A dress or two

This dress belongs to Esther, but I wanted to try it on Genevieve. 

After my days with Covid-19, I wanted to do something easy and nice for my Dollmore Catish Reaa. She has been neglected for a while and I do not have so many clothes for her, so it felt like a good thing to start there. Usually I sew a dress or two in one day, if it is a simple patterns as this one from Antique Lilac. But these two took me a couple of more days, just because I did not have the energy. In a way I am not pleased with the result for the second dress. Need to do something about that or maybe even start from the beginning.

A place of her own

I was watching some YouTubers, just for fun and came across this little DIY and thought that it would be fun to do something else than clothes. It felt as a good way to get closer to the room I have been planning, collecting material to and postponing every single day. 

Some sewing

Genevieve looking at Joshua in his new onesie. 

She had to try it.

It has been a while since I made something to my dolls. Since I got free from the plastic on my left upper arm and got an orthosis instead, I could make some smaller things. But now I am even free from the orthosis during the day and I can move the arm in a way that makes it easier to sew with two hands and not just using the one working hand/arm.

Hoppy Easter!

Well, it has been a while and I hope that you are doing well. I am just fine, even if I have been a bit tired and have had pains in my joints. But Spring is here and the sun is shining, so I cannot be down!

At the moment we are at our cottage, enjoying our time and I thought I could blog from my phone. A year ago, during Easter, we had a lot of snow but this year there is no snow at all. At most we have had around +35 degrees celsius during the day and below zero during the nights. Blue skies, flowers, butterflies, birds, baby squirrels and other cute animals fill the forest and nearby places. I have been walking in the forest and even dipped into the lake the other day. This is not so normal for April, because it usually is colder and even snow at some places. Earth is getting hotter and that is no good thing.

During the evenings I have been listening to audio books and sewing, painting and making an new doll out of my monster high doll Howleen Wolf. She is now a blind rabbit. I tried to paint her with acrylics and it turned out rather ok for being my first try, but I still did not like the results. After watching some tutorials and repaints on YouTube, I went all in and made her new from scratch. Mask, clothes, shoes, details and ears. Put her wolf ears to the side on her head, covered her (messy) face with a mask made in clay (fimo) and decorated her shoes with fabrics and fluffy yarn. 

I sketched a outline for the mask and cut out a piece in the same shape from the clay. I put the dolls head in aluminium foil and shaped the clay around it. In the oven for about 8 minutes, then out and take the head from the foil and put the foil and mask back again for 2 minutes. Then, after all parts cooled, it was time to glue the mask on. I did this after making her hair and glueing some fluffy fabric on her head and the yarn wefths. 

And here she is. Her name is Asta and her dæmon is a bunny (a gift from Alasse, thank you) named Pavel. Enjoy the photos and Happy Easter.

Project: Let's bake!

I was wandering around on Pinterest and Youtube for some days ago and found some cute tutorials and pictures of donuts, made for jewelry. I thought that the size is a perfect fit for dolls, mostly Barbie, Monster High and similar. I had some Fimo clay at home, in brown and some pastel colors that would work for the donut and the frosting. Even if the brown is rather dark, it can work as a chocolate donut with frosting.

Project: Doll body

Esther

Gaah, did not really know what I was thinking when the idea of making a jointed body for my Narsha (Esther) head entered my mind. I bought some nice clay and searched for my tools, so that I could work with it. This was a great plan, until it was time to start.

Of topic and a new dress…

Some days ago I was sitting in the kitchen and talked to our kids about their own thoughts for the coming summer, the last essays to be done and the future. Now they are watching the One Love Manchester on TV - a concert in tribute to the victims of the Manchester bombing. It is to honor the lost, injured and affected. I think that it was cowardly done to attack our future like that. The youngster have not done a thing. But as a journalist wrote here - it is easier to build up buildings than a generation. The thing that scares me most, is that our girls could have been there on 22nd May. They have seen Ariana Grande before and have been even abroad to see their stars. It really hurst to see innocent people to become victims like this. We never know when, why or what - it is the new way to be in war. We are vulnerable, but we need to stay strong. Never let fear take over.

I know that this was of topic, but I had to share some thoughts.

On the evening when I sat in the kitchen, talking with the girls, I made a dress to Polly. The upper part is crocheted and the skirt I sew on, added some decorations and then the first try (too big) became a bow, that she has on her head. The pants she had, I have returned to the kids collection and the long sleeved t-shirt will be something new later on.

Here are some photos. Hope that you are well. Happy June.

Magical, but a working clothes swap

Esther showing of the wip.

I started to make a long dress for Esther, because I felt that she needed some new clothes. I got an old top from my youngest daughter. She had not been using that one for a couple of years. It was clean, but a little bit worn out. I did not mind, because I just wanted to try a pattern, that I made a bit longer and tighter, from a pattern for a t-shirt at Antique Lilac. I like the bright, almost neon like, pink and thought that the text on the front would be a nice touch.

I used the pattern, had Esther as a model and had fun. Then I had plans to do something new for Zipporah, a long-sleeved t-shirt (same pattern) and a long skirt. But as usually my plans do not go as I thought, especially when it comes to these two. It feels like they have their own mind or some kind of plan to mess things up. They did a magical swap. And it really worked.

Wip

Hands and pearls

The bright pink on Esther was just too much. She needs something softer near her face, like pastels or just plain white. Zipporah can carry those bright and even darker colors so much better, so it ended well. I made some jewelry to them too. And started to make a pair of felt booties for Esther. 

I just feel a bit bald, but never mind, take your photos....

Kisses to you!

I wanna hug you!

It was nice to just sit and sew, pearl and get scared a couple of times by the neighbors happy, happy dog. Every time he gets the chance to go out, he barks once. It is like a routine. "Yay, I am out - let everyone know - BARK!" I am glad that I did not have a needle in my hand or worked with the sewing machine. Just some pearls that ended somewhere else. 

Zipporah in bright pink!

Can you look up a bit, Zipporah! 

"Oh, sun in my face..."

Zipporah: "So, tell me about the dream you had..."
Esther: "Well, it was a sunny day and I was out in the forest. I found a camping spot..."

Esther: "So, do you think she will finish my shoes?"
Zipporah: "Sure, absolutely!"
Esther: "Are you sarcastic now, Zipporah?"
Zipporah: "No, never!"
Esther: "Oh, gosh, I never know with you!"

I wish you a happy weekend. Hope that you are doing well.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you a wonderful day!

It took a long time, before love and romance was connected to Valentine. Before that it was a western christian liturgical celebration for all those saints named Valentine. Here in Sweden there is a little bit different story to it. There is the martyrdom, liturgical feast and the saint, of course, but it was not until 1990's this celebration started to grow here. There had been some tests earlier in the lat 1950's and early 1960's, but that did not work. Today, on the 14th February, the flower shops sell over four million roses. And when the roses are sold out, you can buy dark red tulips and carnations. 

I have never, really, celebrated this day. When I was younger, we mostly showed our love to the parents and the friends we had. It could be more as a friend's day. 

Sew fun

Needles to say...

When I went to school and we had classes in handicraft, I thought that it was fun. We got to try to stitch, crochet, knit, color fabric and make tiny cute fluffy Moomin characters. We had even lessons in how to use a sewing machine. 

It was then that crazy thing happened. I was around 12 years old and sat infront a sewing machine. I had my fabrics ready, my thread and I just had to ”hit the gas”. And did I hit the gas! The needle went fast and right through my index finger on the right hand. With thread and all. No blood, but I had a dark blue thread through my finger. And it hurt. I must have been pale and near to faint. My friend helped me and we did not say a thing to the teacher.

A new dress

First try

I had plans to make a dress for Apple White, my Ever After High doll, but that did not go as planned. I sat at my workstation and listened to the neighbor’s gardening and felt the scent from the newly mowed grass. I started to measure, cut and sew.

Meet 真珠 - Shinju

One painting by (c) Juri Ueda
"dia de los muertos in red"

When I search for inspiration I usually take the highway to art - galleries, internet and social media. I have my favorites in Rudy Fig, Kelly Vivanco, Juri Ueda and Jasmine Becket-Griffith, just to mention some. Do you have some artists (painters, musicians, actors and so on) as inspiration?

This time I turned to Juri Ueda, a watercolor painter from Osaka, in Japan, who has been creating these wonderful paintings with a tiny bit of fantasy worlds since 2007. On paper.

First thin lines, just to see if it works.

When it comes to repaints and OOAK-dolls, I am no master at it, but I think it is fun to try new things, new techniques and I see the face of a doll as a tabula rasa, a blank slate. More accurate though, as an erased slate. I looked at my Madeline Hatter, an Ever After High doll and felt that she was rather dull and I wanted to do something about that. 

A little bit closer

So I cleaned her for the second time and stared at her, all naked. I got my inspiration from the painting above. In the beginning I felt that her face was a little bit small for this kind of art project, but the roundness she has made it work. I first tested to have the eyes with white acrylic dots, but that looked rather crazy, so I used my Derwent coloursoft white for that. Do you do repaints? What materials do you use?

Some steps more...

Shinju, in Apple White's sweater

Her white dots in the eyes look like pearls, so I gave her the name Shinju, 真珠, pronounced sheen-joo. It means "Pearl". I need to make her some clothes and in a later entry tell you her story. How do you name your dolls, figures and so on?

Meet Pierrette Fayanna

Confidence. Trust. Belief.

This is Pierrette Fayanna, with a deep inner desire to create and to express herself and she prefer a public role when she does her magic. She is competent and have big dreams. But those dreams come in second hand, because she has to focus on her role in the crazy circus called Circus Lunaire.

Buttons of childhood!

Buttons!

Cute as a button!

I remember the summers of my childhood, visiting my grandparents in their house, near the lake Saimaa, in Finland. The summers where warm, sunny and filled with trips to the lake and cozy hugs from my grandmother Aili (father's mother) and some fun mischief from grandfather Arvi (father's father). 

But I remember other things too. On the shelf to the fireplace, in the living room, my grandmother had an old tin jar filled with buttons. The tin jar was an old jar from the time she had coffee in it, but then she decided to have buttons in it and save the coffee in something new. This old jar with the lid with a knob was something special. Those buttons in it were a mix of new and old, with a history. From a blouse, a shirt, some pants or a skirt. Some just one of, others many. 

The other thing I remember is the fabrics I got from my grandmother's Edit (mother's mother) cousin Helli. She used to sew a lot and she gave me the 'left overs'. She gave me a scissor, thread and needle too. When we visited her in her little apartment, I usually sat in the hallway on the floor or in the open wardrobe, sewing by hand. I made clothes to my Barbie and Cindy doll. And of course I used the buttons I found in the jar. The dolls were always (well)dressed and cute as a button. 

All these loved ones passed away a long time ago (may they rest in peace), but they gave me the chance to do the things I like. And today I still like dolls, buttons and fabrics. I still sit and sew, but in more normal places.

And I would not change a thing.

Patterns, patterns, patterns.....

Apple White and some patterns

Patterns. It is not so simple. The sizes on my Dollmore Narsha dolls are in a way "difficult" and I am not the only one thinking so. For me they have the perfect size as dolls but when it comes to patterns - this size is almost like a curse. And to find other doll clothes that fit the Narsha dolls are as difficult as finding patterns. So far I have bought clothes from Dollmore and made some easy peasy tights and t-shirts to them. But if I want to make something extra...well, then I meet the trouble with too tiny or too big patterns. I am not so good at making own patterns, but I have seen some videos and tutorials about that, so maybe I will learn. One day. 

During the years I have been in this hobby, I have found out that Tildas World and the dolls she has made - those clothes patterns can work. To stitch or to crochet is no trouble at all, those sizes is just to measure and make. And that works even with clothes made from socks. The last days I have been on the internet and searched for patterns for clothes for my dolls.

Pinterest is a lovely place. I have been there almost daily searching for goodies, free or for payment. A new world has opened for me and my dolls. New patterns, new ideas and even new brands when it comes to dolls. An amazing feeling! Printed out some of the free patterns and saved the links to different shops on Etsy and other places for future reference. 

And I have a new sewing machine that I bought from IKEA. There is hope for a summer with lots of sewing and making cute things for the dolls. I even found patterns small enough for Monster high and Ever After high dolls.

And Happy Mother's Day!

Out doors

Took all my dolls out doors at the same time as my hubby and I took a road trip nearby where we live. Then we drove around and searched for a place to stop and place all the dolls. I was so glad that I found a sunny spot with forest, flowers and even water. Took photos of all my dolls and you can see some of the photos on Flickr and Instagram. 

Borrowed one of the girls' doll and made her all new.

Apple White, with her new pretty face.

Then I have, finally finished the first of my tries on a doll repaint. She stood naked for a long time on my desk and I almost felt sorry for her. Decided that she can not stand like this, naked and with the head beside her. So, I found some fabric and made her a simple dress and a head band. Then I went out doors, on our backyard and took some photos. Some days later I finished the Ever After High repaint too and she tagged along with the other dolls. I am rather pleased with the outcome and now I just want to make som clothes to her, that suits her face. 

It is Saturday over here, but it feels like Sunday after a late night party. And I have not even been at a party. The allergies and the pills for the allergies can make me tired. So I am glad to have a calm day with nothing special going on. Later this evening we will watch the third movie about the Hobbit's adventures. Earlier today we watched a NHL game. The Swedish hockey games are over and that was something else. I'm glad that the Växjö Lakers won! It will be exiting to follow the rest of the NHL and Stanley Cup. My favorite teams Arizona Coyotes, LA Kings and Boston Bruins are not in the game anymore, so I follow Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks. My husband follows Rangers and Red Wings. It is fun!

Well, time to make some dinner. Have a good weekend.

One step forward

First lines

They can see, even if the world is rather skew.

I have made some progress. It is fun, but I do not feel that I really can handle the art of doing face ups and re-paints. My carpal tunnel syndrome makes it a little bit hard because after a while I loose the feeling in the hand and the hand start to shake. You can not see it but I can feel it, those small tiny movements that make it hard to keep the pencils steady. 

But shame on me if I give up. Practice makes a master. I have a long way to go and I am going to practice and some day I may even take on a ball jointed doll and do her face up from the start. Eyelashes and everything. 

I learn a lot by testing re-painting dolls. How the color, the pencils, the spray and so on works. Step by step I know what to avoid and what is right. And during that time it is all about having fun.

What do you mean?

One Bratz doll that I got from the kids.

It was hard to get rid of the ordinary hair.

I took some colored yarn and put in two straws in every hole.

When I see these well done face ups and hair-do's on the internet, I wonder what it would feel and look like if I just gave it a try. I did not want to buy a new doll and then mess it up, even if that was my first thought. So I asked the girls if I could get one of their dolls. They have not been playing with those for ages, even if the younger one collects Monster High Dolls - so I thought I had one doll in just seconds. It took a while. They did not really want to let one of their dolls go. I understand them and promised that I will do my best and they will get it back. When I joked that I will sell them, the oldest (!) daughter said:

-Sell them?? What do you mean with that? SELL them?

Well, that was not popular. Said that it will not happen. If I sell some, it will be my own dolls.

Hope that I will get the spray soon, so that I can start to do the face up. Poor thing do not see a thing.  

I had plans....

Esther in her new short sleeved knitted jumper.

You know those days when you plan a thing and prepare for it and suddenly it is time to say good night, sleep tight? That was my day, not because of lots of unexpected matters came up, but because I have been feeling rather under the weather today. 

I woke up with a sore throat and I could not breath properly because my nose was all stuffed up. I have been blowing my nose almost the whole day. And that makes my nose sore, too. I freeze, I feel warm, I have a head ache and it feels that it gets worse every hour, even if I take medicine for it. I hope that I can sleep well and breathe too. I glad that my hubby bought nasal spray, because that helps. Hope to find a cough drop too. No luck so far. Forgot to ask him to buy it when he was at the pharmacy.

Well, I had plans to go through my dollie-stuff. Patterns, yarn, fabrics, clothes, wigs, shoes and so on. I had even plans to see if there is something I need and make an inventory list of some kind. But that did not happen.

Mostly I have been a zombie, a knitting one. And then I have watched some "24", season 6. And that is always something.

Have a great new week!

Knitting, crocheting...

Zipporah in her new hat.

Testing yarn, measures and different types of knitting.

Today I have been trying to figure out how much yarn one need to make small and cute jumpers for BJD's and it has been fun. I have som trouble with my carpal tunnel syndrome and that can be rather painful. But knitting and working with yarn, fabrics and in one way playing with my dolls, makes me calm and relaxed. My mind is just here and now - all the other things that can trouble you over the day or in life, are gone for just that moment. I have even bought a new smaller sewing machine from IKEA. I have one older thingy, that my mother-in-law gave me some years ago. Well, I have two - one is at the cottage! You never know when you want to make something!

Hope that your new week started out well!