It's difficult to find small enough accessories when sewing for my dolls.

I had an idea !
Fairies obviously use tiny stuff for dressmaking, so I planned a trip to Leafenheim to do some shopping.
I had already studied the instructions on how to get there so I applied for my passport and on a particularly foggy day managed to acquire an excellent bottle of travelling brew from Mother Bog.
I was a bit nervous about travelling on my own so I asked Pip if he was on for a little adventure.
He agreed ! So I packed my fashion magazines (to trade) and a Raisin & Hazelnut Frusli Bar + a bottle of spring water and with Pip safely in my pocket I bravely drank some brew.
The brew looked a bit suspect but actually tasted just like fresh air !

3 shakes of a lambs tail and we were there. Straight to the Leafenheim Market, a true shoppers paradise. The stalls were piled high with wonderful goods ! 
I was drawn to a display of the most beautiful petal soft silk I ever saw.
Piled high like a garden in bloom - deep rose red, bluebell blue, cornflower blue, soft primrose yellow, heliotrope, lavender, and all shades of leaf green. It took us a long time to choose but we eventually decided on half a yard of delicately shaded cyclamen pink. It cost us a whole copy of Tatler !
Next Pip spotted a button stall where he picked out two shiny sets in berry red and yellow.
Then there was the tiny fairy selling lace and ribbon in all the colours of the rainbow . I just had to have a piece of fern green lace and some fantastic zesty lemon ribbon : )

There was so much to look at and lots to do but soon we had run out of magazines. Feeling quite peckish we sat in a sunny spot taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling market while nibbling on our Frusili and sipping some water. The time had passed so quickly and we agreed to come back to visit the Butterfly Tower and the Fairy Dust Mill very soon.

Later back at home, a very strange thing happened !
I tipped out our bag of goods only to discover that they had all turned into leaves and flowers.

Pips buttons were round berries, my fabric now silky petals. All that remained were two tiny price tags.

I was silly to think that I could sew with fairy stuff and I now realise the tiny dresses that Marianne finds are all natural materials that only the real fairies can wear.

Undaunted and inspired by our lovely trip we set about making our own stuff.
Pip helped me stamp some silk ribbon from my sewing box with hearts and tiny butterflies and I sculpted some shiny little flower buttons.

Thank you Marianne for introducing us to Nidlongdir !

There's quite a bit of excitement for Rainman's latest little cuties from Elfdoll.
When I saw the first pictures I was reminded of Spiderwick sprites and imagined them with long slender bodies, but they are actually going to be tiny. Which is probably just as well price wise : )
I'm veeeery tempted by all the teaser pics - not on sale till 1st Feb ^_^

Our Witch Hazel is flowering right on cue ! The flowers always remind me of shredded lemon rind and the sharp metal scent is a sunny winters day : )

Glad to be getting back to normal (whatever that is) after the holiday period.
Christmas passed us by in a haze of colds and flu and although we felt very sorry for ourselves at the time we are over it and counting our blessings : )

To soothe my nerves I am reading one of my favourite childhood books again - The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. It has been released as a collectors edition in a linen bound slip cover and contains the original drawings of the first edition. I got mine from Cygnus Books where you can read a review and an extract.
It is a beautifully old fashioned treasure of a book, perfect for cold winter days and bedtime stories.

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Something to look forward to - Tinkerbell on DVD !

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I just found this Rasberry Leaf Nymph in Valerie's Etsy shop ! 
Had to post it because it is just sooo yummy ^_^

 A couple of shots taken in our back yard - above is our Guelder Rose and below the Witch Hazel both putting on a fiery show - but the leaves are dropping quickly. I like to save a few leaves to scatter on the kitchen window sill. Who needs flowers when Autumn puts on a show like this ?

Here's another Autumn beauty !
Topaz HoneyDew by SOOM.
She has transparent resin fairy ears, hands and pointy feet  : )
On my wishlist.  

Messing about in PSP I came up with some nice wings for Dewberry. I think they go quite well with her new dress - which is actually dark mauve with layers of black lace by Another Space .

Actually I'm a lot behind ; )
A few things to show here - first of all there's another scratch made journal I finished a couple of weeks ago.
Can't seem to get Ida Rentoul Outhwaite out of my head at the moment and I used one of her pics as inspiration for this one.
Covered in a lovely fabric with some nice hand details - the ribbon rose and stumpwork blackberry and a big russety bow. I like it !

Something else I like is my new doll who arrived last week.
Although the light has not been good for photos I did get some quick pics of her.
I've changed her lashes for some mohair ones -  I think they frame her eyes better than the default ones.
Here is Vanilla Ghost -

And yes she does have a secret ! Someone in Moonflowers Garden has fallen for her...

Oh and I spotted these boots at Gudren Sjoden !!!
(Actually for me and not my dolls)
Aren't they cool ?
Look at the lining ! Purple with spots - nuff said.

For the 1st of September I thought I would share this sweet picture.
Fall under the spell of talented Jean-Baptiste Monge .
Happy Autumn  ^_^