Blog Archives

Still Beading

2/28/2011

I'm working on the beading of Cuprit's lavender fairy outfit. It's a bit challenging for my eyes, so i need to keep taking breaks. I want to sew the skirt onto the bodice, but the beading would be lot easier without the big skirt always getting in the way, so I need to do the top edge beading first. The bottom edge beading will get done after the skirt is on.

It's nice not having to make wings for a change - I'm using ones I made for my granddaughter's fairy costumes two years ago. I figure they won't be worn again, so might as well use them to make some doll costumes. After the lavender wings, there's still another darker pink pair.

Fairy in the Snow

2/27/2011

We had one of those amazing snowfalls last night where the snow sticks to every branch, so we went out first thing this morning with Asa in her Winter Fairy outfit to take some photos just down Finch at the Townline. The photos turned out amazing! Later I'll put together a page in 'Favourite Photos' to showcase my favourites.

Michaels is Coming!!!

2/26/2011

A sign just went up in front of Home Depot that "Michaels is Coming Soon". Yippee!!! We did have a Michaels many years ago, but it was in a bad location so it closed. I need stuff from Michaels almost weekly, so it will be so fantastic not to have to drive all the way to Whitby or Unionville anymore, but have our very own store a little more than a mile from home!

Machine-Embroidered Bodice

2/25/2011

Several bodice patterns have been designed for my Super Gem this week, and I'm working on the lavender fairy outfit. I'm actually using the embroidery features on my new sewing machine for the very first time - it's about time too, since I bought it over a year and a half ago! Just the first layer has been done so far - there's still plenty more to do, and then the beading.

More Changes

2/21/2011

The Ice Fairy costume was coming along nicely until I actually put the parts together. Then it became clear there were going to have to be some changes. It's always a challenge when a doll or outfit has a 'mind of it's own' and you have to revise the design plans, but in the end the final result is always better if I don't fight it, and just 'go with the flow'.

Change of Plans

2/20/2011

The patterns were coming along nicely, but then I got side-tracked making a snow fairy outfit for Asa. There's some fresh snow on the way and I had hoped to take photos of at least one doll in the snow wearing something snow-related this winter, and who knows - this could be the last chance. I redesigned Asa's fairy bodice and now the waist is a bit too roomy, but I'm hoping to have a light tan Kaye Wiggs Miki elf join my doll family soon, and the snow fairy outfit should fit her even better than it does Asa, since she's a little bit wider in the waist. So here's hoping I actually get a Miki and that there will still be snow when she comes ... if not, there's always the blue forget-me-nots and scillas in spring.

Miki elf

Pattern Drafting

2/19/2011

Spent the week making two custom-order little pink lace dresses for LittleFees, since the ones I made for Cinnamon are a touch too small. Now I'm working on designing well-fitting patterns for my Super Gem. There are several outfits I have planned for her - a pink/lavender fairy, a spring goddess, and a Celtic maiden - but first I have to design bodice patterns for all three outfits. The problem is the doll's large bust and very small waist. It's a lengthy process - make paper-towel test patterns , then sew a fabric bodice, try it on, make adjustments, sew another test bodice, and so on - until I like the results. Even though I'm normally a 'patient' person, I don't like 'experimenting' and I want things to work the first time. I'm really looking forward to seeing Cuprit in her first outfit!

Bad Hair Day

2/13/2011

I'm busy making some wigs for Asa since she doesn't really have any mohair ones of her own, and she needs some to go with her fairy outfits. After the mohair has been sewn into wefting and applied to the wig cap, it's always one big wild pouf-ball before it gets styled.
I thought I'd take a "before" photo for posterity - before wetting, conditioning and combing.

Cuprit is Home!

2/12/2011

I picked up Cuprit from Charie Wilson's today. We had a real struggle with this doll, since I'd not seen any faceups of her that I liked, and as a result it took several tries to get it right. Turns out neither Charie or I liked Cuprit's original huge upper lip, so Charie ended up sanding it right down to a more pleasing size. So, the third time was the charm, and I really like her now. I find she looks like she could be Ryung's older sister - which is perfect, since she is considerably taller.

Blue Fairy

2/10/2011

I've been working on two 'Forest Fairy' outfits to fit my JID Asa - smaller versions of the SD-size 'Topaz' and 'Azure'. Asa looks so lovely in the blue fairy outfit, I wish it was possible to photograph her out in nature - but it's February, and the dead of winter - so the kitchen has to do.

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