New Silk Sachets

I just finished some fun little silk sachets stuffed with lavender.  I made them in a wide range of colors and stamped them with pretty designs.  They are now available in my etsy shop.

Upcoming Craft Show

I'm excited that I will be participating in a local arts and crafts show hosted by the Eugene Etsy Team.  It's coming up in May, and will be held at the Valley River Inn.  If you're in the Eugene area, come check it out!

Owls and a Cornish Pixie

I have been making some fun little owl brooches lately from the leftover wool scraps from my witch hats.  They are very fun to use to decorate costumes.  I'll definitely be wearing one to LeakyCon this year.

For ages I've been wanting to make a Cornish Pixie doll based on the pixies in the second Harry Potter movie.  I finally got around to it, and I'm excited by how he turned out.  Even the cat likes him!

  

New Witch Hats!

     I'm hoping to go to LeakyCon, the Harry Potter convention that's being held in Portland this June, so I've been having some fun lately making witch hats.  I've tried both wool and brocade, some with wired brims and some without.  Here are some that I've just listed in my Etsy shop.

I've also been making a cross between a witch hat and my Regency bonnet, a new and bizarre form of headgear I'm calling a "Witch Bonnet."  They have ribbons on the sides that can be tied under the chin like a bonnet or in a bow at the back so the silhouette is that of a traditional witch hat.

Quite an Honor!

I've been chosen by the Etsy Dollmakers Team as their featured artist of the month for March.  I'm very excited to represent this wonderful team.  In addition to many discussions about dollmaking and helpful tips, they have lots of fun team games and a monthly challenge resulting in a team treasury, which I enjoy participating in.  There are so many talented artists in this team, I am thrilled to be a part of it.  Please check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/EtsyDollmakersTeam

 

These are a few of my favorite dolls in my shop right now.

New PDF epattern Tutorials

   I've been working on some new patterns for hats and dolls and I'm delighted to say that I now have several available in my Etsy shop.

Regency Bonnet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123857380/regency-bonnet-pattern-tutorial-pdf

Regency Reticule

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123305568/reticule-pattern-regency-purse-pdf

Lace Fichu

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125295067/lace-fichu-shawl-pdf-epattern-tutorial

Lace Cap

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125290443/lace-cap-pdf-epattern-tutorial

Capelet

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125576209/capelet-pattern-tutorial-pdf-cape

Fox Doll

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121017478/fox-doll-pattern-pdf-epattern-tutorial

Rabbit Doll

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121882833/rabbit-doll-pattern-pdf-epattern

Cat Doll

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121019128/cat-doll-pattern-pdf-epattern-tutorial?ref=v1_other_2

Pig Doll

https://www.etsy.com/listing/105487865/pig-doll-pattern-pdf-epattern-tutorial?ref=v1_other_1

Lamb Doll

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126067319/lamb-doll-pattern-pdf-epattern-tutorial

 

I have plans for more patterns in the future.  I hope to have teacup fascinators, and mouse, giraffe, monkey, owl, and goat dolls soon.  Stay tuned!

Valentine Dolls

This year for the Valentine exchange at work I made sweet little clothespin dolls with flower petal skirts and wool felt caps and jackets.

I started by drilling holes through the clothespins.  First I marked them with a Sharpie, then I started the holes with an awl, and finished them with a cordless drill.

Next I gathered my supplies; scraps of wool felt and satiny lining fabrics, fimo clay and wire.

Using a 5" piece of wire, I threaded it through the hole in the clothespin and made loops on both ends.

I made a head and hands for each doll out of the clay.
 

I lined the dolls up on a cookie sheet and baked them according to the instructions on the clay's package, about 30 minutes.

Next I cut circles out of lightweight lining fabrics.  This only works on synthetic fibers, so no silk or cotton.  Using tweezers, hold the fabric circle about 2" above a tealight's flame until the edges begin to curl.  Continue until the entire circle's edge is curled.  It takes 6-8 1½" circles per doll.

Using the felt, I cut hats to match the petals and jackets to coordinate.

I glued the petals around the clothespin to make a skirt, and some lace around the neck to make a collar.  Next I glued the jacket around the body and arms.

A piece of velvet ribbon made a belt, and some brown cotton lace (or yellow rickrack) made cute short hair.  I put the little felt cap on and my dolly was done.

I think the look pretty cute when they were finished.

 

They also look adorable with nylon butterfly wings to make them into fairies.

 

Everyone at work enjoyed their little dolls, and it was a lovely Valentine's Day!