Gifts from Finland!

Today I got an unexpected mail. It came from Finland.

My dear friend, Irina,

http://narinanapertaa.blogspot.com/

sent me these adorable gifts! What a sweet and kind jest that touched my heart!

She sent me:

these mini kitchen appliances and a cherry pie and more food in the basket:

some haberdashery for the sewing room:

a sewing machine:

and this little very dear to Irina's heart miracle, the color of her hear is my favorite, I used to have it too, or at least close to it, :))):

Isn't she beautiful?

Irina,
Thank you very much for your support and friendship. These unexpected gifts mean a lot to me.

Sincerely,

Natalia

Edwardian Elegance - Work in Progress

Vanessa's dress is fixed and draped, her shoes have heels now, and the doll will be standing. I love this doll and appreciate a lot the fact that she can stand on her own without a doll stand support. Her Edwardian hat and umbrella will be added to the composition later.

I also put a little roombox together with a window today, and even had time to apply Edwardian wallpaper.

Now I am debating: do I want a bigger roombox where Vanessa's bedroom and a part of her office will be showed up or just to go with a part of her office roombox like you see below?

It seems a little bit small for me.

What do you think?

From sunny Spokane,

Natalia

Edwardian Elegance - Work in Progress

Vanessa finally got her shoes. The heels are still missing, I am working on them.

Nothing super fancy. Actually, it appeared, that the doll has big feet and it makes it a little bit harder to come up with something elegant, but I don't give up, and will keep experimenting.

At least, she can take her shoes off and give a rest to her feet.

The dress was made based on the Kathi Mendenhall's pattern with a little modification. I am very happy with the choice of fabric I found for Vanessa's dress. Now my big question is: do I want her to stay in the composition, or to sit on the chair? It is a big question for me, because based on my decision it will depend on how to drape her dress. Any suggestions, please?

Have a great Tuesday!

Natalia

New Silk and New Plans

Thanksgiving is over and it is time to go back to work! I hope everyone had great time during the holiday and spent a lot of time with your family. We did! We went out of the city and spent time in the country, far away from the busy and crazy time that is called Black Friday and Doorbusters.

Anyway I managed to buy this beautiful rack for the spools from Jo-Anne that was on sale and helped me to organize my silk floss collection.

Please, don't be deceived, not all of my silk floss is displayed right now, I have more stash, and more is coming!

Yes, yes, yes! I am soooo excited, I found new silk floss that I can use for stitching on 90 count silk gauze!!!!

Let me introduce you beautiful Pearsalls Superfine silk floss! By the way it is not so shinny when it is stitched, as a picture shows.

You can buy it in spools, whatever color you need, but it is cheaper to buy as a pack.

What else a stitcher needs for fun? Silk gauze, suitable Beautiful silk floss and a correct needle.

Here is you can see my test of Pearsall Superfine silk floss on 90 count silk gauze. I used blue color of silk, but show you red for more color. I used a beading needle # 15. Beading needle # 13 will be thick for 90 count silk gauze.

You, probably, can't imagine my excitement, when I figured out that this Pearsall Superfine silk floss can be used for 100-112 count silk gauze, I hope. 1 strand of this floss can be splited in 3 super-super-super fine but durable threads:

It is very hard to find 100-112 silk gauze nowadays. I missed an opportunity to buy it when I have had a chance. Elga and I exchanged with pieces of silk gauze: she sent me 112 count - I sent her 72 count, and I really can't wait to get it now to try my new silk.

The new 2013 year hasn't started yet but I am planning it already.

I thought that after trying needlepoint in miniature I would never go back to the real size cross stitch.

My daughter, little beautiful dreamer inspired me to take a bigger needle and thicker floss and start cross stitching. I want to finish this Angel of Dreams by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum for Nataly's birthday in March, 2013.

Wish me good luck and a lot of free productive time!

Best wishes for a new week!

Talk to you later,

Natalia

New Commission is Finished - Pillow "Ho-Ho-Ho", 1/12th scale

This is a Dollhouse Miniature Christmas pillow "Ho-Ho-Ho", stitched on 49 count silk gauze, measures 1 1/8" square.

This pillow matches the Christmas stockings and slippers from the previous posts.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families!

Natalia

New Commission is Finished - Christmas Stockings

I am in a hurry to finish all commissions, because most of them are Christmas pillows, stockings and slippers.

Today I finally put together these 2 Christmas stockings that match the Christmas slippers from the previous post.

They were stitched on 49 count silk gauze with Gutermann silk and measures approx. 1 1/2".

more coming...

New Commission is Finished - Granny's Christmas Slippers

I finished and put together a new commission - dollhouse miniature Granny's Christmas Slippers in 1/12th scale, they are a little bit less than 7/8". The slippers are stitched on 49 count with Gutermann silk and decorated with Bunka.

more coming...

Natalia

Dollhouse Miniature Christmas Tree Tutorial

Reading Casey's posts about her Russian Cottage

http://caseymini.blogspot.com/

reminds me that my project devoted to my Grandma "Conversation with God" has been neglected for a long time. Actually, not only this one. In each project there is something that is missing and it takes too long time for me to figure out what it is. I envy green to those of you who finishes their projects, roomboxes so fast.

While I am thinking about what has to be thought about, I want to show you my Christmas tree in process. This Christmas tree will go to my Country roombox.

First I took a Christmas tree that they sell at any craft stores.

Turned it upside down

and started attaching little branches of lycopodium to the tree from the bottom, I used glue.

Closer to the top I used smaller pieces of lucopodium

Then I trimmed my tree till I started liking it

After my Christmas tree with a new look has dried, I took off that wooden bottom piece

I prepared a new trunk for the Christmas tree. It was made from a dowel of the size I needed and covered with plastic wood that dries very fast. After that I painted it

and drilled a little hole

My trunk is ready to be attached to the Christmas tree.

It's there

Next step I made a base for my tree.

I took a round wooden piece, the bottom and the sides were painted green,

a green piece of fabric to cover another side of the wooden piece,

and a piece of Wonder-Under paper

and attached a piece of fabric to the wooden piece with the help of Wonder-Under paper.

Ironed on the top of fabric:

This is the look from the bottom of the wooden piece

I trimmed the fabric around.

This is how the bottom looks

and this is how the top of the Christmas tree base looks like now

You can use any color of fabric for the base simulating the Christmas tree skirt. As for me, I am going to stitch one. Maybe it will be ready for the next Christmas 2014, :)))

I hope you are not tired of this tutorial yet, because I have a couple more pictures to show to you.

I glued my Christmas tree to the base, put the Christmas lights around the tree

and also this little pretty Christmas Angel (it was a gift from my fellow-miniaturist from the local dollhouse club) at the top of the Christmas Tree.

Now my Christmas tree is ready to be decorated. I will hide this lights and cords deeper inside the tree.

Have a great weekend and a lot of finished projects!

Natalia