Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

To my readers, I extend my wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

See you in the New Year.

Blue and Purple Goddess Doll For A Swap

I am really starting to love to embroider. A year ago I was a hopeless case. I have since learned a few things, like, practice makes perfect and what a difference it makes when you use embroidery floss vs regular thread. It's been more years that I care to remember since I was first introduced to embroidery in a Grade 7 Home Economics class. I had forgotten about the embroidery floss, and almost all the stitches I learned way back when.

This little doll is for a Swap-Bot Goddess Doll swap that I signed up for. I had a purple face to use up so I thought, "a colourful purple-faced Goddess". She has lots of embroidery, a few sequins for some sparkle and and a beaded tail.

I just started stitching and used the fabric for inspiration. The stitches are very simple, but effective, I think. I'm itching to do some French knots but so far, I'm not getting it when I watch the demos on YouTube.

It's December already and I haven't started my Christmas cards yet. I'll be working on those next. And Belinda, if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten - I still want to do another swap with you.

Blue Goddess With White Hair

Pink Goddess

Just to relax a bit last night, I made this little Goddess Doll while playing "I Love Lucy" DVDs on my laptop. Someone sent me a swatch of butterfly fabric during a swap (I wish I could remember who). I have to thank that person as that fabric has been useful. Miss Pink Goddess is wearing one of those butterflies.

We have an upcoming Community Art Show in our area which is a part of a much larger arts programme that includes visual artists, artists' studio tours, musicians, actors, authors and film. Most of the participants are accomplished and respected in their field. I, who am self-taught and virtually unknown, see a great opportunity to take part in the Community Art Show. According to their flyer, the show is "open to all artists, young and old, to exhibit their work". So why not?

Also, it just occurred to me that I could display a few of my dolls at our local Fall Fair. So lots to keep me busy and out of trouble.

Purple Green Goddess

I copped out big time. I could not get my mind around knitting hair for this doll. I got as far as knitting a row but I was afraid to cast off. I haven't given up on the idea of knitting, just on trying it on my own. I need to find a teacher.

I don't mind the final result. I think she turned out pretty good and I will be sorry to see her go. She's going out in the mail tomorrow to my swap partner.

Hubby, sister, brother-in-law and I are going to Estonia and Scotland in June. It's not too early to start planning a summer wardrobe so I will be dragging out some of my (hundreds) of vintage sewing patterns and decide what to sew. I will be sharing those projects here over the next few months.

This Saturday, I'm going to the Met. Well, almost. The Metropolitan Opera will be broadcasting their matinee performance live into select movie theatres in North American and many European countries. I hope to come out of the theatre all inspired and ready to resume work on my opera doll, who at the moment only has a face.

Goddess Doll Progress

She is now stuffed and stitched up and still waiting for her hair. I haven't been able to pin down a knitter yet. I am going to visit my very smart sister tomorrow. She used to knit very well some years ago. Maybe she will remember how it's done and maybe she will do a little knitting for me.

I thought I'd jot down a few notes about how I make my dolls. First I take my fabric (cotton, of course) and fuse it to a heavy weight interfacing. I do the same with the muslin faces. Next, I sew the face to the body. (The face is drawn and heat set before it's attached in case I goof up). Then I add beads and other embellishments. All this is done on a flat surface.

When the front is completed, I cut out a piece of felt that co-ordinates with the colours of the front. The felt shape is larger than the actual shape of the doll. I hand stitch around the perimeter of the doll from about one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch from the edge, leaving a small opening for the stuffing. Once it's stuffed, I stitch up the opening and then trim away the excess felt.

The first dolls I made, I sewed right sides together and turned them inside out before stuffing. I hated, with a passion, doing it that way. If I only had the option of doing it like that, I would not be making dolls. So the method described above works best for me. I don't have a problem with fraying edges because the fusible interfacing pretty well keeps the edges in tact. If I were to start selling my dolls, which I may do once I have worked out all the bugs, I would add extra insurance by finishing the edges with a blanket stitch or some other decorative stitch or by applying some paint or Podge.

I have to learn how to embroider and paint and grrrr, knit. :) All these swaps I have joined are giving me a great opportunity to try out new things.

Yesterday, I almost completed two fabric ATCs. They just require a finish around the edge. And the most fun thing I started was my "It's So Ugly, It's Cute Dotee" doll. What a hoot that was. You're supposed to use three elements in it that you consider ugly, whether it's fabric, beads, ribbons, lace, whatever. Things that you bought in the past and later wondered "What was I thinking?" A good excuse to use up some of the useless stuff in the stash. I will try and finish her up today and post tomorrow or Monday. Lot's of fun.

New Goddess Doll and Valentine Card

I got side-tracked. Instead of working on the projects I had planned to work on, I started a new Goddess Doll. It's all because I received a really nice surprise in the mail today. My niece over at Wine Wool and Whoppers sent me some beautiful purple/green quilting cotton remnants. She also sent me some weird (fun weird) lime green, knit, chenille-like, bubbly, furry fabric which to me says "Make a monster out of me". This will require some thought as I have not made a monster before. The Potato Monster from a few days ago does not count.

Anyway, the cotton for the Goddess Doll is gorgeous. I used to go for small tidy prints but I am seeing what wonderful possibilities there are for working with large prints. Thank you very much "L" for thinking of me.

I also made some hearts and faces for my Valentine Card and now just have to think about what background to use and how to arrange it all.

Goddess Doll

These are the beginnings of a Goddess Doll that I am making for a swap. She's about three quarters finished. I just need to attach her hair, do some sort of finish around the edge and maybe dangle some beads around the bottom. I wasn't quite sure what to do but I am getting ideas as I type this.

Last night I worked on four Dotees that are also for a swap. Two have a winter theme and two a creative theme. I will look forward to posting those when they are done. In fact, I may just finish them tonight. I checked the TV guide and there's absolutely nothing on tonight that interests me. We live in the country with an antenna that only pulls in three channels. Hours of football - must be Superbowl finals. This will ensure that I work on the dolls rather than sit in front of the tube.