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A Coronation Gown

2/28/2021

5 Comments

 
I was thinking of tackling the beginning and end of the story I shot almost ten years ago.  The main character, Aeran, was going to need a gown for her coronation.  I went through my boxes of fabrics and chose some, but the fabrics didn't drape very well. It was exhausting to even think about making an elaborate gown just for a few photos. So I thought I'd try the gold FID gown no one was wearing. It took me a month to bead, back when I made it, and then it seemed too fancy for everyday wear, so has been stored away in a box ever since.

Now, Aeran is not the same size as an FID. She's shorter, slimmer, and is nowhere near as well endowed up front. But I was surprised the gown wasn't nearly as big on her as I'd imagined, and she looked really good in it,  so I took some photos...
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It will need some strategic pinning to make the fit look perfect, but it saves me a lot of work.
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So Aeran has her coronation gown, for whenever she will need it....
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5 Comments

Revisiting the Curiosity Shoppe

2/27/2021

3 Comments

 
I keep getting 'Memories' on Facebook of the Olde Curiosity Shoppe photos that I posted a year ago.  That series was one of my all time favourites, with so many great photos, so I thought I'd share some of them here again....

​Holly and her Grandfather...
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Lots of curiosities....
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Repairing an old knight puppet...
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Overrun by rats...
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A customer...
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The street urchin...
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To revisit the whole story - the Olde Curiosity Shoppe
3 Comments

Another Celtic Maiden

2/26/2021

4 Comments

 
So, awhile back I made a new kilt and cloak for Jude, thinking I might prefer a blue variation....
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But I decided it didn't work on him after all.  And because I hate waste, I decided to use the blue version for Jude's lady friend. The kilt was too long, and I didn't feel like cutting off the ragged bottom, so I cut the waistband off and sewed on a new smaller one. Grace seemed rather taken with Jude, so I decided to make my signature 'Celtic Maiden' outfit for her. It would be the fourteenth version I've made.

I also had in mind to finally address a story I'd started almost ten years ago.  Most of the photos had been shot on a trip that year, but the beginning and end were never photographed. So my Aeran, who was the main character, would need a beautiful new gown for her coronation near the end. So I had two dolls that basically needed the other's costume. But they were different sizes, and Aeran's Celtic outfit is her default costume. So Grace needed her own.

​I always like to start with the undertakings first....
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Then I cut out and embroidered Grace's tunic....
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Sewed it together, and beaded the edges...
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Twins...
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Grace would be getting chainmail sleeves too, but it hadn't arrived yet from China, so I just proceeded with her costume.....
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Her outfit is all done, except for the chainmail....
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4 Comments

New Bridles

2/26/2021

3 Comments

 
Since I was fixing saddles, I also addresses the need for more bridles.  One of my horses had come with what I considered to be the most realistic bridle, made of brown plastic....
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I had already copied it once for my brown horse, making it out of leather, so decided to do that again two more times, one out of brown leather....
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...and another out of black leather....
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And while I was at it all, I thought I'd just take photos of each step and give detailed instructions on how I did it. It's all in a brand new Tutorial called 'Horse Stuff'
3 Comments

Better Saddles

2/25/2021

7 Comments

 
After fixing the stirrups on my two Western style saddles, I decided to tackle the English saddles as well. I also tried removing the paint from my brown horse's Western saddle. Parts of it had been painted peach and turquoise, which just wouldn't do, so I tried using Winsor and Newton Brush Cleaner, and it did take some effort over two days, but all the paint came off. Then I took my tan and wine red English saddles, stained them with brown paint, and cut out the pieces for the new stirrups....
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I sewed on all the new stirrups, and covered the side flaps of the English saddles with leather...
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This is what the white horses looked like when I first got them at Value Village....
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Little girls might love pink, but it just wasn't going to do for my dolls, especially not the knights.
​"You've got to be kidding!?!?"
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I took some of the more realistic bridles some of my horses came with, and painted the pink plastic a wine red, and added leather leads. I had already made fancy saddle blankets and trims, and the newly improved saddles completed their look.  So this is how they look now....
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7 Comments

Happy Customers

2/24/2021

4 Comments

 
Bonnie was collecting the empty shoe boxes....
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While Bianca and Yvette admired their new shoes....
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"The shoes are gorgeous. You did an amazing job!"
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Then the Queen turned to Bonnie....
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"Your grandfather makes such beautiful shoes...."
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"Maybe some day you'll get a chance to wear some just like these..."
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Her grandfather threw her a warning glance....
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...and Bonnie knew not to say anything.....
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"Yes Ma'am.   Maybe some day...."
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"I sure hope so, Ma'am."
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4 Comments

Next....

2/23/2021

4 Comments

 
The Queen was very happy with her new shoes, so then it was Grace's turn....
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4 Comments

New Shoes for the Queen

2/22/2021

2 Comments

 
The Queen was the first to try on her new shoes...
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 Bianca was impatient and couldn't resist taking a look at her's...
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"So, what do you think?"
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"They are beautiful, and fit perfectly..."
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Bonnie reached for the next box of shoes....
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....as Yvette and Bianca admired theirs....
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'These are really beautiful..."
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 "They feel really good too.."
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2 Comments

Out for Delivery

2/21/2021

3 Comments

 
Nick and Bonnie headed out into the snow to deliver the shoes...
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Fortunately the castle wasn't too far...
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"I hope they like them..."
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"I think they will love them..."
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3 Comments

In Trouble

2/20/2021

4 Comments

 
Nick came back from his break...."What is going on here??"
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 "We just wanted to look at the shoes one last time....and then....they were so beautiful....that we couldn't resist .......trying them on..."
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"Those shoes are for the Queen and her ladies. I don't think they'd be pleased to know you've been playing with them...."
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"Well, we didn't take out the ones for the Queen..."
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"All our customers are important, and their shoes are not meant to be played with...."
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So they quickly put the shoes back in their boxes...
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  "That's better!  I think we should go deliver these right away..."
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4 Comments
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    Author

    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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