Took a few dolls outside today for a little photo story which involved a snowball fight, and Maya got his comeuppance at the hands of three girls - which he majorly deserved. I'd have posted the whole story, but my computer was acting up all afternoon, so I couldn't process or post photos. As a result of my uncooperative computer this afternoon, the sample dress for the KID dress tutorial is now finished. I chose some bright matching fabrics so all the dress elements would be different patterns and colours, so it's easier for beginner sewers to see the steps more clearly. I was originally going to sew a full lining for the dress, but changed my mind, figuring it would be too complicated for beginners, so cut the lining down to just a facing. The next two samples are also quite far underway, but they have lace-edged collars which take more time. Hopefully I'll have photos soon.
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Someone was asking about how my Simple BID Dress and Sun-Dress patterns would fit a KID. Well, I figured I'd better just try the finished dresses on my Lonnie and see, so I could answer in an informed manner. Here's Lonnie in dresses made from both free patterns.... The dress made from the Simple BID Dress pattern fits perfectly. It's just a bit short. If you like a high waist, then all you'd have to do is lengthen the skirt. If you like a lower waist, just add to the bottom of the bodice, and the skirt. The arm-warmers are also from the BID pattern, but the tights are not. Lonnie is also wearing the lace-edged slip. It did do up around her waist, but could really use an extra 1/8" on both back and front edges of the waistband.
The Simple Sundress is a bit snug, as well as too short. I did manage to do up the snaps, but the bodice could really benefit from being made a bit wider, especially if some sort of top will be worn underneath. To widen the pattern, I'd suggest inserting 1/8" into the middle front of the bodice, and adding 1/8" to each side of the center back. You can the lengthen the bodice and skirt to get the desired look. Hopefully this will help anyone looking for a pattern to make something for their KIDs. With my dining room all brightly lit up from the sun bouncing off the snow outside, it seemed like the perfect time to take some photos of Carina in her new gown - and a few with Asa as well. The new dress was originally intended for Asa, but I love how it looks on Carina, so I think they'll stay like this for a little while. I LOVE the new gown! I'm so glad I made two and kept one.
It's such a beautiful day out today with sunshine on all the freshly fallen snow from Friday's storm, that I had to take photos of someone out in my "Christmas Tree Forest". My beautiful Isar, in her white princess gown made a perfect "Snow Queen". I used one of my specially made stands - a wooden circle with three huge 6" nails sticking out the bottom - which I pressed into the snow for Isar to stand on - that way she wouldn't sink in up to her neck - which would not have been the look I was after.
We brought away Butterfly Narae and Narin yesterday afternoon. They both need the works - faceups, total body blushing, manicures, and pedicures. It will be interesting to see what Charie does with them - especially Narin, since I've never seen any nice Butterfly Narin faceups anywhere. When they come back home, I will make the two of them a beautiful matching set of Rococo costumes, but since those won't be their only outfits, they will get more neutral faceups, and not flashy blues and purples to go with their outfits. After all, I need them to be able to play common folk on photo shoots as well. Kassia also went along for a new faceup. Hopefully she will come back home looking not quite so forlorn. Today was a "snow day" and I spent the day tackling several fussy jobs. The new gowns needed photographing. Just studio shots so far, but since my girls will be keeping one of the two gowns, I can do "mood shots" after the other gets shipped off. Several of my dolls needed changing out of their "family portrait" clothes, into girlie dresses more suitable for upcoming Valentine's pictures. I also forced myself to start two Apoxie masks. I say "forced" because I really don't like working with Apoxie Sculpt - it's like trying to sculpt with semi-dried up chewed bubblegum. It's sticky, and stretchy, and droops. But it does have some redeeming properties. After it's cured, I can add more to build up details. It also carves and sands beautifully, so I'm never too worried about sculpting something "perfectly" since it can be fine-tuned afterwards. Anyway, I made two masks - one on each of Narin and Narae's blank heads. The one on the right is just a base to embellish at a later date. I figured I'd better take advantage of the blank heads while I still had them, because I wouldn't want to do this on a finished face, and I'm hoping the roads will be clear enough tomorrow to finally bring the dolls away.
The first of the two Renaissance ensembles is finally finished! I just need to finish the hat and add the ribbons to the second one, and then it's done too. I had a hard time deciding on some sort of head-dress. I wanted something different than I did the last two times I made gowns from this era, but Italian Renaissance is pretty specific - either the big stuffed rolls, or tiny caps with mesh cauls. Even so, most women didn't wear either, but had their very long hair worked into fabulously intricate hairdos with ribbons and jewels. In the end I decided to go with an actual hat, with a stuffed round brim, and a soft crown of the same magenta velour as the over-dress, and trim it with the last of the gold trim, and matching-coloured feathers. Now to finish the second hat, and see how the second outfit looks on Asa. The poor girl is still just in a robe with nothing special of her own to wear. Maybe she'll like one of these.
It was a cold and snowy February morning, as the two sombre young men went out to the woods carrying a large wooden chest. Little Nami, who was curious and wanted to see what they were going to do, followed behind. When they came to the clearing, Kyle and Maya dug a large hole. They opened the chest to take one last look at what lay inside - the very last of the large copper coins they had been saving for some future dream. Nami picked up one of the coins and held it close. It was hard to believe the big shiny coin was now worthless. Kyle touched her shoulder, "It's time to put it back now", but she just held on to it all the tighter. No more saving up for future dreams - they were now officially penniless. Yesterday the Royal Canadian Mint officially took the penny out of circulation.
They stopped making them some time ago, but as of today they are no longer legal tender - unless presented to a bank in a roll of fifty. So, better go roll up all those saved pennies and cash them in before it's too late!! Anyway, I just thought it might be fun to mark this historic occasion with a doll photo. Now all of us Canadians are officially penniless. Went downtown Toronto on Saturday afternoon, to check out Designer Fabric Outlet and the other fabric stores on Queen Street. I wanted to look for metallic and brocade trims, and see if I could find a more "perfect" fabric for my Queen of the Night gown, even though I already have three tentative samples. Designer Fabric Outlet used to have the best trim and lace selection anywhere, but now they mostly have just upholstery trims. and a handful of metallic trims. I didn't find the one trim I was really looking for, but did stock up on some other nice ones. Then down on the strip near Spadina I found some more of the trims I was looking for, and bought several yards of those in colours I thought might be useful as well. A fourth meter of dark blue taffeta followed me home too - this one with black flocked designs - as well as some fine white cotton and cotton-silk blend gauzes. I had run out, and needed to restock. The cotton-silk blend is so incredibly soft, and perfect for very small clothes. Designer Fabric Outlet was having a big clearance of their tiny ribbon roses and other tiny flower trims - at a mere 50 cents for a whole bag full! I totally stocked up on a lot of those as well. So when I got home I decided I needed to organize my messy, box full of tangled "Tiny Flowers" - sorting by size and colour into zip-lock baggies. That took all day yesterday, but now it's all nice and neat. Now to come up with costumes that need a lot of ribbon rose trim. I finished and sent off my tutorial to BJDCollectasy, and will post it as soon as it goes online.
I'm thinking of doing another tutorial or two - one on Apoxy Sculpt masks. I still have my blank Narae and Narin. I was sick the first three weeks of January, then Charie came down with that nasty flu too, so I haven't been able to bring them away yet. I figure if I want to make masks for them, I should do so this week while they are both still blank, and I won't damage anything. I'm also thinking of doing a free pattern for an Iplehouse KID. They are such a unique size and there's really nothing out there for that size doll, so I figure a pattern might be very welcome. Today I'm tackling the trim on the front of the Renaissance gowns. The over-dress is now sewn together, and it still needs trim, beading and eyelets for lacing. That should take a couple of days since it all has to be done by hand. I wanted to get an idea of the finished gown, so pinned everything together. I love the colours. The next step is to hand-baste the sleeves into the bodice armholes, then stitch by machine. The armholes are so small that it helps considerably to first hand-sew everything into place - that way nothing moves when I struggle to sew it on the machine.
But first I have to address a tutorial. All I can say at this point is that it's for something my Isar borrowed from Aeran for her trip to the southwest, and it's time to make that fairy/warrior costume some accessories of it's own. Borrowing is all fine and good in a pinch, but I'd like all my costumes to be complete with all their own accessories. So, while I'm making it, I figured I'd do a tutorial on it at the same time. "Two birds with one stone". |
AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
March 2024
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