Kirsten's School Dress

 I was very happy that American Girl re-released Kirsten's school outfit.

It's just a classic. And, unlike everything else they sell now, it's not pink.

To celebrate, I took Kirsten to Old World Wisconsin. I was able to get some great photos!

Kirsten looks right at home in the general store.

The dress fits my Kirsten perfectly. She is an older Pleasant Company doll from 1994.

Actually, she's my sister's. I am keeping her safe. Hee hee.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I do! This dress is really making me happy.

Cleaning Up Molly

 I am working on fixing up Molly.

She was soooo dirty, I could see that with my naked eye.

I scrubbed her with Magic Eraser so hard that the eraser disintegrated. Dirty water was coming off of her as well.

I brushed and re-braided her hair.

She had glitter up her nose, so I had to literally use a Q tip to pick her nose and get it out.

The Q tip also helped removing make up from around her eye.

I think she could probably use another going over with Magic Eraser, but she's a lot better.

Her hair is in pretty good shape. It's a little dry at the end.

I dressed her in some clothes that I sewed myself. She's wearing Maryellen's saddle shoes.

Her glasses were from a different thrift store. They are a little too big for her and won't stay on on their own. I was able to use barrettes to fasten the glasses to her hair and help them stay on.

Her legs are very loose and need new elastic.

She's a newer doll than I thought. She had the dress from 1993 on, so I assumed she was Pleasant Company. However, she doesn't have an artist's mark, she doesn't have squishy vinyl. Her head says Pleasant Company and she has a small body tag. So I am guessing that she is a transitional doll.

Anyway, Molly is feeling better and looks much more like herself now!

Madame Alexander Snow White

 I was delighted to find this Snow White doll at the thrift store for $3.

She's not my favorite princess, but this doll is a real cutie!

Don't worry, Snow White, you are safe from your stepmother now!

I must admit, I am really falling for the 8 inch Madame Alexander dolls.

Ruby Red Fashion Friends Frieda

 I was surprised by how much I loved Ruby Red Fashion Friend Stella, but I have had my eye on Frieda for a long time!

I love her coloring and her hairdo.

I made her blouse and her skirt!

For the skirt, I just kind of eyeballed the measurements.

For the blouse, I used the Dolls at Heart Designs Analisa Top pattern. It is available on etsy.

I want to make a lot more clothes using this cute pattern!

I closed the back of the blouse with velcro, so I added an extra quarter inch to each piece on the back of the blouse to account for the fabric overlap.

I think that Frieda would be VERY cute in a Regency dress! I have so many projects that I would to sew!

Ruby Red Fashion Friends Doll Stella

 I recently bought several Red Ruby Fashion dolls due to a recent sale.

I have always thought that these dolls were very pretty. The high prices were a bit of a deterrent, and I am pretty loyal to American Girl.

The sale made me decide to get some!

The first doll that I opened is Stella. She is gorgeous! I love her hair.

I REALLY love her eyes. The description says that she has green eyes, but I think that they are blue and hazel, like mine.

I really like the sweet faces and the posing ability of the Ruby Red dolls.

They can share a lot of clothes with the Wellie Wisher dolls and the Hearts for Hearts dolls.

The dolls and the clothes feel high quality. What I do not not like is that the clothes that they come with look very mismatching to me, except for the more expensive special edition dolls. I will be changing the clothes on all of the dolls.

They are 15.5 inches tall and skinny, so they are a lot more portable than the AG dolls, as well as poseable.

They are also a bit risky. Some dolls from this line, especially the Siblies, had eyes change color over time. This is one reason why I was reluctant to spend so much money on one of these dolls.

I made the jumper she is wearing. The pattern is the Forever 18 Inches Faux Button Jumper,

Right now, I am very happy with the new addition to my doll family.

More Matching Dresses!

 I also made matching blue dresses for the little girl who has an 18 inch Madame Alexander doll and a Disney Animator Tiana.

These dresses are roughly inspired by Tiana's Evening Star dress.

The Disney Animator doll dress was made using a Requiem Art Designs pattern.

The 18 inch doll dress didn't really follow a pattern. I used the bodice from the Joan Hinds Sailor dress, because that was what I had out. Any basic doll dress bodice pattern would work.

I lined it in cotton for more stability.

I think I made the skirt about 40 inches wide by 8 inches long.

I bought a new spool of ribbon for the sasses on these dresses, and it was all used up. There is maybe enough left to make a matching headband.

I actually like the smaller blue dress better than the 18 inch one. The proportions look better. But it's all just meant to be fun to play with. I think I achieved that.

Matching Dresses!

 I made matching yellow dresses for the little girl that I know. One is for her 18 inch Madame Alexander doll, and one is for her Disney Animators Tiana.

I've already detailed three of these sailor dresses on this blog. They are made with a sailor dress pattern from Joan Hinds Heritage Doll clothes.

The Disney Animators doll dress is made with a Requiem Art Designs pattern.

The dresses aren't exact matches, but I think it's cute. It's harder to do the really fancy details on the smaller dolls, especially if you don't have an exact pattern.

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Dud Bibbed Playsuit

 I made the Keepers Dolly Duds Bibbed Playsuit!

I have been wanting overalls for Fern, one of my CYOs. I just named her Fern because I thought it was a pretty name, but she is rather taking on aspects of Fern from Charlotte's Web.

I wanted the overalls to have a practical look, like something you would do chores in. To me, that meant dark colors that wouldn't show dirt.

It's fun to see how you can use the same fabrics to create different looks!

Fern's overalls are made from the same brown fabric that I used in Keepers Dolly Duds Study Hall.

Fern's blouse is made from the same burgundy fabric that I used in Keepers Dolly Duds Beth.

The overalls have a lot of little cute details. 

The straps cross in the back. I don't often take pictures of my outfits from the back, but I had to for this one!

Pattern Review: Keepers Dolly Duds Balmoral Holiday Coat

 I was so scared to make the Keepers Dolly Duds Balmoral Holiday Coat!

It offered some great opportunities to totally mess up- the scallops in front of the coat, the button holes, the asymmetry.

Well, I eliminated one of those hazards right off the bat by putting in snaps instead of sewing real button holes.

The pattern was easy to follow and I didn't have any problem with the asymmetrical design.

And the scallops turned out better than any I have done before. My theory is that is because these scallops are somewhat larger than any that I have sewn before.

I love this coat and the cloche hat! They are so cute.

I am so pleased that I overcame my fears and tackled this pattern!

Polar Bear Pajamas

 I made polar bear pajamas. I found the fabric in a pair of adult pajama bottoms at the clothes by the pound thrift store.

I thought that the polar bears were just too cute, and they are small enough to work in doll scale.

This is the pattern that I used- Simplicity Do537.

The pajamas were very fast and straightforward to sew.

I struggled a bit with the hem on the bottom of the pajama top. The stretchy fabric just didn't want to sew neatly.

I have enough of the fabric left to make another pair of pajamas. I am deciding whether to use the same pattern again or try a different one.

Matching 1920s Christmas dresses

 These dresses were made in a hurry for a little girl who had COVID. I wanted to give them to her grandma so I didn't have to pay for shipping, so I didn't get a picture of the dolls wearing the clothes.

The girl has a 16 inch Disney Animator Tiana, and a 18 inch Madame Alexander doll named Mary.

I was going to 1920s style dresses, since that would be appropriate for Tiana.

I thought it was super cute to  make them matching Christmas dresses! 

The Disney Animator  dress was made using the Requiem Arts Designs Disney Animator Dress Basics  pattern.

The 18 inch doll dress was made using the Dolls at Hearts Vera dress pattern. 

Both dresses fit the dolls, and made their owner very happy!

I was relieved, since I did not have a Disney Animator doll to use as a model to test the fit.

Tasha's Bake

What is Tasha baking today?

Tasha's Challenge

 Tasha is plating up a Showstopper to present to Paul and Prue. She takes a minute to check the decoration that she has created.

Tasha's Cake

 Tasha is mixing up something to wow the judges! What can it be?

Is it the chocolate cake with raspberries from the opening title of the Great British Bake Off?

Tasha's Pastry

 Tasha is ready to roll out some pastry!

I love this wooden rolling pin. AG really makes cool accessories.

Tasha's Decorating

 Tasha is  ready to put her piping skills to work and decorate some biscuits for an elaborate baking challenge!

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.

Making doll food?

 I am just going to put it out there that this tutorial from Epbot should be perfect for making doll cupcakes and cakes!

I would like to try it... but I have a million other projects I also want to do.

Tasha's Pie

 Tasha just took this pie out of the oven. It looks good on top. 

She hopes that it doesn't have a soggy bottom!

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!