Scotland November 2010

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Last week we were in Scotland, staying at the Tinto House Hotel, Symington, Lanarkshire.  When we arrived there was snow on the ground, the hills looked very wintery.  The hotel was comfortable and the public rooms very traditional looking with wood panelling and a huge, wide staircase.  Each day we had a trip out to different Castles and Palaces.  Even though the weather was very cold we enjoyed our sight seeing very much.  We didn't take pictures of everything we saw, as many of the sights were seen from the coach.  Our guide in Edinburgh, who was dressed in traditional Scottish regalia, showed us parts of the city not shown in my slide show.  For instance, we saw where Robert Louis Stevenson lived and the guide also explained a lot about the architecture of the houses.

I'm not sure if I'd go to Scotland in November in the future, it was just too cold!

On checking the slide show I notice that some pictures are out of sequence, I don't know why.

New Hobby or Second Childhood?

What woman in her right mind buys herself a doll?  Well, it seems I'm not alone giving in to the temptation to buy a doll to make clothes for.  The doll I chose was a Gotz Precious Day Girl from here.  The American Girl doll, apart from being very expensive, has a rather toothy look that I didn't like, the Gotz doll has a more neutral look to her.  The clothes my doll came in were very well made but too modern.  I want make the more old fashioned style.

The shoes she came in don't go with the look I want, that is something else I'll make.  So, after making this first dress I decided she needed a nightdress...

These patterns are definitely not for the beginner, there is as much work in them as there is in a real person pattern.  But I think they are lovely.  Here's where I got these patterns from.

I'm glad to have this new hobby, after all there are only so many cushion covers that I need, I have enough table cloths, aprons, bags etc and I was running out of things to make.  Making doll clothes should keep me busy for quite a while I think.

Dolls Clothes

I've been having fun recently making dolls clothes.  A friend of mine has three granddaughters and they are all getting a doll each for Christmas.  The doll they are getting is similar to the American Girl doll so it's quite a big size.  When my friend said she was going to try and make clothes for them I couldn't help but volunteer to make some too.  I have made a few cloth dolls and I remembered buying a pattern about ten years ago for dolls dresses.  I don't really know why I bought this pattern, I think I just liked how it looked!  Well, when I checked the pattern it is for American Girl.  What a coincidence!!!

The first thing I made was this petticoat.

I found a pattern for it online.

Then I made the vest to match...

Also online was this dress pattern that I made next...

And then this one...

Now that I've had a bit of practise I'll have a go with the pattern I bought.