For My Sister....

Oliver Whiskers And Fair Bianca.... A Love Story

I left you Dear Readers, with just the Beginnings of the Rats I am sending to my Sister, still only half dressed. Well, let me show you how they have progressed, starting with Fair Bianca, who has had a lace blouse added to her ensemble. She is a Gently bred young Rat Maiden.... from the Best of Families... But she has fallen in love with a Handsome Young Rat named Oliver Whiskers......

He is from a Perfectly Good Family... 

but he is considered to be a Trifle Wild 

and full of a bit too much Idealism to be Comfortable..... 

And so the Family has Frowned on the match! 

But that has not stopped the Young Couple!

They are Determined to Pursue their Dreams Together....

And Oliver has convinced Fair Bianca to set out with him on his Journeys!

To that end, she has fetched her market basket, 

a warm shawl for the colder  nights ahead....

And a New Bonnet... 

for who can resist the lure of New Clothes to accompany New Beginnings!

And the New Straw Bonnet must be adorned with Straw Flowers the color of Summer....

And Oliver is also sensible to the Wisdom of a new Hat to guard against the Summer Sun...

 For it is Indeed the First Day of Summer as they set out on their way!

And such a Glorious Summer Morning it is.... 

all the World is swooning with Joy and Anything seems Possible!

But before they left they wished to say Good-bye to their Friends...

Anna Maria And Samuel Whiskers... 

who are spending the Summer at an Estate in the Country...

After all, Samuel and Oliver are Cousins....

And Anna Maria has known Fair Bianca for ages 

and considers her a Best Friend...

Even though they Wish them Well....

It is not easy saying Good-bye...

Even though they can feel the Excitement of the Beginning of the Journey....

With all the new sights and challenges ahead of them.....

Still,.... it is Not easy saying Good-bye!

And you might find yourself  following a little ways.....

Almost wishing you were going too....

Heading Bravely off into the Wide World.....

Going South to their new home.....

Where Oliver Whiskers plans to set up his own little Homestead....

And Fair Bianca will follow him wherever he goes...

Oh how they wish them a Safe and Happy Journey Together!

And you may be happy to know, Dear Readers, 

that they had not traveled for long before they heard the approach of other travelers...

And turning, they beheld a magnificent sight!

(Illustration for The Wind In The Willows Courtesy of Michael Hague)

Yes, it was indeed a Canary colored Caravan, 

with none other than the Notorious Mr. Toad at the reins!

And with such companions to begin their Travels.....

You can be sure they had Great Adventures on their way...

But for more details we will have to wait to hear from my Sister....

about Oliver Whiskers and Fair Bianca...

A Love Story....

Porcelain Doll Kits

Not As Simple As It Seems.....

I hope you will forgive me Dear Readers, as I show you my (Very Unsatisfactory) attempts to assemble some porcelain doll kits that I bought at the Sturbridge Fair. To Begin with a couple of weeks ago when my Sister was visiting, I had asked her if there was anything she would like to have for Her Dollhouse, and she said she was thinking she would like a couple of children dolls to live in it. I said that I didn't have any spare child dolls (they happen to all be attached to Families already...!) but that I could probably make her some.... but it might take a while. In the meantime, she decided that a couple of the Tiny Rats I had started (but had thought were a little out of proportion so had not finished) would do instead. So I promised to finish the Tiny Rats for her. That very afternoon at the Fair I found some lovely porcelain child doll kits, and decided I would surprise my Sister with the children after all! It has been Much Too Busy in my life recently with Gardening and Family visits and Life in general... but I finally got started on the doll kits last weekend. I thought it would be a simple matter of building a wire armature gluing it to the porcelain and wrapping the body in cotton batting...... I don't know What I was Thinking!

For starters... the wire I have is probably too stiff for the small dolls.... 

and then I don't have the proper kind of glue...

(What IS the proper glue...?)

But in my impatience I decided to go ahead and try with what I have....

I carefully stitched cloth around the cotton batting to hold it in place...

And Stuffed the ends into the porcelain legs..... 

with tons of tacky glue....

And stuffed the torso onto a cotton wrapped section of wire.... 

And added the arms.... carefully wrapped and stitched and glued.....

For Both the dolls.....

I know they look a little lopsided.....

but they stand up!!!

I was even Really Patient and let the glue dry for an entire day 

before testing the hold.....

Hah! You can see what good That did for me! 

Definitely NOT the right glue!

So I went online and did a little research. 

I have concluded that I will be better off taking them completely apart 

and starting over with a glue called "Zap a Gap"

Any comments are welcome if you know a better glue!

Meanwhile, I decided to complete the Tiny Rats instead....

They just needed leather glued on their arms and legs and tails......

And some clothes, of course!

So I have made a start....

They are "Country Rats".....

so their clothes are going to be Rustic.....

Still a ways to go....

But since that was all I had accomplished in Weeks....

I thought I would share it with you!

As for the Porcelain Doll kits.... 

I am determined to figure this out!

But it is Definitely Not as Simple as it seems!

Daydreaming Again....

Nothing Got Done... (But I went shopping)

It was a Busy weekend at the end of a Busy week, Dear Readers, so I must confess that NOTHING got done in my Mini Building world! But that does Not mean I have Nothing to show you.... !
To begin with, My sister came for a brief visit so we did a lot of Reviewing the various Projects I have under way.... (Oh... will I Ever get back to the other projects...?)

She had to see the latest developments in the Tree House.....

From the Chinoiserie bedroom...... 

to the spiral stairs leading to the next level.....

Which you can sort of see to the left at the top....

Still a Long way to go....

And she had to visit the Lovely Old Dollhouse....

Where Hazel still relaxes in the Kitchen.....

And of course she had to see the Completed floor of the Castle Great Hall .....

Where she met Anna Maria and Samuel Whiskers out for a stroll....!

And then the Chapel....

 

Where Nothing has changed for Centuries... (or so it seems...)

But that just kept us busy for the afternoon....

What I really want to show you are the items I purchased on Sunday ....

When I went to the Miniatures Show at Sturbridge....

I have never been to one of these Fairs before....

(I was only a Little overwhelmed....!) 

I bought some Tiny scissors! And a thimble!

 (Isn't it interesting.... the things we choose.....!)

I also got an assortment of artwork in a variety of cast metal frames....

Chosen more for the frames than the art ......

Most of these will be for the Victorian Cupboard House....

(When I eventually get back to working on it...!)

 

 And I found a porcelain Nativity that HAD to come home with me....

(I didn't have a Porcelain one.....)

 

Of course I ran out of Money LONG before I ran out of wishes....

But not before I had seen this Tiny Tiny Little porcelain doll.....

Hand made and with a crocheted dress......

(She's nearly the cutest thing I've ever seen...!)

She's only One inch tall!

She's the first Doll's doll I have bought.......

I Wonder who she belongs to.....?

And What her name is ....?

And What her story will be...?

So You see, Nothing Got Done.....

But I've been Daydreaming Again.....