Little family makeover

When I brought them home, Jenya said that when we were buying the doll house, this family was actually already in the house, but at that point I said I didn't want them because I didn't like the way they looked. It is interesting that they stayed in the store and we found them later and I ended up taking them back to their house.
But it is true - I didn't like the way they looked. The big hair the faded and stained clothes in crazy colors, and the father, according to Jenya, looked like he would be driving a minivan kidnapping little kids - in other words plain creepy.
So I gave them a great makeover, that actually involved shaving their heads - literally  because the mother's hair was so big, I had to shave it down before wigging her. I even performed plastic surgery on the father to shave his huge cheek bones down before hiding is crazy little teeth behind a mustache and a beard.
They are pretty happy with the way the look now, and so am I. I shopped around for another doll family and non of them looked the way I wanted them to, but these three are it!
I came up with some random names for them too.

Doll House - Kitchen

Three posts today! I guess with a week away from school, I have more to tell than with months in it... So this one is about something I did today - finally put floors and tile and the kitchen I renovated earlier in! There is much more to be done - adding food and island and maybe a rug, and some wall art, but it is definetelly exciting to have my first room completed! It is looking cozy and I am hopeful for the rest of the house to turn out good some day! For the lights in the kitchen I put two spotlights under the hood above the sink, I like the way it turned out!
Now my new obstacle is to figure out some kind of turning table for it - should I buy a pretty table for $150 or should I but a turning thing and look for a cheaper table... That is my dilemma at this point.

Thursday Night Crafting Club

This time we met at my house. I made pizza and salad and we had a new member - my classmate Joss. It was so much fun and we came up with a pattern for my quilt! It is so exciting as we are going to start sewing the flowers next time we meet! Once again, this club of ours is just so wonderful!

New Knitting Project

A week or so ago, my Jenya was watching me knit my cowl and said that I remind him of an outlet mall - it is 80'F outside and I am knitting a thick, warm cowl. I took that in consideration and switched gears to a lovely bolero that I can wear on a cool summer day. I found a beautiful pattern here, and it is exactly what I would love to wear! I immediately ordered the yarn from them and I can't even begin to explain how delicate and soft it is! The color is amazing too!
Now when I got my yarn And began knitting, the pattern kicked my butt right from the start, I could not figure out the schematics - where do you start, which way do you go? Nothing looked right. I had to take each piece and knit that little sample until it looked right. Once I figured it out, it wasn't so bad, I just need to constantly pay attention to what I am doing.
So this is my new project. Any new projects, friends?

Friday Night Crafting Club (on Thursday)

We might have to rename it to a Thursday Night Crafting Club because we meet on Thursdays a lot more often nowadays. I have to say I look forward to that meeting all week long - it is one of a few happy things in my crazy life right now. I was working on my hexagon quilt this time (it is slowly moving along), Mila was working with paper, Sonya was painting eggs for Easter, and Marsel was crocheting something new. Mom couldn't attend, but I am sure she had fun riding bikes with dad somewhere in California instead. We had tea with scones and discussed our past and future.
Next week we are finally meeting at my place, so I can show everyone all of my finished projects and new toys. Plus it is a spring break for me, so I can cook something fun. I can't wait!
Our club is slowly growing, and I am excited about that!

P.S. lately I am feeling lazy (or overwhelmed) and I post all my photos untouched. I kinda like them that way, they are more real to me. So yes, I know they are darker than they should be, but that is how I like them!

Friday Night Crafting Club (on Thursday) - painting on porcelain

This time Mila finally came to our weekly meeting and I brought my porcelain paints (that Mila and Sonya gave me for my Birthday). I also bought a whole set of low cost white dinnerware that we had fun customizing. We each did a mug, a small and large plate, and a bowl. Who would have thought that it could be so fun - the possibilities are endless! Next time we do it again!
Oh and Mia (the cat) seemed to really like Mila's rug that is by the way almost finished!

The Woman's Day

March 8th is woman's day in Russia, and aperantely in some other countries as well. On this extremely rainy day I finished my shawl and got lovely flowers from my lovely man. Feeling like a lucky girl here, pretty happy with the shawl - it is super soft and even though one skein was a bit darker than other three, it is barely visible and is like a wink to me, saying "that is hand dyed for ya!"...

Remedy

A couple of days ago the instructors in my dental hygiene program killed the last hope and strength I had. I really don't think this is a good place to go into details, but let's just say there was a lot of uncontrolled sobbing and saying out loud in an empty room what I would have told them all if I wasn't brought up to respect people. Oh man, I don't know why this had to happen to me now, but even though I don't feel like I deserve it, I have no choice but to trust God and to do my best to not let them break me. Luckily I have my amazing family to support me, and it took all of them to convince me that I am actually worth anything in this life, unlike my instructors are working hard to convince me... Anyways... What can I do but to go into my favorite yarn shop and buy uncontrollably until I feel better. Haha! Well not exactly, there is a project that I started spontaneously during these bad times, so now for the first time ever I currently am working on two knitting projects... It's a beautiful cowl that I found here, the pattern is not correct and there is no specification on materials so I'm just winging it. I got myself a beautiful blend of merino and silk in pink for the cowl itself, and silk blend in ivory for the lace.

I am not looking forward to the graduation anymore, and even less to the three months before graduation that I have to face, but what I am looking forward to is our Alaskan cruise that my lovely family is treating me to in the Summer when all of this hell is going to be over. Yep, I am so lucky to have my family, without them I would go into some deep depression or something.

from here

Friday Night Crafting Club on Thursday

Yesterday night my dear friend Marsel, my hubby, my mom and dad, cat, and two goats - we all gathered to have a drink of hot tea, talk, and craft a little (the boys and the animals mostly did the talking, and made sure that the girls crafted). As always I had such a fun and relaxing time. I am also one third way through making enough hexagons for my baby quilt!

Done! - polymer clay doll

I started this little doll almost a month ago. I made the head in one day with wigging and everything, but then got stuck on the body. Every time I make a new doll, I change the way I make it to work out a pattern that I truly like - I experiment in a way. I think this one is really close, just a couple of little alterations next time and it will hit the spot. This little girl is stunning to me, though  Every time I make a doll I am amazed that I was actually capable of producing something with a face expression, character, and its own life, where does it come from - me?
I came up with a perfect way of making a cloth body and clay arms, legs, and head to where the head actually turns, arms are double jointed and freely go up and down, and the doll is durable enough to play with even by a kid (to a certain extent of course, I wouldn't give her to a toddler)! I am so excited.
The reason it took me some time to get it done is because I ran into a problem - a fabric problem. I initially was planning to make the body out of muslin or cotton but neither worked well as it frays so easily and I just am not good enough to work with that kind of material for as detailed of a project as this little girl. So I ended up using felt and hand sewn it, like I did my bears before and it is absolutely perfect, soft, durable and still thin enough to resemble skin - good deal! So here she is, I don't know the name yet, but she already has a polar bear hat that I crocheted for her (without a pattern, haha, I am growing in my skills!) to match her polar bear pet that only has a head so far.

I already have ideas as to her outfit and these are the materials that I am planning on using - the polka-dot fabric and lace trim is from my grandmas stash!

Friday Night Crafting Club (on Thursday)

We were very productive this time! I brought my fabric (washed and ironed) and between the three of us (mom was scrapbooking) we made a little pile of hexagons! It is looking very exciting - vintage and colorful - just like I wanted!
Sonya and Mila showered me with thoughtful birthday gifts that I am so excited about! Thank you so much! It was, as always, a wonderful way to finish a day!