Reflecting on Frogs

 

I have been making and reflecting on frogs. I really enjoyed this pair as in their photo shoot I placed several of my large and expanding collection of frogs. If you peep around the photos you will see a few little treasures. I also enjoyed this wonderfully froggy fabric called Wonder Garden, a Liberty Piccadilly Poplin.
Each frog is hand painted and then heavily embroidered with French knots, adding to the grumpy frog feel, These little guys are broad in the beam and look like they don't miss too many meals!
I have made a similar pattern for several years but have refined and reduced the size over the years. They are now about half the size of the original design. Much of my Liberty fabric stock comes from a friend who makes ties in Bath. She cuts in such a way that I use many of her offcuts as I need only tiny pieces of fabric. However, I do actively seek out fabric that is specificlly for my frogs and enjoy doing it!

Work in Progress for a Summer Frog

 

Here is my first frog of Summer 2026 and how I construct her. After cutting out the pattern I paint the eyes with acrylic paints and the begin to embroider her. I use straight stitch with around 100-120 French knots in three different coloured threads for depth. I then stitch, stuff and assemble the body. This little frog has chamomile in her stuffing and citrine as her heartstone for sunshine. I then begin to dress the doll.
I always work in the same way for best use of time. I always work the doll in a day. Drawers first and then the bodice of the dress. I then change my needle from a 70 to a 90 to stitch the leather shoes. All the leather I use is less than1mm thick and most is repurposed. I them tie the shoes with complimentary perle thread and tie a bow. At this point I use a little PVA to secure the bow, This is the only time I use any glue as my old arthritic fingers will no longer tie such tiny double bows. I then set her aside to make the tiny detachable brooch and the sampler pillow.

Marcus, A Gentleman Fox

 

Marcus is a little gentleman fox wearing a beautiful Liberty tana lawn waistcoat in pale blue and yellow with a soft yellow linen shirt. His cravat is the palest blue silk and his smart plus fours carry taupe and pale blue in their weave. He carries a foraging bag in felt and leather with stout leather boots for a walk in the woods. He is finished with cuffed sleeves, tiny buttons and a detachable brooch that you can wear because I like making them!
To his heart he a piece of carnelian for warmth and strength with rosemary in his stuffing for remembrance and happy memories. His waitcoat is made from the same fabric as the fox in my first reels, wonderfully she sold before I could take formal photographs of her. It is called Wild Petals and sings of summer to me xx

Reflecting on Foxes

 

I have been reflecting on foxes this week. Several new foxes are ready but I have not taken photographs yet as we all have succumbed to Covid, again! It never makes any of us really ill it is just a real nuisance. This is my fifth time!
The original foxes were huge, around two foot tall and first made in 2010. Over the years I have changed the pattern several times and radically reduced the size to be more fitting. I like smaller, smaller is better.
Big black nose and blue eyes is where they started but now their eyes are rich orange brown. For years I used Oakshott plains for bodies. Wonderfully rich colours in a sturdy shot dyed cotton and then the owner retired and I had to rethink. I moved on to Moda Grunge, with a wonderful textured pattern and now use little else for foxes.
Another change was moving away from crocheted flower bags to my familiar counted thread sampler bags. I enjoy making them more and find my hands ache if I do too much fiddly crochet work. I try to make each doll, fox or no, a three dimensional texture illustration. Bringing together all the myriad of components and materials. Embroidery thread, stitch, cotton, lace and leather all work to achieve this for me. Including herbs and a crystal in each doll is important to me and I love soursing them. Many of my dried herbs are from my own garden and each means something to me.
So new foxes are on the way if we can just shake this darn cold! Have a lovely weekend xx

A Work in Progress

 Just a work in progress for Work in Progress Wednesday. I liked the first photo, showing how all the clothes are made first to dress, in this instance a gentleman fox. You can see my trusty Bernina Record in the background. Made in 1964, it is two years older than me! I have three of these and would not be without them.

This gentleman will have a gingham shirt with navy plus fours in a Japanese yarn dye fabric for a tweedy look. An orange silk cravat and a lined Liberty tana lawn and felt waistcoat. His boots are navy leather with his sturdy foraging bag felt and leather with a buckle.
This one of my favourite patterns, a six piece pattern so quite fiddly. I especially love his tail peeping out of his trousers!
As you can see his arms are made separately with frilled cuffs as all mt dolls are button jointed, a style I really like,