There are some flowers I need to grow because they have such great names- Love in the Mist (Nigella) comes to mind. This is Exotic Love or Mina Lobata or Spanish Flag. The garden has been wonderful this year and is still beautiful- very unusual for late October.
This is the next item for my holiday production… little dolls for Christmas trees or hanging around all year long. Here are some piles of doll parts-
I am trying to get a stockpile of items to work on for my trip to Philadelphia. I need to do the parts that need the sewing machine while I am here, and then make sure I have all the other tools and materials with me for evenings sitting around in a hotel. I am hoping to bring a bunch of these dolls and also unfinished bug pins and my knitting.
Also, I refreshed my links… I hope they’re all working properly.
I have been working on the photo gallery for my virtual open studio, but after I took the first set of pictures, I realised you couldn’t really see much except piles of stuff (ADD decorating). So… even though I had originally thought that the beauty of a virtual tour would be that I wouldn’t have to clean up, that is exactly what I worked on all day yesterday!
I am always trying to be organized as I work, but it is a constant struggle. I make parts of the doll and then, a month later can’t figure out which of my patterns I used. As I work on the dolls, paper pattern pieces are always disappearing- where did this disappearing paper come from anyway??? When I sew the cloth pieces together and stuff them, they can change shape dramatically, so trying to match paper to 3-d form usually doesn’t work.
I have made a lot of baby steps towards being organized with the patterns. I have all my doll pattern pieces numbered and organized in a notebook in plastic sleeves. I mark the pieces as I cut them out- but that part of the fabric ends up on the inside so that doesn’t help. I have tried marking the dolls on the bodies, but it seems like messing them up.
This is my latest idea-
I got these file sleeves at Staples. I put every piece of pattern paper and muslin mock-up into it. I trace the body pattern pieces onto a new paper and put that in also. I could use the outside to make notes, but haven’t gotten there yet. I use it as a way of cleaning as I go along… just put everything in the sleeve and then when it turns out something I need is lost, well, I know where to look!
Well, let’s see… I think I would say that it was very good to be showing my dolls in a store that is already about textiles. No one who came in seemed to think it is very odd that I make dolls. Not very many people came. Maybe I can blame it on the misprint on the Open Studios map. They had the wrong street number listed… some people who came said they had almost given up looking. Gerry, who owns the store, said it was slow even for a regular weekend! Thank you so much, all of you who made it. I really appreciate it!
The big news is that I sold a doll! This doll is called “Asia Baby” and there are more pictures of her here. I left 3 dolls in the store to see if they attract any attention.
I always feel it is worthwhile doing something like the Open Studio. I never know who will show up and it will always be more people then would come up to my attic any day! Someone who never thought they’d be interested in a doll might be caught or I might meet someone who has been interested in dolls for years, lives right around the corner from me, and I never knew them. Plus, it gives me a deadline to finish up projects and that is something I need.
Don’t forget to come! Here are all the kids waiting to get into the car.
Since I am not actually having anyone into my real studio, I have been working on a virtual open studio visit. I will put up a gallery in the next few days and send out invitations. See you there!
Now that I’ve finished Autumn, I have gone to work on what I feel I ought to do instead of what I want to do- that means make some stuff that is likely to sell during the holiday season. I have to support my bad habits after all! So, I am starting with the bug pins. I want to have a bunch for Open Studios this week-end.
Even though I’ve been really busy the last few days I haven’t been neglecting my blog reading… although I have been neglecting answering my email and it’s piling up… well, anyway, I got a very nice comment from Michelle at Another Knitting Blog. I had a great time checking out her knitting projects. I especially loved these bears! I have always liked knitted toys, though I haven’t done much. I am always looking out for examples and patterns. Below are 2 projects from the past. The dog was something for one of the dolls to hold- didn’t actually work out too well, and the other was a little purse/necklace I made for my daughter when she was almost 4 (1988) and having a bad time at nursery school. It is a floppy princess that holds a Chapstick.
I have more then enough decent pictures to put an album together, so even though I was annoyed about the out of focus ones, I now have an “Autumn” gallery here– Ta da!
I am 100% happy with this doll. That is very unusual!
recommendations for replacement?
This is some of what I was working on yesterday- bows for Autumn’s hair and signing her. The bows are hard! I need to make 9 and sew them on. I am half done.