and the last for now-
He is my #50 doll for the year so far!
I think they could be paired up for some cute couples!
Here is the whole gang-
I will be listing them on Etsy this afternoon. If you buy a pair, take a $25 discount.
but first- I’m going to be in Portland, ME next weekend. Any recommendations for things not to be missed?
And, I have a load of new magnets that I am putting together and will be listing on Etsy in dribs and drabs this week. The price will be going up on all the magnets to $7.50 when I start listing them.
And now, a blond-haired sweater lady-
morning light-
I will be putting these ladies into my shop at towards the end of the week. I am working on some fellas and want to photograph them together.
I will be doing a tiny world class on Saturday, October 17. There is room if you are interested. Info here.
Yesterday was a perfect fall day. Blue sky and sunny. The air was cool and crisp and there was a prediction of gray and rain on the horizon. We walked in the woods.
Hen of the woods-
A winter sweater lady.
I don’t know why she suddenly had to be made- she has been in my sketchbook for several years now. But, here she is, a little out of season! I’m thinking I will try to do a few fall versions.
Ben and I went to New Hampshire yesterday. Our destination was the Dorr Mill Store. It is about a 2 hour drive from our house, it was a beautiful day, the fall colors are just beginning and I’d heard good things. I wanted to check it out.
Oh yeah, it was good.
Here is the silly thing- I feel guilty buying fabric this way! I make most of my dolls from thrifted or salvaged wooly goodness but sometimes I just need to go somewhere with colors on bolts. Well, some of this did come from their small pieces bin so that can be guilt-free.
I have a hard time finding wool that is a good color for brown skin. What I find at the thrift store is too dark. I was completely out. I was also very low on my pink skin colors and hadn’t found any after several trips to various thrift shops. And, the problem with all the thrift store shopping is, I come home with other stuff. And then I need a place to put it. The skin color wools were my reason (excuse) for the trip and I am very happy with what they had. I also managed to find other goodies as you can see. Everything is washed and soft and ready to use. Bee-u-ti-full!
I had a few fantasy wools I was hoping to find, but no luck- an even black and white stripe, a heathery olive green and/or a herringbone olive green. I’ll just have to keep looking.
Here are some store photos-
the main fabric room-
Another room with kits, patterns, and over-dyed wools. Also a big collection of Gail Wilson kits and dolls.
and more-
It was definately worth the trip.
I love the colors of fall.
woohoo! I won Crystal’s giveaway and my prize arrived in the mail today!
love this little detail-
Crystal is my good friend and fellow member of Boston Handmade. Thanks Crystal! This sweet little pair will live in my studio and keep me company while I work.
Several people asked me about the dyes I use. Firstly let me say that I am no dyeing expert. I am pretty bad at it and almost always end up with splotchy fabric… well unless that is what I want. Then I get a solid color. I know this going into the project so I try not to be too focused on a perfect result. I use Cushing dyes- an acid dye for wool.
Other stuff I’ve been doing.
It was a sad day today- after listening to Science Friday and watching the video, I knew that my tomatoes were infected with late blight. I pulled them all up today. Ah well, I got a pretty good crop and will look forward to next year.
Over the weekend, I redid the faces on two dolls- ones that many commenters said looked sad. At the time (last month), I couldn’t really see it. Now, with fresh eyes, I decided I needed to change them.
Old Face
New Face
Old Face
New Face
Ben is away and the house is quiet.
I am enjoying the morning light in the new studio room. And playing with fall colors.
After another trip to the thrift store that failed to produce any more wool in the right color for doll skin, I decided it was time to try dyeing some. Have you ever noticed that if you go to the thrift store, looking for something in particular, you can never find it. I try for the open-minded approach but at this point, most of the great bargains are just going to cause storage problems when I get home. I look for wool skin tones and stripes. I don’t find them but somehow still come home with a bag… ahem, see above.
So, time to do some dyeing. I love it when all the dye goes into the fabric and the water turns clear- there is something very satisfying about that somehow. Lookin’ good!
