It's time to try and make new clothes for the dolls. Poppy Parker is languishing in drab cast offs, and deserves something colorful.
With the sun shining this morning, this pretty blue cotton print needs to be used!
All Those Fabric Scraps Can Really Distract A Person!
It's been a while since my last post. Between the day job, the non-paying evening job, and life in general, I've been pretty sidetracked from any sewing, knitting, or crafting. I still haven't caught up enough to sit down and seriously sew or knit again, but I did find clumps of time where I could at least do something crafty and creative.
I love hand made quilts, but I don't have the patience, or surprisingly even the fabric stash, to make a lot of those gorgeous, intricate patterns I admire so much. But I have a lot of scraps from cutting out doll clothes and other projects. And my local quilt shop sells bags of scraps, too, which I can't resist when I venture in.
So when my brain just needed something other than work and feeble attempts to keep the house from being labeled a hazardous waste site, I sat down at my sewing machine one evening with a big bag of my scrap stash, and started sewing. No pattern in mind, just a scrap quilt. I made squares, rectangles, lopsided triangles. Then I combined those shapes together, trimmed them down into roughly even squares and rectangles, and kept going.
The result after three weeks of a half hour here, sometimes an hour there, and I finally had a good sized quilt top. There's a lot of colors in there, and I love it!
Of course, my seams aren't all perfect, and there's some puckering going on, especially after I did a slapdash machine quilting job on it. I just went with a vague semi circle from one corner, and continued on out until I reached the other side. I also quilted "in the ditch" along the borders. Then I added a big piece of fabric for backing, and did the worst mitered corners you've ever seen.
But I still love it. It turned out to be 27.50 inches by 37 inches. It's a perfect doll sized quilt, or baby sized. I do plan to list this on Etsy, assuming it survives the wash and dry cycle. It should, since these are all cotton and cotton blend fabrics, but I'd feel remiss if I didn't both test wash it to confirm it will survive a gentle, cold water wash, and air dry tumble, and to get out as much cat hair as I'm sure crept into it while I made it.
I'm going to ask a high price for this, in my opinion: $75, firm. There's a lot of fabric, and a lot of my time in there, and I personally think the imperfections add to its charm. Imperfections also may make someone more willing to actually use it, too, despite my asking price. Nothing breaks my heart more than to pour time and energy, and often love, into a project, give it to someone, only to hear "It's too nice to use!" No, it's not! It's meant to be used, and maybe dragged around in a little pair of hands until it needs to be washed, and then washed again until it gets that soft and worn feel I love in old quilts.
And if no one wants to pay me $75, plus shipping, that's quite alright with me. I have dolls that need a fabulous quilt for a bed I'll eventually create. And my cats would be quite content to curl up on the sofa with me with this on my lap to stave off the morning chill while I drink my coffee.
So this project helped keep my sanity the last few weeks when I just couldn't focus on anything else when I had the time. I personally love it, but am still willing to sell it. But like most things I make, if no one wants to pay me a fair price for my time and effort, so be it. I have plenty of uses for it myself! :D
My oldest kitty, Rocky, helps with the photography process.
Bambicrony Lottie-She's A Keeper!
I was trying to auction off this sweet girl for over a month with no takers. I figure that's The Universe telling me I need to keep her.
Sounds like a good plan to me!
Time For Some New Fall Clothes
There are some gorgeous colors out right now. With the weather getting colder and the leaves falling, I'm back in love with heathered purples and greens, tempered with greys and black. I'm also loving the knit fabrics out. Some are so soft they're pure luxury, even if they are a total pain in the behind to work with.
After attending a fashion show at Bellevue Square last week, I'm thoroughly inspired now. I especially want to make some doll sized tights. That green and plum will be a great pop of color with a wool skirt and sweater. The black would make a nice knit top, or a lovely, clingy wraparound dress.
Plus, I have a new doll arriving that has been an agonizing several months wait while I chipped away at the layaway bill. He is going to need some loungewear while I work on his wardrobe! I'll post pics and more information after he arrives safe and sound, and I get him clothed. Just a hint, he's a SD sized BJD doll. Those familiar with these lovely resin dolls also know how anatomically correct they can be. I'm a prude, and just can't handle a "nekkid" manly doll in the house. :D
Now off to do all the chores I have been avoiding. Including finishing up a couple of doll sized sweaters after I still didn't learn my lesson about leaving enough room in the neckline to get it on the doll... *sigh*
Just A Wisp Of An Idea
Ideally I'll be able to get more details out either on paper, or in fabric!