All that Glitters.....

I can't believe I started this dress last August!  I'm still chipping away (and I haven't worked on it all this time -- but I must have at least 20-30 hours invested).  It certainly doesn't look it, but I'll press on and try to finish either this week or next.  I think I have enough momentum to do it.

Agnes did a quick fitting for me.  She does look lovely in well, everything.  It's my photography that's bad.  The bottom layers have the white and silver (although the silver doesn't seem to show) the top layers and the bodice will get glitter.... (I'm dreading it!)

So, I decided to bite the bullet, and went looking for the glitter!  It is no where to be found.  This glitter has been kicking around for EVER -- the problem is I don't know if I'll be able to match it.  I had two packages of white and two packages of silver.  I found the silver -- the white????  Arggghhhh!

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WIth Couture week over and Fashion week about to start....

I can't wait to see all the "people fashions" that translate into doll fashions.  There are a few doll designers that use people fashions and I'm always interested to see the doll version. (and the people version of course).  I love the Elie Saab couture collection...  To me it is the white wedding look.  One of the gowns reminds me that I have the Kate Middleton pattern to make a doll sized dress.

I'd love to get my hands on some of those couture fabric scraps!!!

I'm trying to finish up something (anything at this point)-- I have so much "in the works"...

Still working on that dang dress..........  Yikes, I see NO progress, but trust me I spend about 30 minutes to an hour on it EACH day........  I need what the designers have -- a team of 4 or 5 to knock this thing out.....

This is the last bit of black glitter being added to the top ruffle....  Finally....  I still have white and silver left to do but at least the black seems to be finished.  Ahhhh.  It's late, but I refused to leave this alone.

To complicate things, I'm dolly dabbling.  Sooo many new dolls out there.  Those 16" dolls??  can I just forget they ever happened and move on...  I keep looking.  Avant Guard, Ficon, Sybs, now FR will have a 16".....Their popularity keeps growing.  I'm not seeing it (yet).  I have a JamieShow that I can always break out of the box if I want a 16" fix... but somehow they remind me of the Genes, Alexandra Fairchild and that Tonner doll -- Tyler.  I've got those (well those are my daughters' dolls).  But they seem too big for me.  Too much doll.   I'm taking another plunge of sorts... I'll fill you in when she arrives.   She's going to be my "Pageant girl"...

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Spent a little down time on the beach!

Here are my treasures.  One day to be a crown and a throne for a sea princess....

Bits of coral and shells found on the beach.

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I have doll envy....

Been looking at all the dolls out there and I'll admit it.  I'm loving some of them.  Now, I'm not (really) in the position to get one of these darlings (but will I ever be?) -- I feel like I should take the plunge and look back later ;)

To be continued.....

Back to Agnes and her clothes.  So, yesterday I was hoping to work on her sweater, but I forgot my stuff at home....  Ughhhh!

Here's what we're up to ....

More work on the Zuhair dress...  I think a couple more days of glue and glitter and I'll be in business

Hey, even to me, it looks like very little progress.  But I'm on the receiving end and know that there is plenty being done.

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Stitch, stitch, stitch

I'm working on three things (at the moment)

The Zuhair dress, crocheting a sweater, and the dress from the mannequin.

Those mannequins work by draping fabric around them (that gets stuffed into a slot in the back) -- making them appear to be wearing a dress.

I thought, hmmm, how about if I actually make the dress.

First, I cut the fabric, then a basted a top hem, .....

Next are darts, attaching the skirt portion and then some sort of closure for the back.

Here's the first step, fabric cut and basted.

Fast forward......

darts added.  Skirt basted then sewn to bodice.

Just need some snaps and a hem and I'll be in business!

Just for fun... I don't think the fabric will hold up... A quick party dress (one time wear).

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So I found this and had a laugh

I bought this a few years back.

It's a tote bag.  I thought it was cute.  I was cleaning through some stuff and came across it.

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Agnes finds this funny

When seeing the mannequins next, she realizes that the dresses are some that the designer had her fitting....

Agnes thinks she looked better in the dress!

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The dress on the Mannequin???

Agnes and Greta are shopping and come across a storefront with dresses they like...

When they enter and inquire, they are told that those are just samples...  All the dresses are custom made to order.

Poor Agnes, she was too afraid to ask how much such a dress would cost.  She and Greta left the store.

These are Harumika mannequins.  Their proportions are slightly larger than those of Barbie.  Their feet are markedly larger (Agnes can fit in the gold sandals).  The wigs are removable.  I "picked these up" along the way... I saw them somewhere years ago and couldn't resist.

(some day I want to make a sales floor diorama -- these will be a part of that).

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back to my knitting...

I don't mean literally... but as an aside, I did get a book about crochet for Barbies.  (I had it somewhere in my stash and I just dusted it off).  That's another story.

When I say back to my knitting, I'm referring to the original intention of this blog -- to outfit Agnes -- my trials and tribulations along the way.  I'm still working on that darn dress... the one with the sparkles.  I dusted that off and I think I might be gaining some momentum there.

(the pink is plastic wrap -- separating the layers during the gluing/glitter process).

For the future dresses, I really love the pageant dresses that I've been seeing.  I'd love to make one of those over the top ones.....  Hmmmm....

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I had something the other day...

That I don't usually have these days!!! FREE TIME....

Oh, it was so glorious.  I worked on the Zuhair dress (most labor intensive thing I've done in a long time -- not counting the cinderella carriage.  -- I'm covered in glitter.

I dug out some of the old dresses I had worked on (and sort of abandoned) -- I should have made sketches because I really don't remember what I had in mind :) -- oh well -- the blank slate theory.

Agnes is definitely my muse.  Every time I see her and drape some fabric, I come up with some idea for something I want to make!

Here's another prototype dress I was experimenting with.  I've decided to leave it alone.  I'm going to make the actual dress as I wanted....

I began looking at some of the pageant dresses.... I want to make a few -- over the top type of dress -- not sure if I have the stamina -- especially those beaded ones.

I also began trying some simple crochet...  It didn't look too hard.... famous last words.

Then, there are those sock sweaters that I want to make....

I should focus, but it was so much fun to just dabble here and there.

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When it rains....

So, I bought a pack of shoes.... then I ordered a "pack" from the internet.

They arrived yesterday.  I had to sort them.  They all had matches, I was excited about this.  They all fit... 2 for 2.

Some, I like more than others, but all I really needed were a few pairs to prevent barefoot day!

I separated them into little ziplok bags.  There are 14 pairs here and one more on my "fit model".  Great shoes.

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Oh, I have some arrivals

Today, I received 2 FR coats!  Here are some of the ladies -- all in W (Jason Wu).  I found these on the boards.

The shoes are from the Barbie Basics pack.

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Finally, a little progress!

Life has been on supercharge.  I'm trying to eke out an hour or two of free time and I find it difficult to do.

Agnes was exhausted.  The designer kept her up til wee hours of the night.

Finishing touches need to be put on, but we are close to completion.

I'll compare to original sketch.  I just need to add some stones or beads to the belting.

Definitely, what I imagined.

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My newer dolls wear Barbie sized shoes.....

I love shoes, so I bought a shoe pack.  Barbie Basics.

Too much glare today.  Yesterday, not enough sun.  I just can't win!

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So, I had a short (unwanted) hiatus...

Life is some times complicated.  I have so many family commitments...  my mom, my kids....

I had some "free" time.  That means I was in a quiet space (a public library actually) -- Oh, the looks I got when I pulled out a naked Agnes.  She travels in her "arrival" box.  I think everyone thought it was a bottle of wine... Nope, just my doll.

I started basting the stitches so I could cut fabric, etc.  Oh, she is so lovely.  What I thought I'd finish a week ago, is still in production....

This was taken inside with a flash.  (It is an unusually dark day here.)

So, once I am finished with this, I'll snap some shots (hopefully outside) and show the original "sketch".

I've done some on line ordering.... So, when those things arrive, I'll be posting.

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Where I am on the carriage....

Slow going, but I'm happy with it so far.  I've added the crystal knob for the door.  Still working on the seating.  I've got a lot of decorating of the outside yet to go.

Here are the photos thus far:

It's a half/ dutch door so you are seeing inside the carriage the upholstered walls.

Here a quick close up of the knob.  

As you can see the door is not yet attached to the hinge.

And finally another panned out.

So, that's where I am on the carriage.  I have too many projects, but they will all come together (one at a time).

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Greta's mom bought her a piece of furniture!

Here's her mom showing it off!

There are 2 hanging sections with doors and drawers in the middle!

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Latest edition to the doll family....

I've been slacking (err busy) --- yesterday I was at the mall.  I saw this at a card store.  It was so cute, I had to get one for my doll family.  I'm not sure who will end up with the little charmer, but one doll seems to have taken a liking to him!

He's a pug/mix (as he's bigger than a pug would be to scale).   The story is that the ladies are "fostering" him until he finds a permanent home as the shelter is overcrowded now that the Christmas rush is over.

Such a sweet dog.

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My posts are somewhat spotty lately. For this I apologize

I needed to iron this fabric to see "what I'm working with".  I think I'll try one dress in the style I sketched out and then have similar/coordinating dresses -- kind of like bridesmaids....  Same color, but different style?????

I guess it is more like a prom store.  We have 10 dress styles 20 fabrics to choose from....

I missed my opportunity to photograph this during the daylight, so flash it is.  This washes out the blue making it look less midnight.

I pleated the fabric.  If I throw a belt on, you can get the idea.  (closer to the sketch).

I'll trim the back, add some snaps, attach the belt, make an under skirt and viola!  That should take me until tomorrow or Saturday!

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So, I found some fabric yesterday!

This is from my kids were little!

I'm excited.  I have a gown in mind that I'd like to attempt to make.  (I need to get to using patterns -- still haven't)

It is some kind of cheap taffeta, but I really like it!  I used to make dress up gowns for my girls when they were little 3-5.

I was thinking I want the top to be pleated -- not sure how it will turn out -- here's a rough sketch (very rough -- I can't draw to save myself)-- but it conveys the idea.

I had two bad photos to choose from (washed out by flash or too much sun)

The taffeta colors are like a wine and a midnight blue.  Follow me this week -- hope to finish by Friday (Saturday at the latest) -- I need deadlines (or stuff just doesn't happen)!

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Another year over... and a new one's just begun

Can't believe how quickly the years seem to fly by.  It's been a very good dolly year!  Now that things will quiet down, I'm hoping to have time to sew for Agnes.  These are my new dolls from this year....  Agnes started it all!

Agnes, pictured third from the left (in sunglasses) is a 12" porcelain ball jointed doll by Terri Abel,
Greta, in purple just left of center is also 12" porcelain and jointed and by Wee Lucky Charms, Maryna Skubenko, the remaining six dolls (are around 11.5 - 12") their head are sculpted by Andrea Meyer, Wild Flower Dolls!

Loving the dolly family.  They all fit into Agnes' backstory as she is the main character!

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