Finders Keepers Finished

I finally finished my Finders Keepers doll from the workshop that Colleen Babcock taught at my doll club, Time For Dolls. Overall, I'm happy with her. In the workshop you were given a chance to make the doll one size or we were taught how to make her taller and keep everything in proportion. That was very interesting. For some reason I chose to make her taller. I bought all these cute fabrics for a little girl, but when I brought the doll home, she had a wire armature and was wrapped in batting and had her head on; but even looking like that I knew she was an adult doll. So, I had to find some different fabrics for her. I like her and I think her face came out darling she's just not the cute little girl I had planned on. Someday... I might make another one. She is a challenging doll to make but I also learned a great deal. Right now she is sitting in a doll chair on my desk next to my computer because she doesn't stand very well, I think it is the added height of the doll. Thinking about her I really would like to make another one now that I understand how she was made and what I would have to do to the doll initially during the wiring and batting process to make the doll look like I want her to when she is fully dressed.

No Rules-Christmas in July

Yesterday was our annual No Rules group's Christmas in July party. We are all doll makers and even though this is a mixed media group we picked out a name without revealing that name a few months ago and made a doll for that person. The dolls are such a treasure to have, since it's a small group and we are very close it is so nice to have a doll made especially for me from my No Rules ladies. Last year my doll was from Teresa, this year it is from Carolyn.

She is beautiful. In May Caolyn took a class from Christine Shively at Gala 2010 and they made this doll but with an Indian sari. Christine also taught the class this outfit as well. She is so beautiful I will treasure her always.

This doll is a doll that Teresa made for Pam. It is the same doll that she made for me last year but personalized it for Pam by using Mary Engelbreight fabrics, which Pam loves. My doll last year was pink and turquoise and holding a cupcake (which I love!). This doll is so darling.

This is the doll that Pam made for Carolyn - it is gorgeous!! It is Cindee Moyer's pattern Fairy Catcher. Pam made the bird cage and put in a little bird because Carolyn loves birds and bird nests. This doll is beautiful with the copper colored dupioni and the leg fabric matches perfectly.

And last is the doll that I made for Teresa. I only had a week to make her and I jus

t wasn't happy with how I made this doll at all. If I had more time I would have chosen a totally different pattern. I first chose the fabrics, her skirt is purple with cats on it. Two things that Teresa loves. I also put little hearts on the color of her blouse because Teresa loves hearts too, she puts a heart on every doll she makes. I'm so disappointed in the doll and myself but Teresa was gracious and said that she liked her.

And this is a picture of all 4 of the dolls together.

After opening our dolls we had a lovely lunch. Pam's husband Jim BBQ'd a whole chicken and Pam made blueberry and lemon Zinger ice tea, both excellent. Tersa made a lovely salad and Ed made his famous potato salad for me (it was requested). Then Carolyn brought pound cake, fresh strawberries and whipped cream - yum, yum, yum. We then made plans for new project for the rest of the year and the beginning of next year. All in all it was a pretty great day.

Weekend with Colleen Babcock

Well, I haven't written much of anything for a long time. Colleen was coming to our club Time For Dolls to teach a weekend class, Finders Keepers and she was going to stay with me at my home. To put it nicely my house looked like a tornado had just run through it - YIKES - what a mess. So... I set off to paint, move furniture, buy new furniture, assemble said furniture, clean carpets (not me the guy with the truck) and have new carpet installed. Mind you I had 6 years to get this done but as usual time just got away from me. (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) I like my house now, anything would have been better, but I do like it. There still are some rooms to finish but that is for another time, hopefully time that doesn't get too far away from me.

So, to the point of this post. Colleen came to teach Finders Keepers, the most darling little doll. The class was so interesting and we all learned new techniques, we learned about body sizes and how to adjust for a taller body, it was great. Everyone except me decided to make the doll the original size. I wanted her a little taller. It was so strange - after the workshop when I had my doll to the point where she was wire armatured, batted and head on she didn't look like a little girl to me anymore, she looked older. Just by adding that inch or so to her height made such a difference. I had picked out the cutest fabrics for a little girl doll, mostly pink, the dress would have cherries, pink polka-dot socks, very cute. Oh well, I guess I just have to make another doll, but smaller. I'll publish a picture of the doll I am making and the new fabrics that I chose when she is finished.

The workshop was really intense the first day, there was a lot to do so unfortunately I didn't do a very good job of getting pictures taken. I do have pics of some of the ladies and I'm sorry I didn't get every one. And I didn't get a group shot of everyone together with Colleen.

This is Deborah, with the green top, with her doll head. Then there is Pam

whose head got chopped off, with her doll head. And then there is Teresa with the purple top. And here is Paloma with the red top.

Here are a couple of pictures of Colleen demo'ing how to sculpt feet and boobs. And a picture
of Colleen with Pam and Sheila ready to help.

And Colleen demo'ing hands

Colleen was so generous to donate a doll to our club for a silent auction with the proceeds going to the club to help defray costs for our next workshop. Colleen made this doll, impeccably I might add, it is an Angela Jarecki design. It was beautiful and Sheila was the lucky winner. Sheila was so excited to have the doll, I'm very happy for her.

And on a personal note, Colleen was my house guest who quickly turned into a dear friend and family member. She quickly became comfortable enough to make herself completely at home and that made me feel great. Colleen has a special diet she must follow so we shopped at a health food store and found lots of things for her to eat and she was great to just jump in and cook what she wanted, when she wanted. And, she loved my dog Lucy (I don't know who wouldn't!)

Boy, Lucy really missed Colleen after she left, when I returned from the airport after dropping Colleen off Lucy was looking all over for her Colleen.

Here is something I never do, I took a picture with Colleen, which is fine, but I am publishing it - aaacccckkk! Anyway, Colleen of course is the cute, young, skinny one on the left and well, I'm not!!

Colleen, you were a fabulous teacher, I know everyone enjoyed you and the class so much, thank you, THANK YOU!!! And on a personal note thank you for being such a great guest, my husband LOVED that you loved hockey and he finally had someone to talk to about it.