My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Gifting Time

As one would expect at this time of the year, there's been a bit of a focus on gifts around here.
These two doll quilts are winging their way across the Tasman, hopefully they will make two little girls happy —
Minky on the back - so luxurious!
And for the first time for a VERY long time, I have been making dolls' clothes!
How many did I make, you ask??
Just two - but I made them reversible, as you can tell (hopefully) from the photo below —
(That way the identical twins can dress their babies identically - or not..!)
The only headache I had was what to use for closure - being reversible, I had to get creative. I had hoped that one buttonhole and 2 buttons for each strap would work but because of the small area to sew, I had trouble getting the buttonhole tidy. I unpicked a buttonhole!! (Grrr!) But I was happy in the end with these large snap studs - even though they show on each side I don't think they look too obtrusive - and even look a bit decorative!

The dolls the dresses are intended for are a little bigger and chubbier than
this one but I couldn't resist having a play regardless!

And speaking of crossing the Tasman, the sleigh has landed at my house, laden up with my SSCS parcel!! We're allowed to open the ornament now - and here it is - or should I say "here they are"!
How gorgeous - this lovely set of wee stockings will make a perfect addition to our tree!!
Some secret Santas reveal themselves early - some don't - but I did find out that Kris of Tag Along Teddies sent this - thank you Kris :-) The other gift will be stowed carefully under the tree (when we get one)!

Other sorts of gifts have happened as well. I didn't put this one aside for Christmas - it was a 'just because' gift which arrived from Joanne recently. Joanne and I skype and sew regularly; one time she was weaving tea towels on her 'new' loom.... I'm so delighted to have the result of that here in New Zealand.

And we are very sad that our neighbours of 12 years, K and F, are moving on; they've been the best of neighbours and we've shared many laughs and good times over the years.
K asked if we (and our tractor) could give him a hand the other day - little did we know he'd done a Maori carving for us, a pouwhenua, (literally, a land post)... and he needed a hand to get it into position.
This pou is a link between our (old) neighbours and us, our relationship with the land (and more). It will keep an eye on us. K has a love of traditional carving, delighting in giving dead trees on his property a new life.
It is set about a metre into the ground, and the taiaha (spear) itself is about as tall as we are...just to give you some idea of its size!
Paua shells for the eyes.

There are still a few things on my Christmas to-do list so I had better get busy!  I hope your Christmas planning is going well - are you like me, deciding to add things to the list at the last minute.....I never learn...!
Happy stitches, 

33 comments:

  1. Your granddaughters dolls will be the best dressed in those lovely dresses and so warm and cosy under their very own quilts! Wow what a magnificent gift from your neighbours........a treasure. Wishing you a happy Christmas with a touch of stitching added to the mix.

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  2. You have been very busy... your dolls clothes are a lot nicer than my efforts were a few years ago... the poppers are a great option. How special to have a hand woven tea towel..... What a fabulous gift from your neighbours - very very special ... I love it....
    Hugz

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  3. An amazing gift, a special way remember your neighbours. And some very cute sewing for the your two little granddaughters! Wishing you a very merry Xmas Raewyn!

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  4. I love the wood carved maker - what a great item of art
    the granddaughters will love their gifts and you put a bit of time into them

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  5. Oh I know two wee girls who are going to be very happy with their doll clothes and quilts! Very cute. The wood carving is awesome! What a wonderful gift.

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  6. Such cute dolls blankies and sweet little dresses. The studs look great. Your GDs will love ❤️ their special gift 🎁.
    Kris has made such lovely tiny stockings .. is your tree up yet to pop the gift under ?
    Great when tea towel your friend made.
    What a magnificent wood craving from your dear neighbor...
    Wishing your family and you a wonderful Christmas 🎄 🎅🏻🤶

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  7. I love those little dolly blankets and those cute little dresses are so clever--the kids are sure to love them--
    and those stockings are just darling--I wanna make some!!!
    and we had a couple wood carver in NY where I was from--they liked to do bears, but did do other items as well--so what a nice remembrance you will have of your neighbors--sorry they are leaving, but here is praying that as nice ones move in their old place!!
    enjoy the moments, di

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  8. Such adorable gifts. I think the twins will thoroughly enjoy their gifts too!

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

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  9. I think your grand daughters will adore their gifts. What lovely neighbours you have had, obviously they think you are pretty special too.

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  10. Hi Raewyn gorgeous gifts for your girls and love those wee xmas stockings.
    Boy your neighbour is clever what a lovely thing for him to do and i love what it means,hope you have a lovely day my friend xx

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  11. What a lovely post - darling dresses and what a special parting gift from your neighbors.

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  12. Those doll dresses! I only ever tried to make one little dress for one doll, and it defeated me. Yours are lovely and your granddaughters are lucky. Your neighbours must have appreciated you as much as you have appreciated them. What a lovely parting gift!

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  13. What a lovely happy post, full of little dresses and other exciting gifts. And what a wonderful gift from your departing neighbours, the carved wooden pole to remember them by.

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  14. What gorgeous gifts for your little girls Raewyn. Sure to be a hit! What a stunning and special gift from your neighbour! So beautiful!

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  15. Your girls are going to be thrilled they are awesome ❤️❤️❤️��

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  16. Hey Raewyn! I'm glad Santa's sleigh arrived at your place safely. Your dolly creations for your grandies are gorgeous & I'm sure they will get many hours of enjoyment from them. And WOW! Your gift from your neighbours is pretty impressive. You've had a busy, interesting week. :0) Have a fantastic Christmas! Bear Hugs! KRIS xx

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  17. You have been busy! Love the little quilts and the doll clothes. They are adorable.
    Looks like you have been on the receiving end of some lovely gifts, too. Very special.
    And the carving from your neighbour is amazing! How special to have that made by him.

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  18. What an amazing gift from your departing neighbours!
    The little quilts & doll dresses are adorable - many hours of fun will be had with them, I'm sure.

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  19. My, you have been busy! I love the little dolly quilts and dresses! Hope your new Pouwhenua watches over you in the coming year!

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  20. That Pou is absolutely amazing - a true treasure!

    Your granddaughters will love their quilts and little doll dress. That is very clever to make them reversible.

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  21. I am sure your little girls will be very happy with their gifts - what a great idea to make the dresses reversible. How lovely to have a hand woven tea towel and the statue is amzing! I love him. xx

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  22. That Pou reminds me of one of the characters in Moby Dick movie, the dark skinned man with tattoos all over, like the carving on the arm of that Pou. What a gift!

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  23. Your grand daughters are going to spend many happy hours playing dress ups with their dolly's.
    And that carving is amazing what a beautiful gift.

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  24. Those reversible doll dresses are adorable. You are such a good grandma. I just sent my daughter the doll clothes pattern so she can make them. :)
    That carving is out of this world! What a wonderful token of friendship from your neighbors.

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  25. Everything is gorgeous Raewyn. Yes I would've had to try the dresses on a dolly too!!!

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  26. They sound like wonderful neighbours Raewyn. What a fantastic carving. lucky you to have that. You are so good making dolls clothes. I only had sons, and although I have 5 grand-daughters, they haven't really been dolly girls....so I'm lucky! haha! Love the clothes and the quilts.

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  27. The girls are going to love their quilts and the dolls dresses are gorgeous! What a special gift from your neighbors.. you will miss them for sure xx

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  28. Those are very lovely doll quilts and dresses. it must be lovely to have grand daughters....but maybe I can make a doll sized quilt for a teddy or something.

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  29. How lucky are your grandkiddies a wonderful surprise.. I still have the doll my mum got me one Christmas and it is dressed in the cloths my Nanna knitted...

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  30. I always feel so good after I’ve read your posts! Lovely dresses, doll quilts, ornaments, and yes, the land post...it’s extraordinary! What an awesome, thoughtful gift!

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  31. Beautiful quilts and dolls cloths for the grandies Raewyn. That land post is amazing, what and incredible thing to have made for you.

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  32. Gosh that Pou is spine tingling... you must also have been great neighbours to have inspired such a wonderful gift. Hope you have a great Xmas Raewyn!

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