A Trip to Dollywood.

Today is a nice, cool, rainy day in Oklahoma. We really needed this, its been so hot since our 104 degree welcome a month ago. Too bad today was the day I had the umption in my gumption to make headway on those dining room chairs. Oh well, I guess I'll have to curl up on the couch with a good book and some tea.

About the title of this post: just kidding. I am not going to the magical world of Dolly Parton any time soon. BUT I feel like my neck of the woods could be considered Dollywood right now.

You remember this? Oh yeah, and this too? Well, I'm at it again. This time, I had to make a little "Happy Birthday/Welcome to the World" present to my gorgeous little pseudo niece.

Meet Mollie Joy Palladino.



Isn't she the most precious little girl? She came into this world after making us all wait 13 days. Well, 9 months and 13 says. I do have to admit, it might be my fault she was so late. For the first 7 months of Katie's pregnancy, I was sure her due date was August 17, not August 4. Well, somehow I transmitted these thoughts to little Mollie, who decided to make her entrance on August 17, at 12:01am. Yep.

Anyway, I promptly got to work on a baby for the new baby. And here she is.



And since one day (far, far into the future) Mollie will hopefully be like a cousin to our children, I of course had to take a picture of Mollie's baby, with Millie. (You remember Millie, right?)



Did you notice that Millie has a new dress? The dress she wore in her last photo shoot was actually borrowed from another doll, so she has been sitting -gasp- naked in my closet for a while. And because J was concerned she would miss the freedom of not wearing clothes, I picked out a nice Americana, "Let Freedom Ring" sort of fabric for her new dress. And I even tried out a fancy stitch on my sewing machine.





See what I mean about Dollywood? Not only are there dolls galore, but the woman of the house is going a little bit kooky without her husband...

Babies Galore!

I've been very busy making babies the past few weeks.

Now, kindly please get your mind out of the gutter of Babies 'R Us, and into the doll making scene. I've featured these cutie pie little dolls before, and I've been at it again. I got the pattern from Bit of Whimsy (I cannot take credit for that, unfortunately, but check this girl out, because she has some really cool patterns) and I have to rave about how easy it is. So easy.

I had my first custom doll order from a girl named Roxi. You see, she was turning six years old and requested a doll with purple hair, blue eyes, and a pink and purple dress. I was up to the challenge. Here is a picture of Jon, Roxi, Roxi's brother Gib, and I after the adoption.



And of course, you remember Jo. That sweet little girl just had her first birthday, and I decided it was high time she owned a doll (instead of the million trucks, tractors, cars, and airplanes she borrows from her brother). Here we are on my last day of work.



And if you want a close up (of Jo's baby, I was sure I took a picture of Roxi's baby too, but I can't find it. Oh well.):



So there you have it! I really like these dolls, and they are so easy to make. Except for stuffing the arms. That is not fun. What do you think?

My latest craft

So this little girl started out as a present for a baby I know, but I decided to keep her and make a new one. I thought this doll made a good practice doll. Jon keeps calling her Mildred, so I guess her name is Millie.

I have been very into crafting, making art, and redoing furniture lately. I am always excited when it warms up and dries up our driveway so I can get outside to work on furniture. Right not I'm trying to finish re-finishing our dining room table. After that is done, I have a dresser and two nightstands (that cost us a total of $30. Yep.) that I want to redo. Plus all sorts of little arts and crafts I have on my list. I'll post pictures as I finish them all.

Also! I just made a pair of capri's out of a pair of jeans I didn't like, hemmed up a skirt, and took in two shirts! I feel so productive!