The Dappledawn's Holiday Chapter 1

I'm making a story :) I am going on holiday very soon, and my Sylvanians will be coming (of course), so I thought I'd make a story about it. Emily Nightingale stepped in for Mother Theodora Dappledawn who had an unfortunate run-in with my dog. That is also why Brother Radish Dappledawn is missing, and I couldn't find a substitute!

CHAPTER 1

'Pheww!' Said Herbage Dappledawn to himself. 'I haven't been up that attic in years! No wonder it is such a mess! It took ages to find my suitcase!'

'Now what clothes should I take? Let's take a look in the wardrobe,' Herbage muttered.

'Ahh yes! I do like this shirt! I must pack this,' He said, as he folded up the shirt.

* Many items of clothes later *

'And finally, these corduroy trousers! My dearest Theodora always comments on how the cut of them is very attractive!' And he added the trousers to the growing pile within the suitcase.

.

'Finally! All finished!' Herbage smiled to himself. He then attempted to close his suitcase. 'Oh no! My suitcase will not close! I thought it was only women with too many possessions that had this problem...' With one final heavy push, Herbage snapped his suitcase shut.

'Brilliant! All finished! All I've got to do now is heave this weighty suitcase downstairs and then get the camping equipment packed!' Herbage said, brightly.

Meanwhile, Tilly Dappledawn was packing her rucksack ready for the holiday.

'I'm so lucky Mother brought me a new rucksack for the holiday!' She thought, happily 'Now, what will I need?' Tilly wondered.

'I know!' She said aloud. 'My favourite thing - books!' 

Tilly hurried downstairs to the conservatory reading room to get some of her favourite books.

'Mmmn, now what books shall I take?' Tilly browsed the bookshelf.

'A nice story book would be good...Oh excellent, one of my favourites!' Tilly whispered excitedly, as she picked out Forest Evergreen's Birthday Surprise.

'And I think Wild Flowers & Trees of Sylvania might come very useful, considering the fact we will be camping!' Tilly grabbed her books and went back up to her room to continue packing.

'I'll just pack these into my rucksack,' Thought Tilly, as she placed her books inside the bag.

'I will leave my rucksack here so I don't forget it!' Tilly smiled, as she put her rucksack on her chair. In just three days the whole family would be going on holiday with Tilly's best friend Sadie Persis and her family! She was very excited!

Theodora was the only member of the family who was not quite so excited about the holiday. Yes, she knew she would have a great time gossiping with Salome Persis, and showing everyone Cornwall, the place she loved and knew so well. But Theodora was bogged down with the stress side of the holiday.

'I have so much washing! So much ironing! Why does the whole family leave it until the last minute to put their things in the washing basket?!' Theodora thought to herself crossly. She heard Herbage thumping around in the attic and tutted quietly. 'It took me almost an hour to get those twins to sleep, if he wakes them up then..' She threatened, angrily.

'I'd better take Tilly's beach towel up to her room so she can pack it into her beach bag,' Thought Theodora, as she rolled up the towel and made her way upstairs, quietly so she did not wake the babies.

'I wonder where Tilly is?' Said Theodora, as she entered Tilly's empty room. 'I imagine she's gone to Sadie's to talk about the holiday...Oh what a good girl she is! Her rucksack is all packed!' Theodora had just put the towel on Tilly's bed and gently closed the door when she heard rather a lot of clattering downstairs.

She went downstairs to find Herbage with the camping equipment all over the dining room table and floor. There were kettles, gas burners, sleeping bags, even a fishing rod! Herbage looked up and smiled.

'Hello dear! Now, I was just wondering, do you think we'll need a fishing rod?' He asked her.

'Darling, what is all this dusty, spidery mess! I was about to serve dinner!' Theodora said, frowning. Suddenly, she heard a cry from upstairs. All that clattering had woken the babies!

'Honestly, Herbage! Now you've woken the babies as well!' She snapped. Herbage's face fell.

'I'm really sorry Theodora! I just got into the spirit of things and maybe I got a little over-excited!' Herbage apologised.

'It's alright! I'm just being grumpy! You're right, we should be happy, we're going on holiday! I'm sorry too. Love you,' Theodora smiled.

'Love you too, dear,' And they exchanged a quick kiss.

'I have an idea! Let's eat dinner in the garden! It's a beautiful summer's evening, so why not?' Theodora beamed.

The whole family sat down to a delicious home-made meal and talked all about how excited they were about their holiday!

Renovating the Rose of Sylvania Canal Boat

My old Tomy Canal Boat has been looking a bit worse for wear for the last few years. Having probably been my most played-with toy ever, it was very well worn. So I decided, since I can't buy any Sylvanians because I'm saving, that I would give the canal boat a bit of a renovation. Curtains, cushions, maybe some carpet.

Last night I started making some seat cushions. I'm not particularly talented at sewing, so please excuse my rather terrible hand-sewing! I used to use sheets of foam to make Sylvanian mattresses, but I've run out, so I've used regular stuffing - that's why it is a little bit lumpy! :) I used a simple blanket stitch around the edges. I'm not sure whether I need any additional decoration . . . I really don't want to overdo it, just keep it basic: Less is more.

I really think it is quite sweet, but it needs something more. I think maybe some velvet red cushions would compliment the fabric. I'm not sure about what colour carpet either, as the boat is kinda multicoloured so I can't find a 'neutral' colour that looks nice. And here's my canal boat:

All the stickers are faded and peeling sadly, and a lot of the parts have gone missing over the years, but I love this canal boat :)

Handmade Rucksacks

These rucksacks are really simple to make! In fact, they only take less than half an hour each! I was at my friends' house the other day, helping her sort out her Sylvanians, when I found an old Tomy rucksack that was falling apart. I asked if I could borrow it so I could make my own, which she happily obliged to. I made a pattern, got out my sewing box and fabric and managed to make a bag!

To make this bag, you will need the following materials:
- Two colours of felt of your choice (the stiffer the better, I find)
- Thin elastic
- Fimo (polymer clay) to make a miniature button/a miniature button if you have one
- Cotton thread

First, print out this pattern and and pin it to the fabric. Alternatively, you could trace it on to grease-proof paper as I have. Then cut to size.

Next, fold the two sides together (the bottom two panels). Insert the elastic at the fold and pin into place. Use the dotted lines on the pattern as a guide as where to sew. Ensure you firmly sew off, as it has a tendency to come un-sewn when turning it inside out.

Turn the rucksac inside out, and then sew the middle of the elastic to the middle-top of the back of the rucksack.

Next, sew the handle to the top of the bag and sew the two 'buckles' on to the flap of the bag.

Finally, sew on the button on, and make a small snippet on the flap to create a button hole!

Above is the finished bag. The buckle on the left did not go very well, but I've used up all of today's patience so I'm not redoing it!!

Freddie Buckley & Isabella Hunter-Smyth are very happy with their new rucksacks! They even offered to model them for me! I made the pink one earlier, and I can see the blue one looks better. Considering I practically made these from scratch, with just a falling-to-pieces bag to base my design on, I think they look pretty good!

Making Fimo buttons:


Take a small piece of Fimo and roll into a very small ball. Place the ball on a flat surface, and gently apply pressure to create a button shape (should be no wider than about 4mm from one side to the other). Use a pin to make two button holes. Then place on a tray and put in the oven at 130 Celsius for 25 minutes (because they are so tiny they do not take very long). Wait for them to cool before removing them from the tray and sewing them on! It takes a little practise to make these, but as long as you have a fair amount of time and reasonable levels of patience, then anyone can do it!

Figure Count

I did a figure count today, and photographed all my Sylvanian Families together. It was quite difficult to put them all in one photo! I got the Bramble Hedgehogs and Buckley Deer for Christmas which brings my figure count up to 81!!

Mayor Bill Waddlington introduces his wife Wanda, and his three adopted ducklings: Tom, Maisy and Sammy Puddleford. He welcomes you to his village and hopes you have a nice stay.

These are all my Sylvanian Families figures, but you can't see them all because of the angle.

This is a better angle but it came out really blurry. It looks as though I have hardly any figures, you wouldn't believe there was 81 there!!

This is originally how I set them out, but you can see my Legend of Zelda and Pokemon posters! No photos really came out as well as I'd like!