About Me

My photo
IMAGINATION IS THE EYE OF THE SOUL Joseph Joubert. I am a mother of four...I still remember the smile that refused to go away for weeks after our daughters birth. To have a little girl appear after three sons seemed such a miracle. I have always enjoyed My Doll World, sharing it with Lara when she was little. Today I design knitted outfits for miniature dolls and enjoy every minute of it. The fact that the outfits are removable is what makes it so special for me. Using ever finer threads has opened so many MINIATURE DESIGN opportunities.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Days of Our Lives

Our daughter Lara heads up store development for the firm 

Jimmy Choo

She has been working on a store in Antwerp.



  How beautiful is this old world facade.

Then you walk inside to this ultra modern, very chic display.



Oh I remeber when one's feet could wear beautiful shoes. 

One time in Canada I found this wonderful pair of Italian shoes, half the price I would have had to pay back home.

I was walking up and down admiring them when the sales assistant said in a very American/Canadian accent.....

"An they ganna walk right out the door!"

THEY DID!

Every time I put those shoes on, I heard his voice.
  Emelda Marcos had nothing on me when it came to shoes.
 
Love them.

One part of one's body that stayed the same size....until now!


 



What I found so appealing was the unexpected greenery of the back garden.

Incorporating the garden into the store was clever, I imediately felt more relaxed when I saw it, I can only imagine what it does to customers when in the shop.

My Miniature Baby Boutique will have to be equally elegant...
What say you!




Days of Our Lives

Well I found something I have not seen in years.
This time it was in a box I was keeping for my son Gary.

What with all the wedding talk over the last few months thought this would be fun.
 

Just look what I made my bridesmaids wear I feel embarrassed really. Then I look at how young my little sister was.
How time flies.




Also that I don't have coloured photographs of that very first auspicious event in my life...makes one realize the years go by so much quicker than you think.



I remember trying to explain to the lady who made this bridal bonnet as to what I wanted.....She just couldn't understand first time round she made this Monk's Cowl affair....it was horrid.
Try and imagine one of those with flowers all over it.

It was the 60's after all we all were doing the flower power stuff.

Weren't we!!!

The woman became so impatient with me.

I remember looking at her, then quietly saying 
I'll show you how.... 
I gently took her work apart.

Ohhh remembering her mouth becoming pursed with annoyance, and anger showing all over her face...

I wonder how much extra Mom and Dad had to pay.

  I made what I wanted for her right there in her workshop. 

Slowly she came round and a smile appeared on her face.

We  are so determined at such a young age....but thinking about it now I was the one that had to wear the bonnet.

 
One does not have to accept mediocrity at all, if we can improve what has been done, do it!

I say to my children if they supposedly flew to the moon with the computers they had way back then .....
anything is possible today.

Now to make a miniature Bonnet.
They will have to be flowers made out of paper.
Watch this space





Sunday, June 5, 2011

Days of Our Lives

Doing the unpacking I have unearthed all sorts of things.
A little book A Woman's Work is Never Done which has a selection of quotations put together by Helen Exley...she has been doing these books since 1976 

The year I married for the second time....
so it seemed a good idea at the time!
 Apparently
 
I have a new company car, or so my son Shane tells me. 





 It does not have a chauffeur as it is insured for one driver only....

ME

Another perk is a Lear Jet.....bought for me by my son. Now this is a wonderful toy.  It sits perfectly, hits all the right spots of an old ladies cranky bits and pieces.....








The stockist in in South Africa are Cecil Nurse,
the operative word being "Nurse." 
How I lived in my other chair for so long considering the amount of time I had to sit in it 

God alone knows, I promises you

 The arm rests swivel inwards, so for knitting what a pleasure the height of the arm rests are also adjustable...
Even an Orangutan would be comfortable knitting

I wonder if the designer of this marvelous affair ever thought this chair would be used by a knitting granny ...I think not.

For the moment I have decided not to have staff.....

 I want to settle in then make decisions on 
people who share our lives



I still need to do this, the tiles are clean
but the grouting leaves a lot to be desired.

Needles to say I am looking for a machine to hire for doing the job.



So for these moments in time, I am just getting on with it!!!!

 BUT TODAY IS SUNDAY

I remember discussing housework with my Mom one evening just after getting my Dream Kitchen installed.
One with all drawers so no standing on your head to get to something.




This is what caught my eye in the book shop at the time...

THERE IS NO PLEASURE IN HAVING NOTHING TO DO 
THE PLEASURE IS IN HAVING LOTS TO DO AND NOT DOING IT
Mary Wilson Little
AAAHH I thought 
Imagine having an illustrator draw this on the wall 
behind my stove.

Now Mom was a very reserved woman,but it sure had her 
laughing out loud.
Never ever did get the sketch done but it was fun thinking about it.


Rein always said the best restaurant in Durban was our kitchen ......ya ya     NO NIGHTS OFF.....

All the illustrations above come from Helen Exley's book, the illustrations are buy Rowan Barnes-Murphy
A wonderful buy I kid you not, worth every penny
I have laughed and smiled all over again.
Unpacking is time consuming but also a lot of fun.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

GIFT Pay it Forward

The Winner of my Giveaway is 

KLARA

 


Please contact me I need to know where to post your gift. 
Thanks so much for entering, and your kind words.