Recap: Mr Finch (and Festive Foods)

 I met the talented Mr Finch through The Dainty Dolls House blog.

Lovely Kizzy introduced us, and I was instantly smitten.

I would love to buy one of his textile artworks.

One day.

The House Muse turns 104 in dog years  on the December 23, and in his honour

I am revisiting the day I took inspiration from Mr Finch's strange creatures.
And, we'll have a party.
Frankly, I can't believe I have kept something alive for that long.
Remembering now, I don't have children.

Find your pet sleeping.

Trace around it.

Make a silhouette.

Sew along the line. Leave an opening.

Trim. Turn through to the right side.

Fill with fibre fill. Fluff it first to ensure its soft and smooth.
Slipstitch the opening closed.

Make a little tea stained collar or headpiece.

Embroider a nose and eyes.

I call this stitch, a dog-stitch, people.

I may be in the Guild, but I never said I could stitch.

Did I?

In other news, a gardenia plant I have had for three years has finally

yielded: one flower. The rest of the buds appear to be eaten out by ants.
It is hard work living in the Antipodes.

But, don't say I am not making the best of the bloom.

 It's done a shoot with a magnolia I crafted from cream silk a while back.

 And, has appeared in Flora's Christmas wreath.

Have you made yourself one yet?

Things are getting quite festive around here.

Every publication is trotting out 'Red' as the answer for everything.

Mind you. I quite like this number.

It's by Rachel Gilbert, an Australian designer who hails from Sydney.

Here's one of her frocks as below, on one of Flora's house models.

Festive.

Festive cookery has also started.

Permutations of all sorts of salads and adorned desserts.

Fried things.

 

Try this coconut cheesecake (use coconut cream, condensed milk and cream cheese) and dip cherries in

chocolate for a merry twist.

Simple.

 

 But, make sure you get plenty of rest.