Lloyd Loom Crib

Hello mini friends,

Firstly I apologise, it's been a long, long time since I updated my blog.  I blame life lol, yes somehow life got in the way and after all the time spent with my granddaughter Phoebe who is almost two now I just never found much time to mini make.  I have however rectified the situation and have made a few things that I'll show you further down the page.  Firstly though I must tell you of some sad news that also made life a little more difficult for a while...

Be warned this is sad news although there is a more positive side to it at the end.

Last year my eldest son Nicky came to see me and he told me he was to become a daddy.  I was overjoyed as was he.  Nicky went out and found a big house to move to instead of his flat and made all those baby preparations including reading baby books and even downloaded an expectant dad apps (yes there is an app for everything these days).  Sadly in September I received news that my little granddaughter's heart had stopped beating and we rushed to the hospital only to find that she had indeed died inside the womb at 27 weeks.  Devastated is an understatement.  We hugged and cried and then as my son's world fell apart I had to try and put my sadness aside and be strong so I could be there for support.  My granddaughter Cassie Elizabeth was born sleeping on 20th September 2015 weighing just 1lb 11oz, she was so tiny but so perfect.  We had the most beautiful send off for her with balloons and bubbles and everyone wore little butterfly pins and it was, well it felt magical because there was so much love from our whole family who had all pulled together to help each other.  We even had little packets of seeds to sow this year in remembrance. 

At the time of Cassie's birth my son was supported by a charity called Harry & Co who created special rooms in the hospital for parents and families to spend some time with their baby before the inevitable farewell.  The charity also provide memory boxes with tiny clothes and hand and footprint kits so that some memories can be made and parents can take something home with them.  My son had always said that when his child was born he would take her to see and experience the world and they would have lots of adventures together so after her funeral my son climbed his first mountain in Cassie's name, taking with him her teddy bear.  My son Nicky also wanted to give something back to Harry & Co so he went to talk with them.  Harry & Co was created by a mum and dad who also suffered baby loss - Harry and found there was a lack of facilities to support parents in these circumstances so they made an effort to change that. Harry & Co suggested my son leave a Harry bear at the top of the next mountain he climbed and then my son had an idea, he talked with me and with his daughter Cassie at the baby garden and he decided to climb 100 highest peaks in England and Wales for the charity Harry & Co. 

So, my son Nicky is busy climbing mountains in order to raise awareness and funds in support of the families of angel babies.  He takes with him his daughter Cassie in his heart and her teddy in his hand and he leaves a note and a Harry Bear at the top of each mountain so that people can read about the work that Harry & Co do.  If you would like to you can read my son's story here...  https://www.angelcassie.org/

These are my granddaughter's tiny feet. 

Ok, now onto the minis...

I made a standard pram and then decided to make a smaller one for a doll (a child-doll's doll lol), then an even smaller one just because that was the mood I was in lol.  So here they are the lilac trio.

 

 

 

I was asked earlier this year to make a little mini version of the Lloyd Loom Crib as seen on Call the Midwife so I researched how these cribs were made and found that they were woven on a loom from paper and metal, which sounds like a strange combination of materials but as I researched I found they were very popular and here is a picture of a full size vintage one.

I made the crib and stand in the same sort of way that the full size crib was made and tried to get in a much detail as possible.  I individually attached each tiny section of the frame and wrapped each one to securely hold it in place, it took a while but  I'm rather pleased with the outcome.

On the table at the moment are two other orders almost finished - an Oberon dolls pram and a Dansette record player.  I'm hoping to get these completed by the end of the month so look out for more pictures then. :)

Well that's all for now.  I do have plans to do much more this year now that little Phoebe is growing up and not taking up so much of my time so fingers crossed I mange it this time lol.  Talk soon.

Mini hugs

Gill x