All the best laid plans....

When I knew I was getting my lovely new sewing/embroidery machine, I had great intentions.  I would make little felt pictures and turn them into cards and send one to each of my friends in time for Christmas.  Well that was the intention!

Unfortunately, because I was working so hard on my latest commission, I only got as far as making two pictures and because the first one I did took me about two hours (I still hadn't received my machine manual in English at that point) I decided that maybe next year, if I start about Easter, I can get them done in time.  On top of that, I couldn't get my hands on any of those cards with a little window in them for adding your own picture!!!

So instead, I will show you what I did manage to get done and wish everyone a wonderful Christmas filled with love and warmth and hope Santa brings you something nice from your Christmas list!!!

These are my two finished 'projects'.  I think I was a little over ambitious with my first attempt as I had to change the colours back and forth 20 times!!!  Both pictures are done on wool felt and are approx 10 x 10 centimetres in size!  (there is a mistake in the first picture where my sewing needle got bent but carried on going.....but I'll not point it out to you!!)

I showed this one to my friend who said "I love the birds!"  I thought "Birds? What birds?" and then I saw them!!!  

Thank you for visiting!  

A flea market find....

Today is my hubby Brian's birthday and I suggested we go to Fuengirola to the big flea market there (I certainly know how to treat a Birthday Boy, don't I ;) ), well it's technically in a place called Los Boliches, and takes part every Saturday.  You have to get there early as parking is a nightmare, plus the Danish restaurant where we like to have breakfast only serves it until 11am.  I've shown the breakfast from this restaurant on here in the past but here it is again......a lovely feast to set us up for the market!!!

So after our breakfast and coffee, we started on the stalls!  I always look out for dolls and anything dolly sized that I could use as props, but usually come home empty handed.  That NP Sasha for €10 wasn't there again today.....just the usual biro covered Barbies, ugly footless Bratz and hollow plastic Nancys!!  However, on one stall an unusual but cute 'fellow' caught my eye so I haggled with the seller who told me the doll was 'special' (yeah right!!) and got the price down to €12 which I thought was reasonable.  I thought the doll was a boy but when I got back to the car and had a look, I realised it's supposed to be a girl as she has two plaits pulled up the sides of her head and tied with a bow under her headscarf.

The doll is approx 20 inches tall and made completely of felt but has a wire aperature inside.  She is nice and clean without any odours, thank goodness!  The hair is made of faux fur and stuck on and the face is painted or maybe printed on, I'm not sure which.  The clothes are not removable and are quite well made with all the seams finished that I can see.  The backpack straps and the belt are made of leatherette.  The only thing missing seems to be the belt buckle.  There aren't any labels or tags on the doll or her clothing, so I have no idea where she comes from or whether she is from a company or handmade by an individual.  She stands up on her own really well.  I have no idea where she will fit into my doll collection, she is completely different from anything else I have, but I thought it would be nice to bring her home!!!

So here she is, I hope someone might be able to enlighten me about her, any information would be greatly appreciated!  I thought she looked sort of Austrian or German, maybe Swiss?  But really she could be just a home-made Spanish doll!  Who knows!

Full length view:

Close up:

Full length back view:

 Choco seemed quite interested.....

The second doll I found is currently still damp after having her hair washed so I will show you her another time!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!