Marching on the Spot

I have knitted Alasdair, the father of the house, a pair of jeans. Well that is what they were meant to be. At first I thought I would have to design a pair from scratch but then I looked in my box of mini knitting things and was so excited when I located a packet with Lesley Roberts’ Period Miniature Patterns no 35, “Martin the Sportsman”. This has the patterns for a cricket outfit and a golfing outfit. Great, I thought, a ready made pattern for a pair of trousers. Well I didn’t realise until now that cricket flannels do up a the sides. So Alasdair has a pair of baggy jeans which do up at the side.

Later on I will create a pattern for a pair of well tailored trousers for him. I am actually quite pleased with the general look of his jeans so all is not lost. I have not forgotten about Alasdair’s kilt, I have to get to the store to select some suitable ribbon in the near future.

In my previous post I said I planned to do the curtains and bedspreads for the master bedroom. Are you surprised that I can tell you that this did not happen?

Once I commence knitting I tend to become like a woman possessed and this week has been no exception. I decided it was a good time to start documenting my older designs, proving them and typing them up into documents which I can later share and/or sell depending upon my progress and any demands for the completed patterns. So I have started on an adaption of Serena”s little black dress.  This will keep me out of mischief for a few days or longer.

This week I am not going to make plans but simply finish what is in hand and let you know how it is progressing next week. 

Slowly, Slowly Wins the Race

The renovation project has fallen behind a little this week partly because I have had a bad cold and also because I discovered that both the twin dolls were suffering severe decomposition. Whatever material it was that had been used to cover their bodies had turned to sticky, crumbs. Not a pretty sight at all as  you can seen in the photos. So some urgent surgery was in order.

Crumbling body

I have to admit that I did not enjoy this task. I managed to remove the residue of the covering materials quite easily but replacing them proved challenge. I wrapped the pipe cleaner base with wadding and stitched it in place and then located some knitted fabric from an old night gown. The repaired bodies are not the most attractive or well finished objects but at least they are repaired and this will not show under their clothes. 

Over the past week I have completed the christening gown even managing to sew myself to it without realizing it. I had to remove the thread from the needle and very gingerly pull the thread from my finger before continuing. Oh the hazards of mini knitting. I then knitted two bonnets to go with it. I made the first one from the book and it was far too large so I found an alternative pattern which fitted perfectly, Now baby Angus is ready for his christening.

I have also completed Alexandra’s red sailor outfit and made bonnets for both Allegra and Alexandra. I started on their stocking but so far have completed only one so three more to go and the girl’s outfits are completed.

The father of the little family, Alasdair, has finally arrived from the UK so this week I shall be making him his own outfits as he is now in borrowed clothes. I have not made a final decision what to begin with but I plan on making him a kilt (like the one I made years ago for his mother, Margaret), an aran sweater or fair isle and socks as well as a trousers though not all in a single week. I am still waiting for the eldest son, Anthony to arrive as he is not in stock at the suppliers. I am very impressed with this Heidi Ott doll since he stands up alone, unlike the other porcelain dolls who need to be propped up or stuck into position, and every joint, including his head is beautifully articulated so that you can put him in a variety of poses. The only down side to his appearance was his very yellow, monochrome hair but I have given him a small hair treatment which I feel has improved this somewhat. Now on to the knitting and sewing.

As winter has now arrived in Brisbane I realise that the dollhouse itself is located in a rather chilly place so the renovations to the house itself are on hold. I can concentrate on doing the furnishings, carpets, and accessories and attempt to make up new windows. It is so long since I have actually made things which require wood and tools it will be an exercise in relearning old and forgotten skills. Ones which I must admit I find less appealing than mini knitting, needlepoint and sewing. Still it’s all part of the work. Hope I can get more done this week and have scheduled the making up of the bedspreads and curtains for the master bedroom. So I will need to leave off the blog and get cracking in earnest, especially as I have loads of revision for the end of semester French test on Friday.

Second Step and a Bit of a Tumble

I was feeling pleased with myself until today when I started tweaking of few things on my blog and managed to destroy the second post, so I am not feeling quite so pleased with myself as I am slowly learning my way around Blogger and adding bits and pieces. Unfortunately this does mean that the mini projects are neglected. Rather ironic that the thing I have started as an incentive is actually eating up the time I would be spending doing work on the actual project. However I did go out today and purchase the tags I plan to use as slate tiles when I redo the roof. I took my inspiration from a house built by HD (Husband Dearest).

It has been created by pasting on hundreds of those tiny cardboard tags used to attach price labels on items in shops. So this morning I set out to OfficeWorks for supplies. Luckily I found a wide selection available and came home with 2 cartons. Mine are smaller than those HD used so it will take a lot more pasting on my part. I have a total of 2000 so I hope that is enough. I am planning on asking his help when it comes to the painting as I think that is the tricky bit. Time will tell.

Here's a shot of the supplies I got there. I got myself a new craft knife and a hot glue gun to use when I have to repair all the stair case which is falling apart. So soon it will all begin in earnest. I plan on starting with the roof and then doing the rooms for which I already have furnishings and rugs ready to put in. I must say I am not really looking forward to the papering but I must just grit my teeth and just get on with it.




Don't think for one moment that I will not come back and tweak some more. I'm not cured yet and hopefully I won't destroy the entire thing. If I do I shall just start all over again. It's all a perverse kind of fun. I have just carried out a little repair job by cutting and pasting some HTML which may or may not work. Wish I hadn't discarded that book HTML for Dummies.

First step of all the Small Steps.

This is the Diary of a dollhouse renovation and is created as an incentive to keep me on track. Past experience has shown that project tend to stagnate and die a natural death without some incentives so this is the carrot to urge this particular donkey to the completion of the project. Not as exciting as Grand Designs but it  probably will not be without it's dramas either.

 Dad  built the house over 40 years ago when I returned from my first visit to the States with a collection of miniatures I had collected there. He and I spent many happy hours working on it, adding to it and as a result becoming totally immersed in the world of miniatures and were both there it the start of BMEA here in Brisbane. 

The house has been looking a little sad lately and it never was completely finished off. It was looking extremely sad and neglected and had been given some attention (with bad results) from a couple of Tonkinese cats. The first step was the gut it completely and get it ready for a new look. So at present it looks even sadder.

While I am working out a work schedule and purchasing and/or locating the necessary supplies I am getting myself in the correct frame of mind by returning to my favourite mini skills and knitting some clothes for the family and doing some new rugs to go in the refurbished house.

One of the twin girls, Allegra with the sailor outfit being made for her sister, Alexandra

The start of the rug for the twin's bedroom

I am looking forward to receiving the father of the house from the supplier in the UK. It is very hard to get male dollhouse dolls so I am hoping he will look as good as his pictures and then I can get to work making him some clothes. I need to seek out some material to make him a nice pair of jeans. So plenty to keep me going until I get myself into the right frame of mind to begin the actual renovations.

It has been fun so far and rather like Christmas as I have found I had some lovely wall papers stashed away and am having to make some choices among all on offer. I have also located many forgotten treasures and  lovely pieces of furniture for the refurbished house. I do have to make the beds for the twin's room and also one for the eldest boy. Still wavering on my options and I will keep you posted. For now back to the knitting.