Little Acorn

A Dolly

I had so much fun getting into my studio to make this custom doll in a so-Valentiney pink/red/green colour scheme. It was ordered for a little one who is currently in China and who will be joining her forever family soon. I just love all the amazing stories that my dolls would have to tell if we couId get them all together for a reunion someday. I really need to find more time. Okay. That's not true. There's no way to find more time...I just need to make better choices about how to use the little bit of free time I have in a week. But sometimes bad television, random web surfing, Pinterest, knitting and sitting on the sofa with the lights dimmed so I can't see the mess is just so tempting.

In the shop...

Actually this lovely girl was a custom order, so she's already come and gone from my etsy shop, but her face was too sweet not to share and I just get all smooshy feeling when I look at that bluebird fabric.

 

 

 

 

The brown-eyed girl in her oh-so-seventies bold orange, yellow and teal floral dress has also just arrived in the shop. I don't do a lot of pre-planning when I start a doll, just grab a fabric I feel like working with and choose a skin colour and it all grows from there. I don't use a pattern or template for the faces and just draw them on freehand and then embroider them, which makes every expression unique. I think this little brown-pig-tailed dolly looks the most like I did as a girl of all the dolls I've ever made. 

 

 

 

Busy Busy

In my Etsy shop...

My photo-shoot assistant is in a lot of the pictures...mostly just as a blur as she grabs dollies and tries to run off with them. Adeline is always so excited when new dolls appear and then she absolutely doesn't get why I want the dolls to sit still and have their picture taken. Adeline knows that dolls are for PLAYING.

 

A Doll With a Cause

Right before the plague struck us all down (we're feeling a little better, thanks) I was contacted about donating a softie to be auctioned off at a fundraising gala in support of a project to help disadvantaged and disabled children in Vietnam. Of course I said yes, and I got straight to work on a sweet dolly, who will attend the gala and go home at the end of the night with the highest bidder. You can read all about the project here and there are links there to donate as well. Adeline has a couple of friends who were born in that province of Vietnam, so it's close to my heart, as are all the children of that amazing country.

I finally felt well enough yesterday to put the finishing touches on the doll and will pack her up for mailing tomorrow. I'll have to do it while Adeline is sleeping though. As soon as she saw it she said "Mama, please. My doll. My TWO doll. Yay." and then went and got her dolly and made it and the new doll hug. I tried to get Adeline to pose with the new doll, but she'd have none of it - she just wanted to play!

My plan is to make some dolly friends for my etsy shop in the next couple of weeks. We'll see. Plans are pretty hard to make these days when you just don't know what tomorrow will bring.

Four Friends

I've been as busy as an elf down in my studio lately, making some new dolls. I had a request from two of my friends to make soft dolls with asian features for their lovely daughters, and I was really happy for the inspiration. I decided to make four dolls this time - two to send to their new homes with Adeline's friends, one for Adeline to keep, and one which will make her way out into the world via etsy. The pattern is my own and like most of my projects the materials are a mix of recycled/upcycled vintage linens, clothing, fabric and trim from the thrift stores and new materials when necessary.

We don't know which friend will be going home with which little girl yet, but I think they're all sweet and have a lot of personality.

Adeline LOVES the dolls and every time she spots them she begs to hold them. I know she thinks that they are ALL for her and she can't understand why I don't just give them to her. It is very sweet to watch her hug all four of the friends, but they are destined for the arms of others.

We do know that this strawberry-frocked dolly will be going to live with Adeline's friend Mylan. I know she'll have a LOT of fun at Mylan's house.

I wanted to make dolls with asian features, without using the stereotypical closed or slanting eyes that you see on many dolls, which turned out to be a bit of a challenge. I wanted them to be classic ragdolls, but to match the little girls they would be loved by, and after some experimenting I'm pleased with their simple faces. I definitely will be making more in the new year for my etsy shop...after a search for simple soft dolls of various ethnic backgrounds, I realized that there really is a need out there that my dollies can fill. And I must admit that I've REALLY enjoyed having some creative time - I've missed it. Now I have a few Christmas projects on my list, starting with a stocking for Adeline's first Christmas at home!