Saturday, September 26, 2009

What, another quilter?

(Vicky is Sold)
This is Vicky. She is 24 inches tall, and her long hair could be styled in an updo with a big 'clip'. Her enormous sewing basket contains all the usual quilter's stuff: magazines, bolts of muslin, 18 mini 'fat quarters', threads, needles, pins, tape measure. She also has a quilting hoop, scissors, wrist pin cushion, her current project that she's ready to hand-quilt, and she has not forgotten her rotary cutter or her glasses! She's definitely a happy camper.

I have another started; she will be different, but will have a skirt of this brown pieced 'fabric'.
But, first, some Santa ornaments for the shop. And a little fairy for a special order. All these and more, sandwiched in between the normal errands and some yard work, etc. Busy, busy!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Ok, Let's party!

In response to a special request, I have created these two charming ladies.
Ella was made using the Arley Berryhill pattern that I also used for Claudia and Lana. She is 21 inches tall. Felicia is my original, one-of-a-kind design, 19 inches tall. I love her mischievious, rather flirty expression. I never know how they will turn out when I "put the pen to the blank face". Sometimes I get a nice surprise. I'm very happy with these two. Both have wired arms and hands, and heads that turn, and their pose can be changed to suit your mood, or theirs.
Ella is already sold. Felicia will be available at the Truly Bluegrass shop .

The two dolls were made from the same fabric, a polyester faux suede, Ella using the reverse side of the fabric, which is darker than the right side, and darkened slightly more with the spray used to smooth the skin and control the slight nap. Ella's hair is lightweight wool fabric, fringed and stitched on in a continuous strip, controlled with hair spray. Felicia's hair is rabbit fir, glued on. Faux suede is difficult to hand sew, but has the right amount of 'give' to stuff and sculpt well. Features are hand drawn , painted, and needle sculpted.

Monday, September 7, 2009

More little ladies

Drew a dozen little faces, scanned and printed them on fabric. (You can print on fabric in your inkjet printer by ironing the fabric onto freezer paper, and cutting it to page size.) Painted the faces, sewed them to backing, inserted cardboard and stuffing. Then the hair and hat, etc, is sewed and/or glued on, and a pinback and label on the back. These tedious little ladies take more time than they should, but are fun to make. So this dozen was taken to the shop on Friday.

As usual, Sabrina got tired of being shoved out of the way, and took a nap close by. Here are some of the little heads I've worked on, too. Kind of eerie, them all watching me like that. Ha! They are supposed to be designing their own bodies for me.