Happy New Year!

On this last day of 2015, I thought that I would review what's been going on with me and my dolls. This has been a great year but it has not been a year without some sadness too. In April, I lost my dad to cancer. It really put a damper on my doll clothes business. For several months after we found out that he had cancer and that it was terminal, I just did not have a will to sew. It took a lot of joy out of everything that I did. I went on and lived my life as usual but without the joy that I used to get out of it. Anyone who has lost someone that they loved would probably understand. And then when he passed away, it took me several months afterwards to be able to get back in the swing of things. But I finally recovered and I'm ready for an even better 2016. I had 2 great craft shows this year. I usually only do the one craft show but I'm wanting to do more now. I really like being able to talk to people face to face. The Etsy shop is great but I really like to interact with live customers. But don't worry Etsy shoppers, I'm not giving up my Etsy shop anytime soon. I also love it when I get a sale with Etsy. I love to hear that little "ca-ching" that sounds on my IPAD. One thing that I got for Christmas that will really help me to stay on top of my blogging, is my HP laptop. We had an old Vista computer that was about to bite the dust. My daughter was constantly on it so instead of fighting with her for the computer, I would just wait when she wasn't on it. I also got a JoAnn's gift card from my mom so I can spend that on making plenty of doll outfits for next year. I also bought myself a new American Girl doll. I got Mary Ellen. She is so cute. I'll be sure to make lots of 50's inspired outfits. Also, be on the look out for more tropical themed outfits for the newest GOTY doll. My latest outfit is one that I just finished and listed today in my Etsy shop. It is a Red Holiday Party dress. This dress would make a great gift for Valentine's Day.

 

My newest doll Mary Ellen

My latest outfit Red Holiday Party Dress

Doll Background Tutorial

Several months ago I did a tutorial on my other blog on how to make a doll background or play set. I thought that I would post it here on this blog in case anyone missed it. I sometimes like to use these backgrounds when I take photos of my doll clothes that I sell on my Etsy shop but they are also great to use as doll rooms to play with. The great thing about these backgrounds is that you can fold them away under a bed and they don't take up a lot of space.

First you will need a big cardboard box or one of those cardboard display boards for school projects works nice too.

One big cardboard box will make two rooms. I just cut the tabs off and cut the box in half lengthwise.

Then once I have my cardboard box cut, (it would probably be easier if you just used a cardboard display then you wouldn't have to cut it) I can choose some pretty pieces of scrapbook paper to use as wallpaper. You could also cover it with some Contact paper if you like.

After I chose my paper, I can piece it together on my cardboard and glue it on with a glue stick. Make sure that the edges are glued down real good.

Next, I put a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper on the bottom half and glued it down. Then I made a little window at the top. I cut a scene out of a magazine and used a piece of construction paper as the window pane. I found that the magazine Southern Living has a lot of good pictures for scenery.

Here's an example of the background that I made.

And here is one of the sets that I made being used as a doll room.

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial. And maybe you might want to try one for yourself. They are really much more inexpensive than making a whole doll house.

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year! My family and I will be heading down to Tennessee to spend the holidays with my mom. I've got some great plans to make some more cute outfits in 2016 so be on the look out for them. Valentine's day will be coming up and I'm planning a new dress for that. 

 

New Dresses for Christmas

They are not pictured here but I also have white gloves that go over the elbow and shoes to match.

I have been busy sewing and I really like my latest dress. It is a gown that was inspired by Disney's Frozen. The gown was made from the Princess Anya pattern by Love U Bunches. It looks great on Caroline. If you live somewhere in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I will be at a craft show in Sanger, TX next weekend. You can see it there.

I call this the Ice Princess dress.

It has a very pretty white satin ribbon belt that ties in the back.