An epic craft project

This seems like it has been an epic craft project.  Maybe because I have been thinking about making this for such a long time.  I've also savoured selecting the fabrics and thinking about how I was going to make it.  The actual making didn't really take that much time at all.  It's been like a good book, I've loved the making and didn't want it to end.  So here is the epic . . . (there may even be a sequel!)

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there was a little girl who just loved the story of the Princess and the Pea.  She loved reading the story, looking at the pictures of THE bed and all those mattresses and was completely fascinated by the idea that a real princess would be able to feel a pea placed under all those mattresses and that it would make her black and blue all over.  When the little girl grew up and was a mother of a daughter, she was delighted that her daughter discovered Lauren Child's version of The Princess and the Pea and loved the story just as much as she had all those years ago.  An idea began taking shape in her mind, a bed, some mattresses and a princess . . .   Luckily she had lots of inspiration on the way. 

Maileg has a wonderful version, which I was very tempted to buy but then I thought no I should make one.  I remembered seeing Angry Chicken's version and loved the bed she had found.  I couldn't find anything similar in the UK so at great expense bought the same one Angry Chicken had used from Total Class Creative in the US - the postage cost more than the bed!!  Soule Mama had also made a version which as you would expect from her is totally gorgeous.  Soule Mama's blog directed me to Tree Fall's blog (which is now a favourite of mine) and Tree Fall has been making a princess and the pea version which she sells on Etsy and instead of a bed there is a handy tote bag to carry your mattresses and princess around in!  I love that idea. 

Then I just had to come up with a princess.  I did consider a knitted one, having seen Pamela Susan's knitted princess, but didn't like the neck and thought it would take too much time trying to design a pattern for one.  So I made a fabric doll which Flopsy Bunny loved - phew!  Then of course there was the needle felted pea which has mysteriously disappeared and I need to make another one!

Of course, just when I thought I had finished Flopsy Bunny announced, "well we will need a ladder and the princess needs a crown.  Oh yes and another dress, a pea green dress.  Of course there needs to be some more people, the prince, a king, a queen . . . "  At that point I went to lie down - sequel indeed - this really is an epic craft project!!