Mostly Dotee Dolls and Artist Trading Cards

Dotee Doll Swap

Have you heard of a Dotee Doll? I hadn't before I was invited to take part in a swap to make two!

A lady called Dot in Australia invented these little dolls to spread happiness around the world and they've really taken off. They are really just little stuffed bodies with a head, a hook to hang them from and a 'tail' of some sort hanging from the bottom. The body can be between 3 and 6" long I think. I really enjoyed making these, they're quite easy and basically apart from the rules above, you can do what you like! Anyway, here are my two:

Front


Back.



Her hair is made of feathers and she has a little hat on!

The back. I am posting these 2 dolls to a lady in Ireland from the http://milliande.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network A group of women artists and crafters of all sorts. It's a great site to belong to. The ATCs are also for a Milliande swap.

If you google Dotee Dolls there are lots of photos and a link to Dot's blog too.

ATC Swap

The challenge was to make at least 2 ATCs as Christmas Ornaments to hang on a tree. I made 6 so I get a few different ones back for my tree. I made mine double sided too:


That's all 6, both sides! I think they'll look ok on a tree and have lots of sparkle to catch the light.

They are being posted to Canada to the lady who is organising the swap.

Other News

Jim and I have been laying vinyl wood look tiles on the snug floor. It had a terrible old carpet in there which I hated. It's almost done. We did have some trouble trying to stick the tiles down but seem to have got the hang of it now. We have to paint the ceiling and walls now then it's finished. Oh, and buy a large rug for the centre of the room. Photos when it's done.

Nothing much else to report. I'm off to Suffolk, UK again next week for a few days. Jack and Kitty here I come.....

Walk through Dillons' Wood to Lough Graney, County Clare

Jim's photo of Autumn leaves.

Hi everyone. Jim and I were at a loss what to do yesterday as it rained and we were hoping to finish the poly tunnel we are making. I did some crafting and Jim did bits and bobs. The rain cleared for a while so we decided to risk it and go for a walk. Can't do with being inside all day.

Buster had gone off with his friend Max - so it was just us! The cats were happy in my office:


BlackJack sitting in some of my wool.

Sandy had to take the chair!

Oh look - you can see Hannah on my desk.

Along the lane the lake is on our right:


It looked fine enough. We reached the wood and enjoyed seeing some fungi and lots of lush green moss, plus an abundance of lichen. The wood had a real 'carpet of leaves' on the ground.


Jim in Dillons' wood.

It was about here that we felt the odd spot of rain - well, heard it really. Ah well, 'we're not made of paper' we quipped.

We passed several animal 'holes', one of which I'm sure was a badger's home. This I haven't seen before though. A slug nest?


If you enlarge it you can see a slug crawling about.


We disturbed the ducks by the lake. There was much quacking and flapping! Look how misty is was - the photo is almost in black and white.


I spotted this white feather in the shallows. It looked so pretty with the mist settled on it.

Flagmount was disappearing under the rain cloud which was heading our way!


Luckily we had hats and coats so wrapped up well. Gosh, it did rain!

Jim took some photos of some fishermen in the lake! Rather them than me:


He found a feather and put it in his hat! You can just see it.

Flagmount half gone:



It was very slippery round by the rocks. The grasses looked lovely as ever.

Luckily, the rain soon passed over us. What a difference:



Some pretty lichen, moss and fallen oak leaves.

We walked up to the road and back through the wood - the road cuts right through it.


On the path up to the road there are 2 of these amazing oak trees. They have massive leaves and as you can see, their colour is stunningly vibrant.


Here is one of the fallen leaves, glistening from the rain.

We passed some really weird fungi too. I've never seen any like it before:



From above, it looks like something from Doctor Who!

Mr Anonymous (aka Jim) has just sent me this:

I found the fungus. It's Helvella crispa, also known as the white saddle, elfin saddle or common helvel. It lives in damp woodland especially alongside beech and by footpaths - which is pretty well where we saw it to a T. As to edibility the books say it was considered edible but is now regarded with suspicion. I think that means you didn't ought to eat it. JimX

The sun was shining on Lough Graney again:


I laughed at these cows waiting to be milked. 'Beware of the bull'!!


But a bit further along, there he was:


I wouldn't want to argue with him!

Back home and it was a complete change of clothes for me. The bottoms of my trousers were soaked and I'd also got very hot inside my coat and hat. We were both glad we'd made the effort though.

Here's a little bit of silly video that Jim took of me!



I had not idea that Jim was videoing me! I thought he was just taking a photo. Not very flattering but mildly amusing!

A Misty Morning in Doorus, County Clare

The header photo was one I took this morning. I awoke early and saw the sun was just peeping through the mist, so decided to get dressed and go straight outside, camera in hand of course. This is the view from my studio:


One day we'll get all our piles of stone moved!

Round in the front garden, the sun was just shining on our ornamental grass:


I went through the gates:


Which were covered in webs, and looked out over to Lough Graney - which was shrouded in mist too:


It's over there somewhere!

Round to the back garden and the dahlias look as though they've been tied up:


The sun was just starting to creep onto the lawn:


There were cobwebs everywhere, it was like a magical kingdom:


Can you see them all on the meadow?


A cobweb cat's cradle.


And a cobweb cocoon.


Followed by a cobweb chorus. The alliteration is purely coincidental.


Flagmount had disappeared - no, I can just see the very top of the hill.


I almost trod on this beautifully frosted dandelion clock.


On the hillside opposite, the mist was clearing just a little. In the foreground you can see the gorse is dressed entirely in cobwebs.


On the ground, the sun was melting the frost on the grass and cobwebs. Please click on this photo to enlarge it - it's lovely close up.


Here is a closer look at the gorse. There must be hundreds of webs on there!

Back near the house, the holly looked striking with its dark green leaves, red berries and cobweb:


Outside the sleeping shed, the red dogwood leaves look stunning:


That is an old plough in front of it - hidden by long grass and a pair of my old wellingtons, once red but now faded to almost white.

The cold nights and sunny days have turned the leaves red on the liquidamber too:


Phew, I took over 100 photos, so it was hard to whittle them down to these. I hope you have enjoyed my early morning garden tour. I came back with very wet feet (I'd headed off in my slippers) and trousers!

We went out tonight - I'll tell you about that next time..

Rag Doll

Rag Doll

I've finished the rag doll I've been making as a present for someone (secret)! I think I'm in love with her! She's called Hannah and here she is:


Well that's her top half!

Look at her big feet!


I used a pattern and just adapted it a little. I mostly used recycled material too. The hat and scarf are from a sweatshirt of mine, the boots from some material I had in my stash, plus the dress. I had to sew a couple of bits together for that so it has an extra seam! I seem to have had the red gingham for ages. Now I'm embarking on another one!

She's sitting resting against my computer screen and every time I look at her it makes me smile!

Garden

I'm still busy in the garden. I'm currently weeding all the 'hard standing' areas then covering them with gravel. It's a slow job but the parts I've done look so much better. We still have loads of flowers in bloom, although things are beginning to look a bit tatty. Tonight I had a bonfire too, which was great fun.

The nights are drawing in, which I don't like much, but at least we're warm and dry inside now.

TV

Jim and I have been watching a good deal of the Commonwealth Games. We're really enjoying them and in spite of all the bad press, Delhi seem to have done a fine job.

Cold

I have had a real stinker of a cold. (Thank you Kitty)! I started with a sore throat last Saturday, went through all the usual stages and I still have a runny nose and the sort throat is back because I keep coughing so much. It is a bit better today though.

Diet

I've decided to try and lose the weight I've put on in the last couple of years. It's Jim's cooking! I started on Monday so we'll see what this Monday brings. I have about a stone to lose, so not too bad.

I think that's about all I have to mention. The cats are fine and Buster.... well, is Buster! He still goes off and plays with Max and has only had one whole night away for quite a while.

Love to everyone.

Please continue your healing thoughts/wishes/prayers for Mildred and John, a dear blogging friend and her husband.