Picnic Time

I know, it seems like Summer is never going to arrive! Dark clouds keeping bringing the rain and blocking the sunshine. When the sun does break through, it gets nice and toasty but about the time you take your sweater off you have to put it right back on again!!
That's what's happening to my little friends here. They stopped to have a little picnic in a beautiful setting when they saw these terrific picnic tables. Grayson kept his sweater on but poor Beth Lynn took hers off and regretted it!

"The sun was just shining two minutes ago!!" Beth Lynn said in a very annoyed voice. "Do you want me to get your sweater? You look cold." Grayson offered. "No," she answered, " let's just eat, I'm starved. We better hurry because it looks like rain." Grayson tried to lift the tension, "We will have to remember this place and maybe get the gang together for a nice BBQ." That seemed to brighten Beth Lynn up and she smiled and nodded in agreement, then took a big bite of her kabob.

Grayson said, " Haggus would love it out here too. We will have to bring the ol' boy." Beth Lynn agreed. "He would be good to have around anyway just in case there are wild cats lurking... that is if he doesn't get scared like that one time with Jill... silly dog." ♥

Picnic tables were created by my very talented friend, Ric. They are made to look like the real ones that you find at roadside parks, weathered and worn with an occasional carving or two. Ric painted them in a rustic barn red and a nice gray and then created the distressed look. In perfect scale for the 11.5 and 12 inch dolls.

These will be available in my Etsy store next week. They will sell for $50 plus shipping. I'm working on the extras that will be included with the sale. A real surprise package of fun.

Ric is busy creating more outdoor furnishings that will knock your socks off. Summer will arrive someday so plan to be ready!

Gorgeous Couch

I just finished making the cushions and accessories for this beautiful black walnut and birch sofa/couch. Ron did a wonderful job of making it to scale with Barbie. I covered the cushions with a deep rich dark brown leather-like fabric and the covers are made so that they can be removed and have different covers for a whole new look. I will have extra covers available, sold separate for around $35-$40.

I only wish I had the tables here to show the whole set together. This is definitely on my wish list!!
The price tag for the couch alone is $120.00. I will have a limited supply on my website soon.

The bolster pillows are completely handmade with the leather-like patched ends and are made to match the afghan throw that my model seems to be taking advantage of. She must not have had enough sleep last night! But doesn't she look cozy?

The afghan and pillows are sold as a set for $25. I will have a variety of accessories available soon to choose from.

More to come ....

Aran Sweater for Ken

Well, this was some challenge! Took awhile to do but mostly because I undo it a few times and re-knit to work out the technique and pattern. All in all, I'm very happy how it turned out. This yarn is an acrylic/wool blend in a "manly" yellow.

As you can see, it is an all-over design and carries down the arms too. The ribbing and the shawl collar is a little different as it is done using a twist rib which makes it looks like tiny cables.

This is also a drop shoulder design. The shawl collar can be worn standing up as well as folded over, which creates a very different look.

I think my guy looks pretty darn sexy, don't you think so? I can't wait to get started on the next one.

This technique is going to be very versatile as I can manipulate the stitches into many patterns to simulate the Aran look. You have to think about the difference in the amount of stitches used. An Aran sweater, or any cable sweater, for an average adult is done over around 120 stitches or more. I'm recreating this on just 30 stitches.

I will be selling finished sweaters on my web site as I get them finished but I'm more then happy to take special orders.

Here's some more Insanity

I just thought I'd share some of the little things I did while my knee was healing. I decided to make some more of the insane little socks for Ken and Barbie, complete with turned heal and gusset. Needle size #000 double point. They fit perfectly.

I made a few different lengths. These knee-high slouch socks took a very long time to do, mostly because the yarn was almost thread like. If I make them again I will adjust the number of stitches to create a more contoured look. These look better to me scrunched down.

Here's the gang modeling the different pairs. I think I will knit up a few more and then present them on my website to sell.

I'll have to work on some mittens to go with the hats and scarves. I know, insane, huh?

Shawl Sweater with Pockets!

Just a follow up on the sweater. My client agreed that it looked like something was missing without the pockets and ask if I could add them. Yay!! Doesn't it look much better?

Shawl Collar Sweater

Well this is what I've been working on. (In case you don't know, you can click on any of the pictures to enlarge). I was introduce to a new customer that has some definite ideas in mind as to what he wants for his collection. This is my first shawl collar on a doll sweater. I sent him pictures and I'm waiting to hear back if he likes it or not. I think it needs pockets but he hasn't made up his mind yet if he wants them. I like it so I won't mind if he says "pass".
It is made with a cotton yarn in a beautiful heather gray and black buttons.

My guy likes it! I just needed him to pose on the deck but he got frisky and decide make his poses look a bit more adventurous and started for the rocks! I was so afraid he was going to damage the sweater but he was careful and he was right about the picture. It did liven things up some.

You should have seen him trying to get down!!! LOL!

Incredible 1:6 Furniture

Is this amazing or what???

This is the #1 set and will not be available for sale as Ron will keep this. But don't worry, he is busy making more, and will have many different exotic woods to offer. This is fine craftsmanship with "old time" quality. You know, when woodworkers and furniture makers really cared. The kind that becomes heirlooms passed down generation to generation. Not the factory, mass produced garbage that is out there now. This is going to be a treasure for doll collectors.

This is made by a true master of the art. Perfect miniatures of Ron's signature table he designed years ago. This is made from a black walnut burl, which is very rare and expensive to get, and why this set is not for sale. Ron used techniques such as "bookmarking" the grain for the tops of the tables and then he "waterfalled" the pattern over the sides and back. A lot of time and care goes into creating this look. The legs are a special design using a unique curve and made with black walnut and birch.

As you can see, all the drawers are fully functioning and have beautiful silver pull nobs and back plates. But wait! There's more!

This is the first design Ron came up with for the couch but he has refined this to an even better one. I upholstered this for him, in fact, it was while covering the cushions I had my little accident with the scissors! The gold fabric in the front is now replaced with birch and looks so much nicer. But this still shows how well this fits the dolls. It isn't flimsy by any means.

The whole set will included what you see here, with the four tables and a couch. But save your pennies, because the price tag is around $800.00. Really, that is a reasonable price and well below what he could charge for the quality. Take a look out there of what is available and you will soon discover there is a huge drought for well made furniture in this scale. I have found a few with some nice things to offer and they have huge prices and yet no where near what you see hear. I wish you could reach in and pick this up to feel how stout and sturdy this is. You don't feel like you have to be super careful for fear it might break.

There will be more to come and I will let you know as soon as it is available for sale. If you want to get in line early let me know, make comments please, and I'll add you to the list. Ron plans to make 52 set in the next year and that might be all ever made. He has other designs that will be ready soon.

Freak Accident!!

Okay, I know this might be a bit gross to some of you but I waited a day or two before I took these so it wouldn't look too bad. What did I do? I found out the hard way that when you drop your scissors, you should just let them fall and not try to catch them with your knees! Ouch, for sure!! On the right you can see where the 2 inch blades went in and the little dot on the left is where they almost came out again! It went deep but thank goodness it didn't angle straight in. I was off my feet for a couple days and then it was only the stairs that gave me the most problem. The whole top of my knee is numb, a really creepy feeling. Try this: have a friend put their index finger on top of yours and with your other hand rub across the two fingers with your index finger on top touching your friend's finger and your thumb on the bottom touching your finger. You will get the same sensation my knee feels. Kind of dead and alive at the same time. Cool party trick.
It is healing fine so no worries, but this is why I have been slow at entering new blogs. I have so much to share too. Next, will be pictures of the furniture set made by my friend Ron. Prepare to be amazed!

Ocean Breeze Negligee

My newest in the lingerie department. A lovely long gown and dressing coat made with a soft white tricot and blue stretch lace. She has a pair of bikini panties too, made with tricot and stretch lace. Very feminine and sweet

Winter decide it was through with us yet so I took these shots in between the down pours of rain. I was so cold! It looks like it was almost dark but this was taking about 1 o'clock in the afternoon! Someday, Spring will act like Spring.

She is lovely. A favorite for posing.

My first Make-overs

I have been so intrigued by the makeovers and re-paints of dolls by my friends on flickr that it inspired me to give it a try. Not easy at all! I was so excited to find these two lovely vintage dolls that were, for the most part, in good shape except their make-up had been rubbed almost off. Of course I don't start with a regular Barbie, I jump right in with a vintage doll! I figured if I messed them up too bad I'd just send them to one of my friends to fix. See, I always try to have a back up plan, especially when I don't really know what I'm doing. I figured that I have been putting make-up on this face of mine long enough to get the concept, but it is a whole other world when adding paint to a doll!

My first little pretty was a beautiful and rare redhead bubblecut Barbie. As you can see in the first picture, she had become a real plain jane with her make-up near gone and her hair had changed directions and made it look like she had a bald spot. I washed her up and re-directed her hair to swirl around her head the way the bubblecut was suppose to do and it moved in place perfectly. Then the make-up... her brows had turned green so I mixed colors to create as close to the hair color as I could, and after a couple of "wipe-off and try again" attempts I decided I liked her expression. She looked to me like she was saying, "Oh, really?" in that sort of snobbish, look down your nose way. The eyes just needed a touch of black liner and then a gloss to the eyeball. Her lips were the most fun and challenging. I added just a drop of red to the color mix I had for her brows and got this for her lips. I thought it looked great so I did her nails and toes with it too then added the shiney gloss and she transformed.

My next Barbie wasn't as complicated. She just needed the black eye liner and new lips and nails. My favorite was doing the lips. Now on to designing the perfect outfits. So, How do you think I did? I can only improve from here, right?