The very first kits are in the shop!
Happy Thanksgiving,
ann
doll kits are in the shop
Month: November 2017
tiny dolls, captain charmley, mister skimpole and other new things
Houndstooth is always a bold statement and the scale is daring for an owl of his stature. I think he pulls it off though and he should, Mr. Skimpole is concerned only with appearances and pleasure.
His associate Sinclair, a far more somber owl, is made from Edwardian and Victorian garments and has shoe button eyes.
Get the sewing pattern to make your own dastardly owl.
For the last couple days I’ve been adding finishing touches and last minute details to almost finished dolls and creatures. I love a worktable covered with lots of things that only need the fun part done, a little edge stitching or an expression tweaked. One after another they cross the finish line and I feel like an over achiever for a little while.
Tonight I’ll begin a new group of things. Mostly ships and boats. I love waking up to a freshly dried layer of paper mache.
Have a lovely weekend and holiday,
ann
PS – Do you get my free weekly-ish newsletter? There are tips and tricks, ideas, stuff to try, all the latest news and blogposts and extra stuff, just for subscribers, delivered mostly on Friday. Pretty much.
4 free projects to try and a post crash update
I’ve been hitting the Pinterest pretty hard lately and collected a few projects I thought you might like to try. First, linen book marks by Minki Kim. I love book marks as little gifts (it is time to make the things for the people…) and Minki shares some great techniques and ideas for imagery.
Next stitched felt gift tags from Purl Soho. Purl has a huge collection of free projects, it goes on and on, lots of knit and crochet stuff and a bunch of sewing and craft projects too – all with Purl’s sweet, clean, contemporary style.
And a dear Appliqué Alpaca from Bustle and Sew. Everybody loves an alpaca. Find all the instructions and templates right here.
Finally a step by step painting tutorial from The Cheerful Space. I especially love this for a beginner or somebody who is having a hard time starting – this will get you moving and trying stuff.
and the post crash update:
I’m back in Brooklyn but not back to business as usual. It has been a month since the ceiling came crashing down unexpectedly and I’m still dealing with it. I do have a ceiling again, a beautiful ceiling but I have not been able to put things back together here yet. I came home to one hundred years of dust. In everything, it went everywhere. Looking on the bright side it has been a fabulous opportunity to vacuum, wash, or launder every single thing I own.
And I was very surprised to find about 2 thirds of my place painted an aggressive shade of salmon pink. I have no idea why. No one does. It should be repainted by Monday and I can’t wait. I am spiritually at odds with this color.
But still, I am home. Happy to be here and making things. Please meet Fernando (dashing in powder blue) and Alvaro.
dear little paper mache boat ornament : a free tutorial
Everybody loves to go boating.
I’ve made you something! A free tutorial for a dear little paper mache boat ornament. The boat is 5 and 1/2 inches long and 6 and1/2 inches high – a very nice size for very nice mice or tiny rag dolls.
They are quick and simple to make (really quick! make a bunch) and only require little bits of fabric, cardboard and other things you probably already have. And the pattern scales up easily – if you’d like to make a larger boat. I think it is helpful to read through all the steps before you begin.
To get started download the dear little boat and sail templates here.
* You can click each image for a larger view.
1. Place the boat template on your cardboard and trace the outline. Mark the fold lines (the dashed lines on the template) in colored pencil. Use the BACK of the exacto knife to lightly score the fold lines. Cut out the template.
2. Gently fold at the scored fold lines.
3. Bring the front sides and bottom together.
4. Tape over the tabs with masking tape – it’s helpful to tear off several little pieces of tape so they are ready when you need them.
5. Tape over the outside seams as well.
6. Fold up the back of the boat and tape over the tabs as well as the outside cardboard seams.
7. Fold the boat bottom flap tabs toward the print side.
8. Fold the bottom flap into the boat and tape over the tabs
9. Fold the sides over – into the boat.
10. Tape along all the edges. We are ready for paper mache.
paper mache tips: Because the boat is small and our armature is sturdy – one layer of paper mache is enough. If you are making a larger boat use at least two layers. Tear small pieces of newsprint – roughly an inch or smaller – small pieces of paper create a smooth sturdy result- use the smallest pieces for covering corners, tight curves and edges. I like commercially prepared wall paper paste – available at most hardware stores Collect text scraps for embellishing.
11. Begin with the edges – paint paste onto the boat – apply a piece of paper and paint paste over.
12. After covering the edges fill in the rest of the areas. One layer of paper is enough for a small boat – two will make it even sturdier. If adding a second layer there is no need to wait for the first to dry. Read More