Liberty Girls Decor

Instagram is a wonderland for mums that love buying handmade. I'm a mum that makes handmade dolls, and therefore loves and appreciates the work involved in creating unique pieces. This picture is a perfect example. I absolutely love this Liberty 'Betsy' print, and when I discovered this pastel colourway (via Ava and Neve) - I went on a bit of a spending spree. My first job was to make Isla a custom gold-accent Bunny Doll, wearing that silky soft Liberty fabric. I asked Kira from Blooms Butterflies Doll Studio to make that stunning Liberty Doll Face Purse, customised in the same fabric with matching hair bows instead of flowers. And I asked Felicity at Little Boys Blue to make me a custom Liberty 'Love' Banner. I desperately want to make Isla a new quilt... buuuut I only just made her the Unicornia Quilt (sigh... gone are the days when I can make whatever I want without argument ;P).

Also shown on this gorgeous shelf (from Pretty In Pine), is two sweet Pom Pom Princesses from Love Aria Rose. The sleep eyes banner is from Bek Halliday, and the Gold Paper Flower is from Mae-Saye Designs.

For more pics and direct links to products, follow me on Instagram via @rhapsodyandthread or @rhapsodyland

xxTabatha

Pastel Girls Bedroom Inspiration

This gorgeous room belongs to my beautiful brand rep Carolyn (@stella_empire). It is absolutely overflowing with love and support for the Australian handmade community. I feel very proud to see one of my Elephant Dolls sitting so happily up on the shelf. 

To find out who made what and where to get one for yourself, jump onto Instagram and follow Carolyn. Her pictures always brighten my day.

Thanks Carolyn xx

And to order your own Elephant Doll, 

simply email me at rhapsodyandthread(at)gmail(dot)com

Wee Wander Deer Doll || Rhapsody and Thread

Miss Wee Wander Deer Doll sold in under 3 minutes.

Shop for more lovingly handmade dolls here: https://rhapsodyandthread.bigcartel.com

Pattern credit: Dolls and Daydreams

 

Easter Bunny Dolls Custom Orders Now Open || Rhapsody and Thread

Easter Bunny Doll

Easter Bunny Dolls are now available for custom order.

This print with white and grey bunnies on blush pink is currently still available, as at 19th March 2016, but it's selling out fast.

Each Doll is 19"/50cm tall from tip of the ears to tip of the toes. Pattern credit belongs to Dolls and Daydreams. Special features include ears that stand up on their own, glittering silver headband, hand-embroidered face plus personalisation as shown on the pictures below. A Mini Bunting (see above) are also included.

Tutus are available for a small additional cost.

To enquire/order, email rhapsodyandthread(at)gmail(dot)com

Easter Bunny Doll with Pink Tutu and Personalisation

Easter Bunny Doll with pink tutu

 

Isla's Unicornia Quilt {Progress} || Pattern by Claire Turpin Designs

I can't explain how thrilled I am to see how this border worked out! I'm a terrible procrastinator at the best of times - but that's when I have lots of great options and I can't pick my favourite. This time, I couldn't find a single print that I liked! I found the blocks to be so busy and colourful that nothing seemed to match. And my other battle was that I had originally planned on making Isla a more pastel/quieter quilt compared to her last rainbow triangle quilt. I fell in love with the gorgeous border on Claire's original - it's a white fabric with tiny grey dots. See it here. Claire had used it throughout the quilt blocks and then on the borders, and it balances the design so beautifully. I followed the same direction using a white with grey words in the same blocks, but it just didn't work as a border! 

So, I ditched my pastel ideas and chose that stunning Plummy Metallic print by Cotton And Steel, purchased from Carols of Midland. It is the opposite of pastel, don't you think? I can't help myself, and it just looks perfect in her room against her Liberty bedhead (see first pics above).

Useful Links

Unicornia Quilt Pattern by Claire Turpin Designs 

Fabrics from Carols of Midland 

Liberty fabrics from The Strawberry Thief and Materialise Your Life 

Rhapsody Dolls from Rhapsody and Thread 

Polka Dot Cloud pillow from Kmart 

Unicorn Painting by Courtney King 

Dream Even Bigger banner by Zilvi 

Liberty Bow Garland by Rhapsody and Thread 

Unicorn banner by Little Olive and Co 

Mirror Name by Arlo and Co

Isla's Unicornia Quilt {Progress} || Pattern by Claire Turpin Designs

Sewing the blocks together today was a tiny bit stressful as I made a couple of mistakes when cutting (whoops). And I had forgotten to add a butterfly - see the last picture?! Isn't she pretty?

But easily fixed and overall the blocks look amazing! I love how the colours compliment each other so perfectly.

This pattern is Claire Turpin Designs > Unicornia Quilt.

Liberty fabrics are from Materialise Your Life and The Strawberry Thief.

Remaining fabrics are from Carols Of Midland.

Now to join the blocks!!!

NEW Star Cushion || Rhapsody and Thread

I'm so excited about this new design that will be available for custom order when I reopen on February 1st 2016! Choose from a huge range of Liberty prints AND I've got gold AND silver!! I may even be able to source copper.

Very exciting!

xxT

Nursery Dreaming for Throw Back Thursday

Watching 2015 end had me looking back at some of my favourite moments for Rhapsody and Thread in 2015. This was one of them, when I pretended for a day that I had a baby girl again. I decorated Isla's old cot with a bunch of gorgeous goodies from Adairs. The cot quilt and little throw pillow were the result of a collaboration with Rebecca Judd. So stylish and unlike anything that was around when I was looking for baby bedding! I think the watermelon nightlight was part of the colab too! So fun!! The knit cushion and blanket, also from Adairs, were SO soft and snuggly. The colours were just perfect for styling my Elephant Dolls.

So this top image actually shows off the Sleeping Angel Elephant that I made for my great-nan after she passed away a few months ago. She wore that dusky pink colour a lot, and I added a halo and wings to my usual Elephant pattern. I also added a kind of cape so that I could hang her on the wall. I was hoping to create a sense that she was watching over us. She still hangs in the play room and I always think of my nan when I see her there.

The Sleeping Angel Elephants will be released in 2016.

The sweet image is of Miss Chive. Still currently available in my Big Cartel Store.

Miss Pelagia Ballerina, also still available.

Miss Chive Ballerina, available via custom order.

Here they are snuggled up together.

Elephant Dolls will be available for custom order when I reopen my virtual doors on Feb 1st 2016.

Shop here: https://www.RhapsodyandThread.bigcartel.com

My Elephant Dolls are made from an Original Dolls and Daydreams® Pattern.

• http://DollsAndDaydreams.com/
• http://DollsAndDaydreams.etsy.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/dollsanddaydreams

Liberty, Unicorns and Rainbow Make For A Little Girls Paradise

I just have to share pictures of this gorgeous unicorn doll that I finished making for my unicorn-crazy-daughter Isla today. The pattern is Dolls and Daydreams. I think I've found my next obsession! There are so many gorgeous dolls to try. The elephant is definitely up next!!

So here she is. We named her Skyla Unicorn. Her sweet little body and crown are made up in Liberty Art Fabric - Garden Wonderland print. I wrapped her horn in gold wool, and tipped it to the side a bit for something different.

Skyla Unicorn, handmade with Liberty fabric - seen sitting here next to Laura Blythman's Toucan print.

I couldn't wait to see the look on Isla's face, and it was worth all the hard work. Her face lit up like the sun and she asked if that was her unicorn. She was absolutely thrilled and cuddled her for hours.

Skyla Unicorn, handmade with Liberty fabric - seen sitting here next to Laura Blythman's Toucan print.

Love at first sight.

Cuddles

Sitting with her new friends

Here's a picture of the view of Isla's bed and her wall on this side of the room. To say we love to display our favourite things is an understatement! There's plenty of unicorn love here. The sweet little crochet unicorn is from Ladedah Kids. I made a wall decal of a unicorn for Isla several weeks ago from Liberty Art Fabric print Kayoko. There's printed unicorn pictures from the internet and a gorgeous picture that Isla's nanna drew for her to decorate.

Also on the wall, from the left, is a Love Banner from Captain & Co. Tasmania. I made the bunting from triangles left-over from Isla's harlequin quilt. The canvas prints are from Adairs. The "Just The Way You Are" print is from Tall Blank Wall. It is hanging from a Down To The Woods Cloud Hanger, with a Rainbows and Whimsy Feather Crown perched on top. To the far right is a Zilvi Heart Dreamer. And at the very top is a flower that Isla made at school.

On the bed is a bunch of Liberty fabric cushions - more available in my Rhapsody and Thread online store. The crochet flamingo is the beautiful work of Castle Handmade.

Both quilts are my handiwork. The harlequin quilt was a project I tackled to compliment the Liberty Art Fabric print Small Susannah that I used to cover the bedhead. I'm a big fan of harlequin and couldn't resist adding such a huge splash of colour to Isla's room. And the quilt at the bottom of the bed is Isla's first quilt and my first ever patchwork project. I wanted to showcase my favourite Liberty print Marina Seaflower. I chose a pattern that looked like the print would be framed and surrounded by a wider variety of Liberty prints. It will be treasured forever.

Islas handmade quilts and unicorn collection

And this is the view of the other side of Isla's bedroom. There is so much love for Australian handmade in that picture!!

The Liberty Bow Garland is available in a wide range of Liberty prints in my Rhapsody and Thread online store. The felt ball garland hanging underneath is Little Rosie and Me. The "IslaSkye" wall hanging is a gold mirror by Arlo and Co. The Liberty Cloud Mobile is Little Puddles. The Gold Heart Wall Hanging is also available in my Rhapsody and Thread online store. The stunning Harlequin Dress and Pom Pom Tutu hanging on the dresser are both Rock Your Baby. The Toucan Print on top of the dresser is Laura Blythman. My hubby made the house shadow box for me so that I could store special trinkets such as Isla's first baby Sketchers and her gorgeous Feather Crown from Rainbows and Whimsy.

The gigantic print is Helen Dardik, which I purchased from Ollie Rose Online. The Lion Face cushion on the chair is Dias Delana in Madrid, Spain. The chair and the dolls bed are repainted Ikea pieces. And on the floor is a felt ball rug available from Little Rosie and Me.

Liberty Fabric Unicorn Wall Decal

The welcoming party

In keeping with Isla's unicorn obsession, I thought I would attempt to make a wall decal from Liberty Fabric! And it worked, hooray!! It's not a traditional moveable vinyl decal like the huge range available these days. But it's a unicorn and it stuck on the wall, and it's perfect really so no complaints.

 

Isla named her Rosetta and sings to her at night. How gorgeous is that?!

Here are some pictures of her talking to her and playing on her bed with almost every single teddy she could get her hands on.

Happy days.