Biscuit's House

Moving sale part 5134215 : crafting stuff

  The move is getting dangerously close and I still have loads of things to unload.

Today I went through some of my crafting stuff. I have way too many kits, more than enough for the next 30 years.

I'd like to sell my Malphi kits. I'd love to have time to make them but I don't see it happening anytime in the next 10 years. I have a beautiful finished apron from Malphi and I think in the future I'll stick to buying her finished items. I'm selling them 10% less than what I paid. Photos of the finished items are from Malphi.

-  Frills A Flappin Apron Kit, one size fits all. $41+ shipping.
No patterns, no cutting out.
Kit contains:
All pieces pre-cut ready for you to sew.
Easy instructions.
Trimming and embellishments (sewing thread not included).
Designer label.
Fabric: Linen 55% cotton 45% soft feel.
Colour: Atlantic with wine colour satin trim.
Measurements for the actual apron:
waistband: 24" (61cm)
tie length: 87" (34cm)
width (inc frill): 34" (87cm)
length (inc frill): 29" (74cm)

 

 

- Verity Hope Wrap Dress Sewing Kit : large size. $67 + shipping.
No patterns, no cutting out.
Kit contains:
All dress pieces pre-cut and ready for you to sew (sewing thread not included).
Instructions.
Designer label.
Colour: Atlantic
Fabric: Linen 55% Cotton 45% soft feel.
Length: approximately 110 cm.
Size :
Bust: 96cm (38")
Waist: 79cm (31")
Hips: 104cm (41")

 

- Pantaloon kit : size Medium - Large. $37 + shipping.
No patterns, no cutting out.
Kit contains:
All pieces pre-cut and ready for you to sew (sewing thread not included).
Easy instructions.
Trimming.
Elastic.
Designer label.
Fabric: linen 55% cotton 45% (soft feel)
Colour: Pebble
Length: approximately 28" (71cm). Designed to be worn 2" (5cm) below waist.
Measurements:
Waist: 31" (79cm)
Hips: 41" (104cm)

 

 

Then there are these kits which I bought in Japan last summer. I bought too many and have to sell some.

- Sewing kit to make this little doggie and its bone, stuffing, fabrics, thread, buttons included. Instructions are in Japanese but include drawings of pattern pieces. Finished size about 12.5 x 8.5 cm. $18 + shipping.

- 3 felt sweet kits. The 2 bigger kits include already cut felt pieces, embroidery thread, labels, paperboard, beads (for the fruits kit). Stuffing not included. Finished size 8x7 cm (fruits) and 8x6 cm (chocolate). The smaller kit included uncut felt pieces, embroidery thread, ribbon and a chain. Finished size 5.5x4 cm. $21 + shipping for the lot.

 

Then there are all these materials for felting that I never used and probably never will. Felting wool in 19 colors (100% new wool, 25 g per bundle), felting mat, felting needle tool. $59 + shipping.

  

And finally (or this time) cross stich kits.

- Teapot kit. This kit is for the rectangular embroidery in the middle of the first photo, with 3 big teapots and two smaller pots. All threads are included as well as a needle. The piece of linen to embroider is about 40 x 20 cm (16 " x 8 "). $25 + shipping.

 

- Child's apron. This kit includes the light brown linen apron (children's size, one size fits all) with pocket, and the grid (the explanations are in French but the grid is enough for someone who has crossed-stitched before). The embroidery threads are not included. $25 + shipping.

  

- Adult's apron. This kit includes the light brown linen apron (women's size, one size fits all) with pocket and cream-colored panel, and the grid (the explanations are in French but the grid is enough for someone who has crossed-stitched before). The embroidery threads are not included. $25 + shipping.

Chipolata's dress

Just finished this dress.

 

  

  

 

Good news and bad news

  Good news : we found an apartment. We spent 3 days in Paris between Christmas and New year and I wasn't very hopeful, but we found it on the second day. I gave up Paris, apartments we could afford to rent there were not only very small but shabby. I suppose people who are good at making and renovating things, who can redo walls and floors and kitchens and bathrooms could make something nice out of them, but that's not our case.

Our new home will be in Enghien les bains, 15 minuted from Paris by train. It's a small spa town which came into fashion in the mid 19th century. We will be 5 minutes on foot from the train station and from Puni's school. We will leave in the main street with all the shops and there will be a lake nearby. I was pleasantly suprised as I was considering Northern Parisian suburbs to be at best drab and at worst dangerous. But Enghien retains a special aura from its days as a place of villegiature for rich Parisians and its inhabitants are above the local average in revenue and professional status. Here's the map :

Bad news : as we came home from our holiday last Saturday, I heard a "drip..drip..." in the living room : a radiator had leaked in my bedroom upstairs and the water was flowing through the floor and dripping in the living room below. I won't be sorry to leave this house. Fortunately there weren't any big damages, the carpet and curtains are stained and fit to throw away, and the low wooden table is discolored in places, but none of our important possessions has been damaged. If Marina's dolls had been ruined I'd have been livid. The ceiling is cracked and stained but the insurance company will see to that.

Our third day in Paris, we had brunch at Ladurée on Bonaparte street. I had never been there before, only to Royale street and the Champs-Elysées. I bought the charms, pictured here next to an empty macaron box :

 

The opened box :

  

In order to be able to wear the charms I bought a bracelet from Thomas Sabo.

 

In other news, it's king cake season, here's our crop of fèves this year :

  

The eggs are from king cakes bought in my hometown, Nancy, the capital city of Lorraine, and are miniature reproductions of Longwy porcelain eggs.

I gave Puni my collection of tea-time Colas fèves :

 

Here's Puni's fève box :

  

I still have a chance to add to her collection. Yesterday at work, we had king cake during a management meeting, and though I tried to get the fève (it's supposed to be where the cake is at its lowest), I failed. But next Wednesday the site manager is giving away king cakes to all departments so I have another chance! 

Bisou Ai Pepe for sale

Sorry, no trade. I prefer an immediate sale and will consider a layaway if there are no takers. I accept Paypal from any source and checks from France only. Buyer to pay for exact shipping. Shipping is from France.  

- CustomHouse Bisou sold out limited edition Ai Marshmallow Pepe : very good condition. Sold with her original light violet eyes, white case (some inside walls need to be reglued, I received the case like this), all accessories, blond wig and clothes shown in the photos, except for the candies which my daughter already ate. 300 USD.

 

Another crown

Photos hastily taken during lunch break!

 

  

  

 

Book sale

Here's the first part of my moving sale : doll books.

Here are the books, I'm selling them by lot of 3 minimum, each book is $14, plus exact shipping. I guess this will be interesting only for people near France or if you find a rare book in the list. The books are all used, condition from good to like new. Shipping is from France, I accept paypal from any source or checks from France only. Here's the list : - Japanese books : Craft Art Ningyou vol 2, vol 5, vol 7 (contemporary Japanese artist dolls) Dolly Dolly vol 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 Dollybird vol 4, 5, 6, 7 Unoa Freak DollyDolly books : artist dolls 2005 Doll Nina wardrobe collection Sekiguchi Doll Garden (photos from the collections of this museum, which closed since then) Koube doll musem (antique Western dolls) Rokushou vol 16, Ningyou Asobi (Japanese and Western vintage dolls) Sousaku Ichiba, vol 3 : Ningyou ni asobu et vol 14 : zoku - Ningyou ni asobu (contemporary Japanese artist dolls) Doll Fashion Book vol 1 (1/6) Princess Turandot & antique bisque dolls - BJD Orbyrarium - Jenny : Jenny magazine albums, volumes 1, 2, 3 + vol 2 bis (Japanese) Mode-J (Japanese) Jenny's Collection (Japanese) Jenny Official Visual Book (Japanese) The World of Jenny (English + Chinese) - American fashion dolls, books in English : The Robert Tonner Story Skipper Identification and value guide (also featuring Tutti and Todd) Betsy McCall, a collector's guide Happy go lucky Skipper (children's book by Carl Memling) Portrait of Skipper (children's book) - Doll making (in English) : Crafting cloth dolls, Miriam Gourley Dolls of the art deco era, Susanna Oroyan Creative cloth doll making, Patti Culea How to recreate antique bears and dolls, Georgina Ledlie Sculpting dolls in Cernit, Marleen Engeler Making original & portrait dolls in cernit, Rotraut Schrott Creating original porcelain dolls, Hildegard Gunzek Fantastic Figures, Susanna Oroyan - Clothes and accessories (in English) : Finishing the figure, Susanna Oroyan Heirloom French sewing for dolls, Paule Fox Creative cloth doll couture, Patti Culea Making & dressing doll's house dolls in 1/12 scale, Sue Atkinson Make doll shoes, workbook 1 & workbook 2 - Mildred Seeley books : The complete book of all-bisque dolls How to collect French Fashion Dolls How to costume French & German bisque dolls Judging dolls How to collect French bébé dolls For the love of dolls and roses Miletttes : small French dolls to collect and make - Bleuette : Bleuette, poupée de la semaine de Suzette, Colette Merlen (French) Bleuette, la petite fille modèle de la collection Billy Boy (French) Bleuette, the doll and her wardrobe, Barbara Hilliker (English) - Antique dolls (in English) : The encyclopedia of French dolls, François Theimer, Vol 1 & 2 The Paris Collection (French Doll Fashions & Accessories), Sylvia Mac Neil Fashion Dolls, Maree Tarnowska Perfectly fitting (antique doll costumes and accessories 1840 - 1925), Florence Theriault Lady dolls of the 19th century and the costumes they wore, Florence Theriault The trousseau of Blondinette Davranches, Florence Theriault Rare and lovely dolls of 2 centuries, John Darcy Noble Selected writing of John Darcy Noble (favorite articles from Dolls Magazine, 1982-1995) - Misc in English: Figures in fabric, the sculpture of Lisa Lichtenfels Helen Kish, the artist and her dolls R. John Wright, the art of toys Norah Wellings, cloth dolls and soft toys The magic and romance of art dolls (Farago - Dennison) A doll's maker art : the creations of Nancy Wiley Lenci dolls in full color (toys for the rich and famous 1920-1940), Helen Nolan Dolls in miniature, Evelyn Ackerman Dolls for the princesses, the story of France and Marianne, Faith Eaton The world's most beautiful dolls, vol 2 (Joan Muyskens Pursley) - Misc in French : Les plus belles poupées du monde (éditions Liber) Merveilleuses poupées (éditions Solar) Les poupées, une histoire millénaire, Yvonne de Sike Poupées, un art contemporain, les artistes français, François Theimer La poupée d'aujourd'hui, un art vivant, Ingeborg Riesser L'univers de la poupée, éditions Solar - Susan Sirkis wish booklets for dolls 5 1/2" tall, $30 for the lot : Fashions 1853-1858 Fashions 1871-1875 Fashions 1831-1835 Fashions 1820-1825 Fashions 1840-1845 Fashions 1861-1865

Queens of heart

The other day while shopping in Avallon, in a bookstore-cum-stationery store, I found gold and silver spray paint and glitter, which gave me the idea to make crowns for my dolls.

I had first gotten the idea from this tutorial. My version was very quick to make. I cut some lace from my stash to size, stiffened it with a product called "Powertex" which I happened to have at home (I applied it using a chopstick and my fingers), then I draped the lace around the neck of a wine bottle covered with plastic wrap and let it dry. Then I sprayed the lace with the metallic paint, and once dry again closed the crown with white glue. The last step was glueing some glitter on the points. It took about 5 minutes, drying time not included.

 

  

 

Shopping and cookies

Yesterday, we went to the nearby town of Avallon. We have passed through it numerous times in our travels but I had never visited it and wanted to spend a little time there before we leave the region.

We had tea at a lovely tea shop, Dame Jeanne, and I indulged in some shopping. I found a cute home deco shop where I got a set of 4 "Desserts Gourmands" plates from Gien, and white plaster macarons and meringues from Mathilde M. which I had been lusting after for a while. The round box, the plaster cookies inside, and the candle holder are from Mathilde M. as well, I had found them in the town where I live a few weeks ago. Finally I splurged for a scrumptious sweater and muffler from one of my favorite brands, Terre & Mer - perfect to fight away the doldrums. I have had the macarons candles from Point à la ligne for a while but  hadn't taken a photo before.

 1. Iced sablés, 2. Iced sablés, 3. Iced sablés, 4. Mathilde M. scented meringues and macarons, 5. Mathilde M. box and scented cookies, 6. Point à la ligne macaron candles, 7. Gien dessert plates, 8. Terre & Mer sweater, T-shirt and muffler, 9. Mathilde M. candle holder

Puni and I made the iced sablé cookies, I'm not much in a Christmas decoration mood this year as we have to move house, but at least we have some Christmas cookies...I've also been reading home deco magazines and found a new "need" : this lovely biscuit box from the Dutch porcelain factory Makkum.

 

This photo is from the current issue of "Campagne Décoration" magazine :

 

Exactly the kind of look I would have in my home if I could.

And in current news, Ladurée has uploaded their Christmas colletcion - go see it! They have lovely charms and king cake "fèves" which can be worn as pendants.

Blue hat

I hadn't had time to make any doll things in ages, but this week finally I took the time to make this hat, a prize for a contest that was held in the Enchanted forum. I wasn't expecting much luck with the scanty light of a cloudy late autumn afternoon, but the first three photos came out in quite nice colors. It was also the occasion to unwrap some of the Rement miniatures I had bought in Japan in July and not touched since then. I especially like the silverware and the swan-shaped puff pastry.

 

  

  

 

Cormatin castle

We spent last week-end sightseeing, stayed in a B&B in a 18th century house between Beaune and Cormatin, visited Beaune and it famous hospital (in use until the seventies) on Saturday, and Cormatin Castle on Sunday.

1. Beaune hospital, 2. Cormatin castle - garden, 3. Cormatin castle - ceiling, 4. Cormatin castle - curiosity cabinet, 5. Cormatin castle - side, 6. Cormatin castle - fountain, 7. Cormatin castle - flooded maze, 8. Cormatin castle - front, 9. Cormatin castle - statue in garden.

Cormatin castle belongs to the same people as Fléchères. I liked the exterior of the building, the garden and park very much, but the inside decoration is a bit too much for me. Nevertheless, it's very impressive as a collection of rooms with painted wall panels and ceilings from the early 17th century in an amazing state of preservation. I was planning to enjoy a good, thorough Puni chase in the maze, but unfortunately it was flooded following the recent torrential rains. Maybe another time...