Launching my Etsy shop started with an idea and grew with a “sketch” from my dad of some popple trees on a hill for my first logo. The fairy series was my first foray into really intricate designs. It was so much fun to add each piece to the costumes to make a real fairy outfit.
Another big change this year was the addition of a photo studio, allowing me to take great, professional(-ish) photos that didn’t depend on it not being too hot, cold, or wet outside. I like how the fairies are in the natural background, but the ones in the photo studio with the white background are clearly more professional.
And the growth of my company, Popple Hill Studios! I’ve been branching out into some woodworking projects and designing doll clothes patterns, so watch for those in the coming year. In addition, I’ve now had some actual sales on my Etsy shop, which is very exciting! I really hope my customers like their orders.
As the weather turns colder and rain becomes a possibility, while the sun continues to set earlier and earlier each day, a replacement for my makeshift outdoor photo studio has finally become necessary. While the girls loved getting their photos taken in the evening light that so flattered their skin tone, they were starting to feel like it was a little chilly to be changing from one outfit to…
How cool is this!! IDK if any of y’all are on AG reddit, but the girl who modeled for the original Kit illustrations recently posted the story of how she got the job/what it was like and a bunch of photos! I had never even thought about the behind-the-scenes of the book illustrations until now!
Longwood was the final stop of Kit’s vacation. Like the Hagley Museum that Kit visited previously, Longwood Gardens has the Du Pont stamp on it, but in Pennsylvania this time.
Kit: You can’t talk about Longwood without talking about Pierre S. Du Pont. As a kid in the late 19th century, he did a lot of traveling and quickly developed a budding obsession with both gardens and fountains (we’ll get to the fountains shortly). After mucking about in corporate America and solidifying his reputation and fortune, etcetera, etcetera, at the age of 36 he bought the land that would become Longwood Gardens. Shout out to all of the expert gardeners and volunteers we spoke to throughout the day who were working hard to make Longwood what it is now!
Kit: Now on to my favorite part. As I mentioned, the fountains. Based on the marvel of the water pumps at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the fountains found throughout the entirety of the gardens were finished in the late 1930s, just in time for me to see them! They performed water shows throughout the morning, afternoon, and night, which was especially nice on such a scorching day.
Kit’s last memory from Longwood is of the Idea Garden amongst the poppies and the blue cornflowers. In France the blue cornflower commemorates the 11 November 1918 armistice, and can be a general symbol for veterans. We think that’s why they were cultivated in this garden with the red poppies, or Remembrance Poppies in the UK and Canada.
Before Kit left Longwood, she made sure to pick up something special for someone waiting patiently at home. They’ll be introduced when Kit returns.
Hopefully by the next holiday season I’ll have Kaya’s winter accessories and Josefina’s Christmas outfit, and maybe even Felicity/Elizabeth outfits for Caty and Abigail.
I’m just glad that the painters finished before the end of Hanukkah, so I could access everything and have somewhere to put them all.
