Stitching.....

 

Updates... 

You May Recall, Dear Readers, that I had ambitiously started not one, but Two new petit-point carpet kits way back in the Fall. The first, another of Janet Granger's kits, a William Morris inspired carpet, is the one you see above. I had zoomed ahead on the embroidery for the central medallion because it was so easy and quick to stitch. This kit is on 18 count cloth with wool yarns. The finished carpet will be 9 inches square, which is a bit unusual for carpets. 

 

And here you can see I quickly expanded past the central medallion... 

and then I ran into a problem!

 my frame is not large enough to hold the entire width of the carpet! 

I will have to keep rolling up the side that needs to be embroidered.... or find a larger frame. I had bough a "package" of several sizes but the bars don't grip well in the cross pieces... it is obviously not well made! 

 The other carpet I had started, Dear Readers, 

was the much more complicated Chinese patterned carpet kit by Phyllis Stafford.

 It is 40 count silk gauze with cotton floss.

(I don't know why blogger is insisting on double spacing..... it is driving me crazy!)

I had decided to design a better central medallion for this one. 

I wanted dragons chasing each other around the central sun...

So I sketched a dragon and then charted it onto graph paper, 

being sure the stitches counted to forty per inch. 

The new central medallion will be about two inches across in an 8x10 inch carpet.

 

I also expanded the rays of the original circle to make them look like flames.

I worked the outline first in the navy blue...

Then started the lighter aqua blue to define scales....

and added gold for the body...

And more of the outlining....

Sorry for the dark pictures.... 

 it is that time of year 

and the weather has been glooooomy!

I am sort of designing it as I go...!

And I have to admit, 

I had to put these carpets on "hold"

 so I could work on The Christmas Card....

Which is coming along, but is a bit behind schedule!

So that is all I have done for the stitching, Dear Readers,

but I have high hopes for both these projects

 in the coming New Year!

(And I don't know why blogger 

reformed the minute I complained!?!)

 

I Hope you All have a Happy, 

Productive and Prosperous New Year!

Oh, Yes.....

 

 The Nativity....

It is That Time of year, Dear Readers, when we are all so busy running around with last minute everything, that we almost forget to set up the Nativity! But Pollyanna remembered at last and has just set out all the Traditional figurines in the usual spot, the sideboard in The Lovely Old Dollhouse living room. She thinks she has got it right this time and is admiring the arrangement.

Arthur has come to see how the arrangement is progressing.

"What do you think?" asks Pollyanna.

"It looks great, Hon" says Arthur, 

"but I don't see the camel!" he added.

(The camel is always a subject of confusion!)

 

 

"I put him over there," said Pollyanna, "behind the Kings."

"Ah!" said Arthur. "Good choice!"

 

"As long as he's with the Kings, I'm happy!" exclaimed Charles.

"The Kings don't actually arrive until later anyway," said Helen...

 "I don't know why they should be included so soon..."

 she added thoughtfully.

"Well, I can't think where else we could put them," said Pollyanna.... 

"and then we might forget to add them later..." she added.

"I think it looks just right" Dear, said Charles.

 "And this way nobody has to remember about later!" he declared.

"Then it's settled!" said Pollyanna.

"Heaven knows, we can't have Christmas

 without the Creche!" she added.

And in case you were wondering, Dear Readers,

 Gabrielle and Will have set up the small Nativity

 over at The Folly too!

They are happily sharing a snack by the Fire

 on this cold First day of Winter!

And because it is impossible to get close enough

 to photograph from inside the room.... 

(my messy workroom!)

We can only get a glimpse of it from outside the window!

But now you will know it is there!

 

And I hope, Dear Readers, that you are all enjoying

 your last minute preparations, whatever they are,

And that you don't forget The Nativity.

Because Heaven knows,

 It would not be Christmas without The Nativity!

 

 

 

Christmas Trees....

 

Same Old, Same Old....

What Can I say, Dear Readers, but admit I revel in the Same Old Christmas Trees every year! Yes, The Silver Tinsel Tree has been lit in The Cloud Palace. This was accomplished in spite of my illness, (thank you for all your kind wishes, I am slowly feeling better...) because the tree is small and I knew where it was and wanted it by my elbow as the long cold nights drew in. The Fairy Bears all gathered around to admire it's shiny presence.... even though not a single new thing was added, they are just as happy to see it as I am. Sometimes it is comforting to know that there are Some Things that do not need to change to be Wonderful! 

 

And over in Sally May's and Chip's living room,

 their own version of a Silver Tinsel Tree shines and glitters,

 and at least for the moment,

 caused Ernie and Blanche to forget to turn on the TV!

(Sally May Wishes there were a few new ornaments on it... 

but she is more involved in her cooking...)

And in the Lovely Old Dollhouse,

 Charles has brought in the Same Old Christmas Tree

 and placed it in the Same Old corner it always goes in.

He really wanted to make sure Helen had

 the comforting presence of the Tree Lights as soon as possible!

She is feeling much better and

 spends her days hardly napping at all!

It, too, has had not a single change made in the decorations... 

in spite of there being quite a few new options available!

"It is Beautiful, darling..." says Helen.

"Well, it always is...." agrees Charles... 

"I just wanted to make sure it was up in time

 for you to enjoy it to the fullest!"

And as I was passing the Castle Great Hall, Dear Readers, 

 I could see the candles through the window...

Yes, The Castle Tree has been lit as well...

Even though there doesn't appear to be anyone there to see it....!

 

 And I almost didn't notice that Pollyanna

 had found a tiny tinsel tree to decorate..!

She looked as though she was dreaming up a new project....

"That's looking promising, Hon" said Arthur.

 "Where will you put it...? he added.

"That's the problem...." said Pollyanna, reluctantly....

"I really don't know which House it should go in....

 maybe I just need to make a 'Christmas House'..." she added dreamily....

"You know, with everything in it about Christmas....?"

"Sounds lovely...." said Arthur agreeably.

Well, Dear Readers, that's all

 I got done in the past few weeks...

But I am getting better and

 there's nothing I like better than

 The Same Old Trees in the Same Old places!

A Sister Visit...

 

More Thanksgiving Leftovers...

I Was able to snag my Sister for a Quick visit just before Thanksgiving, Dear Readers, which I try to do every time she comes North to see her Grandchildren. They live an hour and a half from my home, so it is doable to go get her, bring her to my house for an overnight and take her back the next day. I never know when she will be coming until the last minute... plans change,  so I jump at the opportunity to spend time with her whenever possible! We did a little shopping on the way to my house, buying gifts for the grandchildren. We wrap them together... it makes it so much more fun! On the following morning we have a little time to play with the dollies.... but not until after breakfast. I indulged in a "Bonne Maman's" Advent Calendar this year... a tiny jar of jelly or jam  for each day....! We opened the first one even though it was early... we had "White Nectarine Linden Flower Jelly" on English muffins for breakfast! Oh my! With tea, of course! And then it was time to bring out the little dolls we had started costuming back in the Spring on her last visit...

Here you can see the one I was working on...

These are some of Sandra Morris' little porcelain dolls. 

She has retired and is no longer making them (*sob*!)

but I still have a few that have not been costumed.

Here they both are...  

We had gotten as far as constructing the jackets

 but not the Sleeves. The dreaded sleeves...

They are tiny and have to be hemmed..... 

stitched and turned inside-out.

And then you have to hope that you can get them on.... 

and that they are the right length!

I am sorry to say I didn't take any pictures of the process.

But... Ta-da! 

Here is my dolly with her sleeves on!

For encouragement and Atmosphere,

 we brought Chere Elise in to play for us while we worked.

She was ever so happy to oblige.

And my sister's sleeves are attached!

 

Then we needed to design the lace collars.... 

we are using whatever materials I have in my stash for this project,

as these little dollies were not kits with all the pieces provided!

It took quite a hunt through all my lace boxes

 to find some that had a small enough, 

delicate enough pattern to be usable.

 

 

We settled on one we could just use the edge of...

 cutting off the upper part of the lace. 

Here is "Aria" with her collar added.

And here she is with her hair too!

I managed to scavenge leftover "curls" from previous doll kits...

 we gave them simple all over curls hairstyles.

 

And here is my sister's with collar and curls.... 

she is named "Savannah".

 

 Here they are together!

Aren't they adorable?

Alas, we had run out of time, Dear Readers,

 so we were unable to complete them this visit.

They will wait in the Dollmaker's Studio

 until such a time as we can make their bonnets.

For you can be sure that Every Victorian doll must have a bonnet! 

There was snow in the forecast so I didn't want to be driving late.... 

And rest assured I made it home again before the snow started.

(We did get several very slushy inches....)

So that was my Sister visit, Dear Readers... 

except for the leftovers....

Unfortunately, it was I who really caught covid.

 Probably the Grandchildren had it but just thought it was a "cold".

They are young and no long do the testing.

And I will recover......

Thanksgiving Leftovers....

 

And Then...

I Hate to be the Bearer of bad Tidings, Dear Readers, but two days after Thanksgiving, Helen came down with a cold. She never gets sick, but took herself to bed with a runny nose and a cough. Charles was worried, but she told him not to worry, she would get over it soon enough if she could get some rest. That meant she didn't want him to hover. So he left her to rest.

Frankly, he didn't know what to do with himself!

They did everything together.

So he checked on her often.

And when she developed a fever,

 he insisted they see a doctor right away!

The doctor told them as kindly as he could

 that it appeared she had caught Covid.

"What?" said Charles, aghast.

"But we have been so careful!" he declared.

"We have seen nobody but close Family for the Holiday!"

"Well," said the doctor, "That is how it happens usually.... 

somebody else has not been quite so careful!"

So they returned home with the instructions to take the decongestants

 and keep an eye on her temperature and call him if it got worse.

Since she was vaccinated,

 he assured them she was not in danger.

When Charles told Joanna and Victor

 the results of the visit to the doctor,

 they were just as shocked.

"How could that be?" said Joanna. 

"We have all been so careful for so long!"

"Maybe we should check with Sallly May," said Victor. 

"Just to let her know what is up."

When Sally May heard that Grandma Helen was sick, 

she was alarmed. 

And she hated to think she might have

 caught Covid at Thanksgiving Dinner!

"I just talked to Mama," she said to Chip. 

"She says Grandma Helen has caught Covid!"

"You don't think...." she started to say but trailed off.

 

 "Well," said Chip, "Dad has been coughing all week,

 although he pretends he isn't."

"And I suspect he never wears his mask

 when he goes out to the corner market...." he added.

"Darn...." he continued, "should we all take tests? 

Is Grandma Helen okay?"

Well, Dear Readers, Joanna spent all week nursing Grandma Helen.

And slowly but surely, she is feeling a lot better.

Helen insisted she didn't need so much attention... 

and she didn't want anyone else to get sick!

Joanna insisted that she was just making sure everything was okay

 and nobody else seemed to be having symptoms.

"I just don't want to make any trouble for anyone..." said Helen.

"I'm really feeling a lot better."

She said this every day.

"Well, tomorrow we'll bring you downstairs

 to sit if you feel like it" said Joanna cheerfully. 

"I think that sounds like a good idea..." said Helen.

"We can see in the morning how you feel...." replied Joanna.

She certainly didn't want to rush things... 

but she was sure Helen would enjoy getting out of bed for a while.

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you will not worry for Helen.

She is getting better by the day

 and is only embarrassed that after being so careful for so long...

 she caught Covid after all!

Thanksgiving Leftovers of a very different sort!

Time To Talk Turkey....

 

Gobble Gobble Gobble....

It Was Sally May and Chip's turn to host Thanksgiving Dinner, Dear Readers, and Sally May had been preparing the dinner for days. It had been a while since the Family had all gathered at their House, and Sally May was eager to share the Traditional meal in her own home. Chip's Folks practically lived with them ever since the Covid pandemic, but it would feel so much more wonderful to have her folks there too. She loved Chip's parents, but there was no substitute for her own Family.

Chip's folks, Blanche and Ernie were happy to watch TV in the living room.

Chip was happy to sit with them. 

He was sure Sally May would not need

 his help in the Kitchen...

 

But as the hours passed and nobody arrived, she began to worry.

Was anybody coming?
 

Meanwhile, over at The Lovely Old Dollhouse, 

Helen was worried about the Weather.

It had snowed overnight and the roads would be slippery.

"Are you sure their driveway will be plowed?" she asked Charles.

"Well, it didn't snow very much" replied Charles.

 "Only a few inches fell, they might not even need to plow" he added.

That did not reassure Helen!

"But their driveway is a little steep...!" she declared.

"What if we get stuck?" she added, clearly worried!

"Oh, I am sure we will manage just fine," said Charles, soothingly.

 "We will go over with Arthur and Pollyanna" he added. 

"They are young and know what to do."

 

Pollyanna and Arthur spent a lot of time

 up in the attic in Pollyanna's craft room. 

They knew they were not needed in the kitchen. 

"Sally May just called," said Pollyanna. 

"She is wondering where everybody is" she added.

"I guess she thought everybody knew

 she was making the dinner for 2 o'clock!"

"Well, I guess we better get going!" declared Arthur. 

"It is already one thirty!"

"I hope the pies are finished!" said Pollyanna.

 

Charles and Helen were thinking the same thing. 

"I think it is time we went to Sally May's house" declared Helen.

"Are the Pies ready?" she asked.

"I just pulled the Pumpkin Pie out of the oven" called Joanna.

"We'll wrap them up and follow you right over..." she added.

"I can carry the Pumpkin Pie on this platter" said Victor.

"That way we won't have to wrap it..."

"We better get going..."said Arthur.

Sally May went to tell everybody that the guests would arrive shortly...

"Maybe we should turn the volume down on the TV..." she hinted.

"You know your folks turn it up pretty loud" she added. 

"I'm not sure the others will want to hear it..."

"Don't worry, Hon," said Chip. 

"I'll take care of it when they get here."

"What are you watching...?" asked Helen loudly

 when they arrived a few minutes later.

"It's just old reruns of "I Love Lucy..." said Chip,

 turning the volume down a bit.

"Goodness...!" declared Helen. 

"I never watched those shows" she added.

(The Lovely Old Dollhouse did not have a TV...!)

"We can find something else if you like..."said Ernie kindly.

"Don't bother on my account" said Helen. 

"I believe it is almost time to eat anyway" she added.

Pollyanna and Arthur followed them in. 

"I think I'll go help Sally May in the kitchen" said Pollyanna.

"I'm sorry we are so late!" she said. 

"Tell me what you need me to do!"

"If you could carry the vegetables out to the table...." said Sally May.

"Are the Pies coming...?" she added anxiously.

"Mom and Dad are bringing them" said Pollyanna.

"They'll be here in a minute!"

"Here we are!" cried Joanna, entering with a pie.

"I'm so sorry we mistook the time!" she added.

"I don't know what happened!"

"And here's the Pumpkin Pie!" declared Victor.

 "It is still hot from the oven!" he added.

"I'm sure it will cool enough while we eat dinner" said Sally May smiling.

"I'm just so glad you are here!" she added.

She carried the Turkey out to the table.

"Do we have everything...?" asked Pollyanna.

"I want to eat!" declared Annabelle loudly.

"Hush darling, you can gobble all you want

 after we all say Grace" said Sally May.

"Let's call everyone in," she said to Pollyanna.

The whole Family crowded in around the table.

"The food smells Divine..." declared Helen.

"Who will say Grace...?" she asked.

 

 

"I think our Host, Chip, has the honors..." 

said Charles, nodding to his Grandson-in-law.

Chip cleared his throat... 

(he was not used to being the center of attention)

"For the Bounty set before us, 

and the Family with which to share it, 

we humbly give our thanks" he said.

 

"Amen!" added Charles.

"Here here!" said Victor.

"Gobble Gobble.... !" said Annabelle.

At that, Everybody burst out laughing!

"I will carve the Turkey declared Ernie"

Sally May had nothing to say....

 she felt a lump in her throat 

at the Love surrounding her.

She spared not a thought for the dogs in the kitchen...

....Guarding the Pies!

"Don't even think it..." said Honey to Oreo...

"You heard them.... they are too hot!"

"I guess we have to wait for crumbs.... ?" asked Oreo.

"You have so much to learn...." sighed Honey.

Well, Dear Readers, Once again... 

Thanksgiving Dinner is almost Late!

But I hope you all have a Wonderful Thanksgiving.... 

and if you don't celebrate the Holiday, 

I hope you will find Plenty to be Thankful for anyway.

And perhaps you can even "Gobble gobble" a little bit too!

(And for those unfamiliar with Turkeys, 

a large bird native to  North America, 

the "voice" of the bird sounds like

 "gobble gobble... gobble gobble.."! 

I kid you not!)