Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Early May Catch-Up

Here's the thing: ever since I opened my doll shop on Etsy, I've been a lot busier. Things have been going really well this first week, and I'm having to work hard to list more dolls in the shop without getting into an assembly-line mentality. All the while, I'm conscious of how far behind I am on reading blogs, and I feel badly, because you all have been so supportive. I don't want to disappear into a sea of textiles! I realize that when I catch up on blog-reading, I have to start from different places each time. If I always start out with a wrung sponge and Amish Guitar, I will never get to What Adrienne Thinks About That and Yorkshire Pudding in the same evening.

This past weekend was Lucia's 6th birthday celebration. We got to attend a mother-daughter tea on Saturday, and then celebrate her birthday on Sunday, May 10. Rather than open up presents all at once, we spread them throughout the day. When she woke up, she found this handmade princess doll from Silver Acorn.

After breakfast, Lucia went out to the playhouse where she found a snow maiden marionette her teacher made for her in trade for a daffodil nature table doll I had made last month:



After lunch, Lucia opened up the package my niece sent, which contained a book of Russian fairy tales including the "Snegurochka" snow maiden story and this dress that my niece made:



You read that right, my niece made the dress! She makes her children's costumes and sews their Easter dresses. Yes, she's awesome. Last May, when we visited the family in California, Lucia was smitten with the "exiled princess" blue and white dress of one of her cousins. This purple dress is sewn in that style.

There were other lovely presents, too, and a festive gathering later on that afternoon. It was Mother's Day yesterday, and Bede and Lucia brought me tea and toast plus a hand-made card. I got to sleep in a little, and then work to clean up the house for guests. The house has become more of a shambles in the past couple of weeks. For now, it's clean. Would that it would stay clean!

I'll close with two phtoos. One is of the shade garden in early May:



The other is of a ladybug doll I made on Saturday, was featured in a treasury of ladybug related listings, and then sold on Sunday along with the Fuchsia doll:

12 comments:

tanita✿davis said...

First, how much do I love that a new six knows the word "exile?" What a gorgeous dress; I hope her world includes dress up forever.

Good luck as you continue to work and balance that between your life and desire to keep in touch! I'm excited that it's going well!

Clydesdale Jogger said...

I don't know. I kinda like your A to Z approach to catching up on your reading...very librarian like.

Seriously though, like tanita said, I hope you find the balance you are looking for. It must be exciting to get your new business of the ground. Don't worry, AmishGuitar will be there when you have the time to stop by.

Kathleen said...

Ooh, I can explain about the "exiled princess." When my daughter, who shares a birthday with Lucia, turned 6, I asked what she wanted for her birthday, and she said "An Exiled Princess costume." So I chose a fabric that was dyed on a gradient, so as to look travel-stained at the bottom. It's elegant, but not fluffy, so as to be princess-y without being impractical. And the original came with a heavy linen traveling cloak, lined with satin for her delicate princess skin.

When Lucia came to our house, we had quite a job of it getting her to take the exiled princess dress off when it was time to go home. I bought the fabric for the new one then. It took me this long to get around to actually sewing it.

Anamaria (bookstogether) said...

There is so much goodness in this post, it's hard to know where to begin (as with the blogroll!). I'm thrilled to hear that your etsy shop is a success, and wish Lucia a happy happy birthday (we celebrated Milly's 5th this weekend, too). And I absolutely love that exiled princess dress. Happy Mother's Day to you!

Vivian Mahoney said...

Oh! Thanks for making me smile today! I'm so glad Lucia had a wonderful birthday and you, a lovely Mother's Day. Lucia's presents are divine and make me wish I could be six!

Saints and Spinners said...

I'm glad to know the story behind the "exiled princess" dress. Hey everyone, that was Kathleen that made the dress. I'm sure you figured it out, but I didn't know if she wanted her name in the post, sooo...

Thanks for popping in. I'm glad to know you're all still here. I just finished up a doll, and now I'm off to take a walk while the sun is still shining. I need to go quick! I'll visit you all this week.

xoxoxoxo

Lone Star Ma said...

Happy belated birthday to Lucia! Sounds like a lovely busy start to May!

Charlotte said...

Pretty princess dress...maybe I will get a grandmother to make princess dresses for.

and adorable ladybug! I'm not surprised he sold so quickly.

Myth said...

Happy Birthday Lucia!
Happy Mother's Day Farida!
and
Congratulations on the sales!!!

Jules at 7-Imp said...

SQUEE to that ladybug doll -- and, as always, your beautiful offspring.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that purple dress is extraordinary!

Also, I kept telling myself that maybe I'd buy Fuchsia and Ladybug Girl one day when I'd done something particularly good, so I was pretty shocked when I checked on them and they were GONE. Sigh. Currently, I have my eye on Crocus. :) I'm so glad the store's doing well, though, and to hear about other good things and celebratory days.

Beth Kephart said...

oh my gosh

bleeding hearts AND your ladybug.

She looks so happy.