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Thank you George!!
The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has brought even more uncertainty to the year 2020. The decision to make an RBG owl was so very simple and bitter sweet. Owls are known to be very wise creatures and so it wasn't a stretch to make an RBG owl. For me she represented a voice for all disenfranchised humans. She stood up for everyone who were discriminated against, not just woman or gays. I made this owl with RBG's signature lace collar, black robe and big glasses. I made this particular owl with separate wings, unlike most of my plush owls. I felt they look more like the wide sleeves of a judges robe. On the back is written Our SHERO........
This Covid-19 situation has interrupted so many things in our lives. Weddings, funerals, sports, live theater and my personal loss, festivals. Festivals are such a huge part of my business. Large crowds are always good for business, but not for avoiding this contagious virus. So I will have to put in-person sales on hold until next Spring. In the meantime my Etsy shop has been thriving. I was requested to make this Temple owl plushie for a repeat customer. Her daughter has been taking her Temple classes online and her mom ordered this masked owl as a reminder of this crazy year. I loved the idea. So we decided that I should make a matching wearable mask for her daughter to wear at school in the fall. Hoping for a vaccine and therapeutics so that we can put these crazy days behind us!! 😷
I really enjoy making these little dolls. I hate waste and so I keep all my scraps of fabric. This project is just perfect for using up scraps. The use of many patterns makes these superhero dolls very whimsical. I also love the fact that they are generic and not a known superhero such as Batman or Wonder Woman. Therefore the child can make up their own name and story. There boys and girls, all kids are SUPERHEROES! Am I right?!
I have been making these very sweet fabric dollhouses for many years now. I have made many themes too! I make a lot basic dollhouses, beach houses, Noah's Arc, girl's clubhouses and a pirate ship! But I must say I truly love this castle! I found this amazing and whimsical stone look fabric with flowers entwined thru the bricks. On the inside I used a plain stone to show off the throne, shields and banners. It is super light, it's made using plastic canvas and batting and I stuffed the turrets with fiberfil so they are like little pillows! This makes the castle much safer than their plastic counterparts. We currently live in Wales and haves visited many castles so this little castle holds a special meaning for me. And like every single dollhouses I make, it is one of a kind!
I am really fond of this quilt pattern. It is very simple, it is made up of 5 inch blocks made into two triangles. To make the actual geometric pattern the idea is to use a light and dark property on each block. Arranging the blocks is key, as you see the blocks form a geometric shape that is not necessarily visible up close. The pattern takes shape the further away you are! I find this an interesting illusion. I purchased the fabrics here in Wales. They were sold in a pack of 10 inch squares. The prints are very tradition, cross stitch hearts, spools of thread, scissors and pins, etc. The colors are also neutral, in shades of red, grey, black and beige. I am thrilled with the finished product. I could have chosen to stay strictly tradition and simply pieced the quilt into small or large squares, but I am extremely happy with this modern geometric quilt!
In May my husband was offered the opportunity to move the the UK for a year for his job as a chemical engineer. He is working at the Pembroke refinery in Pembrokeshire Wales. I did not hesitate to make the move, knowing that this was a unique opportunity. I run a fairly successful Etsy shop and festival business in the Philadelphia area in the US. We packed up some belongings, including my fabric dollhouses, some fabric, scissors, glue, etc. etc. and bought a sewing machine that I can plug in here. My hope is to collect fabrics from the small quilt and fabric stores and create some items while I am here. So far it's been fun and challenging for my husband and I living in a part of Wales that few Americans visit. The lack of choices for shopping and eating has been a bummer, but we are embracing it! I recently did a very small craft show at the Pembroke City Hall showcasing my dollhouses. I found it rewarding to see the reaction to my little dollhouses all the way across the pond!
