Sophie Attends A Garden Party

Sophie has been invited to a garden party. Since the weather is a little warmer she thought she would wear her scalloped edged wool dress. She loves the little matching jacket, with its lace trim, which has been sewn so delicately. Her widebrimmed hat feels fashionable, but also protect her English rose complexion.

Have a lovely day out, Sophie!

This is my last Sophie post, as you have now seen all her clothes. Unless I, or hopefully my daughter, get stitching. If you want to see more about Sophie you can here and here.

Sophie Goes Out to The Opera

Sophie is off out for an evening at the opera.  She is wearing her best silk dress, with a matching cape to keep her warm from the chilly night air. Victorian ladies have to be very careful not to catch cold. Her bonnet is crocheted, and trimmed with the same navy blue lace as her cape.
 

Click here if you want to see a bit more about Sophie, how she came to my house and her clothes.

Sophie The Dutch Doll

Sophie is a Dutch Doll. She belonged to my sister when we were children. Jealousy is not a very nice emotion, and I am ashamed to say that as a child I was incredibly jealous of my sister.  She is two years older than me, and to me she was cleverer, prettier, more confident, better at art, and worst of all she owned Sophie.

And perhaps she is also kinder than me, because ten years ago when I had my daughter (she has two boys), she presented us with a box containing Sophie, and her complete wardrobe.

I have photographed Sophie in what I would call her work-a-day clothes. She also has some grander clothes for going out, which I am going to put in a second post.

Nearly all her clothes and accessories were designed and handstitched by my sister when we were children. Only the yellow woollen dress above was bought, I think from a jumble sale. Her lovely knitted bloomers were made by my mum. Sorry Sophie, I know this photo is a bit undignified for a Victorian lady, but I thought people might like to see how you are constructed.

 

Sophie is not an antique, but a reproduction and was bought from a toy shop in Bath. But she is now over 50 years old, so probably would be classed as a collectable. She is made completely from wood, and even her jointed limbs have small wooden pins.

These two hats were made for her by my sister (the one on the left) and me (the one on the right). We plaited the rafia, and then sewed the plaits together. Can you see my rough green stitches on the bonnet (I have no idea why I picked green), compared to her neat work? Can you understand my frustration? Nothing I did ever seemed as good.

 I think Sophie is going off now to do some shopping.

I have been saving Sophie for what I call a rainy day post, although in fact today is a snowy day. Outside it is snowing really heavily. Sorry about the darkness of some of these photos. There is not much natural light today, but I really hate using flash. This post is also a bit of a homage to Trudy on Playing in the Attic, and her much more enigmatic She.