Hello to you all….hope your August has got off to a good start.  The weather here, has been a little changeable….a mixed bag, so to speak.  One minute, pretty blue skies with fluffy white clouds darting across it….the next, a cloudburst.  Doesn’t really seem to know what it is up to.  It’s school holidays…..what do we expect!

I have been having a little bit of fun with hair.  After I realised the pure joy that could be had with Teeswater wool locks, I really couldn’t stop.  Ida was my first, the little natural blonde, was so cute, and her hair so very tactile, I could resist trying something a bit different.  The glorious pink locks for Jolie came next….

I was really pleased with the way she turned out.  Full of colour, her arms and upper body, was made with self striping wool, and her tights a lilac.  The cute little dress shows off the benefits of gradient dyed 4 ply, with its soft change of tone from pink to mauve.  I can get 4 dresses from one ball of yarn, and each one looks totally different.

As you know I like to make dolls in very small batches, and no two are ever the same. The blue eyed, pink haired Jolie, was soon joined by a cute little friend, who I decided to name Louisa….

Similar to Jolie, she has blue eyes, and a tousled main of curls, created from the marvellous Teeswater again…..but this little one has deep teals, blues and greens for locks.  It reminded me of a storybook from my childhood, where a little girl enters an enchanted forest, and makes friends with the fairy folk that live there.

I have to say, this would be a fantastic colour for a mermaid…..so obviously, that will have to be done at some point….though I have a sort of plan…which is quite exciting.  will ask you what you think about that shortly.

Anyway, Louisa, with her funny hair, and pretty dress made of wonderful Koigu yarn, has also been lucky enough to find a new home.

I love these little Fuzzpotlings.  The joy of putting the colours together, creating everything from the raw materials, to seeing them all dressed up and ready to go, cannot be underestimated, and I am very grateful to everyone for the encouragement I receive.

Now,  I am going to show you a sneak peak of my workbench today…..you may spot those wretched Willow Squares, from quite some time ago….I will be finishing this blanket….I will….I will….I will…..I promise ( maybe for Autumn)

Now on my workbench today, is something of a plan in its infancy.  Inspired by the wonderful world of Tilda, a craft brand founded by Norwegian designer Tone Finnanger in 1999, it is best known for  whimsical and naive characters in the form of animals and dolls, that have a super Norwegian style. I have long been a fan of Tilda, and have quite a collection of books and patterns.  There is a certain attitude to life in Tilda’s world, whimsical and romantic, like a ball gown worn with wellies – perfectly imperfect….just the ticket!

I wanted to create something special, and a little unique for this coming festive season, and perhaps give my little world in a suitcase a Christmas twist!  Keeping to my own style, but with a nod to the lovely world of Tilda,  I am in the process of making a limited number of cloth suitcase dolls, that will bring a touch of Norway to the rolling hills of South Gloucestershire!

I have so much more to tell you about this plan, but it is still very much in its early phase.  What I can tell you, is that the dolls, will initially arrive in there festively decorated suitcase, as Angels, complete with wings.  When the time comes the decorations can come down, and the Angels can return to being dolls!  There is so much magic and madness ahead!

Must dash

TTFN x