Ask anyone who knows me and they'll tell you that I am not a fashionista! I wear jeans everywhere and most of my clothes are purchased at consignment shops or thrift stores, meaning I'm always behind in the latest trends. My studio dress is usually jeans (of course), a t-shirt and my favorite, oversized green and black checked flannel shirt! Ahh - comfort!!
So imagine my amazement as I dive back into doll making to find that I'm entranced with dressing these little people. I'm working on shoes - I'm designing and making hats - I'm putting socks on little feet (okay I must admit that I myself am addicted to socks - love them in all sorts of colors and patterns) - I am becoming my own 'Project Runway' .
While at a recent quilt show I went to my favorite vendor booth "Annie's Keepsakes" to pick up some of her delicious wool felt. There I found this pattern for two hats -- a 'stovepipe' hat' and a 'flat hat'. Of course both patterns were not designed for dolls but hey - I have a computer - I can resize. And that's what I did!
This scrunched stove pipe hat sits perched on an otherwise unfinished doll -- waiting for the rest of her outfit. What fun this was to make - even though working in this very small size and with felt was somewhat of a challenge.
Now I'm working on a new shoe pattern -- this is a prototype in amongst the old doll shoes that I took apart for a pattern. I learned the in's and out's with this first one and am about to start the 'real' thing in black felt (to match her hat of course).
I'm having way too much fun!!! If you're interested in this pattern you can get it by contacting Annie's Keepsakes.
"I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." - Gilda Radner
Let me introduce "Capriccio" my version of the musical definition: "a quick improvisational, spirited piece of music." At times while I worked on him it seemed we were making quite a lullaby -- other times a cacophony of sound roared in my head.
Who would think that making a simple cloth doll would take so many steps (and because of my lack of skill and/or foresight several steps done over several times)?
There was the head which I thought was finished only to discover that it was too narrow for the features to be used. Back to the drawing board. There was a hat that I completely discarded after working on it for several hours -- hated it.
There still lingers arm issues which I finally just 'accepted' with note-to-self to improve that part of my future creations.
I have made many cloth dolls before, but this time I'm feeling quite unsure in creating my own pattern, incorporating features that have to be learned and mastered and in knowing what I want - like reaching into a still pool of water it seems to get disturbed with each reach I take.
Meanwhile I'll continue to make music -- while trying to bring my dreams to life.
"A dream is the bearer of a new possibility, the enlarged horizon, the great hope." - Howard Thurman
