September 2022 - KDF Online Showcase Exclusives

KDF Online Show - Special Offer

***For the duration of the show (1st Sept - 8th Sept) all website orders of £50 or more (not including shipping) will receive a free pack of my two new Alice in Wonderland book kits (see below).

You can visit my website HERE  (site will open in a new window)

***

When I booked to participate in the online showcase, the intervening months yawned in front of me with a frankly irresponsible invitation to prevaricate and procrastinate.  However, I firmly determined to get all my ducks in a row and back in July I got well ahead of the posse by designing a new pullalong toy kit, based on our much loved Small Dog. 

Yorkie pullalong toy plus bonus kits

After that I must admit I sat on my laurels, waiting for inspiration to strike.  And while I was awaiting inspiration, I went rooting through my cupboards and found a few theatre cart kits from years ago which I didn't even realise I had.  

Which resulted in these......

One of my favourite ever creations.... a travelling toy cart pulled by a remarkably amenable wolf.  Although.... you can never be too careful with wolves, so he wears a little bell round his neck.  Not sure how helpful that would be if he went rogue but every little helps.

He pulls a brightly decorated wooden cart, which opens to reveal a little theatre inside.

The theatre has interchangeable scenery and double-sided characters, which are cleverly magnetised so they can be placed inside without falling over. There is even a 'transformation scene' where the poorly grandmother, languishing in her bed, can be flipped to reveal the dastardly wolf, wearing her lacy cap.  Needless to say, the woodcutter can step in to save the day, although not, obviously the wolf.

On second thoughts, if the wolf pulling the cart ever gets wind of the final act,  the bell round his neck might be completely ineffective.

For the other theatre cart I went completely down the rabbit hole.....

Dodos are rather more sedate creatures, and this one was persuaded to don a frankly ridiculous feathered headdress, which he felt added to his dignified stance.

My Alice-themed theatre cart features the entire cast of characters from both books, as well as several backdrops and free-standing scenery.  

There is a total of 12 backdrop/scenery pieces and 20 different double-sided characters which are also magnetised so that they can't fall over.   

It also includes my newest pull-out Alice books, which are also available as a kit.

***This kit is free with orders of £50
or more during the online showcase.

Still on the Alice theme....

Alice doll trunk with Humpty Dumpty

Musical Alice Set

There are also several new mignonette toy dolls in all the colours of the rainbow....

I've also made another of my miniature musical mignonette automatons with a different selection of classical piano music....

There's much more, available now on the website, including

• An amazing bumper pack of never to be repeated fairy tale-themed kits.
• A new range of Rainbow Mignonette toy dolls
• A new toy doll kit
• Clearance 1/12th doll kits
• Book Saver Bundle
• Ready to Dress Micro dolls and related supplies
• Rare, discontinued hairstripe silks

As ever, any questions, just contact me and I'll do my best to help. 😊

Small Dog revisited.....

It's been almost 18 months since we lost our much-loved little Lucy, known to her legions of fans the world over, as Small Dog.  Not a day passes without my thinking of her, and I miss her terribly.

One of the many, many things I especially miss is our 'konversashuns' here on my blog. I still hear her unmistakably unique voice in my head when I write about this or that.  She had opinions on just about everything, from politics to squirrels, and was refreshingly forthright about expressing them.

I've had in mind to make a homage to her, in miniature toy form, and to that end, during the summer of last year, purchased a number of mini Yorkshier Terrrior dogs, intending to make a little pullalong toy and accompanying kit, to celebrate her inimitable joie de vivre.  Since then, what with one thing and another, I just haven't had the head space to make a start.... there's been a definite limit to the level of sadness I can bear.   However, with things now looking up, and having booked to do the KDF Online Showcase scheduled for early September, I've decided to crack on.  They are currently lined up on my table in the workroom, as I set about working out what I'm going to do with them.  Inevitably, I just can't keep SD out of my head.....

Scene: Sandra's workroom.  Her table is awash with all the paraphernalia involved in creating a new miniature toy kit,  including a phalanx of remarkably patient Yorkies, standing uncharacteristically still.

Small Dog materialises from a puff of smoke, and settles comfortably on my lap.

SD: *curiously* Helo mumm.  Whot ar yue doen?

Me: *tearfully* Oh hello.... so lovely to see you.

SD: *gently resting her cold wet nose on the back of my hand*  Ai am orlwais with yue... yue kno thatt.

Me: *sniffing* Well yes, I do know.  *pulling myself together*  So.... I'm making a new toy kit, based on you.

SD: *surveys the assembled little dogs*  Hmmm.... ai suppoas thai do luke a bitt liek me.  Knot neerlie so gorjus thoe.  

Me: *shrugs* Well no.  Of course not.  But they are most definitely Yorkshier Terriors.  I'm just trying to work out how to decorate them.

SD: *suspiciously* Dekorait them? Whott....with kloaths?

Me: *carefully* Well..no... not clothes exactly... I'm thinking more of a little sparkly, decorated saddle and maybe a jewelled, feathered headdress.

SD: *raised eyebrows*

Me: *eyes downcast*

SD: *scathingly* A SPARKLIE SADEL?  

Me: *quickly* It's a little pullalong toy SD.  I want it to look quirky and special and...

SD: *interrupting* A FETHERD HEDRESS?  With JOOLS?

Me: *placatingly* It will look lovely.  Just wait and see. 

SD: *witheringly* Speshul?..... ai am, off korse, VERI speshul, VERI rair.  Yue cude evin sai yewneek.

Me: *encouragingly* Yes.... you are.  And you always did enjoy a bit of dressing up, didn't you.

SD: *grudgingly* Hmmmph.... sumtyms.  Nevur with a sadel tho.  Yoor knott plannen to add a harnis and rains ar yue?  Thatt wude be a stepp two far. 

Me: *reassuringly* A harness and reins?  Oh no.  Definitely not.  Just the little saddle.  And the headress.  Maybe a little collar?

SD: *warily* ok.  a kollar.  Thatts fyne. 

Me: *warming to my theme*  And a decorated wooden platform on painted metal wheels, and a wooden pull handle on a silken cord.

SD: *mischieviously*  So thay kude do wheeelys!  And rais eech uther.  

Me: * warningly* Probably better not to put ideas into their heads SD....

SD: *continuing*.... liek chareeott raises.  Or obstickle korsis, with slallomz.

Me: *faintly* You're getting a bit carried away now.  Anyway, I'm also going to include two little book kits, which I've just finished designing, based on you.

SD: *sagely*  Ah, yes.  Ai eckspekt wun will bea a knottowbyograffie. 

Me: *carefully*  Hmmm.... not exactly.  They're little vintage picture books for children.... published in the 19th century.  One is called Doggy Doings and features a terrier chasing a cat, and the other is.......

SD: *expectantly*  Yess.  Go onn.....

Me: *falteringly* Well..... it's a bit of a joke I suppose.  I mean you were obsessed with them.

SD: *narrowed eyes* 

Me: *unwillingly* Erm... it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I'm not so sure.  It's called....  Frisky The Squirrel.

SD: *incredulously*  Frisckie. The. SKWIRRUL?!?!?  Hav yue lost yore acktewl mined?  FRISCKIE the SWIRRUL????  Wurds fale me.

Me: *crestfallen* It was just a bit of fun SD.  You were always chasing them and barking through the window at them.  Every day.

SD: *imperiously*  Thai yewst to maik faises att me thrue the windoe.  Thai wer mai nemesuss.   Eniwai, ai kude eesilie hav kott wun .... ai wosent reely tryen.

Me: *smiling* Yes of course you could.  You just enjoyed the sport didn't you.

SD: *mollified* Absewlootlie.  Rite....aim goen to hav a napp now.  Ai luke fourwurd to seein mai poolalong toi when itts phinishd.

Scene: The room is empty again.  It feels so much emptier than before.  Sandra gazes at the spot on her lap and a single tear lands on the back of her hand, where Small Dog always placed her cold, wet, nose....

*sneek prevue*

Project planning - Part 5

 So.

As all of my projects are wont to do, my patio makeover went right to the wire.  Ok, it's not absolutely 100% complete, but I'm claiming the win.

In April, having cleared the area, it looked like this.....

The first weekend PP was in hospital, my stepson and stepson-in-law came to put the gazebo together....

I wanted a focal point on the bare brick wall at the back, so I bought a piece of wooden trellis and attached tiles of faux greenery to it to create an exotic foliage screen....

With the foliage panel in place, it was time to replace the seating.  I tried a different configuration to provide a length of seating where PP could lie down if she wanted a nap.  The outdoor rug fills the floorspace perfectly.

In the cancer world, neuroendocrine tumors are the zebras because of their rarity and the NET cancer community has adopted the zebra as their 'mascot'.... so I just had to have one.  I made her rather fetching floral headdress and positioned her to emerge from the foliage.

Each summer I ring the changes with a different trompe l'oeil shower curtain on the fence at the back of the patio.  This year I've chosen an oval opening in a wooden fence leading onto a path with trees beyond.   I'll be adding more foliage around the panel to blur the edges between it and the existing fence.  

Colourful throws and cushions create a welcoming space to curl up with a book or a glass of something chilled.  Those square mandala cushions are the ones which took me an age to make but I'm so pleased with how they turned out.

I fixed a string of hundreds of LED lights all around the inside of the roof and along the rafters and made a floral garland to decorate the front.

Of course it's not completely finished.  I'm still making some curtains from waterproof fabric for the sides, as well as a little water feature and some hanging beaded lantern holders which will be fixed along the back edge over the seating area, but overall I'm really pleased with how it's turned out so far.  Let's hope we get some lovely summer weather in the months ahead to be able to enjoy it! 

Project planning - Part 4

So.

Here we are, mere days away from the start of meteorological summer, and the new gazebo still isn't quite finished.  Not, as would usually be the case, due to any procrastination on my part, but because I've been 100% focussed on PP's post-surgical recovery, which is progressing well, if slowly.

No.... the delay has been due to having to completely re-think the roof, which has proved sadly lacking in the 'rain protection' stakes.  I had originally ordered a clear tarp, which was expertly lashed to the top by my garden rescue team, who assembled the gazebo.  However, after a few days of rain, water was pooling on the tarp and stretching it, creating deep puddles which I had to poke up from underneath, soaking everything within a 2m radius.

Back to the drawing board.

Lots of solutions presented themselves, mostly of the 'HOW MUCH?!?!?' variety.  PP had initially suggested using corrugated PVC for the roof, which I immediately shot down in flames as I loathe it, but as I trawled despondently through the various options, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that it might be the best, most cost-effective, easiest to fit option, as the corrugations would direct rainwater in one direction only, and water wouldn't run off the sides.   Fortunately, a kind family member was able to fit it in a few hours, rendering the new gazebo roof watertight.

Since then I've gradually added twinkling lights, and made a rather lovely floral garland to festoon along the front.  It just remains to finish off the seat cushions and work out the best configuration of throws and scatter cushions, then add the little finishing touches.  

I've set a tentative completion date of 1st June so we'll see how that goes.  Photos of the transformation will then be revealed.

*fingers firmly crossed*

Post-surgery.....

Back in early April, I wrote that we were awaiting a phone call from King's College Hospital in London with the date for PP's surgery to remove her pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour.

Six weeks on, she's undergone surgery and has been home for 9 days now.  Unfortunately, the tumour was found to have grown from the head/neck of the pancreas, into the body, and the tail was badly atrophied and unviable, so the decision was made to proceed to a total pancreatectomy and splenectomy, which was our least favoured option, due to the life-changing implications.

Fortunately, the surgery went well, and after 24 hours in the high dependency unit, she was  transferred to a surgical ward, with tubes, wires and drains sprouting from every available orifice plus several more which the surgeons had created.  The following 9 days she spent in hospital were definitely a challenge, mainly due to the immediate onset of type 3c diabetes which is notoriously difficult to control, but gradually all the medical gubbins was removed and she was then able to move around, taking short walks down the ward corridor and back.

Since she's been home (accompanied by a mini mountain of meds and equipment)  we've been in a daily whirlwind of blood tests, injections and the raft of medications she now needs.     Such a major surgery was always going to be challenging but we didn't realise quite how all consuming the aftermath would be.   We've yet to have an entire 'good day', although we can sometimes go  a few hours without a minor panic.  These mostly revolve around the management of her diabetes, which follows no rhyme or reason.  The hospital diabetic team couldn't get on top of it either, which I find slightly reassuring, and they are in regular contact to check her blood glucose levels and tweak her insulin.  

So, she's now adjusting to life without four of her abdominal organs while her body sets about repairing the extensive internal damage.  Externally, she has an impressive 18 inch scar right across her tummy from one side to the other.  Even more impressive is the skill involved in the stitches..... as someone who likes to think of herself as a skilled needlewoman I can certainly appreciate the handiwork displayed.

Other than our constant skirmishes with her diabetes, she's having to have daily anticoagulant injections which I dread giving her as apparently they sting like blazes.  She's also now on twice daily antibiotics, due the removal of her spleen, and will require regular vaccinations to make up for the lack of its infection fighting role.  Her digestive system has also taken a substantial hit and small, frequent, easily digestible meals/snacks are the order of the day.

We're cautiously optimistic that she will soon be able to step gingerly into my little car, for a jaunt down to the seafront for a bit of sea air and a short walk with frequent rest stops. 

While we try to adjust to our new lifestyle, I'm trying to find little pockets of time when I have a bit of spare energy, to work on my garden project.   I had hoped it would be completed by now, but for the past month I've been otherwise occupied.  However, by the end of May, it should be ready for use as a quirky outdoor rest and recuperation area.

*fingers crossed*

Project planning - Part 3

Today I set about preparing my fabrics for the new gazebo seating cushions.  I've had the main fabric for a while.... a lovely mandala print in rich jewel colours.  I'd decided to make the cushion backs from plain cotton fabric, picking out two colours from the main fabric.  

So far, so straightforward.

I'm a homemade cushion veteran of many years, but I've always opted for simple openings.... envelope, buttons, snap poppers or velcro.  For some reason I've never tackled zipped cushion covers.  They just seemed like a bit of faff and unwarranted extra expense.  

Similarly I've never made piped cushions before either, for much the same reason.  However in order to do the lovely fabric justice, I decided to have a go at making 4 piped, zipped cushion covers.

How hard could it be?

HAH!

Extensive Googling for "easy to sew zipped, piped cushion covers" revealed a plethora of video tutorials, all vying to be the easiest method EVER.  Naturally I didn't fall for their blatantly ludicrous claims and after some considerable time, selected one that I could actually understand.

I did briefly consider making my own piping, but sanity prevailed, so I cheated and bought some ready made, in two different colours to match the plain cotton backs.

Having cut out the front and back pieces, I then set about stitching the piping onto the fronts, facing in toward the centre as instructed.

Easy peasy!  Couldn't understand why on earth I'd never done this before.

Next, the zip.  I watched and re-watched my chosen video and each time I was sure that I knew what to do, but somehow, between my laptop in the office and my sewing machine in the workroom, a mere 10 steps away,  I got fuddled and ended up having several abortive attempts.  No matter how I pinned or basted I just couldn't get it right.   I think the piping was confusing me.

Eventually, after more hours than I care to admit, I finally managed to correctly pin one zip onto one cushion cover, ready to sew.  

Then the next conundrum.  How to set and use my sewing machine zipper foot.  It was the piping/zip debacle all over again.  No matter what side I attached to the machine, it was always wrong.  By then, my temper was most definitely frayed to a hairsbreadth, but I was doggedly determined to finish just one damn cushion cover or perish in the attempt.

After several false starts, including having to unpick stitches in the wrong place after having stitched on the wrong side of the sodding piping I finally had the zip inserted. 

Stitching the remaining seams on the CORRECT side of the *&@%ing piping was eventually achieved and it was finally time to turn the cover right side out and admire the results of several hours labour.

Except.

Buggrit.

I couldn't undo the closed zip which was, of course, inside the cover, so I couldn't get to the zip pull.  

By this point, I was ready to throw the whole lot out the window and run amok through the house wailing like a banshee. 

No amount of trying to wiggle the zip from outside was successful and I couldn't bear to undo any more stitches so in the end, through gritted teeth, I managed to grip the zip pull through the fabric and millimetre by millimetre move it slowly along until finally I could get my finger inside to grab it.

Of course all of the above had left my pristine fabric looking as though it had been dragged through a hedge backwards so I had to steam iron the cover to within an inch of its life to get all the creases and unpicked stitch holes out.

So.  

One. Whole. Day.

A WHOLE day to make ONE cushion cover.  

 

Project planning - Part 2

A few weeks ago we had a spell of lovely warm, springlike weather, which enabled me to make a start on jet-washing the patio in preparation for my patio project.  

Jet washing is one of those jobs which is fun for the first 30 minutes but rapidly becomes a chore.  It's wet, dirty, messy work. 

The main patio area is paved with flagstones, which over the winter rarely get direct sunlight, and as a result they become black with mould/algae and dirt.  The area is bigger than it looks and I had to spread the cleaning over 5 days, tackling it in 30 minute stints.  It doesn't help that the water run-off goes into a gully round the edge, which should soak away, but takes hours and hours to do so.  As a result, once the gully is full I have to stop anyway.

The only edifying thing is that you can definitely see where you've been...

I did however have some welcome company in the shape of the little robin who frequents our garden and is becoming incredibly tame due to being fed delicious tidbits every day.  Here he is having his picnic mere feet away from me on the wrapped-up gazebo.

Inevitably though, the weather turned and winter has returned with a vengeance.  We had rain, hail and snow all in one day last week, so the remaining areas of paving and the steps have been put on hold.

I do however have lots of things to make for the intended makeover so I've been preparing fabrics for the cushions and drapes.  I'm undecided about whether to make any bunting from the leftover cushion fabrics.... my outdoor bunting last year ended up shredded by wind and rain and I don't want to subject my lovely new fabrics to the elements.  However, as the new gazebo will be covered, I suppose I could make a string of bunting for the most protected area at the back.

Today I'm clearing off the table in my workroom in order to set up my sewing machine and get started, so work should start later today.

I'm also making the decor, including a small water feature and a rather special lampshade.

The theme last year was Mediterranean.... think lemons and olives for a gin-inspired setting.  This year I'm going for a more exotic Moroccan/Bohemian vibe, with layers of jewel coloured throws and cushions.

Here are a few images from my inspiration mood board.....

The gazebo is just 2.4 metres square so there's not a lot of space to play with, but I have loads of ideas for how to achieve a really lush, exotic, opulent look.

Let's just hope I can successfully pull it off......