Been busy with a few custom dolls and some new doll clothes. Here's a sneak peek:
Buying Fabric for Doll Clothes Online: My Resources
A bit of my stash
I do not live near any good fabric stores. The nearest JoAnn"s is half an hour away and for me JoAnn's is hit or miss. Great for thread and sometimes a great find. I can't count on it. So I buy a lot of my fabrics online. Here's what I buy and a few great resources for where you can find it.
For sewing doll clothes I use a lot of quilting cottons, some natural knits, including bamboo and cotton and occasionally wool. Since it is the fabric that often inspires me, I love choosing it out.
Quilting cotton is a great weight for sewing small, it is not bulky, irons easily, can be used for a large variety of clothes. I am even experimenting with making a few dolls out of tea-dyed cotton (that's for a later blog post). Although small scale prints are easy to find, it can be fun to play with scale and use a larger scale on a small dress. I have several favorite online quilting cotton stores:
Hawthorne Threads: Large variety, often ship the same day as your order. They also group collections together. My only complaint. I like to see some sort of measurement on the photo of the fabric to determine scale and they don't do this.
Fabric Worm: Great collection of cottons, especially with playful children's themes. Large selection of organic cottons.
Cia's Palette: Do not add to their collection as often as others but also have discontinued fabrics.
Farmhouse Fabrics: Have a great selection of quality small scale plaids
I like to use soft squishy knits for tee shirts, leggings and pajamas. I prefer my knits to be from natural materials, this makes them feel good, but to have lycra or spandex, because this gives them 4 way stretch. Four-way stretch helps small hands get doll's clothing on easier. Here's where I find good knits:
Harts Fabrics; Great Selection of Bamboo Knits
Fabric Worm: Great selection of organic cotton knits
Hawthorne Threads: A good place to get the Riley Blake knits, which are super basics
Once and a while I need good wool. Usually for winter coats, winter doll boots or maybe a skirt. I have found only one good source of wool online:
Mood fabrics: The online store is as overwhelming as the real thing in NYC.
Happy sewing small!
More stash
Handmade Toy Makers: Minnie and the Monster
Over the last few years, as handmade has become more discovered and discoverable through the Internet, a whole new range of cool dolls is popping up. As a doll-maker I’ve been in awe of how other doll-makers have thought outside of the box. The result for parents is that in a digital age where parents are worried that their children’s imaginations could be languishing, there is now a range of toys and dolls that will spark imaginative play.
Ginger and the Wild Horses
The dolls from Minnie and the Monster are a very different type of doll. Like the company’s name, they are creative and extra sweet. The Minnie folk are carved out of sustainable wood. The dolls are then sanded, woodburned and then handpainted with nontoxic watercolors that are colored with lovely things like beetroot, wild mustard and black elderberry. They are then coated with an organic mix of lavender, beeswax and jojoba oil.
Minnie Folk coming into their own
Jennifer Browning is the creator of the Minnie Folk. Although the Minnies are small, the name of her company is not from the word “mini”. Minnie was a childhood friend of Jennifer’s grandmother, who Jennifer enjoyed hearing stories about.
“Minnie’s family came to America from Italy and opened a pasta shop. And while Minnie didn't have much in the way of material possessions, some of what she did have found its way into my grandmother's treasure drawer. And that's how I knew her. I never saw Minnie's picture, but I could imagine her wearing the beautiful blouse my grandmother kept folded and wrapped with a note that read, "Belonged to Minnie." So Minnie and the Monster is a humble tribute to Minnie, to her loyal and lovely spirit, and to my indomitable grandmother whom I loved. “
A custom family of Minnie Folk
Jennifer lives in Bend, Oregon with her husband and three children. The whole family has some role in her company. The idea for adding the “monster to the name came from her husband. “ My husband is an ultra runner, specializing in 100-mile mountain races. He's often referred to as a beast for his epic endeavors. He also happens to be the grand cutter of all my pieces, so I wanted to include him in my shop name. Minnie and the Beast didn't sound quite right.”
Her husband also assists with the cutting of the dolls and her children help inspire ideas for characters.
The dolls are small sturdy and are often sold in sets. The sets are often families or characters from popular stories or books, such as Little House on the Prairie or Goldilocks and the three bears or a Nativity scene. Or there are custom sets, like Ginger and the Wild Horses, was a custom request for a little red-headed lover of horses. Individual historical stars like Shakespeare, Amelia Earhart and Frida Kahlo also have become Minnies.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Minnies have backs!
I imagine hours of playing and creating stories and scenes with Minnie characters since they can be perched on all sorts of landscapes throughout the house and yard. I can also imagine if my children were younger, collecting a few sets and expanding into a Minnie village.
Each character is drawn by hand, so no two are alike, so not only are Minnies adorable, they are works of art.
Minnie Folk can be found on Etsy.
And the Minnie and the Monster can be followed on Instagram.
The Shakespeares and their goose
Frida
A discount for your thoughts
I've been open for business just a little over six months. I have thoughts about what is working , what I should add, and all sorts of other fun ideas. But what's more important are your thoughts.
I really want to know what matters to you.
Clicking the image below takes you to a survey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You will receive a 15% discount in my Etsy store for sharing them.
Things I Love: Polka Dotted Fabric
Polka dotted Fabric: It's simple, at the moment its easy to come by, and it is nothing new. But I still love it. Always have and probably always will. I have a lot of it and I use it often. Some of my favorites are discontinued, but they are always new variations of dots on new fabrics. Over the last five years, dots are so common almost every designer has a version and every fabric store has a section.
My polka-dot obsession is apparent in my doll clothes, my own clothes and my house. My kids now choose out their own clothes and have escaped the dots.
For doll clothes dots are perfect. There's a range of scales that work and the pattern is the same horizontally and vertically, so laying out your pattern on small pieces of fabric is easier.
I own a lot of polka dot fabric. But these fabrics varie a lot once you start really looking and I'll explain why. Here are some of my favorites:
First and most obvious is color. Often polka dots are just two colors, foreground and background and this graphic simplicity is what is appealing. Sometimes they are more than one color dots which changes the look and feel--it amps up the playfulness. The dots can be colorful, the background can be colorful, or both, which is a bit much unless the tones are similar.
Colorful Dotted fabric
1. Sarah Jane Fabric by Michael Miller, swoon for everything she does
2. Bonnie and Camille from the Calliope Collection from Moda, most of their stuff has a retro but colorful feel
3. Amy Butler Lotus Collection, available everywhere. This dot pattern shows up all over the handmade world. I love how close together the dots are and that it is cream not white or off-white.
4. Aunt Grace by Marcus Brothers. This particular one is discontinued, but they still make a lot of retro polka dot fabric.
5. Funky Monkey Dots by Moda. Still available.
6. Calliope again. Several of you have Phoebe smocked dresses from this one.
7. American Jane fabric. These dots are discontinued but they often have dots in their newer lines.
Not so colorful, a different look
The lack of color gives a different look and feel.
1. and 3. Michael Miller Ta Dot. Available everywhere in a zillion colors.
2 and 4 . American Jane again.
Size of dot and how close together the dots are changes the look too.
I like big dots.
1. American Jane
2. Michael Miller Ta Dot
3. Ta Dot again
4. Amy Butler Lotus
5. My new favorite (and organic) Jay-Cyn from Birch fabrics
where is the best place for cute Polka dots:
Here are a few of my favorites (clicking through will bring you straight to the dot section):
Fabric.com (warning over 1000 but not all cute)
Coming next. Polka Dot Style--some polka dotty clothing combinations.
PS. there is no clear explanation for why they are called "polka" dots except that the polka was popular the first time they were trending.
How useful is the Internet if you sew?
I have been sewing for longer than the internet. In the 1990s when the Internet first became a part of many of our lives, it had little impact on my sewing life. I loved both things, but they were quite separate.
Twenty years later, and these two worlds definitely overlap. Not as much as knitting and the lovely world of Ravelry, but the sewing community is starting to gather.
I was quite interested when someone from my online sewing community took a closer look at the online world of sewing. Amanda Lerum Faulkner of the SewPandiPatterns blog used Facebook and other social media to do a survey for a business class about who sews, why and their use of their use of the internet for sewing.
She received about 100 replies and from those replies, she saw some patterns. Some things despite the internet have not changed. The large majority of those who responded were women, most were between the ages of 25-44 and most had starting sewing before the age of twenty.
What I found interesting was what most people were sewing. From what I see online I would have thought quilts would have been hands down the winner, but although quilts are popular we are producing far more costumes and clothing than quilts. Amanda said since she sews historical costumes, the survey could be biased towards her peers. My guess is more of us enjoy photographing our quilts, so we see more of them. We are a little more shy about photographing our garments.
Amanda also quantified why we sew. Although economics and environmental reasons play a role, many found a more personal satisfaction from the craft.
Amanda also asked which sites do those who sew search for information and community. Pinterest was a clear number one with Etsy and Facebook close behind (this is my experience too)
One thing that surprised Amanda (and me once she pointed it out), "I think the thing that surprised me the most is how many responders said they use YouTube in relation to sewing. I have not really done that, it isn't the way I think about learning sewing. It is particularly popular among those in the 20's just learning to sew, these sewers essentially grew up with the internet and may not have someone to teach them the sewing techniques they want to learn"
How do people use the internet for sewing. Below are some of the more common reasons. I see myself in two of these. I love the inspiration, but also have to tune out the noise.
Thank you Amanda. This was a cool peak into how the community has evolved and is still evolving.
New Dolls, New Clothes all on Etsy
It's take me awhile to sew, photograph and list. Each step is fun, but I'm not the quickest at any of them. But almost everything is up on Etsy now. Click on any of the photos and it will bring you to the shop.
Sneak Peek: More dolls and clothes
I've been bust sewing dolls and clothes. I am in the process of revamping my Etsy shop. I'm going to try a different set-up so there are more options for dolls, clothing and price ranges. Here's a sneak peek at some of the dolls and clothes that are in the works.
Handmade Toy Makers: Willowynn Textile Art
First in a Series about Toy Makers
Foxes made from an upcycled cotton curtain, photos courtesy of Margeaux Davis
Bringing Nature into the Playroom
As a toy-maker, I love following the art and career paths of other toy makers. I covet glimpses into their studios and creative process. Each of our journeys is unique, yet we also often share similarities, too. My career background is an unusual mix of years as a graphic designer, years of environmental protection and doll-making. An unusual mix, I know.
This is why I was especially drawn to Willowynn Textile Arts. Owner Margeaux Davis transforms the beauty of the natural world into cloth toys that are as captivating as the real thing. Her toy collection ranges from the more traditional owls and foxes, to blue and killer whales to species rarely made into toys such as moths, snails and mushrooms. Her depictions of these fauna (and one flora) are sweet but not unrealistically cute. The toys range from soft sculpture for gentle play to bunnies that can withstand the abuse of more intense play. These toys would be perfect for children already interested in wildlife. Or they could be used to spark an interest.
Custom Killer Whale
The Willowynn Label
The Work Environment
Margeaux lives with her family in rural Australia among macadamia nut farms and cow paddocks. Before starting Willowynn Textile Art, she worked as a park ranger and environmental educator. She has always sewn, but through Willowyn she has been able to recreate the creatures that fascinate her. “Owls, snails, moths, foxes, rabbits and whales have such a gentle, serene beauty and I love trying to create that mood or feeling in them.”
Margeaux has been sewing since she was a child, “I have honed my skills through trial, error and persistence. Each design has come about after countless hours spent stitching, unpicking and stitching again.’ When she was a child she made shorts, skirts and drawstring bags for her treasures. Her designs for Willowynn are made out of repurposed materials, linen remnants, second hand fiberfill, cotton napkins, vintage blankets, upholstery remnants, Margeaux is drawn to reuse for environmental reasons and because she enjoys the story and romance of the repurposed materials.
Her boys sewing in the studio
Bringing all of her Passions Together
Although Margeaux loved her job as a ranger, she created Willowyn so that she could stay home with her two young sons while working with her favorite things--nature and cloth.
Willowynn Textile Art can be found:
and in her Etsy Shop.
And this past week at FinderKeepers in Brisbane
Bunnies for more active playtimes
A new custom boy doll
A new custom boy doll with his own set of fun summer clothes, Vineyard Vines style. More details and photos soon.
