Elderberry (Sold) is an elderberry fairy with tiny tattered wings and a big heart. Dressed in an Acufactum print called Elder Elves, she has elderberries and tiny fae across her dress on a warm green. Her wings and her petticoat are Berry Dot Cotton and she has Broderie Anglais drawers with white tulle underskirts.Her apron has a simple folk art pattern of elderberries and the colours are picked up in her bonnet and her tiny felt shoes. She carries a sampler sachet in counted thread work and has tiny white bobby socks.Her face is hand embroidered and her hair is hand styled in a rich berry wool with frosted glass beads for eyes in a dark violet blue.She was the last of my autumn fairytale and fable dolls and went to her forever home several weeks ago but I wanted to share her with you. I was looking at my Flower Fairies of Autumn book and came upon the Elderberry Fairy, The poem really spoke to me - Tread quietly:O people, hush!—For don’t you seeA spotted thrush,One thrush or two,Or even three,In every laden elder-tree?Then I remembered this wonderful Acufactum fabric and she came alive in my mind. I just had to make her and see her complete. She was a joy to make xx
Curly Locks wilt thou be mine ......sit on a cushion and sew a fine seam. And dine upon sugar and strawberries and cream.The berry fabric by Acufactum and the little rhyme inspired this wee fairy tale doll. She carries a tiny embroidery frame also with her counted thread sampler and has strawberry flowers and fruit to her apron. With tiny red boots and a gentle face she is a sweet girl. As always she has hand embroidered face with deep brown glass bead eyes and hand styed brunette hair. Her bobble hat is a tweedy Rowan yarn and her underskirts are red chambray cotton with white tulle lace.She is part of the little event I am having on my Folksy shop until the end of November. To get into the spirit of the Cyber Week I am offering everything on my shop at Show Prices.These are the prices I sell at when I am at an actual show in person. As I am looking after my aunt and have had to cancel all my winter shows it seemed a good idea to offer dolls on my shop at these prices plus postage, getting in the mood of cyber week. I am a little early with this and I am never sure when it actually happens but I have lots of hospital appointments all week with various family members and wanted to get it right when I have the moment.Have a peep at the shop and pick up a show price bargain until the first of December.
This is Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest and when older the wife of Hades. To the ancient Greeks she was known as Kore or the Maiden. With hair like the corn in the cornfield and surrounded by wildflowers, her symbols where the wildflowers of her mother's wheat fields and a gentle doe. The fabric I found seemed perfect, featuring gentle deer and poppies with cornflowers. It is an Acufactum print called Deer in Summer Field and is now discontinued which is such a shame.Persephone's story goes that when she was older she was glimpsed by Hades, the God of the Underworld and she stole his heart. Rebuffed by both Persephone herself and her mother Demeter. Hades kidnapped Persephone and took down into the Underworld. Beside herself with grief, Demeter neglected her duties and the crops withered and the winter came. Eventually Persephone managed to escape but because she had eaten a few pomegranite seeds she was forced to return to the Underworld for six months a year. Hence our seasons with the autumn and winter months when Demeter grieves for her girl only for the spring flowers to emerge with joy of her return.Persephone is dressed in her pretty dress and is wearing a heavily appliqued and embroidered cape with a design of poppies and wheat running around her cape both front and back. She wears little wool felt boots with a tweedy Rowan yarn bobble hat and carries a sampler sachet. She was a joy to make.
Just listed is my collection for Christmas. Celyn, Welsh for Holly, is my Fairytale and Fable doll for Christmas.Celyn, is the Holly King's daughter from the story of the Oak King and the Holly King. Battling across the year to control the seasons. Right now the Holly King rules as the nights draw in and the weather chills but on the Winter Solstice the Oak Kings triumphs and the days start to lengthen and the temperature starts to rise. Celyn, is the Holly Kings daughter watching the eternal battle between her father and the Oak King of the summer.Dressed in a Makower Christmas print called Sarisa Holly Green Twigs from the Good Tidings collection. With a leaf green bobble hat and little green felt winter boots.Her apron is heavily embroidered with a folk art print of holly leaves and holly berries with a festive sampler pillow with a golden coloured pine cone charm. Her green eyes and red hair seemed just right for my Christmas Girl. She is finished with broderie anglais drawers, dark green petticoats and white tulle underskirts. The wool for her bobble hat is spun from local wool from sheep in the Ribble Valley and hand dyed by the farmers wife in her kitchen.
Collette is a little flower maid from the court of Marie Antoinette made in celebration of the wonderful exhibition now on at the V&A.Marie Antoinette Style is well worth a look and if you cannot get there the exhibition book is a sumptuous alternative.Collette is a little girl with hand styled pink high Rococo hair trimmed with ribbon and tiny earings. Her face is hand embroidered with warm green frosted glass beads for her eyes. She is all soft pinks, greens and creams with a dress in the style of a robe polonaise. Her underskirt is cream tulle and her drawers are cream broderie anglais. Her under kirtle is carried up onto her bodice and her sleeves are heavily worked. She carries her embroiderey with her in a little hoop and has spent time embroidering her garden boots for when she picks flowers for the queen's bed chamber. She has a very sweet nature and was a joy to make.
