DinkyBaby Chloe makeover

Baby Chloe has been given a makeover. Her eyes are now hand painted using non toxic acrylic paints. And her new outfit includes hand sewn top and diaper and hand knitted hat and booties. I love her new facial expression. The change in eyes from the embroidered dots has been a dramatic improvement. I've been frightened and intimidated in thinking about making changes in completed dolls. But I am wanting to learn and improve with each new doll and am now brave enough to play with finished dolls to work on improving them as well. Here is a before pic of Chloe and a couple afters.... let me know what you think.

Next is learning to use buttons for jointing arms and legs.

8 Inch Berenguer Lots to Love chubby babies

These are such adorable baby dolls. I have so fallen in love with all the faces and all the sizes!
I started with the 8 inch smiling baby. His/her smile is so similar to a picture of "The Painter Boy" photo I have of my son at 3 months old.
I love knitting and crocheting outfits for this baby. I am not really happy with him having to pose with both gender of clothing, so I will simply need to get another one to be a girlie model.
I just purchased a 5 inch Itty Bitty pouty face baby. I have an outfit already crocheted for her. So tiny and cute! I can't wait till she arrives.
In the meantime, I have a new set finished for Little Charlie. A sweater, hat, pants and booties. Done in soft baby blue acrylic yarn and a beautiful cable/waffle stitch pattern.
8 Inch Berenguer Lots to Love sweater set 

I would love to trade this set for a 8 inch Lots to Love baby, would even consider the one with large eyes. Those are really cute!

New cloth doll finished

Purchased a new pattern for a cloth baby doll. I am very pleased with the results. This baby is suitable for a little one to play with.

She is approximately 14 inches tall.

Her yarn hair has been hand sewn on individually to prevent coming out. 

Her arms and legs are thread jointed (fishing line) so this will make it easy for little ones to dress their baby doll.

She has hand embroidered eyes, nose and lips. And sculpted bottom!

The flower headband is removable.

Crocheted Round Ripple Baby Blanket in Pink

Finished this round ripple baby blanket this morning. It ended up being just over 40 inches across from point to point. For this blanket I chose two shades of pink, one that is light and another that is more eye-popping.
Plans are start another one in shades of purple and white while on our way to Phoenix. I am going to be taking along some cotton yarn in case I decide to work on dishcloths instead.

The blanket is available at my ArtFire Shop , http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/4700028. 

The Liebster Award!!

I was thrilled this morning to pop onto my blog to see that I have been awarded The Liebster Award! Awarded by Deb from,http://debthehappystitcher.blogspot.com/ , who has been so encouraging of my beginning attempts at cross-stitching.

Liebster is german for favorite and was created to bring attention to new and upcoming stitchers blogs with 200 or less followers.
There are a few things to do, so when awarded the Liebster Blog Award:
1. Choose 5 up and coming blogs with 200 or less followers. Be sure to let them all know they've been given an award!
Here is my list of 5:
http://kaingahappenings.blogspot.com/     An Australian Stitcher wife and mother of four children. I love gardening and craft, reading and enjoy looking in op shops.

http://crossstitchdramaqueen.blogspot.com/  a SAHM to 4 kids, 2 animals, and 1 husband. I find my sanity through cross stitching and quilting.

http://giraffexing.blogspot.com/  Theresa loves gardening and nature and have totally fallen in love with world of cross stitching.

http://stitchylion.blogspot.com/ striving to do well and keep up with all of her hobbies.always loved to cross stitch, still fairly new to scrapbooking and I'm just starting to get into baking.

http://fabulousfrogger.blogspot.com/  work full-time by day, and I try to fit in some stitching or crafting by night

2. The next requirement is to post the link back to the blogger who gifted the award. I would like to thank Deb for such an honor. http://debthehappystitcher.blogspot.com/ 
3. Post the award on your blog!
4. Share 5 random facts people may not know about you
    1. I ride my stationary bike and knit at the same time.
    2. I enjoy houseplants (but they don't enjoy me)
    3. I treasure privacy (is this also called paranoia? LOL)
    4. I do some web designing (shhhhh keep this a secret... I am not for hire)
    5. I love watching Dog The Bounty Hunter (only my boys know this....until now!)

Thanks again, Deb! This was fun. And a wonderful challenge. I hope this brings more stitchers together in friendship.

Counted cross-stitch raccoon progress (or lack thereof)

Feeling a little frustrated with the raccoon project. I've chosen yet another one that is above my experience level. Will I ever learn??

So, I sat down this morning and did a quick thread graph to use as a guide. And have hopes of maybe getting the lower right quarter finished tonight. It surely isn't that much to do, I just feel lost in the pattern. Quiet time in the studio to get my bearings and it will work out.

I did select another project (much to a friend's chagrin - she INSISTS that there never be two of the same type of project going at once). I happily and whole-heartedly disagree!!! The more projects of ANY type, the merrier!

I will take a pic or two of the raccoon progress tomorrow. Here is the snowman and bunny project.

White and Pink Crocheted Barbie Bed Doll completed

This was a custom order from a really sweet gal who purchased the lavender Barbie Bed Doll gown. She selected Miss March of the Centennial Collection as a white gown with pink accent. Unfortunately with all of the doctors appointments and hospital visits between hubby and myself, this gown took a lot longer than anticipated to complete.

I am so grateful for April's patience. I am certain she will feel the wait was worth it. She has also commissioned me to do two additional gowns that shouldn't take 2 months to finish!