My Chef Custom Fabric Designs and Roostery.com Products

I love many things when it comes to crafting and creating.  I especially love creating whimsical dolls and graphics of my designs in order to create whimsical fabrics. Such is the case with my two chef dolls and their  respective custom fabric designs.

Chef Connor's three designs are new.

I hope you enjoy my chef custom fabric designs.

© 2007-2023 Copyright Linda Walsh Originals - Fabric Designs By Linda Walsh.

Chef Connor

"Chef Connor - Food Is My Pleasure!" won't be cooking at his restaurant today.

You see, he and many other chefs are all getting ready for the "Emergency Worldwide Disaster Drill." They're job is to feed all the medical doctors, nurses, emergency personnel, patients, etc. Even the animals.

Basically, everyone and anyone who needs to be fed.It's a tall order, but Chef Connor can handle it. He knows that he can cook. Food is, after all, his pleasure and he is very, very good at his job.

Chef Connor has a muslin body and embroidered face with black satin stitched eyes, embroidered nose, and an outline embroidered mouth. His eyebrows are embroidered as are his eyelashes and he has rusty blushed cheeks. His boots are white and cross-laced.

Chef Connor has a mass of curly brown yarn hair on his head. His puffy chef's cap has a center band and gathered puff top, and is attached to the top and back of his head. His fringed chef pantaloons are puffy, gathered at the knees and gathered at the waist. They are sewn with the seam out. His double breasted shirt waist chef's jacket sports 3 rows of 2 buttons each.

"Chef Connor - Food Is My Pleasure!" loves to cook, loves to eat, and loves to feed everyone. He's a master at his food craft and can cook anything and everything for anyone. Whether it's cooking for the patrons of his restaurant or cooking for the masses during a natural emergency "Chef Connor" is ready and able to the task. He is a skilled craftsman after all.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Ghosts

We all know that ghosts are supposed to be scary! That's their mission - to scare everyone at Halloween, especially the little children.

Well, what if there's a ghost that doesn't want to scare anyone - especially little children.

A ghost that just wants to be friends with everyone and a ghost that doesn't just want to be visible at one time of the year.

A ghost that wants to celebrate Christmas, and New Year's Day, and St. Patrick's Day, and Easter, and the 4Th of July, and any of the other holidays.

A ghost that wants to have a family someday of 12 little ghosts running around.

A ghost that is nice and kind and thoughtful and considerate.

Well, that would be "Boo! Hoo! Billy."

"Boo! Hoo! Billy" is tired of being viewed as mean and nasty and malicious. He's never been nor does he ever want to be anything like that. He just wants to be a normal person with a normal life.

Is that too much to ask? "Boo! Hoo! Billy" doesn't think so.

"Boo! Hoo! Billy" is a 7" primitive ghost ornament with a coffee stained white muslin cloth body and embroidered face. He is wearing a shredded shirt that he thinks fits him very well and isn't frightful at all. In fact, he will right proudly tell you that he made it himself.

Not only is he a very friendly ghost, but a very handy one, too. He'll need to be after all if he wants to have 12 little ghosts someday. Wouldn't you agree?

"Hazard A Guess What I Am?" seems to have a bit of a problem in that people are not sure that he's a ghost. Sometimes, he's not even sure himself. He can't understand this confusion because he thinks he's scary at times. He even scares himself.

Hazard is a free standing ghost doll with a cloth body, and an embroidered face with button eyes. He is wearing a vest and multi-colored fringed scarf. “Hazard A Guess What I Am?” is coffee stained throughout.

He's a little confused, but he's not scary. What's up with that? You see, "Hazard A Guess What I Am?" has a problem with his heritage. He isn't even sure he is from a ghostly line.

If you can't tell he's a ghost and his heredity is in question - how is he ever going to know?

Sometimes he looks like a ghost, he feels like a ghost, and he walks like a ghost. But, is he really a ghost?

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Witches

With Halloween comes the most recognized of the villains - the witches.

That got me to thinking a little bit about witches. And, of course, when I get to thinking about something I inevitably wonder about their history and what started the fear of "witches?" This fear might better be defined as a "manic craze" that lasted for hundreds of years. YIKES!

Now, I might be a little more curious about "witches" than I should be. You see, I was actually born in the state that is notorious for witches, witchcraft, and witch trials. Plus, in my genealogy search I found there may be a witch or two in my family in the past! YIKES!

Maybe I'm actually a modern day witch? Nah!!!! Witches don't like Victorian dolls - or do they?

If you'd like to learn a little bit about the history of witches please read my "A Little Witch History!"post.

I, personally, have made many witches and have designed many witch doll patterns for my Linda Walsh Originals website.   I have also designed several custom fabrics using some of my witch designs and have also made many witches based on other designers patterns.  Some of the witches I have designed have their own product lines which include e-patterns, handmade dolls, custom fabric designs, products made using their custom fabric designs, and products for home decor, accessories, and everyday use.

Watch out for her. She can be quite frightening when she wants to be.

Sometimes she gets lonely and tries to be nice. Everyone needs a little company from time to time. Even Primitive Witchy Annie. Don't you feel bad for her?

In fact, she'd actually like to have some real friends. That way she could always call them when she's lonely and when she can feel a real "Watch Out My Pretty I'm Going To Get You!" mood coming on.

Primitive Witchy Annie has a coffee stained cloth body and embroidered face with black bead eyes.  She's wearing a coffee stained, tattered, and fringed dress, a tattered apron with bow, and gathered bloomers.

She has lace-tied boots, patches on her clothes and wild black hair along the sides and top of her head. Her raggedy leg stripes are sewn on with black floss.

She has a lined cape with patches and wired witches hat. Because she has a lined cape she feels she is a little above the rest of the witches. They only have wool or black felt capes. Nothing as nice as Primitive Annie Witch has. Wouldn't you agree?

So, do you want to be her friend? She promises she'll try to prevent her ""Watch Out My Pretty I'm Going To Get You!" mood from coming on.

If you want to be her friend just don't wear any "ruby red slippers" when you come to visit. They bring back too many bad memories for her and might just trigger that "Watch Out My Pretty I'm Going To Get You!" mood coming on.

I'll get you my pretty! Yes, I will!" Ah! Ha! Ha! Ha! "My pretty!"

YIKES!

Not only is she a nasty sounding witch, but a really ugly one to boot! Maybe that's why she's an extreme primitive. The uglier - the better.

Well, they don't get much nastier or uglier than "Can For Some Brew, Virginia!"

I don't know about you, but I don't think I'd accept anything from "Care For Some Brew, Virginia!" Would you?

If you did I'm not too sure what would happen to you.

Would you get sick? Maybe! Would you melt? Maybe if you're lucky "Care For Some Brew, Virgina!" would!

Would you be so delusional you'd start to think "Care For Some Brew, Virgina! was good looking? Maybe, but you'd have to be out of your mind for that?

Her ugly ragged gray yarn hair just compliments her extreme primitive appearance. Wouldn't you agree?

Come on now, my pretty! Wouldn't you agree? Ah! Ha! Ha! Ha! My pretty! Care for some brew?

"Mabel I Won't Cast A Spell!" can’t decide whether to be a good witch or a bad witch. She’s watched “The Wizard of Oz” so many times your head would spin. And, sometimes, her’s does. She is a witch after all.

Mabel is a free standing primitive witch doll with a cloth body, an embroidered face, and a full head of curly gray. She is wearing a lined cape, dress, fringed scarf, and lined witches hat. “Mabel I Won’t Cast A Spell?” is coffee stained throughout.

There is no confusion with Mabel. She knows she's a witch. In fact, she's a "teasing, taunting witch!" She may or may not cast a spell on her depending upon her mood.  Lucky for us she's in a "Hey, Look At Me! I'A Model!" mood today and a little distracted. Otherwise we'd all be "frozen" in our chairs, literally.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Primitive Andy Frankenstein

Don't be frightened. He won't harm you. He's no scary Frankenstein! In fact, he's basically harmless.
He might be a "Frankenstein" in essence or appearance, but he considers himself just another "primitive."

Primitive Andy Frankenstein has a coffee stained cloth body and embroidered face with black bead eyes. He's wearing a coffee stained and fringed shirt with 3/4 length sleeves and large tattered and fringed pants with patches. He's also sporting a wool felt vest with patches. He has a small tattered ribbon tied around his neck, and wild black cut hair along the sides and top of his head. Old buttons are used for his head bolts and raffia is tied on his legs and feet for his raggedy stripes.

"Primitive Andy Frankenstein" just loves the fact that he's coffee stained throughout. Why? Because it provides him with a wonderful tan on his face and a wonderful aroma everywhere he goes. In fact, other primitives often ask where he got his "coffee glow" and his "coffee aroma." Primitive Andy Frankenstein just boasts "My Linda" gave it to me. She's wonderful. Primitive Andy Frankenstein might look like a regular Frankenstein, but he knows better. He knows he's a "Primitive" and that makes him special.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Best Dog In Class Granny Esther and I'm The Best Papa Pepper

"Best Dog In Class, Granny Esther!" takes life one day at a time and wasn't too concerned about getting an invitation to the "Victorian Animals Tea Society" from "Bearly Victorian, Ryan" and his wife, "Bearly Victorian, Deb!" She knew that eventually it would come, so why get yourself all in a tither until it does?

When she was younger she may have worried about such things, but aging has mellowed Granny Esther. She much prefers spending her time reading, watching her Grandchildren, sewing, and just plain enjoying life than worrying about memberships to tea societies. She can understand why "Bearly Victorian, Ryan" and his wife, "Bearly Victorian, Deb!" set-up their own tea society. 

She was young once and would of done the same thing. Now, memberships just weren't that important to her. Good health, love of family, love of life. Now those are important issues.

Granny Esther had no doubt that she and her husband, "I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!" would be invited to join as their families had been at the top of the social circle for generations. They were show dogs after all and had well established pedigree lines. The finest of the fine. In fact, Granny Esther had won "Best Dog In Class!" for so long that she had lost count. And, her husband, "I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!" had been Father of the Year for so long he had lost count. However, both had aged ever so gracefully and time had been kind to them. For that they were grateful. They were both proud of who they were, proud of their families, proud of their friends. But, they also knew that each and every moment they had together was precious and that there wasn't anything better than a quiet romp in the woods holding each others hand or sitting on the porch enjoying a glass of lemonade. Yes, time had mellowed both "Best Dog In Class, Granny Esther!" and her husband, "I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!"

"Best Dog In Class, Granny Esther!" is a 14" self-standing Victorian dog with a square bottom, brushed felt body and embroidered face. She has black bead eyes, an animal nose, and blushed cheeks. The outline of her mouth is embroidered as are her eyebrows and her granny glasses sit lovingly upon her nose. Her big floppy ears are barely controlled under her lined and matching lace trimmed cap that is adorned with a bow in the front. Granny Esther has 2 layers of wonderful lace trim along the bottom of her square body and is wearing a multiple layered and lace trimmed and gathered slip. Granny Esther just loves her stylish lace trimmed dress with the dog print. It is gathered at the sleeves with gathered lace trim and straight lace trim layers along the bottom hem. The sleeves are also gathered lace trimmed and straight lace trimmed along the sleeve edges and gathered at the wrist. The neck line of the dress is gathered and adorned with two layers of lace trim and a ribbon bow. Her velvet vest is lined, has a fold down collar, is adorned with square buttons and tied with ribbon trim. A wonderful crocheted shawl is wrapped around her shoulders and adorned with a silk floral that Granny Esther just loves.

"I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!" also takes life one day at a time and wasn't too concerned either about getting an invitation to the "Victorian Animals Tea Society" from "Bearly Victorian, Ryan" and his wife, "Bearly Victorian, Deb!" Just like his wife, "Best Dog In Class, Granny Esther!" he knew that eventually it would come, so why get yourself all in a tither until it does? When he was younger he may have worried about such things, but aging has mellowed him, too. He much prefers a walk in the park, a good crossword puzzle, a warm touch from Granny Esther than worrying about memberships to tea societies. The important things in life are good health, love of family, love of life.

"I'm A The Best Papa, Pepper!" is a 14" self-standing Victorian dog with a square bottom, brushed felt body and embroidered face. He has black bead eyes, an animal nose, and blushed cheeks. The outline of his mouth is embroidered as are his eyebrows. His two-toned face just adds to his overall good looks. His big floppy ears are barely controlled under his lined and coordinated hat. "I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!" certainly has mellowed with age, but when he's out in public he does still like to look his best. So, he's wearing one of his most complimentary and coordinated suits. His green print shirt is gathered at the neck and his felt vest with lapels overlaps in front and is adorned with a button. He is wearing a lace trimmed ascot that matches the lining of his coat. His coat is lined and is top stitched along the front band with brown DMC embroidery floss. The front band is held back with two large buttons and his sleeves are cuffed.

Yes, all in all "I'm The Best Papa, Pepper!" is well dressed.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

My “Morning Walk, Karl” Woodland Santa Doll Decoration E-Pattern

Morning Walk, Karl just loves walking in the woods. In fact, the mornings are his favorite time of the day. He gets to collect his thoughts and enjoy his walk with nature. Ah, there's nothing like the early morning sun to put you in the right frame of mind for the coming day.

He is a free-standing woodsman. He has a long embroidered jacket decorated with a painted wood canoe and painted wood spruce tree covered with snow. His shirt is white and he has cuffed velour pants, socks and green sock slippers. His hat is a wool cap and he has a very full beard and mustache and long white hair. His face is drawn and he has clear plastic and wire glasses. He also has a fabric covered head and wood body and feet. Rope is tied around his waist and his snow shoes so that he can carry them around his waist. He is using a walking stick.

"Morning Walk, Karl" is a likeable guy. But, he's usually in his best frame of mind in the morning. If you want to ask him something or get him to do something - ask him in the morning after his "morning walk." He'll probably say "sure."

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

“Norman The Pilgrim” Country Thanksgiving Pilgrim Doll Decoration E-Pattern

Norman The Pilgrim is a free-standing doll getting ready for Thanksgiving. He has a shirt with long sleeves and embroidered cuffs, square-bottomed pants, long embroidered vest with Pilgrim belt and buttons, embroidered Pilgrim collar, corduroy lined hat with Pilgrim hat belt, a beard, mustache and long white hair fastened in the back. His arms are wire-shaped and covered. His face is embroidered. He also has a fabric covered head and covered rectangular wood base. His inner body is supported by a dowel and is covered by his shirt and squared-bottom pants. He is carrying a wooden rifle.

Norman The Pilgrim is on the hunt. You might wonder if he's on the hunt for turkeys? The answer would be "Yes" and "No." You see, he's really on the hunt for some "peace of mind" from his perfect wife, "Pleasantly Plump - Eunice." She just has to have everything so perfect hat Norman has to get out of the house. So, turkey hunting is an excuse. You see, "Norman The Pilgrim" is a practical man. So, just in case he was to happen upon a turkey, he brought his rifle along. He wouldn't want to disappoint Eunice. After all, she thinks he's the perfect man and perfect husband.....

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

“Pleasantly Plump, Eunice” Thanksgiving Pilgrim Lady Doll Decoration

Pleasantly Plump, Eunice is a free-standing doll getting ready for Thanksgiving. She has a buttoned decorated shirt with long sleeves and embroidered cuffs, gathered skirt with a waistband, tied apron, embroidered Pilgrim collar, embroidered and lined bonnet, squared slip to form her lower body, and long curly brown hair framing her face. Her face is embroidered. Her arms are wire-shaped and covered. She also has a fabric covered head and covered rectangular wood base. Her inner body is supported by a dowel and is covered by her shirt and square-bottomed slip. She is carrying a basket of pumpkins.

Pleasantly Plump Eunice is the "perfect" Pilgrim Lady. She is a hard worker and believes that everything should be cooked "perfectly." The table should be arranged "perfectly." Even the napkins have to be folded "perfectly." And, the apple pie, pumpkin pie, ricotta cheese pie, and blueberry pie had better taste "perfectly" delicious. She is carrying a basket of pumpkins that were "perfectly" grown in her own garden. She couldn't be more pleasant or more "perfect." Now, if she could just make her husband, Norman The Pilgrim, perfect.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Halloween - A Time For Kids, Bud, and Dumbo Ears!

If you've been following my blog for years you know that I absolutely LOVE Halloween.  So, it should comes as no surprise that I would write about some of my Halloween memories.  I wrote the following post on Halloween on October 31, 2009 and thought you might enjoy re-reading it.  Enjoy!

Today is Halloween and while thinking about my own childhood Halloween adventures or misadventures I concluded that Halloween was definitely a time for kids, and maybe, well Bud, too!

My Irish twin brother and I always went trick or treating together and there was always a competition to see who could get the most candy. The competition would always end with him punching me and my crying. Sometimes they were fake tears which, unfortunately, my Mother always saw through.

One particular Halloween when we were teenagers we seemed to get a lot of gum. For some reason my brother and I thought it would be great to see how many pieces of gum I could get in my mouth. So, he kept feeding them to me and feeding them to me until I couldn't chew anymore. I couldn't move my mouth either as there was so much gum in there and, of course, I started choking. My Mother had to pull the gum out bit by bit and she was not amused. Needless to say we didn't try that again.

In the family right now my two twin grandsons (who are 4) and my grandson, Noodles, who is 10 will be out trick or treating in a few hours. Like all kids I'm sure they're excited by the thoughts of all the candy they will get and all the candy they envision they'll be able to eat.

Of course, they think they'll be able to eat it when they get home! That's not gonna happen. But, they can think they will.

It's a magical holiday when kids get to dress up. When I was a kid my brother and I would help my Mom make our costumes. Sometimes we had a lot of time to put them together - other times they were kinda last minute this will do costumes. You know - the sheets thrown over your head with two eye holes for ghosts.

Nowadays kids costumes (and adult costumes for that matter) are big business. Kids get to dress up as their favorite superhero, favorite monster, or favorite cartoon character. Sometimes the costumes are simple and sometimes they're much more elaborate. Personally, for me - the simpler the better. I like handmade costumes. Store bought costumes have just become way too commercial and way to much of a money maker for the costume and party companies. But, in today's fast paced work it's hard to find time to make handmade costumes.

While thinking about Halloween and looking through some of the old pictures I was reminded about some of the stories behind some of the pictures shown in my post. The first three pictures of the little guy in the tiger outfit are of my grandson, Noodles - one with Bud! What you can't tell from the pictures is that he was sick that day. Really sick - fever and all.

But, he wanted to go to the grocery store to pick out the candy and wanted to help fill the candy containers with all the candy. He also wanted to wear his costume - which was a little hot for a little guy with a fever! So, we filled up 4 HUGE bowls of candy.

Now you might wonder why so many bowls of candy. Well, the simple answer is that my grandson lives in a neighborhood where they get hundreds of trick or treaters. Hundreds. The door bell never stops ringing.

The two pictures of the geisha girls are of my twin granddaughters when they were very small. What you don't know about this picture is why they are laughing.

You see, about 30 minutes before my granddaughters were to arrive I decided that my husband should have a costume, too.

So, I cut two huge Dumbo ears (you know Dumbo the elephant) out of white paper and made a little Dumbo hat out of the same paper and taped them to his head. It was a crude last minute costume - but, the girls laughed and thought it was great.

They, of course, had no problem recognizing their grandfather with Dumbo ears.

While browsing through some of the picture albums I also found a picture of my twin grandsons from Halloween 2008. They were pictured with their Dad, but I decided to crop him out and just show you the twins in their Halloween costumes.

I'm sure their Dad wouldn't mind. Halloween is for kids after all. Or, at least I hope he doesn't mind! LOL LOL Then again - he's always been a BIG KID, too. Maybe I should photoshop him back in! LOL LOL

I'm still looking for a picture of my other grandson from Halloween. He was in a period for such a long time where he didn't want to have his picture taken. I have lots of pictures when he was really small, but haven't been able to locate one for Halloween.

So I decided that maybe I should photoshop a picture of him with a fake Halloween costume on and then tell him it's a real picture. Do you think he'd believe it? Nah! I don't think so either. He's too smart for that.

I decided instead to take a picture of him and distort it. To my surprise it distorted him in such a way as to create Dumbo ears.

Kind of looks like his grandfather with his Dumbo ears but cuter. At least I think so. Let's see what he says when he sees this post.

In any event, it's getting dark and the ghosts, goblins, and witches will be out. Yikes! Is that the doorbell already? Bud's barking. Better get his costume on. Come on, Bud - every dog needs a Halloween costume. Bud, now don't run away from me. Bud.

Hmmm... if he won't wear a costume maybe hubby will. Where did I put those Dumbo ears.