Halloween Happiness!

Happy Halloween.  What a fun holiday.  I had a cousin whose mom is from the UK.  When she came to this country and realized you could go door to door and get candy for free.  She went crazy!  We still laugh about her enthusiasm.  She even shipped candy back to her sisters who were younger!  Funny, having grown up here, I don't think of Halloween as a US holiday, but it is.

Now, being much older, I miss the days of making costumes for my kids!  Every August (yeah I start early) -- I'd ask them what they wanted to be and by Halloween, viola a costume would appear.  Most costumes were without patterns etc.  My youngest had the best "ideas" for costumes -- I would then execute them.  -- some of my favorites were a crayon, rainbow fish (from the book), oh and yes an ice cube -- that was tricky.  It was pvc pipe made into a cube shape covered in clear vinyl.  (her body was through the center of it).  Good times, good times.

Here's my daughter's costume this year (it is actually for homecoming) -- They were Magic Kingdom Seniors.  So I made her, well, the kingdom of course!  It's a massive costume, the roof is over 6' when on her, the spire is several feet over that.  It is probably about 10' soup to nuts spire and flag atop it.  There are turrets on the side that can't be seen in this photo.  It's felt and foam, foam core board, poster board, bamboo (skewers painted gold used for the flags), mesh for her to look out/breath and velcro to fasten it around her body.  It's wearable -- you can walk (though cumbersome) in it.  The kicker is I made it in one night (a looooooong night) -- started at 7:00 ended at 2:00 (yeah, that's am).  She did get first prize!  (they don't win anything) -- it's the thrill of it.

I didn't start on Halloween early enough this year.  I wanted to make Marie Antoinette -- killing two birds with one stone.  (I would get the Marie outfit I've always wanted for a doll and it could be used as a halloween costume) -- by next year I hope to have a halloween diorama.  I've started collecting little pumpkins and decorations.

Here's Agnes, on her way to a halloween ball.   She stopped for a photo.

Happy Halloweenie!

How I made it:  I started with the skirt  I cut 2 pieces of fabric.  Stitched the sides for the seams.  I also made a slit down the center back about 1/3 of the way down.  I folded over the sides to hem the raw edges.  I ran a stitch at the top of the skirt and gathered it.  For the bodice, I folded over the top and hemmed it.  I marked out where darts should be and darted the front.  I also darted the back for a better fit.  I folded over the bottom hem (as the velveteen made it too bulky to just sew a seam).  I made a tulle underskirt of black using a simple running stitch with a piece elastic through the waist area.  I basted the bodice to the skirt. I attached with a top stitch.  Snaps close the back (could have used velcro) I'm lazy; for me the snaps are easier.  

The mask (I was going to make out of velvet) but it turned out to be too bulky.  Next time I'm going to get flocked paper in black.  I found the right color cardboard so I cut out the mask.  Painted a tooth pick in gold, added glitter to the mask, attached the mask to the tooth pick.  The mask and gown are more purple in color.  The lighting is weird today as we've had nothing but rain.  

There's a peek of the Cinderella carriage.  (More about that in a couple days!)

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The glacial progress (of the pumpkin coach)

So,  I've been making progress albeit ever so slowly.

I attached the lining to the interior of the coach, I still have trim, etc to do.

After removing the clothes pins, I trimmed back the excess fabric.

You can still see the back seems.  I will cover those with trim.

This is a straight shot in.  You can see the brocade is smoothed out.

Without the flash, it has a rosy hue to it.  It isn't.  It is a pale grey/white with silver brocade.

I took a shot looking up (the interior roof)  Again, there is trim that will go down the walls and the center will have a button to give a cabochon like quality.

The blue mark is from the disappearing marker I used to mark out the pieces.  I was very thankful that the pieces fit.  I had

So far, I'm pleased with the results.  I had to abandon my thought of "quilting" the interior.  The thumb tacks were stressing/ruining the fabric.  It takes a long time to attach the interior as each stage has to dry before proceeding to the next.

I just lined the door (interior) with some fabric.  I still need to make the bench/seating and figure out the flooring.
More stuff to do and not necessarily in this order:

attach door
attach the trim
put on the ornamentation on the interior
Decorate the exterior
make the wheel base and attach it
make curtains; install them
as I mentioned, seating and flooring

So, there will be more posts! (seems like lots more).

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It's my birthday! I want a dolly!

So, my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday (and no I didn't blurt out: another porcelain bjd!) -- Even if that is what I was thinking.  I want a friend for Agnes.  They can wear matching outfits, etc.

I was thinking about this description.  I know people like to call these dolls porcelain, but in reality they are bisque.  (fired to a mat finish and not glasslike as porcelain would be).  I know in the antique world people who refer to those dolls as porcelain (are thought to know little about them and are usually quickly corrected).  So, who's going to be the first to refer to their doll as bisque bjds?

Out of curiosity, I googled bisque bjds.  I saw where Soom (the doll company) is now making Bisque bjds.  Once a resin only company.  I wonder how they will catch on.  They have a neo-angel section with a new Bisque doll.  She's selling for $700.  Sold out.  But they do explain the process.

http://www.dollsoom.com/eng/shop/item.php?it_id=1305520486

I think it is interesting that Soom lists the strengths of bisque.  Basically the same are the short falls of resin.  Resin -- perhaps a fancy name for plastic.   I still equate the change to that of the antique bisque doll that lasted a hundred plus years with the composition doll that replaced it and can rarely be found in tact today.  I'm not meaning to upset anyone here.  I have several resin dolls.  I've got bobobie Lan, Narae, a goodreau, and even a JamieShow doll -- all resin.  Narae is my prized resin doll, but it was such a nightmare to order her that she was my last.  I've heard many worse horror stories about ordering Narae so I'll consider myself lucky.

So, will doll collectors abandon resin for bisque?  I doubt that.  But most bjd collectors are not looking out 100 years (and really should they?).

It really must be my birthday.  I can't believe all the porcelain bjds there are out there! Now with Soom in the game, I'm wondering if this will start a trend with other bjd companies.  I remember seeing a prototype for a bisque bjd some years back from a resin bjd company.   It was a major company, perhaps it was Soom.   I don't know if that doll was ever made.  It was a costumed doll.

I was surprised to read about the company Volks.  I did not know the dollfie was born after the founder's wife saw a bisque bjd in 1998!!  I had no idea bisque bjds had been around for that long.

So, I'm actively looking for a friend for Agnes.  My trouble being I really want to stick with the 1/6 scale.  Most bisque bjds are 1/5 scale or something else.  Over 12 inches tall!  I did find a 10.5" doll, but it is no longer being made :(  Terri, if you read this, got any new scupts??  ;)

I want a dolly.  Not just any dolly.  I want a special dolly.  (Agnes is already a special doll.)

Here she is in MioMio's outfit and the black beaded slippers.

Post script:  I saw another really cool thing the other day and that is 3D fabrication.  That is going to change the doll world (IMHO).

If you know of a 12" doll that is porcelain, ehh, bisque and is jointed, and is strung using springs, and has a removable wig, (see where this is going?)... then Agnes may find a friend.  (Is that like phone a friend?)  May all your days be happy -- especially if today is your birthday.

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Lace overlay cranberry skirt

I've been working on this (forever) -- actually, I did the antique lace overlay probably about a month ago. All that was left is to add the waist band, easy?  Yes and no.  Easy if you put your mind to it and actually do it.  Not so easy if you don't.  ;)

It is a cranberry dupioni with antique lace.

How I made it:  First, I measured a piece of silk.  I hemmed the silk.  Then, I attached the top to the lace.  I gathered both together.  I stitched a seam halfway up the back (leaving enough room for Agnes to get in.  To make the waistband, I cut the silk on the bias (think diagonal) I folded the silk in half.  Ironed that.  Then I folded under the hem in the front and in the back of the waistband.  I placed the waistband over the skirt portion.  Then I basted it to make sure it all fit.  I tucked in the ends of the waistband (no raw edges).  I machine stitched the waistband.  I added a single snap to close the back.

Viola.  Now, I need to make a top.  I think a cranberry top with offwhite lace trim.  I have something in mind, but I also have a ton of projects I should be working on.  

Thanks for following along.

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Marie wig... progress??

So I remembered this wig that I have been "working on".  I think I have several more steps, but this is where I am.  Needs something.......  Can't put my finger on it.

I used thin drinking straws to curl the goat hair.  I made 2 sets of three curls.  I wet the hair and wound it curler style onto the straw (Cut into 2" pieces) once it was dry, I eased it off the straw and glued it in place.  I also made some tendril style curls to place at the temples.

I've made this style wig before for my Narae doll.  If I remember correctly, a user named Ira_scargeear on DOA first posted how she was going to make a Marie wig.  I was very intrigued.  That was the first I had ever seen a Marie wig.  Now, years later, here is Agnes' in the works. ;)  I think you can even buy Marie wigs now.  Just saw where Dollheart has them!   (Probably not in Agnes' size).

There are so many amazing things on DOA.  It was there, I remember seeing a doll with a ship on her head!  It was like a clipper ship.  It was about 2006 when it appeared on blog.craftzine.com in human size.  Later, I remember seeing the same thing again for an ED!  So, perhaps there are just so many ideas or everyone gets inspired by stuff they see.  If it's out there, it will usually show up on DOA, then on a variety of boards or forums.

So, here's this recycled idea on my blog :)

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I saw this fabric....

That is how it always starts.  I did see a fabric that for whatever reason made me want to make a very simple gown for Agnes.  So, although I have tons of projects backlogged, I took the time to make a simple ad hoc gown.  Something to wear with those beaded slippers!

I need to make an updo wig for Agnes.....  which reminded me, I still have that Marie Antoinette wig to work on....

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One down, tons to go. Black beaded slippers

Finally, completed the slippers!  Once the tops were beaded, it was just a matter of putting them together.

How I did it:

Trace Agnes' foot.  Make 4 things from that trace.  Inner sole, lining, outer sole, upper.  Once I traced and cut out the upper.  I proceeded to bead it.  (Really painful).  Once I finished that, the rest is pretty routine.  I glued the lining to the innersole.  Attached the beaded upper to the inner sole.  Once that is glued on, I glued on the outer sole (plain leather).  If you wanted, you could add a heel at this point.

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