on eBay this week!

Will you be my Valentine?

 Do you have a lil Ladye around 5-6" tall in need of companionship? Thomas Henry would love to make her acquaintance...or perhaps you have a class of young, impressionable students that would benefit from a stern but caring schoolmaster?

 Thomas is on eBay this week~ just click the link in the sidebar to my eBay specials!

19th c Tinder Ad?

 Regency Male Seeking Female Companionship....

 lolol Ok I just couldnt resist!  I love Thomas Henry to death~ hes such a nice fellow...hard working....compassionate, kind~ but hes been a bit depressed as of late because all his friends are talking about what they are making for their true loves this Valentine's Day...and he alas, is alone. 

I keep telling him he needs to quit reading so many books and get out and meet people...but he's pretty shy. 

As you can see he is a Handsome fellow!  I told him I would ask my readers, if they should know of any young Grodnertal or Peg Wooden that is looking for companionship?

Mr. Tipton suggested they go to towne and look for a fresh new silk Top Hat to bring his spirits up....and whilst there, will have a proper photo taken...so better put on his coat so they can be off!

Those Knobby Knees

No need for Embarrassment Thomas Henry.....

I often find myself wondering, if I were a dollye...just when would I have liked to have been made?  As alot of you know I teach at the Bath Textile Summer School certain summers...and how on Earth could anyone in their right mind live in Bath, England, and not just be head over heels in Love with  Jane Austen and the Regency era in general?  I have been reading several of Jane's books & letters....and as fate would have, had a special order for a male companion doll of said era....and thus, my obsession with Regency gentleman began.

Alas...this last grouping of boys has my girls swooning at every sight. I have never seen them so frazzled...so agitated, so ....fussy!

There is good reason why a nice Regency Dandy is few & far between....well, a gentleman doll of any period 19th c and before. Their wardrobes are so involved....so many pieces tailored to fit their every curve perfectly...the time it takes me to dress one gentleman, I could have dressed four ladies.  These little guys are so much fun tho, I thought you all would enjoy a picture of Thomas Henry's knobby  little knees, before he puts his trousers on.(no need to avert one's eyes....his manliness is well hidden within his long shirt!)

Available in my ETSY Shop

17th c Beaded Stumpwork

  For those of you who have been asking if I have any leftover kits from my class last year at Bath Textile Summer School in the UK, I have listed one of the few in my ETSY store. Pretty much EVERYTHING you need to make m'Ladye is included in the kit, and the figure shown in the listing, is the exact one that will come with your kit!

Also in time for Valentine's Day, a cute little thread palette~ a hand painted token of Love inspired by a gorgeous 19th c paper Valentine 

How do I Love Thee?

Let me count the ways...

 ~ you can find them both here in my ETSY store.  

Things Never Change

Mr Tipton....

oh my... such a tight fit Mr Tipton ....

me thinks Ye has enjoyed too much merry~making this Christmas...

I hope I dont have to let out his trousers 

New for 2020

Harmony Stumpwork Figures

I have had many requests for figures for the Thistle Threads Harmony casket, and just no time to get my models sculpted, until now. Which is right in time for the starting of the class in January~ the link is above if you are new to it. I had also gotten a special request for a bobbin lace maker, so I drafted a ladye that will exactly fit the central cartouche of the Harmony designs. She is sitting with a lace pillow in her lap.  This particular set as shown is available in my ETSY store currently~ once she is sold I will change the listing to a make to order listing.  

 The figures are all sets of three pieces~ meaning, you will receive the bust, and two hands. Just because I include two hands doesnt mean you must use both. The Stitching Ladye above, depending on how you work her slate frame and what is on it,  may not even need the underneath hand.

Harmony, or Lute Ladye as I affectionately call her, has her fingers sculpted to be holding her lute~ again, due to how one chooses to work their lute and the thickness of the fingerboard, one may choose to trim off her thumb that will set behind it. 

 All three of these sets are available in my ETSY store, just click the link to it in the sidebar to learn more if you are interested. 

Getting There....

~Happy Travels~

  I hope you and yours have a Safe & Happy Holiday this season~ 

I have finished Precious's carriage to allow her safe passage on her own travels...well, as far as it will get until I get my current work finished. 

 I would be lying if I said I enjoyed making this case~ I didnt. It was a total pain, but, finished it is. Hand made from solid hard maple....drove 4 hours one way to pick just the perfect even grain wood so as not to distract from the decoration I had planned for it.  I have studied the period 17th c cases up close and personal, and they are quite thin and flimsy...not made for much actual  'travels' at all. I am always quite amazed they have lasted so long....the ones that have, have done so because they were forgotten in an attic I'm sure. Mine is more robust, made with 1/2" thick sides. I am quite proud at the mechanics of it, it works like the typical flop front 17th cases~ when the front lock is engaged, the lid is lifted up, and at the same time, the front flops forward.

 I had period reproduction hardware made in England and am loving how it looks~ the lifting handles will go on as I finish the paint on the sides. I have all the pen work finished, which, as you can see is my exact casket designs, just a bit larger....and finished the paint on the front so I could attach those huge gorgeous hinges!

  Starting at the top and reading round and round to the bottom, I have included fun facts about Precious and myself...exactly how many hours of work...how many beads....fun things to looks for~ that sort of thing. If she ever gets seperated from her case, it wont take a rocket scientist to know they indeed go together.

  Here you can see how it opens~ I used a favorite German made hand marbled paper for the inside in typical 17th c Dutch pattern. I slapped my label in off center as an ode to the 17th c makers~ (who didnt really put much care into the case~ they just wanted something to get the casket back to the owner and none much else)

 Here is the case next to Precious~ it looks much larger, but really isnt~ there is less than 1/4" room between the embroidery and the case on all sides and top, so a nice snug fit.