A fox comes to the rescue

Since I started making the dolls for the children in need, I have been making puppies for the boys. They looked like this:

They were very cute, but tiny and too many little pieces for something I need to make lots of. I had been searching for a pattern that would have the same appeal for a boy, but be more fun to sew up.

I think I found it.

Enter the fox. From this pattern that I found a while back on Etsy.

The fox so far seems to meet all of the requirements: sturdy, fun to make, materials are easy to find, appealing to little boys and not scary. He's cute, but not too cute.

This past weekend, with the help of an assistant,  a skulk of foxes got made. Soon they will go out with a bunch of other dolls, some to Family Promise in central Massachusetts and some to foster children in Connecticut.

A Pile of Puppies and a Fox

Tomorrow I'm sending off seven puppies for boys in Family Promise, a program that houses transient families in local churches. This is part of my Doll Friend Project.

I have made about two dozen of these puppies over the past year. The pattern is cute, it works, repeatedly, and most importantly, the puppies are cute.

But they take a lot of time to make. A LOT. They look fairly simple. But they are a lot of little tiny pieces, spots, noses, tails, inner ears, outer ears. And the pieces are all tiny. Much smaller than I am used to working with.

Because the puppie production is slow and fussy, the boys always have to wait longer for their tranisitional object. The girls received their dolls weeks ago. And that makes me feel bad.

So this is the last batch of puppies. 

I have found a fox pattern that I am looking forward to trying. He is bigger. He will be made out of cotton. The puppies are made from a soft twill that frays and is hard to manipulate on a small small scaled object. And he is cute. Especially with the fabrics I have in mind

So, hopefully next time the boys won't have to wait so long. And I won't feel bad.

Family Promise Auction Doll and Wardrobe

This fall Family Promise Metro West (as in Natick, MA), will be hosting a fundraising auction. This organization has been wonderful in helping me make, give and match dolls for children in their program. Their program shelters homeless families in local churches, along with a lot of other wonderful services.

The auction is November 7, 2015 and in case you are local, the details are here. Tickets go on sale next week.

I have donated a Phoebe doll and wardrobe to the fundraiser (another good reason to go). 

The doll set will include:

• A Phoebe doll (as shown above)
• Her school outfit, dress, undershorts and shoes
• Play outfit, T-shirt and capris
• Beach attire, bathing suit, beach bag and sunglasses
• Pajamas and slippers
• Winter coat and scarf
• Sewing Pattern set: Phoebe Gets Dressed
• Phoebe's lovely box to store all of this in

I am thrilled to play a role in this wonderful fund raiser and to help such an amazing non-profit.

Beach set

Winter set

Play set

Pajama set

Phoebe's sewing patterns