I had a comment on the last post about my talented friends from someone whose name seemed familiar to me and when I looked at her blog I realised that she runs a business designing and selling miniature embroidery kits for dolls’ houses and some years ago I bought one of her kits for Ellie’s dolls’ house.
Sadly I didn’t take any pics of all the stuff I made for the house which has now found a new home with the neighbours who have seven girls so it should get a lot of use! Ellie and I had great fun over a number of years buying and making all the things for the house and I made quite a few miniature embroidered things such as rugs and cushions as well as some bedding.
My visitor is called Janet Granger and she has a blog and a website Janet Granger Designs where she sells her kits and charts. I hope she won’t mind me sharing a pic of some of the things she does with you – I love these little bolster cushions – they are so cute!

She has all sorts of wonderful things like rugs, cushions, tea cosies, bell pulls, chair seats etc and loads of coordinating sets in 1/12 scale. Do go and have a look at all the prettiness!
I very much admire people who are creative as I feel I really struggle with the original ideas bit – I can put things together and think I have a good eye for colour and co-ordination etc. but don’t ever do very much that is original. However I am working on this. Doing things like the textile course I did last year helped and I am hoping to do some City and Guilds courses in future years that will stimulate me more I am sure.
I am still cracking on with my little business venture , making ornies for the Oakwell Hall Craft event on the 5th Dec . I have been putting together more of the kits for my little Xmas trees today as I have finished all of the ones I am going to make up. We will see how they sell and if successful I may look at doing more fairs next year – there are lots around here and I can quite happily make ornies all year round to build up stock in time!
I have also been making more of the Sue Schofield Springwood House Designs baubles and cones that I use to raise funds for the school in Nepal. These are the ones that Ellie and I finished last week. They just need the ribbons putting onto the top of the cones but I need to go and buy some more large pins from Sue who will be at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show the week after next.


I have also ben re-making some of my own ornies so that they co-ordinate better as they have tended to be developed randomly over the years so I am now trying to tie them all to the same colours. Really would like to keep all the ones I make and have them everywhere but the children already seem to the think that the house is over decorated at Xmas – there is of course no such thing as too much Xmas fabric loveliness!
I have been busy on the knitting front as well – am halfway through the lace pattern scarf and did have an attempt at sock knitting on four double-pointed needles this week ably assisted by my lovely friend Judy who came round for a masterclass. Sadly I did not get it quite right and ended up with a very mysterious loop however did get the hang of using four needles which at one point did seem a bit like trying to knit with spaghetti so will attempt those again.
Have also been making a stitched gift for a friend – finished it too late to take decent pics tonight but will do that tomorrow before I go to see her -am off to my lovely Marsden for her birthday treat!
Thanks for visiting.
I love the tiny bolsters! And I love your pine cones too – they are great. I’d love to buy one to send to my daughter, as she won’t be home for Christmas and can hang it on the tree, wherever she is.
I know aren’t they cute! Makes me want to buy a dolls’ house and start all over again. I’ll have to find a friend who has one and do some things for them. I will happily make you a pine cone as a gift in return for the loan of the needles – what sort of colours would you like ? I can do green, gold, red, silver, blue, maroon or any combination of those and I have a choice for most colours between a flowery ribbon and a plain or striped or checked ribbon. Two colours or two distinct patterns look best through you can have them all one colour as well. They are a good gift so end away as they are made from a polystyrene egg so don’t weigh much when finished.
Let me know which one you want and I will make it and bring it to knitting – won’t be at the Weds one at the moment or Fri one till the 26th but will be at the next Yarn.
Thanks
Alison