Plastic canvas dog house for needle felted Beagle

I made this sweet dog house for my needle felted beagle.

Plastic canvas dog house with needle felted Beagle.

I want to needle felt a yellow lab for the kind lady who sent me the "help em up" harness belonging to her dog, who passed away.  I think a lab, dog house, and bowls, bone, etc., would make a nice thank you gift.  She even paid extra so Mac would get the harness quickly.  The harness was a Godsend yesterday; my Dad and I couldn't have gotten Mac out of the house and into the truck without it.  Thank God the vet gave Mac some pain killers; he was able to walk today.  I think he could have walked alone but I supported him with the harness.  I'm still waiting to find out when we can go see the specialist in Guelph.

Plastic canvas dog house for needle felted Beagle.

I want to sculpt a ball and a better bone out of sculpy.

Plastic canvas dog house, needle felted dog.

Things are looking up

Mac is doing better today, thank God.  He was able to get up and walk, with the help of this cool "Help 'em up halter", sent to me by a sweet lady named Allison.
http://helpemup.com/
Mac seems more alert, and in less pain.  The painkillers must be working.  He's got a good appetite, and he's barking at things he hears outside, like normal, so that's a good sign too.
I moved his crate to a spot where he can see me in three rooms so I won't be confined to just the livingroom any more.  I had to move a lot of furniture to do this, and the crate is huge, so my house looks pretty awful, but that doesn't matter.
I am so exhausted; I think I need a nap.

A bit of happiness in a bad day

My dog, Mac had a setback this weekend, and then a bigger one today.
He had a lump on his back that was benign, but it burst open.  It was so gross.  It looked painful too.  I kept it clean until I could bring him to the vet today.
Yesterday my Dad dropped by to bring some saline solution and sterile gauze for cleaning Mac's wound.  When I went to meet my Dad at the door, I heard Mac in his crate, barking madly.  He must have pawed at the crate or something, because even though I was only gone for a few minutes, when I came back he was holding his left paw up like it hurt.
He went out for his potty break OK yesterday and this morning, and seemed OK, but then at noon he fell over and yelped loudly.  He could not get up on his own.  I lifted him up and he bolted up the ramp and ran back to his crate.  He seemed to be in pain.  I felt so awful.  Thankfully my Dad was on his way over to bring us to the vet (I can't lift him into the truck by myself).  A very kind lady in one of my yahoo groups sent Mac a special halter that was owned by her dog before he passed.  It's got handles to help lift the dog up, so it takes some weight off his feet so he can walk easier.  It was a Godsend today.  I was able to get the front part on by myself, but my Dad had to hold Mac up for me so I could get the back part on.
We went to the vet and he cleaned Mac's burst cyst and said I did a good job keeping it clean and that the outside is not infected, but it also burst on the inside, where I can't see it, and that is infected.  So he gave Mac a strong antibiotic.  I also asked for a pain killer so he gave Mac Tramadol.  He also prescribed eye drops to help clear up Mac's eye infection.
I'm going to have to bring Mac to Guelph, to the veterinary hospital, so he can get an MRI and possibly surgery.
At this point, the vet thinks Mac has IVDD, but doesn't know for sure because we don't have MRI's here in town.
My Dad is going to drive us, and my Mom is angry about that.  She'd just put Mac down, but there is  no way I"m doing that when Mac has a chance to get better.  He has a disease...maybe, and we'll deal with it.
I'm going to have to sell my house and buy a cheaper one so my money will last longer.    
          
Before Mac fell, when I just thought we had to deal with his burst cyst, I checked the mail and was happy to see a package had arrived.  

Parcel with ebay winnings

I knew it just had to contain the little tea set I won on ebay.

Parcel with ebay winnings

I took my time opening it, savoring that "ooh I've got a gift!" feeling.

It was packed nicely.

Mini tea set I won on ebay

I was delighted with it!  It reminded me so much of a childhood tea

set I had once.  Mine was a pearly pink, and this is white with flowers, but it gave me that same sense of delight.  I don't know what it is about miniatures, but they're just so darn cute!

I am really happy with this purchase.  I won the set for only $4.50, plus $1.50 shipping.  I wanted to order more but figured I should wait to see what this was like first.  Tomorrow I'll take some photos with some of the items in my plastic canvas dollhouse.  

I really enjoyed opening this, and seeing the cute items, and am glad that I had a chance to have some innocent delight in something small like this before my stress levels went back through the roof.

Well, Mac just woke up.  I have to try to take him out to pee, by myself.  I hope I can support him OK.

Many mini babies and lots of plastic canvas furniture

Plastic canvas furniture and mini bundle babies

I made up a bunch of these bundled babies...they're little head sculpts wrapped in wee felt blankets.  I like that the felt looks like fleece!  I have another baby buggy made, but it wouldn't fit in the photo.  

I've been planning a plastic canvas daycare...a simple two room roombox sort of thing.  I have the door finished, and I've narrowed the "wallpaper" pattern down.  I even found some little magnet patterns that will make cute wall hangings.

plastic canvas mini baby furniture

The little play pen is my own design.  I may make it more rectangular next time I make it.

The drawers on the chest of drawers open, and will hold things.  The mirror part was supposed to be made from flexible mirror but I couldn't find any and had to use tinfoil.  I'm going to see if I can find some thicker foil paper for next time. I haven't been able to leave the house in a few weeks because my dog is injured and he freaks out when I leave him.  I don't want him to reinjure himself, so I need to stay close by.  I miss shopping!

plastic canvas mini baby stuff

A few of my mini bundled babies didn't come out as nice as the others.  They're still cute, but not perfect.  I was thinking of giving them away, but maybe they're not nice enough to give away?  

I finished painting the latest reborn doll I've been working on.  I want to leave him bald but I'm tempted to root...I'm going to wait before I put the doll together, until I can decide.  

Poor Mac has a benign lump on his back and it exploded yesterday.  I've been cleaning it and disinfecting it and keeping it clean.  My Mom sent my Dad over with a lot of stuff that she had from when she was battling throat cancer.  It's stuff she used to clean the incision for her feeding tube.  It's a sort of saline solution, and it comes in little bottles. It's to prevent infection, so I've been using that for Mac too.  I've also been adding neosporin and gauze, and taping the gauze on. I had to use rug tape because nothing else would stick to his fur.  I shaved the hair around his lump, and I use gauze bigger than that area so the tape is nowhere near his wound.  I'm going to call the vet first thing in the morning.  Meanwhile, please pray that Mac will be OK.  He's already been through so much, and now this.  Thank God I have my parents to help out with groceries because I can't leave the house, and thank God I have crafts to distract me because I've been so stressed out.  I hope and pray that he'll be OK.  

Dollhouse and Furniture kits

My 56 piece furniture kit came today; my Dad picked it up for me and brought it over.

Furniture kit I won on ebay (made in 1982, still sealed in box)

I won this on ebay, and am very happy with it.  It's an older kit from 1982, but never opened...the box is still sealed.

I bought it to go with the Corona Laurel and Primrose dollhouse kits.

The Laurel is a cute farmhouse with a wrap around veranda, and flower boxes at every window.

The Primrose is a two room addition (really one room with attic space).

These photos show how they could look when finished.  I've never done wooden kits before.  I hope I can do them justice.

Last pieces of furniture for "My Pink Dollhouse"

Dollhouse miniature plastic canvas chair, lamp, and table.

I'm done; woohoo!  I finished the final pieces of furniture that are included in the "My Pink Dollhouse" book.

Dollhouse mini plastic canvas furniture.

The pattern called for a darker color for the chair than it did for the sofa; if I were to do it again, I'd make them match.

Plastic canvas dollhouse living room with mini dolls and pc furniture.

The chair color does match the embroidered flowers on the couch, though, and also the pink in the fireplace, rug, border, and door frame, so it goes.  The lamp is adorable; I added a bead to the base to help hide the glue.  The living room looks more homey now.  I put some of the dolls in.  I love the little girl lying down by the fire.  I'll have to make granny a crochet basket, with some balls of yarn and a partially finished place mat so it will look like she made them, lol.  Or maybe I should make her a little plastic canvas set, so she cans stitch her own plastic canvas dollhouse, lol.  I'm in a silly mood today.

First two stories of plastic canvas dollhouse.

The cradle in the green bedroom and the highchair in the nursery are not a part of this pattern book.    I'm debating whether or not I should make a little dresser for the nursery.  There's one embroidered on the wall, but it's hard to see.  I also want to take a "family photo" of the dolls, and put it in a big frame, behind the couch (to hide the windows that are on the wrong wall, lol).

I just love this plastic canvas dollhouse.  I can't wait to start on another one...I think I'll do the Christmas Mansion next.  I also need to build up the courage to work on my wooden dollhouse kits.

Well, I should be writing...books don't write themselves, as much as they seem to when the words are flowing.  Right  now it's like pulling teeth, lol.  

Have a nice day!

Miniature dollhouse dolls

Vintage Dollhouse doll sets I won on Ebay

The dolls I won on Ebay came in last week, but I didn't have a chance to open them, what with Mac being sick.  I finally got to open the box, and found these two boxes inside.

Vintage doll sets from Ebay

The set on the left is the Grandma, Grandpa, and baby.  The set on the right is the Mom, Dad, brother, and sister.  They were made in Taiwan, in the 80's, and it says they are 1 to 1 scale, but they are smaller than the modern dollhouse dolls that are in 1 to 1 scale.  I wonder if sizes have changed since the 80's?

Here they are, out of the box...a family of 7.  They're really cute, but the baby seems more like a doll for the sister than a baby for the family.  I think the head is too small.  Babies have bigger heads, lol.

Dollhouse dolls in my plastic canvas dollhouse

I bought these dolls because the smaller size makes them perfect for my pink plastic canvas dollhouse.   Modern dollhouse families are taller; the Dad's are about 6 inches tall.  The Dad here is 5.5  inches tall.

That half inch really makes a difference with my plastic canvas dollhouse. The ceilings are 7 inches high, and the extra half inch gives the dolls more headroom.

They look cute in the house anyway. My poor needle felted critters were supposed to get this house, but they're just a tad too big for the furniture.

Speaking of furniture, I finally made the bed for the green bedroom.

Plastic canvas bed, cradle in master bedroom, with Granny doll.

It's perfect for the Grandma doll, I think.  The cradle isn't a part of this pattern book, but I think it looks cute in this room.  The area rug is also from Ebay.  I won 5 beautiful  little area rugs for 10 dollars, with free shipping. Can't beat that!

Plastic canvas highchair and crib in nursery, with baby and
 Mom dolls.

I made a highchair from another pattern book, to put in the nursery.  It's so cute!  I love these little pieces of furniture.  They are so much fun to stitch, and then put together.  They work up fast, too, unlike the dollhouse, which seemed to take forever, lol.

I had fun placing the dolls in the dollhouse.
Gramps is washing up in the bathroom.

Dad is in the kitchen, looking in the fridge, even though dinner is cooking on the stove, lol...just like a real Dad.

The kids are playing with their toys in the attic.

Mom is tending to a polymer bundle baby in the crib while the baby in the highchair calls for attention.  Granny tends to the other baby in the cradle.

The pattern for "My Pink Dollhouse" calls for two more pieces of furniture for the livingroom...a lamp and a chair to match the couch.  I didn't make them yet, and am not sure if I will, because I don't see how they will fit; it's pretty crowded in there.  Of course, the coffee table isn't part of the pattern, but it looks so good there that I hate to take it out.

I really love stitching plastic canvas.  I'm so pleased with the way the dollhouse turned out...especially the furniture.  The little vintage dolls make it perfect.

Plastic canvas dollhouse with vintage dollhouse dolls.

I've been watching a "Third Rock from the Sun" marathon. It's so funny...about an alien family that came to earth and they're trying to pass as humans. It's an older show, from the 80's or 90's.  It must be retro day, lol.    I'm watching a sitcom from the 80's while adding vintage dolls from the 80's to a plastic canvas dollhouse that I made from a pattern published in the 80's.    Maybe I should go poof my hair, lol.

I sure wish I knew how to add photos in the proper order.  For some reason, this photo of the full house inserted itself after the nursery photo, when it should have been last.  I added it last, I don't know why it put itself here, lol.

Well, I had fun with this dollhouse pattern.  If anyone has the "My Pink Dollhouse" pattern, I highly recommend it.  The house is cute, and the furniture is just adorable.  It can be found on Ebay sometimes.     It's well worth the time it takes to make, and it would make a great gift.                                                   

Grandpa washing up in plastic canvas dollhouse si

Miniature kids playing in plastic canvas dollhouse attic

Here's mini Dad in the kitchen, looking in the plastic canvas dollhouse fridge.

Reborn doll in progress

Reborn Teagan sculpt in progress

This is the last of the triplets; Teagan.  I've been working on her/him for the past few days.  I want to give her a mottled newborn look.  I put some scratches on her knee; hopefully they look realistic.

Reborn doll in progress

I still have to do the eyebrows, finger and toenails.  I'm not sure if I should add more blues or purples, or even more blush.

reborn doll

I really like the shape of this doll's head; I think I may leave her bald.  I love bald babies, and I haven't made one yet.

Mac, sleeping in his crate and recuperating

I've been doing all of my crafts in the living room, next to Mac's crate because he doesn't like it when I leave the room for more than a few minutes.  I'm using the coffee table, and two TV tables to hold supplies.  I don't have a lap desk, so I'm using the top of my hamper as one, lol.  It sure makes things interesting (and messy!), but it keeps Mac happy, which is important while he heals.

He seems to be doing better today.  It's a gorgeous, sunny day, so we sat on the deck for awhile after his last potty break.  He was ready to go back in his crate after that though.  He's being so good about it.  Ben is still jealous and wants in the big crate too.  He goes in his fake (cardboard) crate at night.

Mini nursery furniture in plastic canvas

Happy Easter everyone!

Plastic canvas nursery furniture for mini polymer bundled babies

I couldn't sleep last night, so I stayed up until 4 AM, stitching a tiny plastic canvas cradle. I 'm pleased with the way it turned out.

Plastic canvas nursery furniture for miniature polymer clay babies

So now I have a little crib, a cradle, and a tiny baby buggy.

Plastic canvas dollhouse furniture, nursery

I plan to make up a bunch of these little polymer clay bundle babies and sell them in my Etsy store.

My dog Mac is resting in his crate.  He seems to be getting stronger, but he put his front paw down the wrong way today (folded under at the ankle).  He fixed it right away, but it concerns me.  I hope and pray he'll be OK.  He's being so good about crate rest; very cooperative.

Well, I hope everyone has a happy, blessed Easter.

I'm going to my Mom and Dad's for supper.  This will be the first time the dogs will be left behind.  Mac can't come out of his crate except to potty, and it wouldn't be fair to take Ben without Mac.  I'm only going to go for an hour or two, and my Mom is going to give me doggy bags for the dogs.  They'll like that.

I hope someone bought me a white chocolate bunny, lol.  I have a real craving.

Take care!

More mini bundled babies

I made a few more of these little babies.  I think I'm addicted.  I want to find a way to make the felt blanket look more like a receiving blanket.  I have to find my magnifying glass so I can better see what i'm doing, lol.

mini bundled babies in plastic canvas crib

Mini bundled babies with happy family Mom and daughter.

Mini bundled babies in plastic canvas crib

Mini baby doll wrap

Mini clay baby doll

 I wanted to make a little doll to fit my plastic canvas crib, so I came up with this.  It was really easy to make; I used a mold for the head (although for some reason, none of my heads look the same, even with the same mold, lol).  I used a tool to open the nose, and emphasize the eyes, and mouth.  I lightly "painted" with chalk...tomorrow I'll try another one with acrylics.
I put a wire in the head, and looped the bottom.  I attached a pipe cleaner to the wire, and wound the pipe cleaner around some fibre fill.  The blanket is a little piece of felt.  I glued it on, so that it looks like the baby is wearing a hat under the blanket.
I'm pretty happy with this, for a first try.  It's night and my lighting is bad, so I couldn't get a good picture, but I wanted to share, anyway.
I've been stressed out about my boy dog, Mac, and this little project let me escape for a bit.

Mini clay baby in plastic canvas crib (floating on some fibre fill so I could get the shot, lol)