I’m on the move- first, I’m working my way back up to my attic room, back to my collections and goodies. Somehow it is always a huge mess when I want to go back… hmmm, I wonder how that happened! Well, it gives me a chance to go through all the stuff again; sort fabric, reorganize the lace, buttons and beads. That’s what I was doing today. And looking for supplies for the doll I’m working on. Lace, buttons, fasteners.
and second- Next week I’ll be going out of town for a few days- college trip with kid #2. We will be in Chicago next Tuesday night, 4/12 and Minneapolis 4/13 til Saturday 4/16. Any suggestions of places that shouldn’t be missed? I’ve never been to Minneapolis before- I’m looking forward to it.
Yearly Archives: 2005
coat
I am working on the doll’s clothing. I hand-stitched the bands on the waistband and leg cuffs. I am now working on the coat.
The coat is made from an antique (I think) coat or robe that I got at an estate sale. The robe is completely covered with moth holes. The design of the robe is almost exactly what I want my doll coat to look like- fitted bodice, flowing skirt.
Here is a closer picture of the bodice- maybe you can see some of the moth holes.
Here is a detail of the fabric- it is wool with chain-stitch embroidery. The lining is silk.
I has having some trouble trying to place the pattern pieces around the damaged areas so this is what I did-
I taped it onto the window! That way I could see the holes. I had no trouble finding enough fabric for the smaller pieces, but it was a real challenge to cut out the 2 pieces for the skirt. I wanted to make it out of one solid piece but that wasn’t possible.
And here is where I am now-
lots more work to do on it, but at least I know it fits. woohoo!
By the way, I have finished quilting all the circles on my quilt! Now I just have to put on the binding. I can’t believe that there is an end in sight for this forever project!
no Month of Softies
I am kind of sad that I didn’t get around to participating in Loobylu’s Softies this month. The flu really knocked me out, and I have to admit, I didn’t have any really strong ideas about it. I did something along the theme a few years ago, based on this photo-
This is called “1958 Hand-me downs”-
I was the 4th child with 3 older brothers. I wanted to be a brother. I wanted to wear their clothes and do what they did- life seemed better for brothers.
There are more photos of her here.
finally- dolls!
Last week I spent some time communing with my fabric stash and it has inspired me- as I’d hoped it would. I’ve finally gotten started on dressing one of these poor girls!
Here is my sketch and also a photo that I’d cut out of the newspaper a few months ago. It is a picture from the movie A Series of Unfortunate Events. I like the coat that she is wearing.
So far I have done the basic sewing on the shirt and pants. I have finished the hand sewing on the pants since I took the photo. Tomorrow I hope to make a muslin mock-up of the coat.
Some fun stuff!
First- Happy Easter and Happy 90th Birthday, Dad! Big family get together yesterday.
and
I got this wonderful fellow in the mail-
He (?) is a mome rath, made by Erica over on mmm… coffee. I have no idea how to pronounce mome rath…. She is selling them through Sewing Stars, here.
Yesterday we met up with Eleanor and Julian to go to the family party. We got to hear all about the trip to Japan, see pictures, and best of all- get presents- yeah! They brought me-
some fabulous fabric- I especially love the green and white fabric with gourds!
scraps of kimono fabric- (sorry the photo came out strangely because, for some reason, I can not get my camera to focus properly on textured fabric)
and some magazines! Yippee! I am reading through them- lots of eye candy.
The funny thing about the doll magazines is that they are hard for me to get even if I have family going to Japan, because they find it way too embarrassing to ask for them!
some stuff gets done
2 little knitting projects- a sweater and a scarf-
working away on my quilt. The big picture-
it’s a queen size. And a close-up of what I am doing now-
I am stitching a circle in the middle of every 4 blocks. I keep thinking about Easter eggs and sewing circles… that’s because I am still brain-foggy with my cold/flu recovery. Everything is still going in slow motion.
I have been feeling totally uninspired about designing clothes and dressing my dolls, mostly because I’ve been feeling lousy, but also I decided it was because I haven’t been surrounded with all my fabrics- a problem when I move out of the attic because of cold weather. I need to see and touch my materials!
Yesterday I spent some time getting reacquainted with my stash. I put together some groupings of fabrics that I am excited about- now I can get out the sketchbook and start drawing.
vintagey reds-
pinky-purple organics swirls-
this looks far eastern exotic to me-
and some trims to inspire me-
spring?
Yesterday I saw the first crocuses blooming in my garden. They look exactly like last year so I won’t bother with a new picture. I track the dates of the first blooming… one day later then last year.
no dolls
I’m not dead, just dragging. I’ve actually been working on some projects that don’t take much energy or thinking… and that I can work on while I rot my brain watching TV. I think it is a VERY bad sign that I have opinions about shows like What Not To Wear, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,like ’em. And Crafters Coast to Coast, really spotty- geesh, they mix amazing artists with totally clueless people… they show people doing stupid and dangerous stuff- like airbrushing underglazes without a face mask- are these people crazy! Okay, I’ve been watching way too much TV.
So this is what I’ve actually accomplished- my scarf is done
And I am working on my longest unfinished project. I made this quilt top before I had any kids… so that’s at least 21 years ago. About 3 years ago I decided I really ought to finish it.
Unfortunately, I somehow thought it was a good idea to hand quilt it- silly me. It’s one of those things where by the time you realize it was a bad idea, it is too late to change your mind. So, it’s still not finished. I am making progress though- I have now finished stitching a 2 block by 2 block grid over the quilt. Not quite sure what I’ll do next.
cough
When I looked at this pile of dolls this morning, I thought that they illustrated exactly how I am feeling- Sick- cough, cough, blech. Actually, today there is a ray of hope- I am feeling better enough that I have started a knitting project-
It is a triangular scarf. I am using a pattern from Wendy Knits!. I know it’s kind of crazy to be starting scarfs in mid-March, but I am convinced that this winter will never end.
I love the internet. I have never learned how to read knit patterns or what different stitches are. With Google, I just type in “yarn over” and I have pages of explanations. If I read several, I am bound to find someone who will explain it in a way I can understand! Hurray!
busy, busy
I’ve been busy, busy, but not much time for dolls. Some dear friends were in town (Boston) for 3 days at a convention for art teachers. They have a company that sells Twisteez, a plastic coated wire product. Just about the whole family was there, including Harold, who was my art teacher in High School, Sandy, who was my best friend in High School and is now my brother’s wife, my nieces and nephew, and lots of the other siblings, spouses and children. It was great to see them all and participate in the convention. I came home with a bag full of goodies too! Free Sharpie markers including a retractable sharpie- cool!, craypas, crayons, an erasable marker(!). I also bought some sketch books and brushes. Lots of fun, but very tiring!
Now that they have all gone home, I am trying to get Julian ready for his trip to Japan. I’m driving him down to New York on Thursday. He and Eleanor fly out on Friday morning. I am working on my shopping list. Lucky them!