Phoebe is off to New Jersey, hopefully ahead of tomorrow's predicted snowstorm.
Things I love: flower buttons
There's not too much I can say about flower buttons, except I love them, and they are hard to come by. At least nice ones are. Here is my entire collection, all from various sources in China (found through eBay over the years). The last shot is how I like to use flower buttons. What else can I say? They are the perfect final touch.
and the winner is...
Have not heard from Peabeec. If I don't hear by Thursday, I will select a new winner.
The winner of the Knitted Babes kit is Peabeec. I have written under your comment how to contact me, so I can send this out. Congratulations and thanks everyone for participating.
2014 is just coming together
I know, 2014 started over four weeks ago, and most people have already made and broken their resolutions. Although I've done some of that too, for the past four weeks I've been thinking about the direction of this blog. I have been thinking about what I want to write about and what you want to see and read. And after a fun blogging class over at Skillshare and the surveys filled out by some of you, I have a few ideas. And by the way, the surveys have been very helpful. Thank you, I really enjoyed reading your responses.
And what I want and I think you want is for this blog to bring people together. Not just anybody, but people who are interested in handmade dolls. There is a whole community out there who is interested in handmade dolls. And this interest translates into wanting to read about the craft of making dolls and doll clothes, tutorials on sewing dolls and doll clothing, interviews with other doll makers and a bit about more about Phoebe and Egg.
I'm not one for planning too far in advance, life has shown me that it's best to see where it takes you. So here is what to look forward to on Phoebe&Egg in the near future:
- Short posts and lots of visuals. I get that and I like that, that's my style anyway.
- Contests for dolls, discounts on the dolls, doll clothing or patterns. I like input and hopefully you like Phoebe and Egg.
- Tutorials: mostly on sewing doll clothes. There are so many tricks to sewing mini and I am happy to share. Small clothes are fun because they require less time and fabric and they are so cute, but some things come together differently for small clothes.
- Interviews with other doll-makers. I am going to assume this as interesting to you as it is to me.
- And lastly, Phoebe and Egg are going to start living a little. I want them to make a house. I was inspired by this doll house. Barbie's not very handmade and Phoebe and Egg's house won't look like hers, but you have to admit both the Barbie house and the story are inspiring. It made me realize Phoebe and Egg need a life!
So thank you and I look forward to coming together this year. I always love to hear from you.
Off to join her baby sister
Phoebe is off to join her baby sister Egg in Indiana. She wishes they could have travelled together, but that just didn't happen.
Off to Indiana
Egg is off to her new home in Indiana. Her older sister Phoebe is not far behind.
Debut
Two new pink-haired dolls. In my studio and on Etsy.
DIY Knitted Babes Kit: Easy to Do and Easy to Win
The dolls in the "Knitted Babes" book are so easy and fun to make, you will soon be addicted, which is fine, because there are enough materials in this kit to make at least four.
The book "Knitted Babes--Five Dolls and Their Wardrobes" by Claire Garland (see my interview in the earlier post), amazing photos and easy instructions
- Two skeins of skin colored of Merino Yarn
- Two skeins of hair yarn (blond and black
- Felt for Eyes
- Floss for their eyelashes (important)
- Four fresh fun fabrics like the ones in the book
- Two cotton yarns for knitted clothing
- Three fun trims
How to Win?
Comment under this post before January 30, 2014. I'll pick a comment from the random number generator. I need to know how to contact you, you can contact me privately.
And if you win, this will be coming your way, soon in the mail.
The book and materials for the babes clothes.
Hair, eyelashes, skin and eyes.
Two of my Knitted Babes.
The Art of Doll-Making: An interview with Claire Garland
I first heard of Claire Garland when a pattern for a "Knitted Babe" appeared in Rowan Magazine, a knitting magazine with a focus on knitted clothing, not toys, or dolls. I was immediately smitten, the doll was different, funky, adorable and easy to knit. A few months later her book--Knitted Babes; Five Dolls and their Wardrobes-- came out, and I was knitting babes in the car pool line, while waiting at gymnastics and when I was supposed to be cooking dinner. They were addicting. Since then Claire redesigned the dolls to be knitted in the round, written another book and developed a following on Ravelry, Facebook and Pinterest. Here's a bit more about Claire in her own words:
A spread from the book "Knitted Babes"
Have you always made dolls?
Ironically, I started actually making dolls for something to do when my son was a toddler, about 14 years ago, and I was expecting my second child! - I know it sounds like I should have had my hands tied with a two year old (hence the exclamation) but he was always content to sit and watch or play with whatever I was doing at the time be it gardening, baking or sewing.
My first handmade doll was a fabric rag doll, in fact a forerunner to the doll in my first published book Embroidered Treasures. The Knitted Babe dolls soon followed when I asked my mum to re-teach me how to knit and from that I knitted a similar shape to the fabric doll to develop a basic knitted doll with a seam running all around the outside.
Before all that however I concocted simple shiny space outfits from sweet wrappers, sellotape and foil for my Pippa dolls when I was about 9!
Clothes for Knitted babes from Claire's Ravelry page.
How did the idea for "Knitted Babes" came about?
After that first doll, prototype if you like, was born/ created (looking slightly alien-like I must admit) I added hair and knitted a simple hat which I thought looked like a swimming hat - and then a swimming costume - then came her name: Dot Pebbles and then a notion that I could create a range of dolls and clothes and shoes - like the packets of little outfits and shoes I used to love to receive at Christmas for my Pippa dolls - and perhaps compile the whole lot into a catalogue or book which I eventually did. The title Knitted Babes came at the end - Bathing Belles was my first collective name.
How has your toy-making career dove-tailed with parenting?
As I mentioned it was because of my children that I first started to make dolls - I don't know why dolls and not other toys or bears, perhaps my childhood had some hand in that? -My daughter has the whole collection of all the dolls and the clothes that I have ever made (two suitcases full!) and the two boys have enjoyed the knitted bears I eventually got round to - but they don't make their own except my daughter who loves to dress peg dolls in her own eclectic style.
One of Claire's newer styled Babes.
What are you up to now?
Not that I feel I've exhausted the knitted doll which got bigger and easier to knit (if you like knitting in the round!) as the dolls progressed - and the doll eyes as opposed to the embroidered eyes I felt appealed more widely (- the embroidered eyes - although much more character giving - are a little tricky) but now I'm crocheting for the time being! And loving it! I'm in the process of adding a crochet doll to my collection… and also crochet letters with numbers to follow.
Any advice for amateur doll-makers or inspirational thoughts?
It's the faces that make the doll so don't just finish your doll off quickly. All, bar none, of my dolls have eyes and mouths removed many, many times before I am satisfied with the finished look!
It's that expressive look you're after!
You can find Claire at:
On her blog, which is very inspiring,
on Etsy,
and on Ravelry, where you will find all of her knitting patterns.
And stay tuned for a giveaway of A Knitted Babes kit that will include the book and all of the supplies to make several knitted babes. Details in my next post.
The Giveaway, details in my next post.
Two new dolls
They took a bit longer than most dolls, not sure why, but here they are.
A new pink-haired Phoebe and pink-haired Egg. Neither have clothes yet, but clothing design is the fun part. Hoping to have them on Etsy by Saturday. I think pink-haired Egg may be spoken for.
