Hare

Have just finished producing a Spring 2008 'paper' catalogue with photos of the new dolls, and finally got round to re-photographing the Mad March Hare - I just love his needle-sculpted paws! I think this photo shows him off much better. The berry pips were left out from Christmas, but add to the rustic look and match his little stitched love heart.

Springtime chick

The evenings are slowly drawing out, and I saw on our local news last night that two lambs had been born yesterday at a farm somewhere in Yorkshire, so Spring must be on the way!

With that in mind here is my own offering for the approaching season - a newly hatched chick, resting in the base of her egg. The word 'spring' is stamped on the broken egg shell, and she is craning her neck and flapping her little hessian wings for attention!

The chick is made from Osnaburg, painted, sanded and stained with coffee for a Primitive look and a yummy smell.

'Spring' chick in eggshell £18

Vintage children's shoes

These little 'vintage' children's shoes have turned out so well - I just love them. They are made from cotton fabric, painted, aged and treated with wax giving them the appearance and texture of soft leather. They are finished with the tiniest vintage shell buttons I have ever seen! At present I have sets in blue and 'rust' colour, although I may experiment with other colours over the coming weeks.

'vintage' children's shoes £16 (for a pair - please state colour)

Here is my latest Fairy - from a lovely pattern by Back Porch Pickins in the US. She is currently a one of a kind. I love making these dolls, but they take the best part of a week to make - so I will not be taking any orders on them at the moment. I have booked Nostell Priory Craft Fair (National Trust property near Wakefield, West Yorkshire) and hope to have some of these dolls available for the May Bank Holiday weekend (Craft Fair dates: 3rd, 4th, 5th May 2008).

Penguins

The sun is shining today - but is has been so cold, wet and windy here in Yorkshire recently, that although I am thinking Spring/Easter with most of my new primitives, I couldn't resist posting a picture of the Penguins I made just before Christmas. I have just had an order for a set (from my Mum - does that count?) so I may make a few more...can penguins be all year round decorations? I guess if you like them they can!
Pppp..penguins £22 (they are stitched together so Jnr. doesn't waddle off)

Skinny rabbit

At last! I've managed to get some of the new dolls finished and photographed. I've been like a kid in a sweetshop recently, with lots of new patterns to try - but not quite finishing anything before rummaging through bits of fabric for the next 'project'.

Here we have my 'skinnies' (so called because of their very long and slender limbs). I just found some lovely chocolate brown velvet fabric and couldn't wait to make a velvet smock for the skinny rabbit - she has turned out so lovely.

The doll has a pretty floral/cherry dress, which has been aged with coffee, giving her a very prim look. Her hair is needle felted black Wensleydale wool.

Meet Beatrice. She's the first in a new line of rabbits that I will be making for 2008. Perhaps more of a folk art doll than primitive, she is still painted, sanded and stained with coffee to give her a careworn look. She is quite big at 66cm from the crown of her head to her heels. Her long ears are wired so that you can create your own rabbit expresions! She is the first doll I have made with eyelids - wow they were tricky to sew on, but with practice I'm sure they will get easier!

Beatrice ~ SORRY SHE'S BEEN SOLD

Still my favourites! Each bear has his own personality and I never know what they will turn out like until they are finished.

Pumpkin Jack

Felix the Scarecat

Some photos from the summer of my primitives - all are available to order

Cat and her kitten just love to play in the daisies all summer long...they are not happy with the forecast of snow in Yorkshire for tonight!

Cat and kitten are made from cotton which is painted black, then sanded lightly and stained with coffee and cinnamon. Their noses are needle sculpted and facial features embroidered.