Eating Cake

A flying visit.

just to say

Marie 

has gone to a new home

across the sea.

I'm very happy for her,

although transatlantic journeys

make me nervous until I know

the parcel has arrived safely!

Cake for everyone!

Hoi! Don't eat that!

This is Mr Butterbean

all grown up.

Nearly.

Just in time for 

Easter, too.

So I shall expect 

brightly coloured eggs

Easter morning.

 I tried to sketch him.

It was remarkably unsuccessful.

Firstly,

 because he won't keep still.

And secondly,

because my sketchbook is tasty.

This bunny will keep still!

 This bunny is made by the wonderful

Cynthia Toy,

(yes, that's her real name)

who makes the loveliest

cloth fairy dolls.

I have wanted one of these bunnies

ever since I first saw one.

But there's only a few made

every Spring.

This year, I nabbed one!

Hubby bought it for me.

Here she is on 

Steampunk Rabbit's lap.

For more on Cynthia's work

see her Etsy shop,

The Fairies Nest.

Cynthia is on

Deviant Art,

and she has a web page.

Facebook, too!

All caught up!

Where was I?

Ok.

I was in hospital.

Just for a test.

And the test is done.

And I am fine 

and have the photographs to prove it.

And, uh.

Yeah.

So, that took out a couple of days 

but I'm caught up now.

Here is Steampunk Rabbit

She's sewn into her pin tucked shirt

and her lacy bloomers.

She has a tail.

And there are buttons down the back of her shirt.

Even though she is sewn into her clothes

they're all properly made.

French seamed, too!

The blouse is lined in the bodice,

front and back.

There's a button on her bloomers

over the tail

and 

lace around the edges.

Her lace skirt is lined

and sewn into a waistband.

And see.

Now she has stockings!

Next is the hat

and the boots

and the little tailored jacket!

Pretty in Grey?

Or Fifty Shades of Pink.

(Actually, 50 Shades of Pink

sounds like a

much kinkier book.

But I digress)

Steampunk Rabbit is going along nicely.

Here she is in her

pin tucked blouse.

I've left the front in simple pin tucks

as she'll have something Steampunky

around her neck

and I didn't want it to disappear

in a mass of frothy lace. 

What I did have for her blouse

is some absolutely perfect

insertion lace

I won in a giveaway from Mina!

See more of the goodies here.

Since then, I''ve had to tread water for a bit.

Steampunk Rabbit

is to be dressed in 

black and white and silver.

The monochrome palette 

is ideal for different textures, 

so I wanted to give her a lace skirt.

I ordered some 

lovely black and white lace.

(Yes, this is their image

but under the circumstances...)

Isn't it pretty?

I was so excited when it arrived.

And it is lovely lace.

Black and PINK

lovely lace.

Bother!

I can't make the jacket 

until I have the right lace

for the skirt.

So off I went on the hunt again.

And today I got my new lace.

It's perfect.

It's a very, very dark grey,

with simple embroidery in silvery grey

and satin-stitched roses

of white and  grey.

All crunchy texture and subtle shades.

Are there fifty of them?

Let me get my riding crop

and you can count.

Alright, Mr De Mille,

I'm ready for my close-up

 Shared with
Pink Saturday.

 Reserved listing in my Etsy shop

The Return of the Calorie Free Chocolate Rabbit

A no-calorie chocolate bunny.

Sugar free.

Fat free.

Cholesterol free

Yes, I know it's not 

actually made of chocolate.

 And, technically,

it does have a calorific value.

Maybe I should have said

 'Inedible Chocolate Bunny'? 

But that doesn't sound quite the same.

The bunnies are sporting the very popular

French chocolate graphic

from the wonderful Graphics Fairy.

These are made with

an enlarged version

of my free rabbit pattern.

So, you could make some too.

Or buy them on Etsy, which is easier.

I just made two, originally.

and now I have lots!

The rabbit graphic in the background is

to be found here.

Progress on the

Steampunk Rabbit

Sweet little drawers!

I have hoarded this fabric

with the bunny in a top hat.

Apparently it's discontinued

and I bought the last three yards

left in the shop.

I'm delighted to be able 

to use it for 

Steampunk Rabbit's knickers.

They need finishing.

Gathers around her legs

and some lace.

maybe a bow or two,

or a button.

Why embellished knickers?

because everyone,

EVERYONE,

looks up the skirt of a rag doll.

Might as well put something there

worth looking at.

Here she is, posing.

Her paintwork is all sealed

and she's ready for her clothes.

Firstly, a pintucked blouse.

Tiny pintucks, huh?

There's a trick to it.

First, make the pintucks,

as small as you can.

Then, wash the piece,

in hot water if it can take it.

Tumble dry.

The fabric shrinks

making tight and teeny little tucks!

This piece is for the front of the blouse.

It's easier to pintuck the fabric

and then cut out the pattern pieces,

than to cut first and then sew.

That's the most helpful hint 

I have with dollmaking.

As far as possible,

Sew then cut.

Rabbit Spam

Not that I'd eat rabbit spam.

Here is Steampunk Rabbit's progress so far,

in  a spammage of photographs.
I've also updated the pictures
in my Etsy shop.

Beginning painting

Painted torso and limbs,

before first sanding.

Head and eyes painted black.

Cold, dead eyes in grey.

Now eyes with colour and light!

Posing by the curtains.

Close look at eye.

Sitting on the mantelpiece in the

Steampunk Study.

Glamour Shot.

So, now she is all made and just needs dressing!

I need to seal her paintwork and for that 

I have to wait for drier weather

at the weekend.

Also, I'm very honoured to be chosen to give her a name.

I'm considering Miss Lettie Delaval.

I am, of course, open to 

other ideas.

If you have a name for 

Steampunk Rabbit

please feel free

to put it in the comments.

If I pick a name

I will hand out prizes!

Like Alice!

Teasers!

Here is

Steampunk Rabbit

posing in

Hubby's Steampunk Study

Here is her

Moody Steampunk pose,

 with watch.

 It's a feature of BJD

that their faces show different expressions

depending on the light and the angle.

I tried for that with

Steampunk Rabbit.

Seen from the other side, with more light

she seems quite an optimistic little thing.

Optimistic about getting some clothes, maybe?