Life in the Lockdown!

Well I was going to write about something other what is happening in the world at the moment, but the truth is, I haven't really got much else to write about but wanted to post something on my blog.  So I thought I'd try to show a more creative side to being locked down at home.

Firstly a little about the lockdown.  We are currently on Day 13 as lockdown started for us from midnight on Saturday 14th March.  It's been very strict from Day one, which I feel is the best way to go. I do not feel that my freedom is being taken away from me, I hope that this will help save lives and certainly help to ease the strain on the Spanish health service.  For example, we are only allowed out to go to the supermarket to buy food, to the pharmacy for medication, you can walk a dog but only 50 metres from your home, and it must be just one person, you cannot walk in pairs.  No cycling or jogging, no meeting up with friends or family, you can only stay with those you live with.  And only one person per car except if you are taking a vulnerable person to a medical appointment.  And fines are pretty high.  Police are checking where you go and you have to prove where you've been.  So yes, pretty strict.  The number of people who've died from the virus is very high here in Spain, so if it works, and saves some lives then I'm more than happy to do as I'm told.  

So what have I been doing with myself?  Well I started out with the intention of making some doll outfits.  I got all the pattern files out, I printed off some new patterns, I sorted through my fabrics and cut out a few outfits.  I started by making a pair of tiny overalls for my friends doll.  I cut them out wrong, and then when I'd recut them, so I sewed them up back to front.  I really could not concentrate, so I decided to stop that and sit and read.  I've read two or three books but my mind keeps wandering.  I've been spending so much of my time chatting on line, looking at the BBC news, Facebook, YouTube, everything apart from doing something productive with my time.

That is until a couple of days ago when I had the idea to sew some face masks for myself and Brian....then I thought "what about the neighbours?"  So I got started, it was fun to match the fabrics to the personalities of my friends....and so it started!  I have now made 22 masks and distributed them amongst the neighbours.  One friend has a fabric printed with items of clothing, another has one with little Scotty dogs all over, another has doggy pawprints.  A few of the men have skull and cross bones!!!  Others have fish, or flowers.  I even got an offer from someone who doesn't live here to buy some but instead she has made a donation to our local Animal Rescue charity because with the lockdown they cannot open their charity shop which they depend on for income.  So that's what I've been up to!

Waiting for the pleats to be put in.....

All neatly ironed!! 

I asked my friends to share selfies with me of them in their masks, so here are a few of them!!!

Thank you to my lovely friends and neighbours for being good sports and wearing the masks, I hope they help to keep you safe and free from harm when you go to the supermarket or walk your dogs.

I hope every one of you who reads my blog keeps safe and well.  Please don't take risks with your lives or those of your loved ones, it really isn't worth it.  And I would just like to add a special shout out for all the health care workers, street sanitisers, refuse collectors, supermarket and pharmacy staff, and anyone else in one of these critical jobs, who're helping to keep us safe.  THANK YOU!!

Big hugs Sharon in Spain xx

 

February Already! And finally some dolly time :)

Most people complain that January goes by so slowly after the rush of December and Christmas but I must admit, that having been in the UK from the 3rd to the 11th, the month seemed to whizz by!  I was hardly home when the 31st arrived and brought with it my son Brendan who came over for a week's holiday with us.  He mainly comes to see us on his own as he has more holidays than his wife Virginia, so when she comes to Spain she naturally spends the time with her family.  Anyway, it was a great week, we did lots of chatting and laughing and of course shopping, Brendan always wants to buy things here that are apparently much cheaper than the UK, so he keeps us very busy!!

Lucy loves having Brendan home! 

 

On the dolly front I have sold a couple of dolls and done a bit of sewing as well as have taken some photos of different dolls who've had a change of clothes or wig.  The weather has been lovely, very warm and sunny, perfect weather for taking my girls outside to photograph.....

Here is Holly (formerly Wentje, the doll I showed in my last post), she is a Zwergnase Junior and is 55cm tall.  I changed her into this dress that I made ages ago for another doll that has since left for pastures new.  I then added a 'shirt' underneath so that it looked a bit different from when the last doll wore it. When I first got her I wasn't sure about her but since I got back from the UK and have had a chance to 'play' with her, she's really grown on me. 

 Also today I changed the wig on my Little Cosmos Dolls Robin.  I've always thought of her as a dark haired girl but yesterday I received this wig from a group order I'd participated in back in the autumn.  By the time it arrived, I couldn't remember who I'd ordered it for!!!  So Dylan (Robin) tried it and I really think it suits her so she will keep it.  

Who'd have thought she'd look so angelic as a blond!  Funny how looks can be so deceiving though😉

I also changed my little Sienna (Bastian, also by Little Cosmos Dolls) into this cute outfit by the Gorjuss company.  It seems odd to have a coat with short sleeves but it's not cold here now so little Sienna doesn't mind 😉.  This girl's face so appeals to me, she always looks so worried, like she's scared she's about to be told off!!!

 
I made a couple of outfits for my Kaye Wiggs girls, here is Gracie modelling the outfit I made for her....It wasn't quite finished in this photo, I'd forgotten to put the cord through the bottom of the sleeveless hoodie!!

Here we go, the cord is now done and I made another outfit, this time for Hope. 

I have a third outfit cut out and ready to sew for Layla, I'll get to that soon I'm sure!

In the meantime, I am off to the UK again on Thursday to see my mum and brother.  My mum has been doing very well since her fall and is completely on the mend now, thank goodness.  She was recently discharged by the physiotherapists and is now walking well with the aid of a walking stick or a walking frame.  I'm only going for five days but looking forward to it....apart from the weather!!!

I have some dolly purchases to pick up whilst over there so hopefully will have some new arrivals to show you on my return.

Have a great week ahead, and for those of you being affected by Storm Ciara, keep safe and warm.

Big hugs
Sharon in Spain xxx


 






 

Wichtel Outfit.....SOLD

I have for sale this outfit for the Wichtel girls.  The outfit is brand new, having been made by me today.  It consists of cute overalls made from cotton pique printed with little items of clothing, the overall seams are all finished inside, the bib and shoulder straps are topstitched and they close at the back and the top of the bib with blue plastic snaps.  The short sleeved tee shirt closes at the back with three metal snaps.  The polka dot fabric hair ties are included.  Shoes and model (OOAK Neele by Rosemarie Muller) are not included in the sale.

The outfit is SOLD, thankyou!  Please email me at: dambuster0662@gmail.com if you are interested in purchasing this outfit.

Thanks very much in advance.

 Thank you for visiting and I hope you all have a great week ahead!

Hugs Sharon xx

Last minute sewing....

During the last view days I finally started, and finished, my raffle prize donation for the Sasha Celebration Weekend  being held in the UK from the 13th to 15th May.  I had promised Janet, the organiser, that I would send something as a prize and had every intention of doing so, but my goodness the time passed so quickly that I didn't realise the event was almost upon us!  So I'm relieved that that is done and will be sent off this week :)

Here is my lovely Wren (1969 Sasha Kilt) modeling for me.  The skirt fabric is from Santoro, London,  the company who produce the Gorjuss range of goods,  I really love the designs they produce.   I've added a second layer of white broidery anglais to the skirt because not everyone likes their girls in such short skirts as I do!!  A headband in the same fabric as well as appliqued tee shirt and black and white striped socks, completes the set.

I hope you like it and hope the winner will be happy with it too!

Well I hope you all have a lovely week ahead and that spring has sprung where you live....unless you're in Australia of course ;)

Jeans for Sasha and Gregor!

I was asked by one of my lovely 'customers' if I would make some jeans for her Sasha, so last week I drew up a pattern and then I made the jeans.  I thought the first pair would be a 'prototype' because when making new patterns there's always a bit of tweeking that has to be done to the pattern.  However, they came out a really great fit and I was delighted that I didn't have to make another pair immediately!  Of course my own girls weren't overly impressed because usually, they get the 'prototypes' which in my opinion aren't good enough to sell to someone else!  Ooops!  I guess I know what I'll be doing come the autumn then!

So here they are.  These are made from prewashed denim with a small lycra content, they have four working pockets, contrasting top stitching, front fly opening (closes with two small metal snaps), back yoke, leather label on the waistband and red 'tag' on one the back pocket.  They are then finished with metal 'rivets' like regular human jeans are!  These deliberately do not have belt loops at the request of the buyer.

Being beautifully modelled by Wren by lovely 1969 Kilt....

Thanks for looking!  I hope you all have a lovely week ahead!

Skye meets the sea....

Today Skye had her first modelling 'assignment' and we decided to go to the beach for her to 'strut her stuff' in a very natural environment :)

The outfit isn't for sale as it is a prototype of a new style that I've put together.  Instead of a tee shirt, this top is actually a 'body' and has short puffed sleeves.  The skirt is slightly different too in that it has straps which cross over at the back.  Just a little bit different but a change from what I've been making.   I think the applique here is a little too big, especially with the straps but that is something to work on for next time.  I also haven't quite finished it because the straps, although sewn on with decorative buttons on the front, so far are only pinned on the back and the applique needs some additonal decoration/stitching.  This new 'body' style eliminates any bulk at the waist and also the need for additional knickers as they are 'built in'.  As per usual an outfit like this will come with socks and hairband/ribbon ties.

I hope you like it so far!

The waves are really crashing on to the beach at the moment and the walkway from the road to the sand has been partially washed away! 

 A couple of waves later and this rock that Skye was so ably balanced on, was covered with water and foam!  (Luckily she'd moved on by then!)

A break from sewing....well almost!!

After having seen my Blythes which I'd customised myself, Steve Kingaby sent me his new Blythe for me to work on.  He gave me 'free rein' to do what I wanted with her, so I gave her the full 'works'!  Steves Blythe is an ADG Blythe which were designed to look like the original Kenner Blythes which were produced in 1972 and she had long blond hair with a middle part and no fringe.  She was completely default and the first ADG Blythe that I've customised.  And I freely admit that she was a challenge!!  Here is a 'before' photo showing her with her original blue eyechips :

I thought she was quite a pretty girl but can understand that Steve wanted a new look for her because the default girls can lack 'personality'.

Here she is during the carving process.  You can see that I've carved her mouth, given her a philtrum, a small chin cleft, as well as a button nose and nostrils.  I also made her eyeholes a tiny bit larger at the top.  This is a photo showing her prior to sanding:

Then comes the sanding.  It takes a lot of work to get the plastic nice and smooth again after all the carving.  But once that's achieved, the makeup is next...for this I use good quality artists chalk pastels and seal it several times as I go along using Mr Super Clear Flat sealant from Japan.  I also gave her four new sets of eyechips from Brain Worm and Cool_Cat, new soft long dark eyelashes, I 'boggled' her eyes and gave her 'sleep eyes'.  I painted her eyelids with four layers of pearly cream coloured artists acrylic paint.  I also washed and conditioned her hair, then cut it to about waist length.  I also gave her a fringe as I think Blythe has such a big forehead that a fringe softens the look of that expanse of plastic!!  Here she is with damp hair but showing her new makeup:

Here you can see her sleep eyes and her painted eyelids, as well as her lovely long lashes:

I think she has a cheeky little face, especially in this next photo!

It was quite windy when I took these photos, so she has hair everywhere!!

Showing her special pale pink eyechips:

Dark brown eyechips:

A 'before' and 'after' comparison:

Finally I made her a new outfit to go home in, it consists of the little smock top and matching shorts, both made from blue and white seersucker which has tiny 'summer' themed motifs on it, long red and white stripy stockings, a red hair bow clip and white 'leatherette' boots.

 

Steve has seen her photos and is very happy for me to share her on here, in fact it was his suggestion for me to do so.....I hope he'll be very happy with her when she arrives home to the UK!!