Doll Photos

 I am trying to take more pictures of my dolls! I try to spend five minutes a day now changing an outfit or taking a picture in the backyard. It helps. 

I don't have to wait to have enormous amounts of free time to do something with the dolls!

Jess looks gorgeous in everything. She is the Doll Most Likely to Be on Cover OF Vogue and Then Become a Therapist.

I got Gwen's dress at the thrift store for $14! I love it so much!

I am not sure which dress this is that Danielle is wearing, but it's giving me 1920s vibes.

I'm going to put it on Claudie and Phryne Valancy too,

Joss is ready for summer!

I think that the Squishmallow looks like Jip and would be perfect to pair with Samantha's modern dress.

Speaking of which, here is Astrid modeling Felicity's modern dress. I love it. I want all four of them at this point.

I am just concerned about how difficult it will be to repair them when the elastic wears out.

Saige and Sam are modelling Cowboy Cool, as always. 

The Revenge Doll

 Lanie was at the thrift store a week ago, and my mom gave me a "don't even think about it " look.

I went again this Saturday. She was still there, so I bought her just because I was mad at Mom.

I bet no one's ever bought a revenge doll before, have you?

My therapist thinks this is very funny...

This is a "before" picture. You can see the price tag is still on her leg. I have since brushed her hair and she looks much better now.

Dolls at the Lake

 I took three dolls to the lake to get some pictures this weekend.

First up is American Girl Girl of the Year 2020.

Joss is happy to be at the lake, even if she couldn't go surfing.

Next is Ruby Red Fashion Friends Stella. She looks cute as always.

Then there is Ruby Red Create Your Dream Doll Jeanette. I just got her, as the dolls are on sale this month.

I love Jeannette's face. She has less pose-ability than other Ruby Red Fashion Friends, but that is reflected in the lower price point.

Her skin tone is a little odd. She looks very grey when she is next to other Ruby Red dolls.

It doesn't look that bad when she is on her own.

She is a little grey-ish here.

She looks fine in this picture!

Her clothes are all printed on cheap fabric, but again, I expected that from the low price point.

Sundress for Kavi

 I found a remnant at the thrift store, about 24 inches wide, of this beautiful eyelet fabric.

I immediately knew that I could make a stunning doll dress out of it.

It was so hard to choose, but I decided I wanted to make a sundress out of it that would be classic and rather bohemian.

I knew the skirt would be longer to show off all of the beautiful white-on-white embroidery.

I really debated what pattern to use, but used Liberty Jane Peplum Top.

I added a bit of a sewn-in slip, so that her undies wouldn't show.

And here it is.

I love it on Kavi, it is perfect with her dark hair and eyes!

I wish I had this dress in my size!

I also wish I had more of this fabric. I can think of at least two more projects I could make with it.

Kavi is actually reminding me a bit of Emmy Rossum in Phantom of the Opera, so maybe she needs a Phantom dress. She loves musicals, after all!

Pattern Review: Simplicity 9438 Regency Dresses

 I wanted to make some historical doll clothes for my cousin's daughter, but I didn't know what dolls the younger cousin has or what her favorite colors are.

I decided to make two Regency dresses using Simplicity pattern 9438.

One of the dresses is pink, and the other is white and purple.

Caroline is hiding from me currently, so I used Saige and Isabelle to model for me. I think Saige actually resembles Violet Bridgerton a bit.

I didn't change their shoes, haha, but the dresses are so long that you can't see Isabelle's ballet slippers or Saige's gold sandals.

The dresses were VERY easy to sew. It's a pretty basic pattern, but it is easy to make and it looks great!

Summer Sundresses

 I made four sundresses from the same pattern, all in the same day!

I wanted to sew some doll dresses for my cousin's daughter for the first time. This was the fastest way that I could build a wardrobe.

I used the Liberty Jane Peplum Top pattern. I added a waistband and a longer skirt. I just think it's a simple but elegant pattern.

Here are the dresses, being modelled by Jess, Makena, Evette and Maritza.

I used a variety of colors. I sadly don't know the recipient very well, so I hope that she finds something that she likes in this batch!

Here are some other dresses that I made from the same pattern.

Almost finished!

 I am almost finished with this cute robe from Simplicity pattern 8281. 

I am going to add a cat face onto the hoodie.

I didn't do it yet, because I was really on a roll with the sewing machine and wanted to move on to the next thing.

I also know that the face is the part that everyone will really be looking at, and I don't want to mess it up.

But I expect I won't get it done soon, so I decided to go ahead and share the project.

The pattern called for stretchy fabric. I am not sure if that is actually needed or not.

I was sooo excited to find stretchy terry cloth material at the thrift store so I could make this project!

It would be pretty easy to change the ears on this pattern and make different animal faces.

I could make a guinea pig bathrobe!

Pattern Review: Liberty Jane Catalina Pattern

 I found this fabric, purple sparkled with gold, at the thrift store. I thought for a while about what to do with it.

I wanted something modern and classy, but not TOO dressy as it is cotton.

I found the Liberty Jane Catalina Crop Top printed out, and decided to give it a go.

I love the finished product! I  like this better than Saige's official hot pink fancy dress.

The bodice has 14 pieces, so it's a lot for a beginner. But it made sense and it came together easily.

I am glad that I had gold shoes (from Lea's collection) that went well with this dress!

Pattern review: Keepers Dolly Duds Parade Day

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Parade Day pattern.

This was a quick and easy pattern.

The top of the blouse has some pleating, but it was easy to do.

The skirt and jacket were very easy.

If you are intimidated by sewing asymmetrical patterns, I think that this jacket would be a good one to start with.

I really wanted to make the jacket a solid color, but I was using what was in the house. I couldn't find a solid color fabric that coordinated.

As a result, the blouse, skirt and jacket are all three different florals. I think it works.

Anyway, it can be used for mix and match.

Here is a picture of the dress from Parade Day with the jacket from Church Tea. This combination works too!

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Church Tea

 I made the dress and jacket from Keepers Dolly Duds Church Tea.

The dress was very easy to make. It has two pleats in the front of the dress. The fabric that I used ended up holding the pleats so well that I may use it for other patterns with pleats.

The jacket was the challenging part because it has scalloped edges.

I was very careful. I drew the sewing line on the fabric, sewed along the line, and ironed a lot.

My scallops are still not as clear as the ones on the pattern picture. I'm a little disappointed, but it doesn't look too bad.

I didn't make the jacket collar in a contrasting color, as the pattern called for. I had already made the dress in a different fabric, and I didn't want to add in another element.

Overall, I am about 90% happy with this outfit.

Snow Pictures

 I hope that everyone had a great holiday!

Here are some pictures of a few of my dolls enjoying the snow!

Stockings

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hope that St. Nicolaus soon would be there."

My friend Rose gave the me photo prompt "Stockings."

That led me to sew four stockings from felt, from a pattern by Lee and Pearl.

The resulting pictures are very cute!

More Autumn Leaves

 Here are some more pictures from the same photoshoot with autumn leaves.

Joss. This is one of my favorites really. I just think she looks really good here.

Anne

Joss

Anne

Happy Diwali!

 Happy Diwali!

Kavi is happy to be celebrating. She is SO pretty in this outfit. 

She is putting up fairy lights to celebrate!

Bonfire Night

 Today is Guy Fawkes Day!

   Remember, remember!
    The fifth of November,
    The Gunpowder treason and plot;
    I know of no reason
    Why the Gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot!

The dolls are enjoying a good bonfire to celebrate.

Trick or Treat!

 One of my friends challenged me with a series of photo prompts.

This is the photo that I created for the prompt, "Trick or Treat!"

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

 Happy Halloween from me and Corinne, the cutest witch!

I found this photo effect by accident on my phone. I think it's perfect for Halloween photos!

May your holiday be spook-tacular!

Apples

 Here's a nice autumn picture of Saige.

I really love this Irish outfit. It is perfect for autumn and for St. Patrick's Day!

Squashed

 Another autumn photo prompt was "autumn squash."

I took a humorous approach to this one.

Here is Corinne being squashed by a butternut squash that fell out of the sky.

It's a bit of a Wizard of Oz homage as well.

I might do a more traditional pumpkin themed picture also.

Hot Beverage

 One of my friends gave me some autumn themed photo prompts.

This photo prompt is for "hot beverages."

Joss is pleased to enjoy her hot cider and the lovely crisp autumn air!