gourd head dolls are coming along. Yesterday I was dyeing fabrics for hair and skin. I am not certain about the skin color… it might be alright if I am going to paint the hands. The brown is not rich enough. I dyed 2 sets of hands… hopefully I won’t destroy more then 2 arms when I trying to turn the fingers.

The bald girl in the middle went through 3 arms to get 2, not bad! And it took me 4 legs to get 2 good ones… twice I poked my screwdriver (stuffing tool) through the fabric- argh! I am still trying to figure out how to place her legs. I am thinking of her as a sitting doll, but they also have to look right standing up.

I have started knitting a sweater for the toddler- no name yet. I couldn’t find a knit fabric or old sweater in my stash or at Salvation Army, that matched what I have in mind, so now I’ve got 2 mini knitting projects going. Raglan sleeve designs work really well for dolls.

I have started knitting pants (knickers) for my Womens Home Companion Sailor boy. It is great to have a little knitting project to carry around. I am almost sorry to finish the project… but always anxious to see how it will turn out so I rush through!

I finally got the shoes done today- ended up redoing them about 3 times. They are made from a little suede pouch that one of my kids threw away. Just the right color.

I put beads around the collar and the 2 layers of hem. Lighter color beads on the top layer, darker and smaller (tiny!) beads on the bottom layer. Adds depth?

Tomorrow I will attempt to attach the wig I made…

Baby/toddler body is done. Now he can sit a stare at me…

Gourd head doll

I am stuck on several dolls that I should be working on… those 85% finished dolls. All the details that are the most important/difficult part are going no where, so… Hey, just do something. I haved moved on to the baby gourd head. The path of least resistance?

I am working with a wool knit fabric- from Mom’s stash. I fight with the fabric to keep control. It balloons out if I’m not vigilant. I sewed the arm 3 times, getting thinner each time, to finally get a satisfactory shape, gave up on fingers, and then the stuffing is really a challenge. I guess it is all what you are used to.

I got the materials list for my WOW classes… can’t wait!

BUGS!

I have moved all my stuff out of the bedroom and back into E’s room, so I have no excuse not to get working. It has been hard getting back into the groove since switching over to bugs in November… oh so many excuses. I hope that documenting my progress will help keep me on track…

These are the unfinished projects in my peripheral vision right now.

-The doll that is closest to being finished is the big girl (Agnes). Today I picked out and sewed on the trim on her pantaloons. I sewed the buttons on her shoes. I need to sew buttons onto her dress. The pantaloons need pintucks on the bottom and finishing up, her slip needs to be ironed. Her shoes need touch-up painting. Then I will look at her for a while and think about whether she needs a shawl and maybe a hat… but what did a child from 1860’s wear on her head? More research needed.

-Next is Haze. Her dress is basically finished, and her pants and socks. I worked on her shoes this afternoon. She will have beads on her costume. I still have’t figured out about a shawl- I really like that foggy-green scrim. I need to glue her wig on, and maybe do some touch up painting to her face. hmmm and some kind of head piece. oh yea, and do the stand if I want to send her to Kansas City.

-There are the 2 Womens’ Home Companion Dolls. I have been working on a sailor suit for one of them. I’ve got the middy almost done (still the button holes or loops to go).

-There is the cranky looking scraggly haired kid… I am trying out different kinds of hair and fabric colors and textures. Just laying stuff on and letting it sit so that I catch sight of her out of the corner of my eye.

-Then there are the 3 painted gourds- just faces so far. They are the farthest from being done, unless I get hooked by one of them.

-I have to choose which dolls to send to Kansas City. I need to choose 2 that I’ve already finished and then get Haze done.

-Oh yes, and then there is my Deare girl. The little one! I need to get all the pattern pieces together for the clothing and write the directions and get them off to Ike. And paint her shoes blue… those brown shoes just don’t go with the dress I ended up making!

These are the unfinished projects in my peripheral vision right now.

-The doll that is closest to being finished is the big girl (Agnes). Today I picked out and sewed on the trim on her pantaloons. I sewed the buttons on her shoes. I need to sew buttons onto her dress. The pantaloons need pintucks on the bottom and finishing up, her slip needs to be ironed. Her shoes need touch-up painting. Then I will look at her for a while and think about whether she needs a shawl and maybe a hat… but what did a child from 1860’s wear on her head? More research needed.

-Next is Haze. Her dress is basically finished, and her pants and socks. I worked on her shoes this afternoon. She will have beads on her costume. I still have’t figured out about a shawl- I really like that foggy-green scrim. I need to glue her wig on, and maybe do some touch up painting to her face. hmmm and some kind of head piece. oh yea, and do the stand if I want to send her to Kansas City.

-There are the 2 Womens’ Home Companion Dolls. I have been working on a sailor suit for one of them. I’ve got the middy almost done (still the button holes or loops to go).

-There is the cranky looking scraggly haired kid… I am trying out different kinds of hair and fabric colors and textures. Just laying stuff on and letting it sit so that I catch sight of her out of the corner of my eye.

-Then there are the 3 painted gourds- just faces so far. They are the farthest from being done, unless I get hooked by one of them.

-I have to choose which dolls to send to Kansas City. I need to choose 2 that I’ve already finished and then get Haze done.

-Oh yes, and then there is my Deare girl. The little one! I need to get all the pattern pieces together for the clothing and write the directions and get them off to Ike. And paint her shoes blue… those brown shoes just don’t go with the dress I ended up making!

These are the unfinished projects in my peripheral vision right now.

-The doll that is closest to being finished is the big girl (Agnes). Today I picked out and sewed on the trim on her pantaloons. I sewed the buttons on her shoes. I need to sew buttons onto her dress. The pantaloons need pintucks on the bottom and finishing up, her slip needs to be ironed. Her shoes need touch-up painting. Then I will look at her for a while and think about whether she needs a shawl and maybe a hat… but what did a child from 1860’s wear on her head? More research needed.

-Next is Haze. Her dress is basically finished, and her pants and socks. I worked on her shoes this afternoon. She will have beads on her costume. I still have’t figured out about a shawl- I really like that foggy-green scrim. I need to glue her wig on, and maybe do some touch up painting to her face. hmmm and some kind of head piece. oh yea, and do the stand if I want to send her to Kansas City.

-There are the 2 Womens’ Home Companion Dolls. I have been working on a sailor suit for one of them. I’ve got the middy almost done (still the button holes or loops to go).

-There is the cranky looking scraggly haired kid… I am trying out different kinds of hair and fabric colors and textures. Just laying stuff on and letting it sit so that I catch sight of her out of the corner of my eye.

-Then there are the 3 painted gourds- just faces so far. They are the farthest from being done, unless I get hooked by one of them.

-I have to choose which dolls to send to Kansas City. I need to choose 2 that I’ve already finished and then get Haze done.

-Oh yes, and then there is my Deare girl. The little one! I need to get all the pattern pieces together for the clothing and write the directions and get them off to Ike. And paint her shoes blue… those brown shoes just don’t go with the dress I ended up making!