Dolls, dolls, dolls

I'm not sure if its me, but I seem to have run into a bit of doll disappointment recently.  There are two artists' work that I was very keen to acquire.  One has been going "back and forth" for some time and the other well, perhaps that was a pipedream anyway.  I always seem to be just behind the curve with these dolls.  I'm not sure why, but it seems both artists are now "reluctant" or unable to sell pieces.  (I assume it is just a general state of the dolly business) -- but it is sad/frustrating.

My latest thing is I'm just going to "step back", concentrate on the dolls I do own and work on some amazing things for them (in my spare time).  I thought I'd have more time in the fall, but projects just keep jumping out in front of me.

I'm going to get back to the Cinderella carriage that I started all those months ago and then I'm going to go from there!

Soon to come the Cinderella progress....

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It has been sooo long!!!

Lots has been happening (however, very little on the doll front) -- My daughters are in college away from home, so "my nest is empty".  I've been busy caring for my mom... that is for the long term.

I did have the most unexpected thing happen to me a while back.  Such a kind and generous act.  One of the doll artists, Nune, sent me a surprise gift!  It is a lovely dress for my Adriana.  I was so touched.  What a sweetie.  Thank you Nune!

Of course, I could not get the right light to photograph this gem and do it any justice.  But my blog is not about the quality of the photos (as everyone knows) it is about the joy of the journey.

I love the color on her.  I tried to do something unusual, like a provocative pose, well....  didn't turn out.  Instead of looking slinky, she looked like she was crawling out of a desert.

Then, a casual side roll, looked more like landing after a fall!

Hope you get a giggle!

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What was supposed to be a quick project...

Seemed to drag on.  As each color needs to be applied separately and allowed to dry.  The black needed 3 "coats". What looks like silver is actually iridescent white.  I'm going to add a stick/holder and viola!

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Hopping around...

More than a jackrabbit!  I came across this last night while I was working on the mattress...

So, here goes, I got to thinking -- I have this half finished mask and I don't have enough time to finish the mattress anyway, so why not work on that...

I had the mask "shape" and the feathers attached, but nothing else.  I painted it silver, started adding some glitter, here's where I am now.  The white glitter didn't work, so I have to find something else to use.

For some reason, I keep thinking fuschia /magenta.... Any how, here I am:

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So, I think I have all the things I need

I changed my mind on the mattress covering yesterday.  I want it to look shabby chic and I think a traditional ticking would be better than the white I was planning (I will use that for the mattress pad).

I have a photo of cutting out the foam.  The "pattern" was made after careful measuring and doing the math to see what a queen sized bed would be.  It is just 2 sheets of notebook paper, but I'm glad I made it as I can measure things against it... (Made sure it was big enough for the girls, etc.)

The pattern, a piece of batting and one of the pieces of foam, all on a blue cutting mat.

My mom was so cute, she said "how did you think of all that?"  -- I told her "I don't know it just comes to me".

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What I've been making....

I'm still working on a doll bed.  It started out as a "shabby chic" project that I saw on Pinterest, it's grown into a full blown bed, mattress, and box spring... It's going to take some time... I'll work it through ;).  Hopefully, I'll have some photos to show.

It is still in its conceptual stages.  I imagine a white bed (of wood), with slats holding a mattress and box spring; a mattress pad, fitted and flat sheets and a quilt or bed spread.  -- You can see how this is going to take some time.

I've made a template of paper approximating the bed size.  I did some math.... a little extrapolation... If this 13.5" doll were a person of oh lets say 5'8", then what size would her Queen sized bed be.  I measured a queen sized bed... did the math and viola -- I got a size.  I made that out of paper and "tried" it out for size.  Looks good.  On to the next part.  I cut a mattress topper out of batting to place on top of the "foam" mattress.

I used some foam I had hanging around the house.... Cutting this has proved to be quite difficult.  Straight cuts, not easy.  I tried scissors, a (fabric) rotary cutter, even a razor blade.  Then I remembered in the store, they used an electric (food) knife.  Cleaner cuts.

I want to use a piping around the mattress so that will "complicate" things.  I have the fabric to cover the mattress.  It is a quilted diamond pattern (smallish diamonds).

I'm going to use a pillow case cover as the mattress pad, old pillow cases for my shabby chic bedding, and a hand quilted piece as a bed spread.

I need an exacto knife to cut the wood...  I have some ideas as to the shape... but I'm torn, where to take the time and cut just the one I want, or to use mostly straight pieces of wood as to go quicker...  decisions, decisions....

Of course I have several distractions in my life, my youngest leaves for college in a month or so and I want to finish a quilt I've been hand quilting for her.  My mom is ill.  It is her 85th birthday next month, my brother will fly in for that... I have to plan some sort of party for her.

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Poor Agnes

This blog is originally about Agnes (and she's my first love).  I'm sure she's feeling a bit ignored, but not to worry.  I am chugging along behind the scenes.  I'll post soon what I have so far....

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