NewThings happening in the Pumpkin Patch...on the Hill

New things will be happening inthe Pumpkin Patch, here on Pumpkin Hill. For one, my main girls decided to band together. On American Girl Playthings forum many of the participants write about their dolls, their dolls' personality, characters, and more with in depth story lines. Well, my crew wanted to get in on the act. So I will be creating a Doll Dossier  with the story behind the dolls who live here, and the main storyline.

It has long been my intention to explain a little more of the Pumpkin Patch, or Pumpkin Hill. Each of the dolls has her own personality, whether developed totally by me or as in the case of the American Girl dolls, their characters are based on a historical character. For the AG playthings forum however, only these dolls will be featured- Becky Bailey (originally Rebecca Rubin, American Girl)Gracie (Soulkid Katie A. bjd), Dottie (Goodereau Wizard of Oz bjd) and Felicity Merriman (American Girl) Eventually, they will be attending Pumpkin Hill Academy, a finishing school for young ladies. The dolls were excited about this and decided to have cookies to get to know each other.

Do you like Cookies Dottie? my name is Felicity Merriman. "Why yes I do. That cupcake looks yummy." "What is your sock monkey's name? " Toto, I don't have a REAL Toto, so I never go anywhere without sock monkey Toto.."

"My name is Gracie, what is yours? "Uh, Becky Bailey is what the human has decided....she says I'm supposed to go to school with you & the others????"  Gracie laughs. " Don't be worried, you'll like it here in the Pumpkin Patch? "Pumpkin Patch????what kind of ladies school is that-- are we going to grow pumpkins????" Becky is worried. "No, of course not. Pumpkin Hill Academy will be our school's name, simply because it is here in Pumpkin Hill. Miss Lisa (the human) calls it the 'Patch for short, as a joke."  Becky frowns, and says"Oh, ok. I guess that will make sense later?" Gracie smiles. "Don't worry- Miss Lisa is always worried we wouldn't get along, since all of us are so different."

The dolls seem to be getting along, and enjoyed their cookies, and were looking forward to more about their doll dossier. Stay tuned for more!

~Lisa

A special day at Pumpkin Hill...

March 9th, 2001....is a special day for me here in the Pumpkin Patch. This is the day my husband Chris & I were married, ten years ago. I still have special memories of that day, as does Chris, & our wedding we planned together. Pictured above are two photos from our wedding pictures. Shoes have long been one of my passions, and the pictured shoes above were from Peter Fox of New York...the bouquet was designed by me, and created for me by Coleman brothers. It was huge! pink roses, baby's breath, lily of the valley, and blue ribbons (color blue symbolized loyalty). My dress was a simple dress, so the bouquet which was so large would be more dramatic- the bouquet went from underneath my chest down to the hem of my gown. I did not wear a veil, as this was both of our 2nd weddings, but only a tiara headpiece, from Swarvorski. The comical picture at right is of me changing my shoes into gingham Tommy Hilfiger sneakers so I would not get my wedding heels dirty...
It is hard to believe it is 10 years later...and every day has been bliss with my husband. Even the dolls have found a way to celebrate for us....

Ellowyne made a celebratory wedding cake for us....

And here is my W Club, High Tide Vanessa, posing in wedding attire with my tiara....and pieces from my 1:6 scale Bespaq...
I hope everyone enjoys the pictures!
~Lisa

Meet Marigold Finch- of Finch Express..

Things have been so busy here at the Pumpkin Patch on the Hill. With moving our shop inventory back home, displays, packing up miniatures, and trying to create items in the chaos, I have had no time to introduce our newest member at the Patch- Marigiold. One reason was I very particular about the story of Marigold, which was inspired by Tasha Tudor's 'Sparrow Post'. Here in King William county where I live, however, finchs abound all over the fields, our yard, and reside in the trees. They are quite small and perfect, a variety of little birds that are quite friendly. When I came up with the idea of my own 'Sparrow Post' I did not want to necessarily copy Tasha's idea and thought of Finches- hence, Finch express. The dolls needed a friendly little postal person, not necessarily another doll, to deliver their correspondence.
Another inspiration of the bird was the little bird from Stuart Little, who he goes in search for when she runs away. So Marigold Finch came about- with the masterful sculpting skills of Patricia Carabera of WoolyTales Miniatures who was pleased to send our little bird. She came with a little mailpouch and cap, but currently before taking on her duties as delivery of news both written & verbal to the dolls, she is settling into her home. I placed her nest, a find from a craft store, in the spare room of Strawberry Hill where the tinies are currently living. Marigold's room was originally the train room set up in the dollhouse, hence the clouds and background painted on the walls. I haven't yet stacked books and letters about her next, since she is a packrat- and likes to save letters that are 'lost'. The above pictures are of her in her nest, in her new room and on the back of the chairs in the dining room.

She likes going to Minuette's sweet shop and looking down on the customers, and getting to know her 'route'....

Her main place of pickup is the antique post office box next to Minuette's shop, we haven't decided the times she should pickup as of yet...

She also likes to make friends with the current residents of Pumpkin Hill, hence one of our new residents, Happy. He was quite 'happy' to meet Marigold, and likes to receive news of the other dwarves.
I will be including Marigold alot more on the stories when our new tinies arrive- Marigold's co-hort will be a RealPuki Soso from Fairyland by way of  Denver Doll Emproium. The patch will be overrun soon with Tinies, but the Realpuki Soso, whose name will be Wren, will be Marigold's fairy assistant and help make sure that the correspondence is sorted correctly and packed well for delivery. (Marigold has wings, but no hands) I will probably put a little bed in Marigold's room for Wren. Marigold & Wren will be our postal system team at Pumpkin Hill...

Until later, Marigold says 'Have letters, will fly!"

~Lisa

My items on Pumpkin Hill Studios at Etsy

I have begun to sell some of my items on Etsy. Pumpkinhill Studios on Etsy is where I have been posting my new handmade artisan items. Currently I am working on more, but I now have a 1:4 scale wedding cake for Ellowyne or Gene, as well as a 1:3 scale Lemon cake for American Girl, as well as some 1:6 scale items.
I will be working on replicating more 1:6 scale items, that in the works. Please visit my Etsy shop for more of my artisan scale creations!~Lisa

New resident in the Pumpkin Patch...

We have a new resident at Pumpkin Hill...meet Annabelle, my french fashion doll, a reproduction 12 inch fashion poupee. She is a reproduction Francois Gaultier mold, on a Seeley body. I have always wanted one of these dolls, ever since I studied about them when I was twleve or thirteen or so. They were so fascinating! These dolls were the original 'Barbie' of the 1850's to the 1890's and the best,  the creme de la creme of these dolls were French.
I loved the book A is for Annabelle by Tasha Tudor, and decided this little beauty by Sylvia Butler of Tarhill Studios would be perfect for my Annabelle. She has such a sweet face, glass eyes, and pearl earrings. I hope to do more sewing for her- as of today I finished her negligee taken and modified from a Gildebrief pattern. I think the simplicity I used on this gown /wrapper was better than what I saw, it accents her face mold more, and compliments the furniture props of Bespaq about her.
We will probably be having more residents come to live at the pumpkin patch, but more on them when they arrive later!
Lisa

Miniature creations done today....

Down at the Pumpkin Patch Today I stayed home from the shop because of the icey road conditions....and created. There is a perfect feeling of tranquility when you work steadily and bring a piece to completion after you come up with the idea, see it, & create it. Hence, my miniature horse pull toys. The horses are mini whinny Breyer horses, repainted and maned. The larger horse has a braided pull string, and the tiny one has a pull string with beads on it. The larger one may be a little large for 1:12 scale, but works with my tiny Brownie bjd, Dixie. She couldn't resist playing with them...

These little darlings have given me all sorts of ideas, miniature carosel horses, or jungle animals, etc. I really enjoyed making them today, and it is so good to get my artist side back to me, the shop & other things have been personally draining these last few months. I hope to create some more items, especially with the paperclay.

~Lisa

New pics of the One Sixth Scale Dollhouse..Lucia reporting...

Hi Everyone. Yesterday I took some new picsof the One Sixth Scale dollhouse with my new phone, and they are great! Lucia, the indollhouse administrative assistant to the Baroness, or Agnes, has decided to take over reporting on the dollhouse for this posting...lol....

Hello Everyone, and glad to be taking over writing on this blog entry for Lisa. My name is Lucia, & I am the administrative assistant for the Baroness, Agnes. I oversee the day to day duties of the One Sixth Scale Dollhouse, so I thought I would give Lisa a break. She just acquired a new cell phone which has a much better camera than her actual camera! Here I am at work with my laptop in my home office.

Keeping the blog updated plus all of the administrative duties is alot of work, 24/7!But let's get onto the new pictureso f the dollhouse, which are much better than the old ones. The dollhouse is still residing in the window of Lisa's shop, King William Miniatures. We have had so many people enjoy the dollhouse, they are simply amazed that fashion dolls could live such a luxurious life...and why not? we were the first ones to acuiqre miniature cars, wardrobes, homes, you name it. That reminds me, I need to order the paint to paint our garage...Ken & the other men in the manor have been bugging me they have no man cave...

I hope you have enjoyed the new sharper images of the dollhouse. Not only that, but yesterday one of the arrangements was to bring home the Mt.Vernon replica home from its display spot in the library of Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, where we were assured it was a hit! Though the shop is closing at the end of January, Lisa is very glad her collection & work has brought so much happiness to everyone at the holidays.
~More coming soon on the one sixth scale dollhouse when it moves to its new home at Lisa & Chris' doll room. ~Lucia