Doing as I'm told

Last night I wanted to head to my sewing room (as I usually do in the evenings) but I didn't know what to work on.  I always get this problem when I've been focusing on one thing and then it's finished.  It's not that I don't have plenty of things to do, or even plenty of things already half done in the middle of my work table, it's just that I need to find direction again.

So last night my husband suggested that I should work on something for me.  I've always been making things for him, or the baby, or presents, but nothing for me for a long time (I think the last thing was maternity clothes).

It took me a long time to decide what to do but finally I settled on this doll kit which I'd bought from Katkin Designs way back before ... I can't even remember when because I can't find a blog post about it.

The previous doll from Katkin Designs that I'd made I decided to purchase the printed face, but with this new one I thought I'd be daring and trace the face on myself using the Prismacolor pencils.  So that's what I've been working on last night and today.

I'm rather pleased with the outcome, even though I know it's not perfect.  The pattern provides the picture to trace and includes very details instructions on how to colour/shade the face as well as a close up photo of the face from the completed doll on the cover.

And on a completely unrelated topic, here are some more pictures of my garden taken on the weekend.

Some leaves starting to grow on my cherry tree, which I'd been worrying had died (I know they are dormant in winter, but this tree was looking very sad even for a dormant one)

And another ranunculus flower to prove that there is more than just orange ones there!

I need to buy some later flowering bulbs next year as most of my bulbs have finished already and it's not even the end of September!

Forgive me followers

for I have sinned... it has been 7 days since my last blog post!  It feels like an eternity.

Not much has been happening here on the sewing front because I've had a rather sooky bub this week. I think her top teeth might be coming through.

I did spend some time in the garden today though, so I'll report on 'crafting' of a different sort ;)

We planted out our very first tree/plant in the backyard, a Japanese Maple

Our backyard will be a bit of a slow process as my husband and I want to do it together ourselves, and we're still not sure exactly what we want to do with it.  That's why all the plants are still in pots... until today that is!

Last weekend my husband built the first of my two vege boxes

It's filled so far with regular top soil.  Hopefully tomorrow we'll buy mulch, fertiliser, etc to provide the best growing environment for my plants.  I have some asparagus and raspberries waiting to go in here.  Obviously there is room for lots more but I have to decide what yet.

In the front garden, my first daffodils bloomed this week

My snowdrops have been out and having fun for a while

The ranuculus have been looking beautiful for a while too, although I'm expecting some other colours as well

And my red hot poker is just poking out everywhere!  I've counted 15 flower heads so far

I've nearly finished a Birdie Stitches block, so I should have some craft news for you soon.