Custom Tasha Doll from GBBO

 I was so excited when I saw that the Great British Bake Off has a Deaf baker this season.

Tasha looks like a very sweet and talented baker. I am very hearing impaired, so I love seeing the representation.

I decided impulsively that I wanted to make a custom doll of her. I wanted a blue eyed Joss mold with dark blonde hair.

I was really lucky. I was able to find a blue eyed Joss mold for sale.

This is the doll that I used as a base for Tasha. She has a straightened Caroline wig. I think she has modern Rapunzel vibes in this picture!

I found the perfect wig available at Zazou wigs. It was the last wig in this color.

Here's my first picture of Tasha the doll! With a picture of real Tasha next to her for comparison.

I need to make her a beige apron.

I look forward to watching this season of GBBO and cheering the real-life Tasha on.

I also look forward to spending time with my adorable new doll!

One thing to be aware of is that Tasha speaks British Sign Language. It is a totally different language than American Sign Language. I think it's sad that different English-speaking countries have different sign languages, which further isolates their Deaf speakers. 

Pattern review: Eden Ava Couture Hawaiian Sundress

 I bought an embroidered top at the thrift store, and I could immediately envision the doll dress that I wanted to make with it.

I used the Eden Ava Couture Hawaiian Sundress pattern. It matched very closely to the dress that I had in my head, and it was easy to use.

The difference is that I made the bodice an inch longer, in order to utilize more of the beautiful embroidery. I also made the neckline a V to echo the embroidery.

The material of the blouse was difficult to work with as it was thin. It turned out very well, though.

I love this dress! I wish that I had finished it before summer ended. I had a very busy summer, however, and I ended up getting COVID at the beginning of September.

This dress cost me very little because I bought the blouse at the thrift store that sells clothes by the pound. It probably cost me less than a dollar. If only all my doll clothes were so cheap!

Caddie Woodlawn

 I recently re-read the Caddie Woodlawn books by Carol Ryrie Brink.

I also got to visit the Caddie Woodlawn House in Wisconsin! It was amazing!

It's a real house, it's free, and there is free admission. It's 35 minutes from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Wayside Cabin in Pepin. I highly recommend it!

I am itching to make Caddie's white Fourth of July dress with a  red, white and blue sash.

The book illustration shows the dress looking a lot like Meg's Ball Gown By Keeper Dolly Duds.

Caddie is in the center. The dress on the left looks more 1850s to me.

I bet that the real dress was much simpler, especially since Caddie's mother knew that there was a good dress that the dress would be ruined.

I think that I might make more than one version of the dress. A book illustration one and a more practical one.

I am itching for a day to sew!

I also want to make a a 1830s doll wardrobe like Mrs. Nightingale's doll Adelaide.