I have a new interest and that is doll making.  Last year, I made the trapeze dolls from Merrilee Liddiard's book Playful. I couldn't believe the difference in reaction from my children, between homemade and store bought toys.  Store bought toys have their place, don't get me wrong, but watching their dolls come to life as I stitched them together, endeared them to my kids in way I had never seen before.  This year, for each birthday, everyone is getting their own home made doll.  This is N's.  

I used left over canvas with screen printed stars for her body and painted her face by hand.  Lots of little sundresses and clothes have been made to accessorize this little lady.  The white dress was made from the scraps of A's baptismal gown.

I made this gown from See Kate Sew's blessing gown and bonnet patterns.  I cannot recommend these patterns enough!  The lace makes it look complicated, but it was quite simple.  

This is my little doll.  After all these kids I have a nice collection of baby sweaters.  The bonnet is from Denmark.  My parents brought it home and said all the babies they saw there had the sweetest hats and were pushed around in old fashioned looking prams.

I am always working on our home- especially on keeping it tidy.  I find if I like the way it looks put back together it incentivizes me to keep it ordered.  The bug prints are from Fine Little Day.

We waterproofed our basement this fall and installed new carpeting.  Now we have a clean and cozy hide away.

I'm working on his and hers portraits for our anniversary at the end of the month.  Everything I make is always a bit of a test run for a future launch back into the world of craft shows and online shops.  I'm enjoying this period of experimentation and home making :)