Thursday Dolly Day

So here it is Thursday already! We have been spending so much time working in the yard. I was sick so many summers and had surgeries and then last summer we were gone for 2 weeks. Our yard has been neglected for 5 years. With sheltering in so much, we have been working on the yard and gardening. Jimmy has taken an interest in it again, so it's been something we can do together. I just forgot how much time it takes and how little time you spend inside when you work outside!

My doll came.  I got another one of the Tudor china heads that were once sold at the Enchanted Dollhouse in Vermont. I used the rest of my Etsy Mother's Day gift card for her. She was put together and is a bit larger. She came with her dress and pantaloons.

Her name is Emma. She is about 15".

I did make her a little slip using a larger item vintage item. It already had the pin tucks and I added the tiny lace.

I didn't like the collar, so I tacked it down inside. I also turned down the belt and added a little button to change the look. I added some lace along the bottom for a bit more length.

I do love the under sleeves. I need to add these to some of my doll dresses.

So here is her dress with the changes. I think it's much better around her neckline as you can see her face.

Here's the family!

Emma

Sally

Meg

Nell

My Tasha friend told me there was one more...Molly. I found her on a Tasha Tudor book site...the Cellar Door in CT. I know the owners and they are sending her to Portland tomorrow. I will have to make the doll's body and her clothes. I think she is larger too. It will be fun.

I hope you are all well. The doll world is a bit of a pause from all the sad things happening in our world. I am still trying to be safe. 

Blog Catch Up!

It's been busy at my home! I haven't been blogging due to other projects that have been waiting. I decided to catch up with a post to show some of my fun projects.
Jimmy and I have both been trying to finish up our gardening. My friend gave me this little rose from her rose from Tasha Tudor's garden in Vermont. My first one died and she graciously gave me a second one to try again. It's doing well this year. Can you see the little rose blooming? So exciting.

After some gardening, I decided to finish up a doll and make her an outfit. There was a doll shoppe in Vermont called the Enchanted Dollhouse. They used to sell these little china head dolls. You would make the body and her dress. There were 5 doll kits made. They are dated and named on the back of their breast plate. They are cute, nothing real special, but fun. Several Tasha fans have a collection of these. So this is Nell and it was time to finish her. My friend Carla has Sally and she made her undies out of the same fabric as the dress fabric. I thought it would be fun, even if it isn't traditional.

I love the tiny lace on her pantaloons and slip!

Working on the puffy sleeves and bodice with some antique lace.

Her's Nell in her new dress. I think she is quite happy with it.

This is my Meg doll. I made this dress for her last November. I love the fabric. I am waiting for Emma to arrive from Etsy. I'm not sure if I will like the fabric of her outfit, so I may be working on another one SOON!

For Mother's Day, my daughter Gina gave me a gift card from Etsy. It was so fun looking and thinking about what I wanted to spend my money on! I was wanting a cradle for the little baby doll I posted a few weeks ago. I love the little scenes painted on the bed. Thank you Gina!

It also has little design and wooden knobs on the sides.

Baby Phyllis loves here new bed! She can sit up in it or take a nap. She just fits perfectly in it.

Isn't is just the cutest?!

 A lovely lady in Florida found my blog and sent me an email. She wanted to know if I would like this book. It's a classic and I was happy to get it! I wanted to pay for postage and she wouldn't let me. So sweet from a lady I have never met! Blogger friends are just so wonderful and do such unexpected things.

She also sent some goodies that she had made and a couple other dolly booklets.

She does such beautiful work. Thank you so much Maria.
So, that's what has been keeping me busy this week. I hope you are doing well and taking baby steps to return to a few things as we reopen. Stay safe. 

Monday Made

My friend LaVonne has been here in Oregon for over a week and has to return to Montana tomorrow. She splits her visit between me and her daughter. She brings some of her dolls on these annual trips and we often have some dolly fun with them. I decided to make her Hitty and my Hitty a new fall dress. Here they are in the tea room with their new frocks. Hitty of MT is also wearing her cute shawl which Hitty Autumn was really admiring!

I ordered a pattern on Ebay by a Tasha Tudor friend who is on my Take Peace FB page. It is tiny, as Hitty is only about 6 1/2" tall. I am trying to learn how to be successful with doll clothes making.

Setting in little sleeves is quite a challenge.

Here's my Hitty showing off the newly made clothes. I really like the little tucks in the skirt.

An orange ribbon just made the dresses ready for fall.

Here are the girls having a little tea. I also made the little quilt on the quilt rack.

Hitty Autumn with her tiny Hitty from the UFDC conference last year. LaVoone and I took a class and had to make the tiny dresses.

This is LaVonne's Hitty with her little tiny doll. Gosh we had a great time. 

Dolly Thursday

I went to the Portland Doll show last Saturday and much to my delight, I found Daphne and Gretchen new outfits. I as hoping to find them something pretty and new to wear this weekend. Our Pacific NW Tasha Tudor Society is having a gathering in Puyallup WA. The little ladies are invited to attend too.

This is Daphne's new dress and I love the colors. It's so Annabelle-like and fits her so nicely.

They say clothes make the man, but I say, clothes make the doll. This outfit just makes her look so much better! I especially love her bonnet.  They are going to have a great time at the party!

The show was held at the Monarch Hotel and it was really a nice show this time. There were so many older offerings at this show. So much to look at, so much to enjoy, so much to learn.

Pretty clothes everywhere!

I can never resist a  china head. I do love them and they are so tempting to me.

A darling little wooden bedroom set.

This painted bedroom set almost came home with me...almost!

More pretty dresses!

I was taken by the little metal kitchen...similar to mine.

These two are sooo lovely.

More goodies.

And so I will say good night with these two beauties. I am looking forward to this weekend with some dear Tasha friends. 

Delectable Mountain Cloth

When I was in Vermont last month, my Tasha Tudor friends wanted to take me to a very specials fabric store. I have been hearing about this shoppe...The Delectable Mountain Cloth...store since my first trip back in 2007. Oh, it is an amazing fabric store, unlike anything I have ever seen! I spent quite some time there and could have stayed even longer! It was like walking into a dream...so pretty and filled with so many delightful fabrics.

This is how they displayed their buttons. So much to look at!

 A shot at the magic of it all.

This is the owner and her helper. The owner was such a kick and very helpful. The shop has a great appeal for doll makers. Beautiful silks and taffetas.

Don't you just love all the hats? Wonderful.

A lot of the fabric is on rolled bolts.

I was drawn to the flat folds as it was easier to mix and match the fabrics.

This is my little stash from Vermont. I wish you could really see how beautiful these fabrics are. I am hoping to make some doll clothes.

The fabrics were pretty expensive, but so worth every penny.

Future doll clothes...I am hoping!