Success!

I have been trying to post the pics for days but Blogger wouldn't let me. Finally, here they are!

Holiday Sewing

Here's a few pictures of what I've made over the last few days. I seem to have entered a phase of commercial sewing, brought on by an intense desire to be able to do what I want. I've always wondered if I could really make a living off my sewing, so I am going to take a real stab at it. So I started sewing Christmas morning and have been at it off and on since then. I made the tye-dye corduroy bag first. In addition to the green mountain looking things on the front, I also lined it with one of the green batiks. The other bag I made today from a pair of gold cords I picked up at Salvation Army. John got me a great book of images for crafters for Christmas, and the applique was taken from the book. The fringe is bits of yarn I cut from different skeins we have laying around, and I embellished the center of the applique with little glass beads. The pants took 2 days for me to make, and were originally a ladies pair of size 20 light tan pinwale cords. I took them apart entirely and recut them using a size 14 pattern. I added patchwork side panels made from 5 cottons and scraps left from hand dyed hemp I had. I've seen the Jerry Bear doing a handstand a few times; once I decided to do that for the applique I knew there would be the bolt on the patch pocket. I think they turned out very nice. I am listed them on E-bay, and had an e-mail from someone who is interested in them but in a smaller size. I wrote her back and said I couldn't make the exact same pants, but would be happy to make a similar pair; now I am just waiting for her response. The bags are going to a store over in Lombard. I also started a corduroy skirt with a patchwork band at the bottom and a kangaroo pocket with a pretty involved Celtic applique. I think it is going to be pretty cute, and warm too, for this time of year. Although with the above average temps we've been having you almost don't need really warm stuff.
Melissa and Gregory went home yesterday. I think they had a good time while they were here, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were both nice, and they spent a lot of time downtown. We went bowling a couple of times, too. Melissa was disappointed that there was no body with the King Tut exhibit.They both go back to work and school this week.

More dolls clothes

After taking a good look around, I realized that one of my china heads, Rachel, needs a new dress too. Actually, she only has one dress that I made for her, and then one that's a little too small for my other china head, although it's still big for Rachel because it wasn't made for her. So, armed with Rachels measurements and the Colemans book " The Collectors Book of Doll Clothes", I am going to make her a dress almost from scratch. There are several patterns in the back that have been taken from the original sources, and are reduced to fit the book. I am using a pattern originally published in La Poupee Modele in 1864. There is also a picture on the front cover of a china head and her wardrobe, she's about the right era. I really like the blue silk ball gown on the cover, and I will loosely base the bodice on that dress. Rachel's will be cotton, and trimmed with dark green ribbon. I am posting pics of the book, the pattern, and Rachel overseeing my choice!
I may be selling some of the American Girl doll clothes to a woman who was at work the other day; she is a friend of Mai's and her granddaughter is getting an American Girl for Christmas. She's going to call and maybe come over tomorrow to see what I have. It would be ok to sell some of the clothes, I have so many of them!

Getting ready for Christmas

I haven't felt much in the Christmas spirit, with Siobhan gone, but it's starting to creep in. I have all the dolls dressed for Christmas except my little porcelain red-headed Rose that Chris gave me years ago. She doesn't have a Christmas dress, so I am going to start one for her this afternoon before I leave for work. After I have them all dressed and arranged I'll take pictures of them.
I have worked on the embroidery for the christening set a bit, too. I realized that the motif had to go in every other scallop; if I put one in every scallop they would be almost touching. I'll just put a little bullion rose in the other scallops. This is actually a very nice thing, as it cuts the dress embroidery by almost half.
Me, Carla, Rich and Mom took Chris out for his birthday lunch this Saturday past. It was a lot of fun, we went to Olive Garden and I got Chris to try calamari, although he didn't like it. Then Mom, Carla and I went shopping. I asked Chris to go, but Rich warned him that shopping with us was like torture and why would he want to subject himself to that?
I think I'm off tomorrow ( I don't know for sure, I forgot to check the schedule), and if I am I'm going to make shortbread, and maybe cranberry bars. One way to for sure get into the Christmas spirit is to make cookies.

Alone at home with the dolls!

Siobhan is in New York, she got in this morning. She was supposed to fly out last night but her flight was cancelled due to technical difficulties. Anyway, she went early this morning and Melissa met her at the airport. I am sure they will have a great time together, knitting and bopping around NYC.
I am taking the opportunity to get some much needed organizing done while she gone. I am doing a bit this afternoon before I go to work, and a lot tomorrow when I'm home all day. I have cleaned out space in the storage closet in the basement and a lot of yarn and fabric is going down there for a bit. I'm also going to keep working on the Tiny Tears christening set, and maybe make another antique dress and hat; I just got a new pattern for a 22" Patsy type compo doll. I also finished Chatty's holiday set this morning and am posting the pics. It's really cute and I almost don't want to list it on E-bay. I have piles of fabric slated for doll clothes and I need to see what I need to complete outfits. Plus I have a couple of Christmas presents to make yet, I'll get to those on Saturday.

Chatty Cathy

Well, here's my Chatty Cathy dressed in one of the dresses I made for the American Girls. I sent this dress to the craft show on Saturday, I didn't go because I had to work. I haven't talked to Mai or Holly so I don't know if I made any money or not. Siobhan and I talked about mostly focusing on one or two thing for craft shows, and then maybe just doing the shows ourselves. I think that's a good idea, although I've heard that websites are better than craft shows. Since I don't just focus on American Girls and Bitty Baby I think maybe I might do ok at Kane Co., it's just that the spaces out there are so much. Anyway, I'm going to see if I can get John to make me a website, I'd like to get it up and going in time for people to order Valentines Day dresses for their dolls. Then I could also have St. Pats, Easter and then summer outfits.I really like sewing for the vintage dolls, they are so much nicer than the American Girls.
I am going to finish up a Christmas outfit I am making for Chatty and get it listed on E-bay, and then if I have time do a bit more embroidery on the christening dress.