Has it REALLY been that long??

Where does the time go?? I swear I just blinked and I was at the doll show!! So much has happened I don't know where to begin. I got a new car!! Yaaaaaaaa!!! My perfect hubby bought me a Hyundai Sonata and I love it!!

Isn't it pretty?

We have had a terrible Spring. I could count on one hand how many nice sunny days we've had and I'd have three finger and a thumb left over!! It even was trying to snow yesterday morning!! I can not complain though really, my goodness, we haven't had the devastation from the tornadoes like they had in Alabama. Scary!! My heart goes out to all those families that have lost so much including loved ones.

Some of my family came out to visit from Montana, my sister and husband brought my mom out. My poor mom was so sick the entire time. We had one good day that allowed me to take her to see her sister but after that she was in bed!! My sister and her husband took a little trip to the coast for some alone time and ended up cutting that short, partly because of the lousy weather but mostly to take mom back home. It was just bad timing for this visit. I never even got to see my sister because I got sick!!! Go figure.

I have spent little time in the doll studio the past few weeks. But I did do a few things. A friend contacted me to make some replacement items on a vintage outfit. Here are a couple of photos of the completed outfit. I made the socks and the little scarf.
I had to search high and low to match that turquoise as well as the texture for the socks. I found a new pair of anklet socks that matched so I made the main sock out of one. The trim at the top was a challenge. I had to paint the succotash trim with a yellow dye. The neck tie was made from a vintage hankie that I took a strip from and rolled hemmed the edges. My friend was thrilled.

Well, I have more to share but I'll start another thread for that. Thanks for listening!

Doll Show this Weekend!!

I'm so excited and so nervous at the same time. I've been working my fingers raw trying to get as many things as I can ready. I put my embroidery machine to good use with my version of the classic "Poodle Skirt".



I have 4 dog motifs to work with, 3 poodle and one really cute chiwawa with bone.

I'll add more pictures later. I have to run for now!

Anniversary Week!!

29 years ago I married the love of my life. We might be older but our love is as young as ever!

Michael took a whole week off which was the best thing he could do. We are enjoying just being at home in the Dollhouse. It has been cold and there is snow on the ground which just makes everything that much more magical.

There is a funny story in this. We wanted to go out and have a nice dinner on Friday, which was the 25th, our actual anniversary date. We got all dressed up and got in the car only to find out it was dead! Mike had left his key in the ignition and it was partly engaged so the battery was flat. So, back in the house we went and I called pizza delivery and we had pizza and champagne for our anniversary dinner! It was really good!!!

For the most part, we have been just sitting around and playing on our laptops. Mike bought me a new MAC Pro and he took my old laptop and has been restoring it back to factory specs to make it usable for him. I LOVE my MAC!!! It is designed to keep up with what I need to do. Mike also bought me the macro lens I wanted for the Cannon. I couldn't help but squeal when he gave me both the MAC and the Macro lens!!!!

What did I give him? Sadly, not much. He bought himself a few toys and he was happy with that. I'm very grateful to have a husband thats greatest joy is to lavish me with gifts but to be honest, I never expected that. I'm happy just to have him in my life. ♡

SNOW Feb. 16th 2011

It was so beautiful but melting fast!

New Embroideries

I am having a blast making these!! All are machine embroidered which takes a little forethought and special prep work but so worth the effort. The only sad part is I can not offer the scull print pants for sale because I don’t have that fabric anymore. But these still look great with solid black pants or mini skirts.

The tank top just slips over the head of most Barbie type dolls. It can be made with an opening in the back like the top in the middle picture.

I’ll have many more to share soon!!

Retro Full Circle Skirt

This is a full circle skirt with an elastic waist and a zippered top in lovely Spring colors. Full tulle half slip adds a bit of fun. This fits only the early body types of Barbie and fashion dolls. My red-haired beauty here is a mid-sixties bubble cut that I had to give a new face to. This style is well suited for this doll and the era she is from.

The skirt band is eyelet lace elastic and I took advantage of the eyelets to weave a chiffon ribbon in a matching color, finishing the look with a bow.

Next up will be some fun embroidered outfits that I’m getting ready for a show next month. My very first doll show ever!!! March 18th and 19th in Puyallup. I am sharing a booth with a dear friend that makes incredible dolls she cast the heads of and paints the faces and then puts them on Barbie type bodies. If you would like to see some of her wonderful creations, look in my favorites Links for “Wildflower Dolls”.

Later!!

My Ode to Christian Dior

I thought I’d step away from my normal “comfortable” line of designs and do something fancy.  I salvaged a lovely vintage crystal buckle from an old dress that was going to the trash.  It was my inspiration.  The fabric I was amazed to find at a Goodwill!  Five yards of beautiful blue silk linen, for $2.99!!!  Someone was planning a nice outfit.  Fortunately for me, they gave up!!  My lovely lady has white lacy thigh high hosiery that fit perfectly into her matching blue strappy heels.  Her up do was a total accident when I was trying to figure out what to do with her long hair.  I started with a ponytail and slide the band as close to the end as I could, then twisted it and wrapped the end in on itself and secured both sides with a small bobby pin.  The flower is stuck in with a pin.  What you can get away with when you’re a doll!!  All in all, I make it sound like it was pretty easy but it took me all day to finish this!!! 

The bow snaps on.

  Hope you liked this.  I’ve got a few more surprises coming up!

Baby, it’s cold outside!!

It has been a bit frosty out… no snow, just frost. There was talk of snow but I think it was only hopeful wishing. Still it has been at and below freezing.

I emptied the fountain several times only to have it fill again with rain. Now it is solid ice. Looks really cool! These aren’t the best shot because it was dark out and I relied on the flash.

The river is amazing right now. With all the rain we got, it is running very high and fast. It is twice as wide as it was during the summer. Fishermen are interesting to watch standing in their boats. It is a real balance act as the boat sways in the currant.

I took my feeders for the hummingbirds down but the little guys wouldn’t go away and keep flying outside the window looking for me! So I put the feeders out for them in the morning and bring them in at night so they don’t freeze. The birds seem to be quite happy with this arrangement, but if I don’t have them out by 8 they come looking for me!!

There are 3 beautiful males and at least 2 females that frequent the feeder. This one is playing peek-a-boo with me. They have such unique personalities.

Well, it is a new year now. Hard to think of where the last one went! I hope this year proves to be a good one. My goals are simple, I would just like to catch-up with all the things I have on my list of things to finish. Then, of course, it would be nice to lose a few pounds!! Hahaha

I hope everyone’s 2011 is a good and prosperous year.

A Gift from a Wonderful Friend

I just had to share this with everyone. I received an unexpected gift from my friend Andrea, the maker of Andy’s Rascals, (http://www.etsy.com/shop/andysrascals )

I love mermaids and the magical stories around them and this was the best surprise I could have received!! This is how they looked when I unwrapped them, and then discovered they were meant to kiss!! That inspired me to create the magical kingdom under the sea where a human boy could live forever with his mermaid love, as long as they were together. Her kiss gave him her love and the ability to live under the water. Her pearls gave him her magic to allow him to be part of her underwater world.

Happily ever after….

Reunited with an old friend

I’m very pleased with the results of this labor of love. This doll was given to my daughter, Dori, in 1979. It is the Beauty Secrets Barbie. This was her favorite even though the doll’s hand fell off, a little girls I babysat cut her hair off and the dolls joints were so loose you could just about tie her in a knot!!

A couple months ago, Dori asked if I could repair or do something to fix her very worn-out doll. Sadly, the only thing I could salvage was the head, which I will re-paint, re-root and find a new body for.

In the meantime, I found another Beauty Secrets Barbie on Ebay,

used and needing a thorough “spa treatment” but her body was sound and completely in tact. Her hair was very dirty yet long and full. Her face was perfect, eyes bright and full of life, all the face paint was great. There was a smudge over her left eye that looked like an extra eyebrow. I was able to remove it with no damage.

After washing and conditioning her hair, I boil permed it and then fingered combed it to style. Then added a beautiful bow.

Next she had to get underwear and a slip

Then the very special crocheted dress that I made for this doll over 25 years ago. It needed some repairs, just a change of hooks and eyes in the back to give it a more finished look.

Now the hat and a special hat pin, a perfect pair of sandals and she is ready for another special place in my daughters heart.