Art has a new home

I'm happy to report that the doll, "Art in the Park", was a hit, received lots of flattering comments and attention, and was 'won' at a final bid of $230. He will have a prominent position with a local artist group. I'll be more specific when I get the details, and perhaps a picture of Art in his new home.  

Meanwhile, back at the park......After 2 inches of rain Friday night, the weather was mostly sunny and warm, for the art-fest on Saturday, with some cloudy moments, as in this picture.
More photos at http://photosbyvmw.blogspot.com/

As seen on TV....!!

Click here to see Art in the Park, Versailles    Video.
One of the Lexington tv channels May 19 noon news, did a segment promoting the Art fair  this weekend.  My item for the auction(Art) got front and center stage, in the sampling they showed in this interview.

(I don't know how long this video will be available for view.)

An Old Doll on a New Moon

This moon was just hanging there on the wall, and when the old cow saw it, she leapt right up there onto it. I think she tried to jump over the moon, and couldn't quite make it, so she decided to just act 'real cool', and hang out for a while. Shiny knit moon, 15 inches.Removable satin cow, Shar-moose, dressed in cotton print, is about 21 inches tall.  My original design, except head is from an old pattern, 'Udder Bliss', designer unknown.

Art In The Park!

Introducing: Art In the Park

I created Art especially for the Art-In-The-Park festival here in Versailles, on May 22nd. Part of the proceeds go to the festival committee, to help defray expenses. He will be offered in the silent auction, at the preview dinner, on May 21st.  

Art was created using Chanelle Reid's pattern 'Barry goes to the Beach'. I made his legs a bit longer, and designed trousers and a 'hawaiian' shirt for him. His sandals were made of long leather fringe strips and the souls were cut from a mouse pad, so he can stand firmly on his feet all day. Wool roving hair, mustache, brows and chest hair. His easel is made from dowels and balsa wood, his pallet is paper mache, the paintbox is faux-leather covered, inside and out, and contains several tubes of paints and an extra brush. He has just finished and signed the painting of the little bridge in Big Spring Park, where the festival will be held. The 'grass' under his feet is a piece of fun fur. He's all decked out with his name tag, so everyone will know who he is. Which of course, he really doesn't need, because he is a 'regular' there, and at other scenic spots around town, and is already known by everyone in this small town.

Shrink Art Composition

A little comic relief for today.


I call this little composition,
"Credit Management".

Or "Fold, Spindle, and Mutilate!"

Decoupage, on a sheet of plexiglass, painted on the reverse side.

Betty Anne and Bitsy

Here is Betty Anne and her little friend, Bitsy. They are 8 and 16 inches tall.   Made from free patterns, Betty Anne is an all-on-one-page no-instructions-no-picture design by MBH titled PegO'Myhart, complete with buttoned mary-janes.     Bitsy's pattern is Itsy Bitsy by Bowls-n-Annies.  These two were fairly quick and fun to make. I've enjoyed making some of this style of doll for a change of pace. 

........Feb. 9, 2011...

I have posted the patterns for these two little girls, on my other blog http://clothdollsbyvada.com/patterns   They are pdf files and should print out correctly for you. I can no longer find them online anywhere.

Putting in their "two cents' worth"...

Introducing the Penny Loafers. Each has a penny in toe of each shoe, and love to sit around on your shelf, offering their bit of advice or whimsical  wisdom. They are "bean bag" dolls, filled with rice and a bit of bay leaf. If they look somewhat familiar, it's because I used my pindoll faces for them.

I am indebted to Deborah Milstead of North Carolina who graciously shared her pattern for her charming 'Ladies of Ella Moon', which, of course, I promptly mutilated, changing the leg design, and the name. (I always have to tamper with things, you know.)
You can see Deborah's dolls on Cloth Doll Artistry at http://clothdolls.ning.com/profile/DeborahMilstead?xg_source=profiles_memberList

A bunny thing happened on the way to the farm...

This is my entry in the Cloth Doll Artistry Easter Bunny challenge.   Using the free pattern provided, we were free to be as creative as we wished, as long as we used all five pattern parts. I enlarged the parts, variously, and changed the pose. I used buttons for eyes and nose, pompoms for muzzle, added a tail cut as a small egg. She has wired ears, and a bow, fishline whiskers. She is 8 inches tall, to the top of her head, not counting her 8-inch long ears. Her fabric is an embroidered  cotton broadcloth. This is the original pattern (at right).

I also made these two variations. The little pink one is the original size. She is made of fleece with gingham inner ears and foot pads. She sits 5 inches tall, not counting her ears.  The grey hare (Jack Rabbit?) is enlarged about 50%, but only sits 4 inches to the top of his head, because of his pose.  All the pieces were cut by the pattern, the fabric and amount of stuffing making the difference in shape, and assembly offered lots of options.

Sweeter by the half dozen

Here are some dolls I made from the pattern Sweet Annie, by Mamaw's Creations. I tried to keep these 'kid friendly'. The features are all embroidered, the hair is sewn on, they have a bit of sand in their bottoms to help them sit up, their hair ribbons are anchored to the head. Their bloomers have elastic waists, dresses are sewn at the back, so they have no buttons that might come off.

They were such good little girls, I took them to Painter's Shoes and got them each a pair of nice new 'MaryJanes'. They put on their nametags and hurried out the door to go 'shopping'. They're sure to be adopted soon, and I'll miss them!!

Annie Sue, Annie May, Annie Lea, Annie Lisa, Annie Jo, and Annie Maria are 12 inches tall.

Another batch of bunnies, free pattern

Just in time for Easter: Here's another of my patterns from the past.

This is Hopp, Skipp, Jumpp, and Ronn.

Unfortunately, the instructions are missing, and I have not had time to re-write them, but the pattern is quite simple and self-explanatory, so I'm sure one does not really need instructions for it.  It could be made up in fleece, just as well, and cotton fabrics would be cute, too. Easy way to do the ears: bond the lining to the felt, stitch around edges, and trim close to seam.

I've saved it in pdf, at about 250 kb and at 950 kb. The smaller file is still adequate, larger is sharper. It includes a picture and materials list.

As with Belinda, below, just drop me an email, I'll happily send a copy to anyone who wants it.

A free pattern for all...

Here's Belinda Jane Whitebunny.

This is a pattern I created in 1998.  I have copied it to pdf document form, and will be happy to email pattern and instructions to anyone who wants it. Just email me at

vada428@windstream,

or post a comment here.

I have a few other old patterns that I plan to convert to pdf and offer free, when I can get to it.

Introducing Vanessa

This is Vanessa. I used Patti  Culea's pattern, Janet Anne, for her. She turned out 24 inches tall, a bit more than the pattern, because my small piece of fabric could only be cut 'crossways'. So she is very long legged, but I like this pattern. Patti's designs are a joy to work with.  Vanessa's gown is made out of a 'thrifted' scarf, her shoes from a curtain fabric sample. Her hair is part of a scrungie from the dollar store! I tried several hair colors and materials, and like this best. 

Below, here's an alternative 'look' she and I considered. But I had wanted to make up the pleated scarf.....it looks so spring-like.  Better lighting on this picture, the flash above is a little harsh.