Hi all! Happy 2016! How’s your new year going so far? I am loving these new dolls so much. Just need to finish up bonnets and shoes, and figure out how to take decent photos on a cloudy Winter day and then they’ll head to the shop
handmade ornaments
I’m almost having guilt that I’ve made no handmade ornaments yet this year. Of course this is not really a problem. My tree is lousy with handmade ornaments. In fact I have so many ornaments all together that there’s only room for about half of them on the tree. Not a great ratio. But I love the handmade ones so much. I remember so clearly making them with the kids, or laboring over them on my own. Getting all manic and weird about handmade Xmas fodder is one of my favorite holiday traditions.
I remember how into these bells Oscar was. We ended up making a dozen of them! I think it was the thrill of the hot glue gun that he loved.
Oh! I just remembered last night as I was falling asleep I was thinking we should make Star Wars ornaments this year. Seen any cute ones out there?
today was a crazy long day of sewing
I’m really trying to squeeze in a few new dolls before I get down to business with Christmas making. I’m not even sure what I’m going to make. If anything. But I need to get these out of my head before I can focus.
Maxine. I took some cute photos of her with Phoebe. She’s heading to etsy tomorrow. Maxine, not Phoebe 🙂
Becca. Trying to decide on her hat, if any. I made her an insanely huge head of hair.
Tilly. She’s got a cute coat but maybe no hat. I need something I don’t have and don’t want to be a delay fish.
Constance
I sketched this gal the other night making dinner and LOVE how she turned out, yay! I had this body already made up from years ago when I was going to make the Little Women dolls, still on my to-do list. I was pleased with my solution for a little apron/dress. The first few tries were weird. I think this is pretty cool, I like how it overlaps in the back. I was excited to make a bunch of layers to bundle her up. Constance is now cozy in her socks and boots, mittens and hat and scarf and new wool coat. Oh, and she has an over the shoulder bag too. She has to step into it bc of her rather large noggin but that’s how all the cool girls do it anyway.
brrr
for makers and shoppers
I’ve got things up at etsy for those who want to diy this holiday and for those who want to just wrap. Printed patterns have free shipping this weekend – great for gifts for crafty friends! And I’ve been adding and will continue to add the handmade original dolls I’ve been working on this month. I don’t have specific posting times, sorry. I just don’t have the shopper audience to warrant that. But if you’re interested in anything specific you can email me and I’ll let you know when it goes up! Hope everyone is having a restful day weekend. Ha, I know! As restful as the post Thanksgiving/Christmas kick off can be. We had a great black Friday, hiding out at the movies and then home to build Legos.
flapper girl
My doll outfit inspiration board on pinterest is filled with 1920s inspiration lately. I love the bobs and the big bows and the loose dresses. I’m headed to the library to check out some books for more inspiration. If I can ever finish spitting out this one paragraph blog post!
I’m trying very hard to stay inspired and stay positive this week. I’m sure everyone is in that same boat lately. And the holidays bring everything into such sharp focus. I liked this letter from uppercase magazine in my inbox the other day. I’m so filled with self doubt about what I’m doing spending my days sewing toys. I found this a little reassuring.
updates
I listed these guys on etsy yesterday and they sold before I had a chance to post that they were up.
I’m feeling very grateful and energized to keep making! Despite not having a plan, an end goal, or any idea what I’m doing, I’m really enjoying making toys right now and I’m so elated to find homes for them. So I’m just going to knock out the obstacles in my way, like not having one single hand sewing needle I like (how does that happen?!), and keep at it. These guys in my to-do basket I’m thinking of listing on etsy next. Them, and the Woodland Elf.
