This is Petula. She is part of a series of 10 small stitched, painted and stuffed works based on those little school photos we have all had.
Here's a little bit about her...
PETULA - (Latin for "Searcher"):
Gentle and soft spoken.
Reads Aristotle and Plato.
Wants to study art and philosophy.
Worries about ant hills flooding in the rain.
Petula is available in my shop, along with a few others that I've listed. There's more to come and I'll be listing the rest soon, and sharing all from this series over the next several posts, but right now I am anxious to let you all know about the GIVEAWAY!!!!
The kind folks over at Lark Books have offered one of my blog readers a free copy of their new Quilts, BABY! book! Yippee!!
As I have said before this is a fabulous book to have for anyone who likes to sew. Even if I weren't in it, (but I am so happy that I am!) I'd still want a copy because it is filled with such talented artists, many of whom you will recognize, and the projects are all wonderfully creative and would be great whether you have a baby in your life or not! All you have to do is leave a comment, and just for fun you can tell me what your most cherished childhood possession was. (Mine was a stuffed pink and white bunny, which I still have and still cherish!) The giveaway will be open all week. One comment per person please! (And make sure I have a way of contacting you!) I will be randomly picking a winner Sunday night and posting who the lucky duck is next Monday morning. Good Luck!
Note: Giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered!
105 comments:
Yay! I'm first (I think).
When I went on holidays with my folks aged 7, I made a little friend called Bree. She had a stuffed dog that she loved and we became instant best friends.
When we left the holiday, I felt really sad to leave Bree but my mum spied another one of those dogs (EXACTLY THE SAME!) and bought it for me.
I named it Bree and I still have it although it has lost some of its stuffing.
Bree lives in my son's bookshelf and watches over him everyday.
Number 2, eh? So be it, I'll take the fate I'm dealt.
Welcome back! Petula is sweet. I am anxious to see the rest of the class.
Petula is really cool! You are so creative.
Hmmm... as far as a childhood possession goes, my memory is not so great in that area. But I do remember this one doll that I had received that was about 2 feet tall. When you held it's hand you could walk with it. It would actually put one foot in front of the other. Pretty cool!
Victoria you amaze me with your endless talents and versatility! Petula is just adorable, I can't wait to see her classmates.
My most memorable childhood possession was my Barbie trunk full of fabulous gorgeous Barbie clothes that my dear grandmother made for me. She was a frequent shopper of remnant tables and would order scrap bags of trim from the Wright company. How exciting when a new one came by mail!
She inspired me to be creative and was without a doubt the single most influential person in my life. Deep sigh.
Oh boy did I have some "a face only a mother could love" school photos, nothing near as cute as Petula!
I had a stuffed turtle I received for my birthday and I named him Tipsy Topsy Turtle, I was young. Somehow, that turtle was given away years and years later. Sad. Wish I still had him.
The books looks great. Hope I win!
My most cherished possession as a child? Probably my blanket. It was nothing fancy, just a receiving blanket with satin binding. But I destroyed that thing. The binding was so gross because I sucked on it.
My mom rebound it several times and I continued to destroy it.
Petula is a cutie!
My most precious childhood item was/is a stuffed monkey made of real fur. I'm horrified now to think of what poor animal gave its skin for my enjoyment, but I gave it all the love in my young heart; it was my constant companion for years.
Hmm, Petula looks like a cheerleader, lol. Regardless, I love her. My most precious memory was of a yellow and black monkey with a banana in his hand. I was elated to find his identical twin brother at rummage sale in Tyler! Now, what are the odds? Ahh, yes, he now lives with me.....wahoo!
I would love to be in your giveaway, great looking book. Thanks, Elaine from Texas
Petula is lovely - as are all your little stitched people.
OK, I had a blanket named blankie blankie. I loved that balnket. It was so tattered and filled with holes from being drug through the house. My mom threw it away one day and that ended my relationship with Blankie blankie. Or did it? Now I have about 70 quilts in my house...maybe I am trying to recreate my lovely blankie. Who can say?
I make a lot of baby quilts so I would love to have this book. The only childhood possession I can remember was a faux Barbie doll. We didn't have much in the way of toys - too many mouths to feed. I didn't find out until I was in my 40's that it wasn't a real Barbie doll - my parent couldn't afford the real thing. My mom use to make lots clothes for her. Then one day my mom thought my sister and I were too old for dolls and gave them away! I was not happy. I must have been about 10. I guess that is why I kept so many of my son's toys! paltier at rkps-aps dot com.
I had a stuffed pink pig that had a little bell inside, so when you shook the pig it sort of warbled--so much nicer than a grunt! Still, I'd love to have a real pig!
Thanks for being so generous! I had a yellow dog named Fifi LaFemme that I loved.
My treasured item was my blankie. By the time I outgrew it, it was ripped to shreds. (or should I say loved to shreds)
Welcome back, my friend! It sure is good to see Petula and hear from you. I can absolutely relate to your poolboy. I could use one of those myself. Petula is a delightful little thing, just looking at her makes me smile. Well done (as always)! Happy sewing!
I loved my Malibu Barbie and the orange van I got for Christmas one year. Played with that thing forever. (It might have been a Good Times van.)
I don't have any of my toys from childhood except one doll. She is fragile and I did love her. My mom got rid of everything else. She wasn't "mean", she just didn't keep anything. I, on the other hand, have an attic full of my children's toys. They are in their 20s now so one day we'll have a blast going through them. Thanks for this giveaway. I would love a copy of this book.
Dawn
Petula is adorable!
my most precious childhood possession was my bear meme. He's been lost for a long time.
Absolutely beautiful. I LOVE the idea of sewn little school portraits. (It helps that the flower hanger is just amazing and I covet it greatly :))
The one childhood favorite I can remember is my Sparkle Plenty doll. Sparkle Plenty was the daughter of B.O.Plenty and Gravel Gerty [all characters from the Dick Tracy comic strip]
Sad to say, Sparkle Plenty was demolished by to two of my younger brothers. . . but Sparkle Plenty lives on in my memory.
Each of your doll creations possess
very distinct personality traits. Personality traits that give us pause . . . . .
Your blog gives each time I visit.
Thanks
I have eyed that book for a while, it looks like it is full of great sewing ideas.
I would LOVE to win this...been eyeing it ever since you first shared it on your blog :)
thanks!!!
tiffany (tiffany[@]kowalke.info)
PETULA is a very adorable girl.
I had a Strawberry Shortcake doll when I was a little girl. She went with me everywhere.
Oh Victoria, I'm so glad that you're back. Those two weeks felt longer without you! Petula is so wonderful; her eyes do convey the meaning of her name, I think.
I'm struggling with your question about my most prized childhood possession. I grew up in such poverty that I didn't have much in the way of posessions. BUT we went to the library every week, and I got to check out as many books as my arms could hold! When I read books I felt rich because I got to experience the world in such an adventurous way. And we also read together as a family a lot. While my Mom read out loud, my Brother and I would sit, rapt. Those were good times! My local library is still important to me, so if I could call a library a "posession" I would say that it was probably my most cherished as a child.
My most cherished possession was either my teddy bear (Smokey, of course) whose pelt is worn to the nubbins, whose ears have holes in them, and whose foam stuffing continues to escape, or my Thumbelina doll. My mother said she (Thumbelina) used to wriggle when you wound her up, but I dont' have any memory of her "winder" being intact, just the hole in her back where it should be. Her foam stuffing also spills out the tear where her leg attaches.
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane, it's been years since I've thought about them!
The only thing that I have left from my childhood is my brown bear: it sits on top of my closet. And it still smells the same as it did in my memory ^_^ (and that's about 35 year or so ago)
My most prized childhood possession? My doll, Samantha, who I took with me everywhere. My mom used to make little dresses for her.
You should be able to reach me through flickr. I hope I win, I am dying for this book!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossiebug/
thats awesome!
Petula is adorable, and I love that she "worries about ant hills flooding in the rain."
I still have my teddy bear from my child hood. He's a bare bear in patches where his fuzz has worn off, and his eyes have been re-glued too. From which you can probably ascertain that he is also a rather ancient bear, from the dark days before everything was made "child safe." Yes, a rather aged bear indeed.
Petula is so fabulous, and I love her name, too! That book is on my wish list - would love to win a copy! My favorite childhood item? My doll, for sure. She had a hard plastic head and a soft body, and I called her Nancy. I still have her...
Hello,
Lovely face on your doll.x
Petula is so cute!
My favorite childhood possession? That's easy. A feather pillow that was made by my Grandma using chicken feather's from her parents' farm. I still sleep with it now, but don't use it as a pillow. It's gets sort of cold and I just like wrapping my arms around it! My husband is always trying to steal it from me as he knows how much I love it.
Inksomnia
hello! welcome back. I love your new pieces and especially the stories that go with them. My most treasured childhood possession was a doll my mum knitted for me, she was called barbie but was the total opposite of the plastic variety
: )
oh fun! my most treasured childhood possession is an orange fuzzy blanket with satin edges. my mom still has it, which reminds me that i need to pick it up so my newborn son may use it :)
Petunia is wonderful. I love her name too.... I was not really attached to any particular item but my daughter has a pink bunny she called Doodie and she went to college with her and sits on her book shelf.
I love the book and congrats. I am still having issues with the computer but it is going in today.
Take Care
I had a snoopy doll that I hugged so much it's neck was barely there. Eventually it's head fell off!
Petula is adorable! I would love to win the book!
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
My favourite childhood possession would have to be my kitten. I saw her in a pet shop window and never thought that my mother would buy her for me.
Unfortunately I named her Pussy. We yelled that name around the neighbourhood at evening time for around a decade after that. Lovely.
Hmm, good question...
I think it would be my Wendy Walker doll that my Dido bought me or the white crocheted blanket that my great Baba made. I still have the latter. No wonder my girls love their blankies.
Wow! This is a really hard question to answer.... I guess I'd have to say my favorite childhood toy was a Betsy McCall doll, somehow she got crushed and I cried and cried until my Dad repaired her with some special kind of glue and.... I still have her some 40+ years later.
Peggy
art19552001@yahoo.com
Hi Victoria! Welcome back!!! I love Petula and can't wait to see more of her friends! And what a lovely giveaway to celebrate your return. I had a few cherished childhood possessions so will have to narrow down my fave and get back to you tonight. I'm at work now and my head is all over the place, but wanted to quickly pop in to welcome you back and say hi :) Back later! xo
OMG! Just popped over to your shop and I love Harman, Henry and Matilda too! And the descriptions are brilliant!!! Ok, I really should go do some work now...
Cute, cute dolls.
My favorite childhood possession? Not a blankie for me. No, it was my two middle fingers of my right hand. They had to paint anti-thumb sucking stuff on them to get me to quit. Hmph.
Vicky F
Great giveaway! I would be honored to win this wonderful book! But heck, I'm just honored to visit your blog and to own your doll, Delores (formerly Odd Nancy).
My most cherished possession was a stuffed panda which was stolen when I left it in the yard one day.
Great book! Wow I can't really think of something that was a fav as a child. But I think it was a baby doll with soft arms and legs that felt like a real baby.
Hi,
Wow I sure would like a copy of this book. My baby is due in 1 week and I haven't started his baby quilt yet. This could be the motivation I need to get started on it!
I love your work by the way!
Oh yes, I would love a copy! And my fav thing was a wonderfully soft cotton corduroy (tiny wales)pillow in the shape of a watermelon. My sister (5 yrs older) had it first, then I had it, then my son and daughter loved it (26 and 23 now) and it simply shreded. It is only a flat (feather) bag with no corduroy left. I will make a new one for the first grandbaby, and it will be the same pillow in spirit!
I've been wanting that book!! My favorite toy was a stuffed bear called Polar Bear. When his eyes fell out, I knit little blue circles and sewed them on. He survived a catastrophic house fire when I was in 2nd grade and I still have him. His fur is gone but he still has his blue eyes.
I keep seeing this book posted around blog-land... I need to take a peek at a copy!
My most cherished childhood memento is my stuffed Shamu. My grandmother took me to SeaWorld in Ohio sometime in the mid 70's. That Shamu has made it through many moves, teenage years, college, marriage, and now resides in my daughter's room. I love catching a glimpse of him when I walk in her room. Its almost as if a part of my grandmother is watching over my little one.
I loved my Chatty Cathy doll who would talk with me and listen to me. I still have her and she still talks. Enter me in your drawing - would love a new book. Judi
Petula is so adorable!And the book is on my wish list! My most cherished thing was a book of poetry that my father would read to me at bedtime.
My most cherished childhood possession would have to be my first sewing machine. It was given to me by my Grandma Mary when I was 12. It was a 1922 White that was operated by your knee instead of a foot pedal. I sewed my first quilt on it. 27 years later I still have it though I don't sew with it anymore. I can't imagine parting with it.
Petula is lovely!
I will have to say my Barbies were my favorite. I built them furniture, made them a house, sewed them clothes and even made them jewelry. They sure kept me busy...I bet my Mom liked my Barbies too!
I enjoy your creations dear! Thanks for sharing, Denise
Welcome back!
My most treasured childhood possession was the panda given to me as a babe, which my mother gave away to the missions a few years later when she had a tidy up (but didn't give away my brothers teddies!!).
I gave her the guilt's for years afterwards until she finally gave me another panda - which is very treasured as well.
WHAT a giveaway of this amazing looking book featuring YOUR work.
COunt me IN.
My most treasured possession was White Ted he is living in the UK at the moment - I might have to get him to come out - he will have to be accompanied and not mailed out because there is a chance he could get lost.
That sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
dfuller55 at verizon dot net
I had a small doggie that I called Haubauek. Unfortunately my reall dog Afgan had eaten Houbouwek one day. Perhaps he was a bit jellous.
Oh, I would be delighted to win your book!
Oh, fun giveaway!
My "Debbie-Doll" was my most prized possession. My Auntie Debbie gave her to me, thus the very imaginative name.
(And I still have her, although she is in pretty rough shape now)
Would be lovely to win! :)
I had a yellow teddybear called Tissen that I loved above everything else. Even when he lost an arm in a fight with the neighbour and an eye my brother bit off.. ;)
I can't wait to see this book! I was a HUGE Barbie fanatic...so I'd say my most treasured posession would have been my carrying case which kept all my barbies and her wardrobe in :)
Oh gosh, this is the 3rd time I've popped in here. Sorry. I hope I don't mess up your draw! I think my fave childhood possession was a dinky Bugs Bunny plastic toy camera. It took the best pics. Wish I still had it. I had other things that I treasured but that one seems to stand out because it went along everywhere with me when I was a kid.
Oh my, childhood is so very long ago, I can't really remember. I was not that interested in dolls - I loved paper, pencils and crayons. I do remember having a Davy Crocket doll and another girl doll I named Anita. Designing clothes for her is what I did. I would really love a chance to win the book. I now make dolls to give away.
hi!!
your dolls are simply gorgeous!!!
so beautiful!!
About the giveaway,count me in, please!!
I realy loved to win this book!!
My favorite toy was a stuffed doll, in white :)), which as you can guess, was never white,because it always went with me! the whole hand:)))
hugs Isabel
ah! I will add you as my contact :)))
Thanks for your lovely blog and generous giveaway (which I hope to win!) My treasured childhood possession is my Nancy paperdoll, which I still have. I used to have Slugo, too, but I remember cutting his head off with scissors when I was in elementary school (lol). What would Freud say!?!
Your dolls are fantastic! I look forward to seeing them all on your blog. I loved my dolls as a little girl (they even led to my career), but my favorites were 2 yellow blankets, one fuzzy w/ a satin binding, and one satiny and quilted with an appliqued white plush bunny. They are both safely stored in a closet now (one in 3 pieces!)
Love your new series! My favorite possession was my blanket. Which I still have. Somewhere.
I love Henry, Matilda and Petula. Wonderful names and characters! Great series!
My favourite childhood possession was a box of Caran d’ache coloured pencils and a sketchbook. A present from my grandparents who taught me how to use the pencils with water to make a kind of watercolour drawings. My grandparents were both very creative spirits and I owe them a lot.
I loved my Tiny Tears doll, even after her skin got mottled and diseased. Congrats on the book and thanks for a chance to win.
My childhood treasure is a Dutch Doll baby quilt made by my aunt's mother-in-law. I never understood the reason someone would make a quilt for child that they had never met, until the quilting bug got ahold of me! Congrats on the book, and I'd love a chance to win the book of quilt inspiration. Who knows, maybe I'll pass on this family heritage of quilts for kids we don't know!
Love this book! Congratulations. You are really jogging my middle-ish aged memory here...most cherished....hmmm....I think my Canadian silver doller encased on clear resin. It was a paperweight given to me on my Christening by my great-grandmother. I loved looking at that perfect, shiny coin floating in the middle of the clear cube. I have no idea where it is now....
I really loved your quilts, but your doll are gorgeous as well!!
I just realized that I didn't mention my favorite toy, but when I looked back through the comments, I didn't see mine so I'm going to comment again - Victoria, please forgive me if I'm in here twice.
My favorite toy was a brown Pound Puppy. I don't know why or how this began, but I slept with it under my neck, like a pillow, for years. On a cross-country adventure when I was 11, I accidentaly left it at the house of some friends we had visited, and I cried and cried until my parents turned around the car and drove back to get it.
Your little dolls are adorable. Gosh, I would have to say my Barbie doll, and I still have her. I also have my Mary Poppins doll. She came out with the Movie was released back in the sixties.
I have seen a few pictures of the quilts featured in this book and they are beautiful. So much talent and inspiration.
HI there! I love your blog, just found you from your comment over on my Olliekate blog. Thanks! And I love Lark Books, there offices are just a few miles from my house. The book looks great, I would love to win it.
Reaching back to childhood memories, I would have to pick my stuffed animals. I had loads of them and I remember taking such good care of them all. My little girl still plays with some of my dolls!
Just found your blog and love your designs. Please sign me up in your giveaway. Come by my blog I have a giveaway going too!!
http://janesdesign.blogspot.com/
Oh, I love Henry, Petula and Matilda!
My cherished toy was a rabbit too, 'Mrs Rabbit". She has fuzzy yellow fur, a red gingham dress and my mum knitted her a red cardi and a hat with ear holes. The hat is long gone, the cardi has a couple of moth holes and her dress is a little tatty where one of our dogs had a friendly chew but Mrs Rabbit lives on, she takes it easy these days though and sits on a shelf in my sewing room, just keeping an eye on things.
Thanks for the chance to win this great book! Good luck everyone xxx
I just bought some great retro fabric that i need some cool ideas on what to do with it....
Fav thing as a kids was probly my Big Teddy bear kept it till I got married in my mid 20s
I love to make baby quilts, quilts for my toddler grand children and I've been working on a large Queen size quilt for about four years, off and on, for my master bedroom, but I rarely use a quilt pattern, they're all free-hand.
My favorite (most cherished) possession as a child, was a stuffed monkey with very little hair left on him. I think he was a baby shower gift and I kept him close by for about 14 years, until his head popped off:)
maggie@mannwieler.com
Love your dolls.
The one thing I do remember when I was growing up was a huge black and white teddy bear. Don't know where it came from or what happened to the poor thing.
Mine is definitely my teddy bear, Jessica! She is the most precious thing I own, I have had her my whole life because she was my Mum's most precious childhood toy... the only present that her father ever picked for her, and cherished for that reason alone!
I was still known to pack her in my suit case at the age of 22...
P.S. Rebecca from above post! My email is rebecca@blinkingflights.com
Sorry about that!
Mine was a Cabbage Patch Kids named Guy Brett...yes I still remember his name (and he is packed in a box in storage shhhh)
ajcmeyer aT go dot com
Mine was Bambi ;-) And I still have it !! 35 years later aahahahahah thanks for the chance to win ;-)
Please enter me in for your lovely book giveaway!
I'm pushing into my late thirties so can't even remember the name of the teddy I loved as a child that only had one eye! Probably because the name changed weekly!!!
aneela.h@live.co.uk
Love your new pillow people! (& I'd love to get my hands on that book.)
Haven't seen the book on store shelves yet -- would love to get my hot little hands on it!
You know, I can't really think of a treasured possession as a kid. I have 6 siblings so it was a little tough to keep possessions to yourself.
Well, let me correct. No specific treasured possession besides anything that one of my other siblings was playing with. Of course anything that they were having fun with I needed Right. Then.
My most cherished childhood possession is a doll my Mom made to look just like me. I feel lucky when my daughter sleeps with me because she brings that doll to bed too. Even better to hold both of my dolls. Now I need my Mom to live closer to me. Blessings, Stefanie Hartman fhartman@frontiernet.net
I had a pink bean bag doll named Baby Beans. I got her for my 3rd Christmas. I chewed on her hands, bit a small hole in her foot, and for some strange reason bit place on her cheek. I still have her. You can see my tiny teeth marks on her.
hafner611{AT}gmail{DOT}com
Petula is precious. I had a stuffed snoopy and I have alot of pictures of my with snoopy -- he started out white but was dark gray in most of the pics (even when color film came out!)
My Thumb!
granataseitz@comcast.net
I would love this book!
lillyshay@hotmail.com
I had a few very cherished toys.. I had a beautiful Barbi named Lilly.. She was my favorite and noone was allowed to play with her but me, of course. I've lost her, though :( I moved states away and she was somehow left behind with a few other childhood memories.
My replacement Barbie is my daughter, Lilly. Yes, I named my daughter after my favortie Barbie, and she lets me dress her and play with her hair just the same.
I am still on the search for this Barbie (vintage)..I'd love to find the same model.. (Beach Barbie of some sort)
Ooooh, I would love to have this beautifull book!
The book looks great i would love to win it, i am surrounded by babies and preggie mum friends.
I don't think i had one particular childhood treasure, but i still have "Rosie" a clown doll (75cm's ish) my mother made for me as child. She has a hat and lace up shoes, wolley hair and a great pair of red overalls. Lovely details and is still in pretty good condition considering she is nearly 30 years old!! I hope i can make something just treasured and lasting for my daughters.
I loved this big red stuffed brontosaurus I had when I was little. Her name was Alice, and I always made everyone in my family give her kisses (which I'm pretty sure they found annoying after a few days...). I still have Alice at my parents' house!
Ooh, I am right in the middle of my very first quilt and it's a baby one! It's so fun, I can't think why I haven't done this before. I've been sort of making it up as I go along - a book would be great!
My most treasured childhood object was a stuffed bunny that my mother made for me, named Wiggy (why? who knows? Ask 2-year old me!)
I had a quilted blanket that my mom made me for kindergarten!
Thanks
Sarah
believedreamcourage (at) gmail.com
How can I resist? - Throw my name in the hat for your giveaway. I know just who Id make one for should I win it.
Thanks.
I'd love a copy of this book!
My prized childhood posession was probably my stuffed dog Fred...he fit just so between my neck and my arms when I snuggled into bed at night and I couldnt sleep without him for years!
Hi, there...I came for a visit from syko's blog. Your little people are so sweet. I love them. Thanks!
Hi,
I would love to take part on the giveaway.
I would love a chance to win. my favorite childhood item was a baby doll made by my mom. I called her cry baby because she was sad and had a tear embroidered from her eye.
Wow! I stumbled across your comment on Red Yarn and am glad I did...you have a great blog and I'm really interested in your book--right up my alley! Let's see...favorite childhood posession was my journal. I wrote everything in it, and was to embarrased to ever share a word of it to anyone or even reread it at times.
correction: "too" (I should spell check before publishing my comments!)
This book looks fantastic. The quilting bug has hit me so count me in!!
My favorite was a doll Baby Dear One and I still have her. She's so soft and cudddly.
Theresa N
weceno(At)yahoo(dot)com
This books look like it has lots of great projects. Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
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