The Owl & the Pussy Cat

Many years ago (ten to exact) I, at the last minute, decided to take a memory shadow box class.

I knew we were to use vintage or antique things in this memory shadow box. There was a store down the street from the quilt shop where the class was being held the next day. I ran down there and found scrap quilt pieces. As I rummaged through the bin I "discovered" this great zig- zagged piece and thought that it looked just like water...hummmm...water...boat....Since, I really didn't know what the class was about I decided to make a childhood memory of a story- The Owl & the Pussy Cat!

The sky was two very faded light blue pieces with the beige fabric already attached. As I started to put this together the beige pieces fell into place for an outlining of the sail! The sail was made from the back side of a scrap of upholstery. The boat was made from balsa wood and tinted with Pea-Green paint and then rubbed off to give it a weathered look. And of course we needed the Owl and Pussycat, cut from wool felt and stitched into place.

Old Mother of Pearl buttons, vintage lace and metal stars and a heart detailed my picture. Next , I needed the poem (rhyme). I embroidered it on an piece of vintage linen I had.
There it has been hanging for the last ten years. First, in my master bath and now at my studio. I still just love it!
And this all happened because I decided at 4:00 one afternoon to sign up for a class the next morning that I knew nothing about...it is a great life!

Many of my local students saw this and wanted to make it! I will be having a class coming in April and have made a pattern with this design for all. If you are interested in it just email me at lmolen@qwest.net

Tasha

While doing research for my Tasha Tudor Doll (in Memory) Class. I found out what a truly outstanding woman she was. Here is a woman who created her own dream...her own life...and really lived it!

Ms. Tudor was born in 1915, but was sure she was reincarnated from 1830 being a wife of a sea captain.

Since she was a little girl, she knew her place was to live on a farm, surrounding herself with beautiful vintage gardens that grow freely, a weathered cottage, and a mengarie of animals! Her love for times past carried her through her life. She hand-dipped her own candles, hand-sewed her clothing, was a great cook and gardener...and animal lover. Her favorites where her corgi dogs.

With all of this she also raised a family and wrote and illustrated over 100 children's books. These books hold the delicate remembrance of her and her love of the past.

Ms. Tudor was regarded as a renaissance woman although she looked to past for her inspiration. I personally am taken with her as a woman that lived her life bringing such beauty to the world while living life observing and enjoying the everyday small things.

My doll...

Little Dresses- The Concept

For 15 or so years, I have belonged to a Women's Group. Members have come and gone and come back. We have had a core (intimate) group for some time.

In the past, we have chosen monthly projects to share with one another... Themed projects like ATC's, Fat Book pages, and Paper Dolls.

This year we decided to do something individually. We chose to do a Quilted Journal- one that is our own interpretation. I thought about it and decided on doing a journal of Little Dresses adding a story. This is going to be a challenge! For a three-dimensional person, doing something two-dimensional is going to be a learning experience for me. I do have the concept and even the words for about 7-8 pages..it is just working "flat" that is my exploration!

For inspiration, I have a vintage (French) little dress hanging in my studio. I just love this little dress. It has metal embroidery work done on silk. Recently, I was offered a nice price to sell it, but I love this little dress...needless to say, it still hangs in my studio.

Now to work and see what I will come up with....stay tuned....

Frances' Little Pony

Several weeks ago my husband, Mark, was over at our neighbors and their two year old little girl, Frances wanted to show Mark her stick pony. This little pony was "sleeping" because the chenille mane had a shedding problem that would get all over their nice purple velvet couch.

Mark came home to tell me of this dilemma. Being the resourceful doll maker that I am and more importantly the "Auntie" to young Frances, I set out to fix up this little pony!

Before & After

I received this pony, went to the fabric store for "fixin's" and brought it to my studio. It is of fairly simple construction, so just needed some tweaking. I eased off the reins. The mane was just stitched to the top so I un-stitched it. I had to make a small slit to insert my trim that had a binding on it for the mane . I used the ladder stitch with a heavier thread to sew it nicely into place. The rest was gluing and top-stitching to secure things in place, a little paint...a little love!

Before & After

As many of you know the best part of all of this is the smile and hug you get from such a sweet little child!

And how can I resist a girl after my own heart- whose favorite part is the pink ribbon on top!

A Little History:
A Hobby Horse or Stick Pony is a child's toy horse, particularly popular before the days of cars. Just as children today imitate adults driving cars, so, in past times, children played at riding a wooden hobby horse made of a straight stick with a small horse's head (of wood or stuffed fabric) and perhaps reins, attached from the head.