The Snippet Family of tiny dolls were made one rainy day by a little girl called Marianne. They had bead noses, and arms and legs made from pipe cleaners. Marianne gave them her sewing basket to live in, and put the basket on a shelf in her bedroom.
An Illustration From The Book
Today on Instagram, we are posting a delightful watercolour illustration from ‘The Snippets‘. In close up detail, it shows a Snippet’s eye-view of the inside of their sewing basket home. There is an accompanying vignette on the opposite page which shows Mr Snippet peeping out of the basket. “Everything was quiet…They decided to go exploring, while Grandpa and Grandma and Baby Bunting were asleep.”
In the picture, Grandpa is sitting on a ball of wool, with his pipe cleaner-hands folded, and his eyes closed behind his glasses. His head droops, and so does his impressive moustache! Grandma is fast asleep too, holding Baby Bunting on her lap, and sitting on a skein of embroidery thread. In the foreground, a large lilac-coloured pin cushion has several needles and pins in it. There are also embroidery skeins and assorted pearl buttons scattered about.
The Snippet Family Begin Their Adventures
Beyond this group in the foreground, the younger Snippets are beginning to climb out of the sewing basket. Mr Snippet stands on a blue cotton reel and pushes the padded basket lid upwards. He has a coil of embroidery thread over his shoulder, and more thread tied around his waist. He and his wife, and the twins, Sally and Sam, are all tied together “so they would not get lost.” Sally is bravely stepping up onto a green cotton reel, following the intrepid Sam. He is already half out of the basket!
The light floods in from Marianne’s bedroom, and brightens up the dark pink satin-lined basket. Adventure beckons, and they are all very excited. Even Mrs Snippet eagerly waits for her turn to climb out. It is the beginning of a daring escapade for the Snippet Family. What will they discover in the big world beyond their sewing basket home?