Especially for you

So sorry I haven't been more around lately BUT, as you are soooooooooooo patient with me I am sharing with you this delightful treat for the eyes.

Yes, a real treat for DaYdReAmeRs like you.

Hope you are all well.

I am starting to have abit of time so will be in touch with you very soon.

You can find The little Theatre of Dolls

Here:

Blog : http://thelittletheatreofdolls.blogspot.com/

Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Little-Theatre-Of-Dolls/259902298088

Or Their Website http://thelittletheatreofdolls.com/

which I am going to add to my list of Wonderlands

I have turned 40!

Hello dear blog friends!

First, let me wish you all a happy new year.

I have the feeling that this year 2012 is going to be a fabulous one!

Lots of things to celebrate in 2012: Dicken's 200 years, The Queen's Jubile

e, The Olumpic games in good old London and on a not very positive note, Titanic's first and only trip.

On a personal note, this month, on the 3rd, I have turned 40. Yes, I

am officially a middle aged woman and ever so happy about it. If I were asked to be

20 again, I would definitely say "no".

Anyway, for the occasion, of course, I had to treat myself to what I call a "Pretty Woman Day" ( shopping AND annual visit to the hairdresser...yes, I have to confess, I don't do this sort of things very often way too absorbed by work and doll making...)

(here, the crucial moment when the hairdresser gives you the mirror so you can see the back of your head and you have to say all the good you think of what she's done)

My friends, from England, France and even Florida were here with me.

There were big ones,

(Here I am with my lovely friend Angélique)

...and little ones.

My family from England had gathered for the party and my only regret was that my mother and my sister who are in Australia couldn't make it.Well...little did I know that my whole family was here! They'd made this extraordinary surprise, all the way from the other end of the globe to be with me. As you can imagine, my makeup didn't last long, wiped out by tears of joy.

(dancing with my mother)

Everything was perfect. Better than what I imagined!

We sung, we danced, we laughed.

(My adorable friend Sarah without whom there would be no photos on this post)

And I was sooooo spoilt!

But most of all, my best memory is to have all my friends and family with me.

Thought I had to share this with you as you are very special to me too.

So, you understand now why I had been quiet for such a long time?

I wish you all, love, health, wealth, AND happiness.

Patricia.

PS: A teaser of what is next to come

The Gingerbread Men Christmas

This year, I don't know why, Christmas had a very different feel.

Is it because I feel a bit more settled in my new country? Is it because I wasn't out of work for once ( since the last 3 years) at this time of the year? Is it because there were so many friends ( far and near) to share it with?

Let's start by lovely things that arrived by the post.

First, a delightful doll purchased on Etsy at Rafael's lovely store.

There were a few extra gifts in the bag and I was like a little girl in a candy shop!

Then, there was another treasure made by my friend Evelyn.

She had added some delightful caramels to the parcel ( which didn't last ve

ry long)

(yes, I am wearing red glitter on my nails for the holidays!)

Then MORE treasures arrived!

from Spain!

AND...my absolutely wonderful and very talented KIM sent her usual handmade Christmas

decoration which I was excited to put in my tree!

Each year, Kim takes time to make something and send it on this spe

cial occasion.

Kim and I have met through blogging and I am so proud to count her amongst my very loyal and true friends, even though we have never met in the flesh.

Not yet... I know we WILL meet one day.

As I hope I will also meet Evelyn, and why not YOU who is reading this post right now.

This year, Christmas was filled with friendship and precious moments shared with people who made it clearly exceptional.

It was just about being together and having fun!

Robert's son, Ben and his girlfriend Fanny ( who is French too!) came home to join us in a lovely quaint church to celebrate

Christmas carols by candlelight and spend Xmas day with us.

I was saying how disapointed I was not to have found the very traditional biscuits when Fanny gave me a huuuuuuuuuuge smile saying in her soft voice " there is no problem with this!

It happens that I have made plenty and I will need to finish them tomorrow if you don't mind me using your kitchen? They still need eyes and smiles".

So, after a magical Christmas eve, singing carols, then gathering in the lounge sipping sherry and watching The Muppets Christmas Carol, we all went to bed.

The next day, Christmas operated its magic before my very eyes.

Fanny started working on a whole army of gingerbread men!

Giving them little souls,

...and crimson smiles.

This was definitely one of the best touch ever to my Christmas table!

Handmade Gingerbread men!

I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas !

I will see you again in 2012!

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All my love and hope all you wishes come true!

My lovely aunt at Ladurée !!!

Sometimes is good to pamper yourself and feel special.

Because you ARE!!!

I only really treat myself once or twice a year but when I do, I love to go to Ladurée.

This time, I went with a very special person: my aunt!

Here she is showing one of her favourite pages of my last book.

She is the one with whom I spent the greatest holidays in my childhood.

She was always spoiling me and making me feel great and special all the time.

She would buy me really girly stuff like: pink and glittery clothes, shiny shoes with tiny heels and pink nail-polish.

In fact, she would get me anything that was forbidden at home by my parents!

My heroine!!!!

So, this time, I thought it would be nice to give the same in return.

No...not glittery clothes and pink nail polish...but, something to make her feel special.

So we went to Ladurée at Covent Garden!

This delicious Ispahan didn't last long, believe me!

My lovely auntie tried to take several pictures of me but it seems that photograpy isn't part of her skills...he!he!

Anyway, we truly felt like princesses and it was such a delightful time to spend together.

Next time, I would love to go with her and my mother.

I will have to write about my mum one day.

She lives far, far away in Australia and I miss her like crazy.

Super big sigh...

The dolls had a last photo session and were delivered to Benjamin Pollock's after our meal.

Covent Garden was illuminated with Christmas lights but I forgot to take some pictures as my aunt and I were too busy chatting and giggling!

Then , at the end of the day,we had to part.

On my way home, on the train, I remembered all the good times we had together, how she made my childhood special and it gave me a huge smile on my face.

Happy thoughts and happy memories...

I hope you do have many too.

Need a few mice...

...who could help me finish everything in time!!!!

You know? like in those lovely children's stories where the tailor or the shoemaker are super tired and when they wake up the next morning,

K'TCHING!!!!!!!!!!

Everything has been finished by mysterious mini hands during the night.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig sigh...

At least, I have finished one...

And the others have been sent to their new sunny destination.

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1st December

AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!! Have finished another one! YAY!!!

And I wasn't helped by a mouse nor a ... rat, as I read in one of the comments! He!he!

Next week, destination London with the girls!

Petit goûter entre filles

Am going slowly but surely.

I have so much to catch up with!

I have managed to blog hop a little today and yesterday.

I really try to visit each of you.

Meanwhile, I have also managed to finish 2 dolls I had started ages ago.

They will be flying to Spain with Apple very soon.

The mini muffins and mini fairy cakes are by Christel Jensen.

3 new dolls are in preparation for Benjamin Pollock's in London.

One is in the making for my Etsy Store.

Also, I am preparing some parcels for 2 little girls who must think I have forgotten all about them.

Patience is a vertue that needs to be rewarded...

To be continued.

Apple and her candlelight

Just enjoy the pictures!

(don't feel like writing today)

Et voilà.