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!

Winter Travels Require New Bags

     I haven't blogged in ages, but I've been busy.  My family and I went on vacation in December, touring some European Christmas markets.  It was a fabulous trip.  For further details, see my travel blog:
http://rainsongtravels.blogspot.com/

     I needed a new shoulder bag for my trip, and I couldn't find one that was just right, so I decorated my own.  I started with a simple messenger bag.

Then I added scraps of velvet and brocade, and lots of lace.

I found black and white photos from the places I would be visiting, and printed them on fabric which I appliqued onto pinked felt to make my own patches.

I think my bag looked pretty fab when it was finished...

...and I've gotten quite a few compliments!

Fairy Fest Preview #3

We’re going to the FaerieWorlds Festival tomorrow, and I finally finished our costumes.

I made a new set of wings for myself, cream with bits of lace and ribbon all over them.  I’m much happier with this pair than with the last ones.

My Mom has purple sparkly wings with a sunflower and ribbons.

My sister has black point d’esprit ones with a crimson rose…

… to match her rose and raven fascinator.

I made a dragonfly-like cumberbund with tails for my Mom.

And my brother-in-law gets a deluxe pirate hat.

We’re going to have a blast tomorrow!



Fairy Fest Preview Part 2

I'm still working on costume pieces for the FaerieWorlds Festival this weekend.  Here are some of my new creations.

The wire frame for my wings

Covered with Angelina Fusible film

I’m not crazy about the way they turned out.  I might do something different.

I made these flowered bloomers for my Mom.

 

Here’s the tulle overskirt she’s going to wear with them.

I love the top hat we decorated for her. 

Plaid silk, lace, velvet ribbon, eyelet, pleats, it’s got a little of everything.

And here is my Dad’s derby hat, complete with horns.

More updates soon!

Fairy Fest Costume Preview

          We’re going to the Fairieworlds Festival in a couple of weeks, and I’ve started working on my costume.  I’m planning to wear a pretty pale pink blouse and the pink velvet vest I made for the last Regency picnic.  Here are the new pieces I’ve made so far:

I started with a lace and taffeta jabot.

I have a ruffled bustle.

And a brocade cumberbund accented with lace and antique embroidered silk.

The underskirt is unbleached silk with vintage crocheted lace trim.

The overskirt is embroidered peach organza.

They look lovely together.

My favorite part is the hat.  It has ears! 

I started with a white felt top hat and added peach striped bias-cut taffeta around the edge, along with knife-pleated peach ribbon on the brim. 

I covered the top in point d’ espirt and wrapped the crown in a piece of lace left over from my sister’s wedding dress. 

The ears are brocade and taffeta, and it has a lace fall in the back.

I found a gorgeous shank button made of an Irish penny from the year I was born at the Oregon Country Fair yesterday. 

It looks perfect on the back of my hat.

Now I just need to make some new fairy wings and I’m all set!