

Oh I am looking for my parasol.  It must be somewhere.  I just have to have it, otherwise I just couldn't go out.

I really think you need to calm yourself down and not get so worked up.  You will only get into more of a muddle throwing things around like that.  It is rather undignified.

Undignified?!  Well what do you think going out without my parasol is going to be, if not Undignified?  Esmeralda exclaims.

Oh dear, Divinia sighs...Just calm yourself down and I will find it for you.

There you go my dear, here it is.  

Divinia hands Esmeralda her parasol.

Oh you are just super my dearest sister.  Esmeralda gives Divinia a big hug.

With her hat on and her parasol, things are just right for going for a stroll.

And for those who are interested,  the sisters each have a pair of black 'high heel' shoes on.

Esmeralda and Demelza

While out today I popped into a couple of charity shops and tucked into a box right at the back on the shelf amongst a variety of other toys and things were these two wonderful handmade dolls.  Well as soon as I saw them I realised the possibilities and they had to come home with me.  Of course that means I have to add at least another two to my 're-homing' box.  

Named after a couple of hens I had as a teenager....meet Esmeralda and Demelza!

So much detail has gone into making them.

I think they are going to be right characters...

Oh dear it looks like Esmeralda has lost her umbrella!