Plodding on

Today the rain held off and I was able to get out for two walks and enjoy the fresh air.
It is strange how this lockdown is affecting us all and we have had phone calls and txt messages from several folk who are normally in the "Christmas Card Only" file.   To be fair, the DBEM had me busy on the email too keeping in touch with her cousins -  I have a new career as an amanuensis:-)
The Christmas Ornament plans changed - I fell out of love with the linen I had chosen and opted for a 36 count and decided to stitch over two fabric threads,   Then I realised it would turn out far larger than I was happy with so chose to stitch only the centre O and today I finish-finished it off as an ornament for my tree.   The chart was difficult to read due to the colour/symbol coding but is available here if you want to stitch this yourself.

Lovely to feel so organised....but tomorrow I must get back to The Birds.
Do you remember me saying that Rag Doll Ruby was predestined to be an only child?   Well, the birth of Great Niece E has made me reconsider and I have started on Ruby's sibling as a gift for the new baby.  So far two legs and one arm only so no photo at this point.   Tomorrow may see the other arm and the body.   I have cut out the fabric for a summer dress for Great Niece E for next NZ summer and will make a start on sewing that tomorrow since the weather forecast is for more rain which means no gardening.   The weeds will wait another day:-)
Until next...Keep Safe, Keep Well

Meet Ruby

Do you ever fall for projects in a magazine and disappear down an unexpected route?   I did that with my rag doll.
My cousin had made a rag doll for her granddaughter, complete with a whole wardrobe of clothes.  What a good idea, I thought.  Then just as I heard about Christine's creation, I saw a pattern in the English Womens Weekly magazine.  Eventually I got the enlargement done and cut out the pieces.   And only then did I realise that I couldn't stitch this on the sewing machine and everything would need to be hand made.  

Slowly the pieces came together and she began to look like a doll.  The DBEM said she needed a name so I christened her Ruby.

Creating Ruby's head of hair - and what a boring process that is - took most of one afternoon.
Conclusions from this foray....

• Ruby will have only this one set of clothes; a dress, knickers and shoes.  The pattern called for pajamas and slippers and I did have notions of a raincoat and boots (ha ha)
• Ruby will never have a sibling.   I am sworn off making rag dolls!!!