Category Archives: General

Gilda’s Hello Dolly

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Oh, I had fun today…
I have been searching online for some little shoe buckles- I bought some a few years ago and I’ve used them up but I can’t find them again. Today I did what should be obvious and visited a local shop. I had heard about Gilda’s from someone at my Doll club, but never before had visited her place in Natick, MA. Mostly she sells at doll shows, but she has tons of goodies in her basement shop.
There were bins and drawers and boxes and piles of trims and ribbons-

gilda's 1

and flowers made of silk and paper and feathers and more-

gilda's 2

and shelves of lace- all cotton, the black lace is on the other side…

Gilda's 3

and dolls… and doll parts- wigs, eyes, mohair, silk roving…

gilda's 4

besides all that, she carries an amazing selection of fabrics- silk, cotton, brocade, netting, all the right weight and scale for dolls. Also, tons of buttons, charms, hat-making supplies, doll purse hardware, shoes. stands, patterns… WOW!
If you want to visit, you need to call because she is often away at shows- her website isn’t really working yet.
Gilda’s Hello Dolly
or
Gildasfabrics.com
197 Pond St.
Natick, MA 01760
508-655-0185

camera excitement!

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I’ve got a new camera! A Nikon Coolpix 5400. I went into the camera store thinking I wanted a SLR, but when I saw how big they are I changed my mind. This camera is just right- it has a similar operation as my old camera and so I was able to figure out how to use it easily. I love it! And so, here is a kitty picture-

kitty

She is lying on a pile of knits- the Dr. Who scarf, the kitty bed (she is finally willing to get near it!), and a scarf I made for J. last Christmas. Cozy!

thing to do in December…

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Go check out the dolls at Skinner’s Holiday auction. They let you touch everything at the viewing.

Go to the Museum of Fine Arts and see the Art Deco show and the show on 1850’s fashion.

Go to Providence, RI to the Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Sale on Dec. 11.

Check out the Holiday Marketplace at Lexington Arts and Crafts

Get slides taken so I can put in proposals for doll show.

Oh, and the show at the Fiber Arts Center in Amherst- Grown Up Figures

Helen’s ornaments

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helenornament

My friend Helen sent me this fantastic idea based on the Dresden dolls below. Print out pictures of your own dolls and turn them into ornaments! These are her Bleuettes.

hmmm… is this a way to dress all the naked (or should I call them naturists) dolls that live in my studio?

Helen’s ornaments

Posted on by

helenornament

My friend Helen sent me this fantastic idea based on the Dresden dolls below. Print out pictures of your own dolls and turn them into ornaments! These are her Bleuettes.

hmmm… is this a way to dress all the naked (or should I call them naturists) dolls that live in my studio?

Helen’s ornaments

Posted on by

helenornament

My friend Helen sent me this fantastic idea based on the Dresden dolls below. Print out pictures of your own dolls and turn them into ornaments! These are her Bleuettes.

hmmm… is this a way to dress all the naked (or should I call them naturists) dolls that live in my studio?

Christmas inspiration

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There is a link to Dresden Star Ornaments is in the Dec. 2004 issue of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion and they have this “make your own ornament” project. This is what I made-

ladies

I’ve spent way too much time following links trails and looking at beautiful antique Christmas decorations and ornaments.

Antique Ornaments

This site is in German, but the pictures are great- and there are lots more great links on their link page…

Das Ornament

December projects

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I am not sure what I should be doing now… I have done the 2 sales I am scheduled for and the Gallery I have the bugs in, only takes the bugs. I would have had to jury anything else in earlier in the year and I’m never that organized. I have all these mini- doll parts and partially finished dolls, all layed out on my table. I am sure I have enough finished little ones to get me through Christmas -unless I have a big run on them ;-) So, I think I’ll put all this stuff into a box and clear the way for new projects…

mini doll parts

As to new projects- I have a lot of ideas in my head… thoughts going in many different directions. I have started several things and I’ll see which takes off. I have gone back to the mannequin pattern, inspired by all my “new” lace. The lady on the left was my first doll in the pattern series. The fellow on the right is a later one in a series- the body is done but the clothing was never finished.

manniquin

I have also started painting up some of the heads- several of these are second or third tries to get a face that I like… the one on the far right is sanded and will be repainted.

heads

And then there are the Christmas presents I’ll be working on- of course I won’t be able to show those…

Thanksgiving

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thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving- 12 people at the dinner table. The turkey was delicious- it was brined for several days before cooking- Recipe!
Holidays are the only time I seem to take my pottery out anymore- here is one of my serving bowls. It’s funny that many of the ones I own were the seconds- since they had flaws I couldn’t sell them in the galleries.