More Ornaments

I've been working on a few more Christmas ornaments for next week's holiday craft fair. These are based on my Sleepytime Santa doll pattern. I love this pattern, and the white-on-white fabric beards and mustaches (so much more interesting than a solid fabric). I usually add a pin to the back, so they can be worn, but these will be ornaments only. 

Quick Nick

Today I finished five new ornaments, taking photos as I sewed, stuffed, and glued. This will become a new pattern after we get through the holidays. I think he'll be available in digital format only.

I call him "Quick Nick" because he is a *relatively* quick dolls to make. I suppose he could be a pin doll, too!

Update, 12/27/21  I've just finished the pattern and instructions for this cute little doll:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1149171651/new-quick-nick-santa-ornament-e-pattern 

White Elephant

Tonight's our ER Christmas party. We'll have a gift exchange, so I thought I'd make another Santa pin/ornie. I did the same last year, though the cap fabric is different.

I normally glue a pom pom to the cap, but the ones I have are either too (bright) red or too white. I was lucky to find a tiny poinsettia that fit the bill.

The only things left to do are to add a string for hanging, and wrap him up.

Heavenly Wings

I've finally managed to finish Carole's pin doll, won in a raffle at the Doll Gala. She was very nearly done within a week of returning home from the Gala, but has been awaiting a few finishing detail. Gotta get her packaged and in the mail. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much for which to be thankful.

Here's a turkey pin doll I designed a few years ago. It's going to be in the pin doll book I'm writing in my *free time* ~ yeah, right.

Reigning Dolls & Bears club pin done

Today I finished my doll club pin, designed by club member Martha Checkett. Well almost done ~ I may add a little banner/scroll with my name, so I can use the pin as a name tag. The pin 3-1/2 by almost 4 inches in size. The head is about the size of a nickel.

Next, I'm going to try to finish my Little Red Riding Hood challenge doll, using a Presbyterian doll repro pattern by Lucinda Durbin. She just needs her hair and red cape. I've also got to finish our August challenge doll, using one of two patterns we selected from the old The Cloth Doll magazine.

Tombstone Angel Wallhanging ~ prototype #1

Last night I added some detail stitching on my Tombstone Angel Wallhanging prototype. I tried adding the wing detail with the sewing machine, but didn't like the look. So I ripped that out and hand-sewed them instead, using thread just a little bit lighter in color. I also added some pupils, which helps a bit.

Today I'm drafting the Tombstone Angel pin doll/ornie version of the pattern. It's almost identical to the other angel, but a little fuller in the chest and wings.

Today's the perfect day to work on this project. The weather's stormy and gloomy ~ no reason at all to go outside. I'm planning to make Tombstone into a pattern. It takes me a really long time to write the instructions, but maybe I can get the bulk of it done today.

Pattern Giveaway!

EeeGads! Didn't I just have a birthday? Surely it hasn't been a whole year?

I think this year I'll celebrate the Big Day (the 20th of this month) by having a Giveaway on my blog. This will be my first attempt at such, so I'll have to make my own rules.

Hmmm. Let's say that everyone who wants a chance to win my Hazel the Witch pin doll (or ornie) pattern will leave a comment here. I'll pull three names from all the comments to this post (one comment per person, please), contact the winners for their mailing addresses (please make sure I can find your name or email or blog or something), and send you a Hazel pattern.

The 20th is on Friday, and since I have to work that day (and the next), the drawing will be held at 9 p.m. Pacific Time. That way my old bones can get to bed early.

Hazel is one of my very first patterns. For those that make little dolls, you'll know it takes nearly as long to make one of these as it does a big doll. Have fun with that.

Miranda the Mermaid Pattern Revamp

For the last two days I've been reformatting an old pattern's instructions. I did this because I wanted to be able to print the pattern directly from my computer (better for graphics). I also prefer a two-column format and a different font, though there was really nothing wrong with the instructions as they were. The pattern includes templates for two sizes of mermaid, and is probably best suited to those with intermediate dollmaking skills. It comes with this cover photo, enclosed in a ziplock bag. From a non-smoking home, yada yada...

So this means I have about 16 patterns in the older format that I'd like to sell at a reduced price while supplies last. Postage is included. Please contact me if you don't want to use PayPal and you'd like one of these patterns.

All discounted patterns have been sold.

Turkey Time

Well, what do you know...I finally made something in time for a holiday.

Today I made a pin doll for a co-worker's birthday (we're going out to dinner this evening). I think I need to redesign the legs to be a little shorter, though.

Turkey Time was designed 2004. I had great aspirations to publish a pin doll book, but it's a long way from completion. So far I've got about five pin doll patterns for the book, and ideas for many more.

It may happen someday.

An old doll pattern, revisited

It's mid September already, and I thought it was a good time to brush the dust off my Hazel the Witch pin doll/ornie pattern. It's been out of print for quite some time, due to lack of a decent cover photo.

This is one of my earliest patterns (copyright 1999), and the original cover photo was one taken with my 35mm camera (pre-digital!). Well, I have no idea where that particular negative is, so had to make do with this digital photo of a later doll. But this Hazel had some needle sculpting that the original doll lacked. So that meant I had to include those instructions.

Now it's time to made another Hazel (this was was given away in a pin doll swap). Maybe I could make some improvements, too. I'd love to be able to make one in the coming week, as there's a doll show in Portland next Saturday. http://www.dolls4all.com/