a new dress and a christmas item on Anzac day

My christmas Item that was on my to do list managed to get done.
I had started it last year as a project to work on throughout the year but there were too many things going on at the end of last year and it sadly got pushed aside as did so many other things.
I can happily say that it is done!
The kit was a gift from my friend Els in the Netherlands, a design by Simone of Soedidee. She has some beautiful patterns and accessories for cross stitching and sewing in general.
Here it is.... my bell pull
I tea dyed the linen to give that antique effect and found a great old rusty bell to add to the bottom.

 Now that new Dress I mentioned...
This is my 1969-70 Crissy doll. I had one when I was young though this isn't the original doll. I think she ended up a little worse for wear thanks to a younger sister. Mum found this one at a doll show and brought it home for me. I think she is gorgeous just brings back those lovely memories. I have wanted to buy her an original outfit for years. I found her a pair of original shoes on Ebay a few years ago and have checked every now and again to see if a dress would pop up. On evil bay last week I found an original Crissy doll dress in mint condition. I can't believe the condition of it. The orange velvet ribbon is exactly as I remember it.
A work friend has quite a collection of these dolls and when I told her all I needed was an original pair of knickers she went to her stash of clothes and found me a pair. So next week my lovely Crissy will be returned to her original dress ensemble. You can imagine how thrilled the  male members of the family were with these finds? They were overcome with joy that I had found an original mint condition dress, and so impressed by that velvet ribbon! (not.... I'm pretty sure they think my marbles have fallen out of the jar and been lost...)
I just keep telling them that she is valuable as a collectable and I drop a $ sum to keep them interested to make sure she doesn't end up at an op shop!

I have been having some issues with commenting on blogs at the moment.....I have left comments on my regular blogs over the past few days and the comments seem to appear on the comment's list but the email that would normally go to the blog owner bounces back to me as undeliverable. Not sure if my comments are also showing up as spam comments. Have tried to find out why but apart from a blogger help forum that's about the extent of any assistance I can access so I have changed my email address in case it is attracting spam and this is the cause.
Fingers crossed they don't bounce with the new email address. I still have the old address as it isn't an issue with normal emailing just with blogger comments.
If anyone has any advice please let me know.
It has turned out a lovely day in Melbourne so hopefully the dawn services and ANZAC day activities in the city went well. I always feel sad for the old diggers if they have to walk in the rain.
Hope the sun is shining in your neck of the woods and you  are enjoying the day.
Off to put in some stitching time!
cheers
marina