Soft Dolls

Several years ago Soft Doll Magazine provided a pattern for this doll that I thought looked like a fun project. I am notoriously bad about reading directions but this never stops me from going ahead anyway...

Queenie, my first doll and her fabric wrapped cord basket.

Well, I learned a few things after making a couple, like, for example, you're supposed to enlarge the pattern by about 20-30%, a detail I overlooked. I used the pattern as it was printed for the magazine and I ended up with a doll about 15" tall and looong skinny arms and legs (Barbie has nothing on unrealistic body image like this doll does). This scale also required a LOT of hand sewing since the machine could not make all the tiny turns. In the end I'm glad I made that mistake because I think they look really cool this size you just have to have a ton of patience for repairs because I poked out the hands and feet numerous times while trying to stuff them.

Fairy wings from Angelina Fibers

At first I didn't give the face any detail because I just loved the look of the fabric but by the third one I tried some embroidery and was converted. After that I started embroidering the faces on a hoop before construction. The hair is long 1/8" strips of fabric hand sewn to the head and yes, it's a pain but totally worth it. My dolls are all a little wacky and the giant messy hair just serves to reinforce that image.

Quilt Shop Doll with wire glasses and sewing notions.

Each doll was made with someone in mind and they were a reflection of that persons inner self including the colors I chose and the style of dress. I made the Cherish doll for my Grandmother after my Grandpa passed away as a reminder to cherish all her memories and think of the beautiful times. The doll is very cutesy, pink, flowery, and simple like Granny so it was appropriate.

Cherish for my Granny.

Full view of limbs.

I still have ideas for dolls that are, of course, more elaborate and detailed because as I evolve in my crafts I get so enamored with the little things it takes a decade to complete! I don't mind, it's the process I love and the ideas that motivate me.

Sometimes, when you don't read the directions, you end up with something even better than you expected and you never know, your "mistake" may be one of the best things you ever create! So get out there and ignore the rules!

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What I Love

My Fat Quarter Quilt 

Granny's Owls

I don’t remember a time when I haven’t made things. When I was a kid I drew all the time and my Granny and I would crochet dresses and suits for my dolls. We made macrame plant hangers and glued sunflower seeds into giant owls on a background of cork.  There were paint by numbers and lots of community crafting classes. I remember my Mom making the poured porcelain Christmas trees and Granny crocheting blankets that I still use 25 years later. She also made three quilts all hand done from the piecing to the quilting and I am lucky enough to own two of them. 

Granny's Flower Garden Quilt

My Mom and I built apartment complexes from cardboard boxes for my stuffed toys all the way down to wallpaper and balconies. I even remember making a house for my (at the time, brand new) Star Wars figurines out of a Quaker Oatmeal can..man I wish I still had those. We pressed flowers to make book markers out of contact paper and I taught myself how to knit. When I look back at my life these are all my happy memories and I am so grateful that the women in my life showed me the way.

This blog is my outlet to share ideas and projects with other people who value the work that goes into hand crafts. There really is something special about spending your valuable time creating, it's something that we have walked away from in this society. 

I sew, quilt, embroider, paint, draw, mosaic, work with ribbon, spin, make felt, knit, crochet, bead, make baskets, calligraphy, needlepoint, woodwork, make handmade ceramic relief tile, and I still want to try sculpture, paper cutting, weaving, fabric printing, rug hooking, and bobbin lace making. I could live three lifetimes and never do everything I want to do.

I was lucky enough to own a quilt shop for five years before the economy killed it and I met some of the most creative women in that time but I also learned that people are terrified of doing things "wrong". Many people want to follow the pattern or use exactly the right matching fabrics for fear that others will react negatively. Forget that hang up! Crafting isn’t scary nor is there a right or wrong it’s just your way and you should embrace that idea and start to feed your soul. 

Not everyone is going to love our stuff like we do but you have to remember that we create for ourselves and not for approval. What is ugly to you is beautiful to me and the fear of failure shouldn't stop you from trying. If you've never done it you don't know if you'll like it!

Scary Rug Hooking

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