A couple of things done....

RFinished a couple of things this weekend. Yay for me!! ;)

I have been on leave from work, and have done very little with my time off. I did, however, have a big cleanup, since I had some people over mid week. It's amazing how much stuff you can hide when you have to.....

Trouble is, now I can't find anything! LOL!! However, since the table was cleared, I cut out some bits and pieces.

Made two more book covers, and a couple of doll blankets.

The pink one is A5, the blue is A4. The hexies and shoe appliqué I had already on hand. I used a single layer of thin batting with no interfacing, which gives it a slight puffy effect. These fit better, too. Must have been more accurate with my measurements this time.... ;)

This is flannelette with a satin binding,just using scraps...

Self binding blanket.... (I have since added a flower to this one, since it seemed a bit dull)

Simple, bound edged fleece scrap... 

First finish of the year!

Started in May, she is now done! 

For display only, as all the clothes are tied, painted, glued or stitched on. No pattern, just trial and error. 

Hair is tucked up on her head, and the roses are hot glued in place.

Back bow and ties are all glued, also....

Plus some fancy pants for underneath...

Shoes are painted with acrylics, and coated in gloss Mod Podge. "Buttons" are glued on...

Progress pics at http://danaspageofstuff.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/free-doll-done.html

Rag doll repair...

I don't usually do repairs, as I prefer to make the complete item, however I was given a rag doll today that belonged to my cousin when she was little. She is now having her own baby, and wants me to repair her. The stuffing has gone all hard and there is a big tear at the neck. The face has had some surgery as well as a haircut, but nothing that can't be fixed (I hope!)

I took all the stuffing out and she did some soaking in Napisan to get rid of the general stains - She doesn't look pleased..... ;( The stuffing also went into a pillowcase and through the wash, as I am going to reuse it......

After she came out out if the Napisan, I had a go at fixing her face. It had clearly been torn at some point and and very poorly stitched back together, along with the nose barely holding on. In order to secure the edges, I used a strip of iron on vilene and a bit of topstitching to try and secure it. It's not perfect, but it is better than it was :)

I have also ironed and fixed the dress, trimmed all the loose threads, and it's ready to go.

I had bought some wool, and although the colour is good, it's a little thick (8ply) so I think I'll go back for the 4ply. It's a much tighter twist, too, so hopefully it will blend better. The hair is actually all different lengths - not sure if this is from the factory, or if it was cut at some point? I wonder if it originally was loops, not straight hair?? No way to tell, unfortunately.....

Anyway, I wrapped some lengths of wool around a piece of cardboard and stitched them together to make a strip. Poked it through the gap and restitched. It took a few goes with some tacking before I was happy, but it finally fell into place. Just need to stuff it, now! 

I used the original stuffing in the hands, feet and body, and some new fill in the head. A just need to close the neck and she is done! I have kept her pretty soft and cuddly - not sure how she was originally, cause she was very flat when she came to me....

Anyway, final results :

I will be seeing her in a few weeks for her baby shower, so will give her back to her then. I hope she likes her :)

Free doll... Done!!

UPDATE 3/1/2016

She is done!! 

She is for display only, as the clothes are either glued, tied, painted or stitched on. 

UPDATE 29/12/15

I have been inspired to finish this girl off, since I already had all the stuff on hand. Since her hair and face are already done, just the clothes remain....

I had already chosen this polyester sheer and lining, and found a matching lace in my stash, so what am I waiting for?? 

I started by making a pattern, similar to the off-the-shoulder style, with a raglan sleeve and casing for the gathering ribbon. I decided not to use elastic, as I need to stitch the lace on, and the elastic could deteriorate down the track. All the gathers are done this way. Hopefully it will ensure it will last a long time ;) 

So far, the dress has been on and off a LOT, since I'm kinda winging it... This is a mock-up of how it's going....

Before I finalise the dress, some undergarments are in order. She is the strangest shape, so I had to make some custom pants. It worked first time, so I'm pretty pleased with myself! Now I wonder if I should paint her shoes, or try and make some? I may just paint some, since I didn't make the doll, and I don't have the pattern. Clothes I can do, shoes are a bit out of my area of expertise....

I have now hand stitched the neck lace on, and the hem lace was done before it was completed. All the ties are tight and tucked out of sight, so just need to do the waist sash and sort out her hair and shoes. I pinned up her hair while stitching the lace, and I quite like how it looks ;) Perhaps some flowers in her hair to finish? She's still pinned in places, but it's getting there..... Not sure on the choker, either...

30/5/2015

At Doll Club last weekend, someone was giving away a fabric doll body. Clearly it was started, but got no further than making her body - no face, no hair, no clothes. And definitely a lady doll, with a large bust and tiny waist! 

I think she needs to a bit Victorian, a flowing off the shoulder dress should detract from her pigeon chest.... ;) Something like this :

She now has a face, based on the Godey doll book I have, although she is smaller in size. I scaled down the face, and used paint rather than embroidery. I think her eyes are ok, but her lips are too pale. Will have to put another paint layer on to darken it up...

Dottie and Dimple... done!!

I decided to finish Dimple with the colours I had already picked - but with two ears - and realised it wasn't the fabric that I didn't like, it was his face! It was far too simple compared with Dottie, with just a pair of French knots for eyes and that's pretty much it. 

So, I drew a new face, similar in style to Dotties, with black dot eyes and painted nose. I kept the dimple, as this is why she (he??) is called Dimple. Duh!! He's got a little wonky eye, but still cute. This is him before I stitched him to Dotties arm...

So, with Dimple now attached, here she is!

She is from the magazine below. They don't seem to have dates or editions, but I have a couple of different versions. I quite like the covergirl, too, but she is HUGE! I don't enjoy making big dolls - Dottie is only about 35cm tall...

Now, on to the next thing! Maybe a quilt is in order, for a change of pace, or a cushion? Time to get some books off the shelf, methinks...... ;)

Bows and lace

A hair bow and some lace - that's better... ;)

Dimple is still ongoing. Not sure I like him a whole lot in his current form. He is supposed to be kind of patchy with a missing ear, but I think I might redo him in calico... with two ears... 

Dottie and Dimple

So, I cleaned up around my work table, and am heaps happier! ;)

I was given a Doll making magazine last week at Doll Club, and inside was Dottie and Dimple. What drew me to her was that she is small, simple and painted. What more could you ask for??

I even found some blues to make it with, which is a plus. Dottie is pretty much done, but Dimple is still in progress. I think she needs something on her skirt - some ric rac, perhaps, or some ribbon?? 

Oops! Forgot about the bow! That's easy fixed, though....

The Bride and Groom are on hold for a bit, while I get my mojo back. A break never hurt anyone, right? :)

Callista, a free pattern...

This is a free pattern I printed years ago. I had already made the body and started the clothes, but didn't like the way it looked, so it got shelved. I found her again, and decided to finish her up. She can still be found here - dollmakersjourney.com/callista/  This is how she is supposed to look....

And this is my version:

Firstly, I took off the skirt I had made and removed her legs. While they were off, I added the shoes and ribbon laces. These were glued on, since this is not a play doll I didn't see the need to stitch it. :)

Then I painted eyes and mouth, and while I had the paint out, I also added some panties (since you can see right up her skirt). I found the funky yarn I had planned to use for her hair, changed the fabric and the design of the clothes and continued on. Finally, she gets some wings and a hanging loop, and she is done! I did change the design of the wings, using a commercial one rather than make it from the pattern. I just thought it was too big and stiff, and the others were smaller - plus I already had them on hand!

Another finish, and I'm feeling good!! ;)

New dolls!!

I went to a doll sale today. Unfortunately, it was one of my Doll Club ladies selling off her collection because she is now in a care home and her family have sold her house. So, so sad. :( 

But, I have helped her out by taking a few girls home with me. They represent a new group for me - my first porcelain and first composition, and both are little Dutch girls!

The first is a porcelain, with her neck reading (c) Pauline 345/950. This is also echoed on the back of the body. She is quite large and stiff, but has gorgeous hair and eyes, and the cutest little clogs!

The second girl is composition, much smaller than the other, and has an imprinted logo that looks like UNIQUE BELGIUM, or similar (info greatly appreciated!) on her neck. Someone has pinned a note to her skirt that says Belgium, Paul Whitiker. More research required on this one.....

The last two are cloth dolls - one little brown cutie and a tall classy lady. Both handmade, they just appealed to me. Nothing more... ;)

Quite a productive day, don't you think?? 

Pinky done!!

I finished the pink bow tie quilt. Yay for me!! ;)

This one is show quality, so I will save it for Canning in November. Fully machine made, quilted in the ditch, binding turned to the front and topstitched close to the edge. Finished size 86cm x 68cm - doll quilt size.....

The back is a printed check, which is awful. The print is wonky, so even though it's cut on the grain it looks crooked. It is so soft, though, and I don't think it's gonna matter in this instance....