Less is More

No not dolls at the moment, although this is also on the cards...but blogs!

I am cross posting this on all my blogs.

There has been much thinking going on here recently - it started months ago with my uncertainty with the dolls and feeling overwhelmed by it all...but when blogger changed its layout recently, it really made me think about what I want to do and how I want to go about doing things.  Having lots of individual blogs is now even more time-consuming than it used to be and it is time to probably amalgamate them back into one again.  I split them up initially due to various reasons, perhaps not wisely thought out, and it is time to take back control for me.  The saying 'Less is More' is probably true in many ways and it really will be.  Less blogs, but more posts in the one place.  After all most of my dolls interact with each other anyway, regardless of whether they are Sasha, Schoenhut or American Girl dolls etc...  

My main characters are of course Henry, Peggy Sue and my little wooden Hitty Madge.  I currently have five doll blogs!  Which really is quite ridiculous.  One of which was originally set up as  a joint project with several friends, but that never came to fruition and they all backed out.  I tried to keep it running for a while, but it is hard work on your own, so although I won't close it down, it won't be starting up again. 

My four main doll blogs are:

Sewing for Sasha

How Many Dolls

Holidays with Henry and

Hitty at Rose Cottage.

I think that my Hitty blog will continue as a stand alone blog, as they tend to live in a 'different world' to the other dolls here at Rose Cottage.

Whether to keep Henry's blog separate, just for the holiday posts is something I am still currently debating.

Certainly Sewing for Sasha and How Many Dolls can be amalgamated as I often have to cross posts as the dolls do interact with each other in my stories.  Of course the question then is whether to retain one of the names, or have a brand new name.  Whatever I decide name wise  I will merge the two blogs so that all posts still remain.  I want something that reflects the essence of what my blogs are about...the stories, the dressmaking, sewing and knitting and of course being 'Henry's Mum'.  

So in the New Year changes will be afoot one way or another.

It is starting to look a lot like Christmas

Here at Rose Cottage there is a hive of activity...

Hitty Mary Jean has almost finished trimming the tree.

Hitty Annabel and Hitty Ethel have been having a change round in the living room and moving furniture.

Outside Hitty Moana and Hitty Rimu have been decorating the largest pine tree.

Hitty Natalie Rose has been putting up the Nativity Scene.

Still more to do, but it is looking just lovely.

Second Holiday on Isle of Wight Highlights.

Hitty Madge got to spend another fabulous week at the end of November/beginning of December on the Isle of Wight.

Here are some of her highlights (main blog posts on 'The Balancing Kiwi blog)

Sitting contemplating at the Ventnor Botanical Gardens.

On the beach at Brook Bay

Watching the sun set.

On the beach at Allum Bay

Stunning colours, makes one feel quite small!

Hitty Madge's Surprise!

 Well all the Hittys at Rose Cottage were in for a bit of a shock!

Hitty Madge, normally pretty undemanding, came home with a big surprise for them yesterday.  She decided it was time that they joined the 21st Century.

Oh my goodness!  They gasp.  What have you done Madge, can you drive?  

Well if I can fly a helicopter, then driving a car can't be too difficult! She tells them.

She hops out.  They really can't believe their eyes!

It's a convertible.  She tells them.

A convertible what?  Hitty Mary Jean asks.

Silly!  It is a convertible car, that means you can put the top down.  Ideal for warm summery days.  Madge explains.

But it is winter!  Mary Jean reminds her.

Yes, but it won't ALWAYS be winter. She replies.

Would you like to go for a ride?  I can fit in three at a time.  She says.

Hitty Moana, Hitty Rimu and Hitty Mary Jean hop in while Hitty Phoebe stands by and watches from a safe distance.

Whee!  This is fun calls out Hitty Mary Jean.  I think this is a great idea!

Some time later...Hitty Madge surprises them yet again!

What is this?  Hitty Moana asks?

Well what do you think it is?  Madge replies with a hint of mischievous in her voice.

I've got us a caravan!  

Come inside.  She suggests.

They follow her inside.

Hitty Mary Jean can't quite believe it.

Hitty Moana and Hitty Phoebe have to sit down to take it all in.

She shows them all the 'mod cons' as she calls them.

Mary Jean tries the bed out.

Well?  She asks.

Well!  They all chorus.  But it is winter time!  We can't go camping in winter, it is too wet and cold.

Well we COULD, she replies, but of course you are right, it would be far nicer in the summer.  In the meantime I though we could occupy ourselves over the winter months by making accessories for it, to make our camping experience more comfortable!

It looks like the girls have a winter project!  

15th Anniversary Challenge - Blanket Swap Received.

 We were delighted to receive a little package in the post today.  Our fabulous quilt from Crystal in the USA (our swap partner) arrived!

It is amazing!  Gosh we weren't expecting such a thing as this.

Isn't it just the best?

Thank you so much Crystal for such a lovely quilt indeed.  It will be treasured for sure.

Hitty Madge shows off her shells

Hitty Madge is becoming quite the shell and stone collector and was delighted to find some new treasures on the beach where Queen Victoria's children used to play.

Isle of Wight Holiday Highlights.

Just a few photos from our trip to the Isle of Wight.

It was a beautifully clear sunny day when we boarded the ferry heading to Isle of Wight.

Beautiful flowers - what could be more perfect?

At The Needles - spectacular - a very good day out.

Carisbrooke Castle - hitching a ride.

Osborne - fit for a Queen!

Sitting on the beach that Queen Victoria's children played upon.

Bembridge Windmill.  

Posts of each of these places visited will be on Henry's blog, later this week and early next week, so please do keep checking for updates.

Isle of Wight Holiday: Godshill Model Village.

One of the highlights of our trip to the Isle of Wight was visiting Godshill Model Village.  Our human last visited this village in the sixties!  

Lots of photographs were taken of this wonderful place, most of which will be shown on Henry's blog, (later this week) but these are the ones that were taken that feature Hitty Madge who wanted to know when she could move to the village as she thought it was just perfect.

We hope you enjoy!

Knock, knock, knock...anyone home?

Ooh,, what pretty lace.

Get me to the church on time!

What interesting things this shop has.

Hitty Madge would have loved to have purchased some items from this shop!

This place is an absolute delight and we actually went back for another visit on the last day.  It holds the same fascination as did all those years ago.

The planning, thought and care that went into building and establishing this village is incredible and the continuing care and maintenance of it is a testament to the place.