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Tiny Guys

1/18/2022

3 Comments

 
I finally finished the outfits for my two new little Forest Dweller guys. I spent much of last week working on them intermittently each evening, but on Sunday decided that their tops were turning out way too stiff, and I also didn't like how wide the neck openings were. So I decided to throw them in the trash, and start over completely from scratch. I made the new neck openings smaller, lengthened the vest by about 1/8" and lengthened the sleeves by a touch. At this tiny scale it's amazing what a difference even 1/16" can make.  

The new tops turned out so much better. Komirka Chipmunk's shirt seemed to be missing something, so I gave him a tiny red bow tie - to match the red flowers on his wife's apron....
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These tiny outfits are definitely no fun. The sleeves are about as big as a postage stamp, and inserting them into the armhole has to be the worst job ever. And then there's the tiny collars hand-sewn from double 1/8" wide silk ribbon. I have to sew with a beading needle since it's the only needle fine enough. But they are finally finished! Yay!!

While I was at it, I also decided to try make a crocheted hat for Miss Chipmunk. I had to make changes to my crochet pattern in order to accommodate the different position of her ears. I chose some gray crochet thread to match her apron, and embellished it with red and turquoise silk ribbon and a small red ribbon rose....
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The gray mouse couple...
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All four new, little Forest Dwellers....
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 I also dressed Miss Muffin Mouse. She's a tiny, jointed, porcelain character, roughly the same height as the four Forest Dwellers, and she is supposed to be a 'mouse', but compared to the much more realistic looking Whispering Grass Mice, she looks way more like a 'rabbit' in my opinion (even with the rounded ears)  so that's what she's going to be....
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3 Comments
Donna
1/18/2022 12:16:45 pm

You must have the best dressed little critters in the world! All the TINY details in each outfit, definitely a labour of love (or should that be love/hate?). Looking at the photos, no one could tell how small these characters really are.

Reply
Martha
1/18/2022 12:28:40 pm

Thank you! I really appreciate that. I relally wanted them to look like they are 'my' dolls, with the same level of detail as everyone else. Which means carefully choosing the fabrics and prints, and then doing most of it by hand.

When Whispering Grass first introduced her very first little mouse, it reminded me so much of the illustrations by Beatrix Potter, and I was imagining the mouse dressed in that Rococo gown from the Tailor of Gloucester, all in silk ruffles and lace. I don't know what I was thinking!

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Dorothy
1/18/2022 08:18:17 pm

They look adorable. I know there must be some kind of celebration coming soon to the forest. I can't wait to see what adventures they will have.

I think that Miss Muffin looks like a rabbit also. I love the colors you have chosen for her. The apron is lovely.

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