A break from the hook....

It's been a hot yet beautiful summer so far. I've been doing so much sewing, knitting, crocheting, phew I think I've lost weight on my fingers... lol. My husband must be tired of seeing thread by now too.. sigh. Oh well, he knows I love it :).

So anyhow, I've been browsing, yet again, looking at all the beautiful dolls out there. Knitted dolls, crocheted dolls, rag dolls, baby dolls, so many beautiful dolls. There are so many sites to find dolls and doll patterns that I could never list them all here. Some very good places are, www.ravelry.com, www.etsy.com, and www.dollmakersjourney.com, just to name a humble few.

So what sparked this you may ask. Well, I've been making dolls for years now. The first doll I ever made was a version of the children's tv character "BOO". Sorrily I don't have a picture of him to share with you. I made him for my baby niece at the time. I found that making that doll was fun and hence started searching for other baby doll patterns. I came across this wonderful website... www.dinkybaby.com which I think I linked from the doll maker site. I ordered my first pattern, the 14" newborn baby, bought the fabric and other necessary material and proceeded to make my first doll. To be honest it came out nothing like the picture. Go figure. lol. Apparently I cut the entire doll on the wrong grain. Lesson learned. So I did it all over again and wow what a beauty. I sold that doll but I do remember calling him Jonathan. :). Since that I've made close to 50 dolls. Some I've sold, some I still have for sale. I think I've gotten much better since that first doll and now I feel encouraged to try my hand at making a doll pattern for myself. Hmmm sounds like a challenge.

Anyway enough said. Here are some pictures of some of the dolls that I've made recently.

Meet Sweet Pea. Pattern from dinky baby.com. She is 8" tall. Cuddly and soft she is. Yes she has green eyes.

 Sweet Pea here again in here soft and warm Pea Pod bed.

 Close up :).

 Meet Bella. Made with a dinky baby pattern as well. She is 15" tall. Very huggable.

 Bella in her new outfit. Hat by me, dress from a cabbage patch outfit pattern, "Bomboletta Cardigan" knitted by me. Pattern from Pixie Purls "www.pixiepurls.com & www.bamboletta.com".

 This is from the Japanese Kokeshi Girls pattern by Handmade Kitty.etsy.com.

 Yes it's a surprise treasure keeper. I love Japan. Can't wait to visit it for myself.

 Some random toys and a bootie I made. A miniature pooh bear made from the Silly Ole Bear pattern I mentioned in my previous blog. Bootie pattern found at Bernat designs website. Baby doll Miki by www.berriiiz.etsy.com.

 Meet Megan. Made from a dinky baby pattern as well. She is 15" tall. Huggable girl :).

 And then I found a new pattern for my baby dolls after seeing a train load of Waldorf style dolls I went a searching once again. This is my first attempt at Waldorf inspired, cloth doll. I bought this wonderful pattern from www.lalidollnursery.com .. the cutest creations. I simply adore the dolls she has made. Can't wait to make some more from this pattern but I need to get the proper knit fabric first.

 Here is Snow, that's what I've called her :). Made her that wonderful outfit. Dress pattern included with the doll. Simply loved the entire process.

 Yes I know this one looks a bit scary but not to worry it won't bite.. lol. This was done because I was having a doll fetish. I found a free pattern on www.dollmakersjourney.com . It's actually supposed to be a pencil topper but I had no spare pencils handy so i changed it to a keyring :). I was trying my hand at intense needle sculpting. I also had to do some face coloring. She didn't come out too badly.

 And meet Ms. Ragsy and her little doll. Made from the pattern "Tilly Sue and her doll" by Lillie Mae's Crafts. A free pattern from her site of free patterns :).

 Ms. Ragsy's close up :).

 And finally meet Harper. She stands 17" tall and her hands are string jointed. This pattern is from Dinky Baby as well and is a special doll that will travel the world this year for an entire year so watch for the stops that she will make.  She stands all by herself. Her outfit was sewn by me. Clothes pattern comes with the doll. Shoes and socks came with doll as well. However, you can find accessories online at "Sophie's dolls" or something like that.

 I think she came out beautifully :).

I hope you've enjoyed this blog. Feel free to leave your comments. Check out the sites if you are a doll maker like me :). 

Gone to make harper's traveling bag now!! 

Peace and happy crafting!