I finally finished the top for the British Olympics as well as the Italian flag top and Olympic dolls’ masks.
The dolls look like me and you, Monica, te he. As you can see from the photo below I resemble Draculaura when I was in my teens. The first living and breathing Monster High doll. I made the dress using an old Singer sewing machine.
Here I look like Cindy Lauper v Lagoon Blue from Monster High. Looking back I wonder how the hec I went out dressed like that. But I guess us arty people are always a bit whacky. Dad found it amazing and I have to admit the white daisy’s look great!
I used to work in Gilbert’s house for Haskoll Architects. I really enjoyed living in Pimlico, Putney and Wimbledon. Back then I used to travel and dated a New Zealand guy. Eight years of no ring on the finger and I decided to quit. My sister convinced me to go to Dorset for a weeks holiday and fixed a date with the local singer. We are still together 11 years later and have a little girl. I have always been creative. Nan used to make peg dolls with me and left me her old sewing box, which I treasure. When I worked in a pub in Hastings I made my own clothes. In my twenties I did a doll making course in Brighton and tried to start my own business. I managed to get some handmade brooches into a Covent Garden shop. But decided to stick to secretarial work, which brought in a regular salary. I adore taking photographs so when my little girl was born I decided to take a local photography course. My tutor was so impressed with my Photoshop skills he asked me to teach him some of my techniques. When I showed my Mother in law the Victorian style dress I made for my little girl she said why don’t you have a go at making a Butterfly costume. Well the rest is history. Butterfly Lullaby was born. Butterfly Lullaby is my fairy book, album and Trademark. The Mark Jermin Stage School are the characters in my story and my partner created all the songs. The book was launched at the Dylan Thomas Centre back in March 2007. It was truly beautiful. You can view the little fairies dancing on You Tube. Robin Stevens who you may know from Rosie and Jim is on my Butterfly Lullaby website reading my fairy story Colour me a fairies wish. We were going to do personalised children’s stories together. But shiny things attract gremlins. The trick is to keep going and never give up. My little girl danced to our song Butterfly Lullaby at the Enchanted Manor in front of famous fairy artist Josephine Wall back in October 2009. My little girl and I love making art and craft videos, which we hope to share with London Mum’s. The one thing I adore about London is the way you just fit in. The City is full of different cultures, which makes it an interesting and friendly place to live. I am currently trying to scrapbook postcard my family history. Does anyone know anything about the family history on the old LeFevres department store in Canterbury which is now Debenhams. My Nan’s Grandmother’s name was LeFevre and she lived in Bayswater. Nan was an orphan so we are trying to uncover the hidden ghosts!
Sharon thanks a lot for this post. The Olympic masks and tops look stunning! They look like laborious to make. How did you make the tops? One of my favourite posts ever… thanks again!
Thanks Monica, so glad you love the post. And look forward to seeing your Bratz dolls dressed up in the costumes and masks I made especially for you! OOAK. No patterns.
Wow what a complement to say this is one of your favourite posts ever. I will have to put a video together on how to make some costumes and create the patterns for the Olympic tops. Hand painted and sewn.
I laugh at the pictures of me when I was younger and how insecure I was, that is why I wore so much make-up. I just wanted to be loved. Looking back I can see why I never met the right guy, ha ha, but I am glad in a way, because I had my little girl when I was a grown up and had lived my life to the full. When I was younger I was far too selfish to have a child. I would recommend having a child in your 30’s because you are only young once! One thing I hope is that my little girl goes for the more natural approach to growing up so she attracts the right sort of people that respect her as a human being! So the photos of me are a lesson to her, te he.
The 80s… such different years from now. i was a teenager in the 80s as well and i can totally agree! My parents did not allow me to be so ‘dark’ so i was forced to look like a 5 year old in a body of a teenager. Check my Facebook photos and you will understand what i mean. Ah ah! I am quite grateful to my parents, though, for bringing me up at the right pace 🙂 I am so impressed that you hand painted the costumes!! i look forward to seeing the video. Well done! and thanks for being such a great supporter of our organisation.
Oh wow you grew up in the 80’s. I will have to check out your photographs. My Nan was strict so my Mum went the other way and she was ill all through my life so I just did what I wanted, hence the bad hair and make-up. As a Mum you just want the best for your child so it is good to teach your children to dress the way you would like them to be treated with nothing but respect. Going to have to check out your photographs as having to dress like a 5 year old? I am giggling, I will probably do that to my little girl, poor thing, but hey will keep her safe. Good for you Mum and Dad as you turned out just fine! Mothers will find the items I use for painting very interesting! It is lovely for you to welcome me the way you have and I just love to blog knowing that Mothers support the same things. London Mum’s you rock!
They are beautiful…you are so talented!
Thank you Ginger, so kind of you to leave a comment about my Olympic games dolls outfits. I wonder if the shops would sponsor these masks or if they will put up the usual brick walls? The UK does not make it easy for Mum’s that is for sure.
Hi Sharon, they are beautiful, and you will definitely sell them. Can you set up some kind of stand?
Or like those ‘old cigarette trays’ or do you need a license to sell? thats too bad…they need to be seen.
Hi Ginger, love the idea of the old Cigarette Trays to sell the masks. Thanks for your very kind comments, it is lovely to know that I have a few people that like my work. Maybe I should make a little Cigarette tray for the Monster High dolls to hold round her neck with the Olympics masks for a video te he. Just got an old fashioned sewing machine trying to figure out how to work it. Wish me luck. Then I get making lots of costumes for Monster High and Bratz.