Empress Wu Designs with Wilma

Once upon a time, a group of friends planned a tea party at Miss Camellia’s new home.  What fun… Let’s dress up in our Tilda* finest and we will have lovely treats - cup cakes, finger sandwiches and scones with cream and jam. Everyone can bring a plate. Of course, we will also drink the best tea - French Earl Grey and English Breakfast. The ladies spent hours poring over their CWA  (County Women’s Association) cook books for the traditional recipes and washed the beautiful bone china cups and saucers in preparation, so that on the day, there was plenty of time  to press neatly their pastel coloured party frocks and for a quick visit to the hairdressers. They all applied their make up with the utmost care and added pretty floral accessories to their outfits in fitting with this special occasion. Looking as perfectly beautiful as “The Stepford Wives”, the ladies all gathered at Miss Camellia’s at precisely 3pm.  Oh dear, but don’t look now - Miss Wu is coming up t...

Tilda "bugs" /Christmas beetles from Spring Ideas book   Many of you know that I spent some time in Finland in 2001 and recently returned for a visit and also renewed my love of Scandinavian fabric design.  I have always loved  Marimekko , so it didn' t take much for me to develop a liking for  Tilda  - the clean, crisp, softer and appealing designs by Tone Finnanger from Norway.  My local doll supply shop,  Anne's Glory Box , has recently stocked the delightful Tilda fabrics. books and accessories, so of course I really couldn't resist... And the laces have been hand dyed at Anne's Glory Box to match the Tilda fabrics. The bugs from the Spring Ideas book are my favourites ( image above) and they will be  great gifts for my daughter and daughter-in-law, as I give them a handmade ornament for their Christmas trees each year . Tilda  has also become a bit of a craze with some of the cloth doll  makers in my Hello D...