Dollies!

Arms and legs, shoes and socks.

Skirts and underskirts

Let's make dollies!

Look what I found in my garden pond last night!  My very own frog spawn.  I am so happy. Last year I had to adopt tadpoles and grow them into tiny frogs - this year I have my very own spawn, brought to my pond by the frog.  

Happy Days. 

My two little pussy cats, in a rare moment of peaceful togetherness.  I wonder which one of them moved dolly's eyes both into the same socket!  lol

I couldn't resist, a little Goth doll called Abby!  I love her.

 Such cute hair.

My daughter claimed this one the second she saw her.

While waiting for tulle for Dolls' underskirts, I needed a new project.  As my fabrics and cottons and sewing machine are out and all over the place, I decided to make fabric books.  

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The grey stripe has 6 pages made from crisp, creamy calico, with sewn and pinked edges, and thick padding to make it easier to sew things to.  

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The little green heart book has open weave, cotton twill pages, frayed at the edges and triple sewn to prevent further fraying.  They are thinly padded and the open weave makes them very easy to sew into.

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Now I can't wait to get started on filling them.

I think I've finally found the method and look I was hoping for in my dolls.  I'm using tulle for underskirts, which is lovely and firm but not too stiff and prickly, and I'm using beautiful, light cotton prints for the skirts and overalls.  

They'll be for sale in my little online shop very soon. 

This is my little peachy lady, with her dainty matching shoes and hair bows, and her lace trimmed skirt.

And my little boy, with his adorable overalls and cheeky face (I love his ears).  

And with their coordinating fabrics, they make a lovely little pair.

I've been 3 or 4 days playing dollies. . . 
Making patterns and prototypes for beautiful little ladies and bunnies in gorgeous party frocks.  I made my own pattern, inspired by 3 or 4 different patterns that I'd used before for dolls and animals.  I've ironed out a few creases, (and more than a few body parts), and I think I'm happy with the results. I'm about to take photographs of my first 2 little ladies.

 The first doll is pretty, but her head is a little too square, and her underskirt a little too short.  She'll be living with me.

 My second has a better shaped head I think, and her underskirt is made of tulle, and is much stiffer than her sister's.  She's really lovely in the flesh.  The picture doesn't do her justice.  She might find her way to my on line shop, to be adopted.

They are both 18" tall and sit really nicely.

 My bunny has no features or clothes!  Yikes.  She soon will, I bought some lovely fabric today to make her the most gorgeous little dress, and some ivory tulle to make her a sticky out underskirt.  :)

Bunny has lovely little pink shoes.