Dress Pattern Design for 8 inch Berenguer Baby

After some trial and error, I have designed a dress pattern for the 8 inch Berenguer Baby doll. The first one was too big. No biggie since it fits the Toddler Baby.
This one fits a bit tightly on the shoulders. The arm holes are tight. Will tweak the pattern pieces just a little. Then it is on to working out a panties pattern for a set.

I think I might offer the pattern, after tweaking. If I do offer the pattern, would I need to write out step by step directions?

Very first homemade apple pie (crust too!)

This has been put off way too long. I have always been so afraid of trying to bake a pie from scratch. We've been working hard on changing what we eat and how it's prepared.
Today, I baked my very first homemade apple pie crust and all. We haven't sampled it yet, but it sure looks pretty!
It wasn't nearly as hard as I had convinced myself it was. This fantastic website,"My Home Cooking" helped me step-by-step from beginning to baking.

Round Ripple Baby Blanket

This Round Ripple Baby Afghan was created using Red Heart Super Saver worsted weight yarn in Turqua, Yellow and White. Finished size is 36" across.

It was fun and fairly fast to work up. So many color ideas. I'd love to do one queen size in turquoise, white and tan for our bed.

This blanket is available at ArtFire. Custom color requests are always welcome.

Pattern is a free pattern available here. Permission to sell finished items from this pattern must be requested.

SuperPoints - Earn Points and cash

Simply by completing offers, viewing videos and playing the SuperPoints Button game, earn points which are redeemable for cash, gift cards, Wii and Xbox 360 and more. And you can earn from your downline as well!
By spending as much as 30 minutes a day, you could earn $5-15 weekly.
The links below are for one person per link. I will have 4 links here and will add more as they are used up. 
http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/d0ef8n
http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/smin1a
http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/yex7xr
http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/0fduif

ArtFire Collection "Colors of Autumn"

Check out this great collection featuring splendid fall colors in items created by the talented artists in the Power Promoters ArtFire Group.

Colors Of Autumn

Curated By: HollysDollies

ArtFire.com

Craft Supplies

Purple and White Hand knit baby sweater complete

Put the finishing touches on this cute sweater. I love the slip stitch pattern. Pattern is from Leisure Arts Precious Layettes to Knit, pattern #4 "Dapper". Definitely not as hard as it may look. I used Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn in purple and white. The drape of this yarn is fantastic. This pattern has been used to create 2 layettes (one in lavender and white, and one in mint green and white) for a dental assistant as gifts.
The sweater is now listed on ArtFire.

Hand knitted scarf project

There has always been a fear of knitting scarves! I had this idea of knitting the same row over and over and over again was going to be too boring for me to hold my interest. Seeking a challenge I chose a lacy leaf pattern. Was it ever a challenge!!! With two boys at home 24/7, there isn't much quiet time and I am not a multi-tasker, though I have tried to teach myself to do more than one thing at a time.
I am really happy how this scarf turned out! It's about 6.5 inches wide and 64 inches long in Red Heart Dark Sage. I devoted 4 hours a day and completed it in 4 days. Today, l would like to start a doily project. After getting some doll clothes finished up, photographed and listed. I would like to offer the doll clothes in a set, 3 outfits in one package... imagine the fun of receiving 3 in 1.

Lavender crocheted Barbie Bed doll on ArtFire - Price Reduced!

Bills are piling up, and I want to be able to create some new items, so.... I will be cutting prices on many items in my ArtFire Studio.
The first is my Lavender Barbie Bed Doll. This beautiful set includes the doll, gown, slip, and pillow form. Reduced to $50 from $75.
http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/HollysDollies/3532205

Polly dolly has a Halloween dress and bloomers!

I've had this outfit finished for a week or so, but with so many orders coming in for items, I haven't had a chance to get it photographed and listed on ArtFire.
Finally! This adorable little outfit consists of a purple background with witches, ghosties, spiderwebs, black cats and pumpkins. The orange frayed apron is sewn onto the dress. Neckline and bloomers waistline have thread ties for easy changes of clothing!
This set is made especially for my 12" Bunny Doll, Polly. It would fit any prim style doll with a 6" chest circumference.
Check it out on ArtFire! Only $4.00 total including postage!

Prim Cat doll sculpture - a fun project!

 A wonderful paperclay cat doll tutorial was shared in a sculpting group. (S)he was so cute, I had to give it a go! I used polymer clay instead of air dry clay and decided the arms and legs on mine will be primitively jointed. The photos do not do this cute kitty justice.
This project would be very well suited to beginners.
Paper Clay Kitty Doll Tutorial There are also a lot of other great tutorials as well. Give it a try!

My kitty will be available on ArtFire in the next day or so.

Selling Success Through ArtFire Studio

Today is Shop Hop Saturday, where shop owners share links and help promote others in their online selling endeavors.









For those who have been following along with my DRAMA over whether to try ArtFire or stick with Etsy or both or neither, this may be of some enlightenment and encouragement to follow your heart and the rest will come.
Since opening my studio, I have been having great success with ArtFire. And some success as well with Etsy. I have decided, even though creating enough items for both shops is a full time job in itself, that I am going to keep both open for the time being.
First of all, it seems Google really loves ArtFire. With a bit of SEO work, my items are being found on the first page of Google search results. Also, ArtFire welcomes you sharing your Etsy link in your Studio. A great backlink for your Etsy Shop!
ArtFire charges a monthly fee with no final sales fee, and listings do not expire. Etsy charges a listing fee and a final sales fee. I am still weighing the benefits of which is the better deal for the seller. I love them both actually and have high hopes of continuing with both of them.
One tip would be to "Brand" yourself... Both shops with the same name. I made the mistake of having ArtFire as HollysDollies and Etsy as Sweetwater Creations. I am considering closing Etsy and opening a new one as HollysDollies, despite the fact that I create more than dolls and doll clothes.

Handknit Grey and blue baby pullover

This cute little boys' knit pullover was a custom order in grey and blue to fit a 6 mo old. As usual, I think I made it a wee oversized, but that's ok, the lil tike can grow into it over the coming winter!
I hadn't thought about using non-traditional baby blue, pink and mint green colors. My husband even commented on how nice this pullover looks, and that is a major compliment in itself! He suggested I try making a couple more for the ArtFire Studio.
It was made using Caron Simply Soft in Heather Grey and Navy Blue. I love how the finished garment drapes. Soft and comfy.
Putting the finishing touches on a green sweater size NB-3mo. Again a non-traditional color of Caron Simply Soft, but the effect is so charming.
Scalped myself yesterday. Trying to clean a covered chicken run with a low ceiling. I got distracted and scraped the top of my head. Only one serious scrape, but, shoot did I carry on so!

Promote your Handcraft Shop - An Advertising Bargain

Image by Isolino via FlickrMy ArtFire Studio, HollysDollies, is featured in "Shop of the Week" at christieCottage blog for the week of August 14-21.

The Sales Fairy has already visited! Through the link to my shop, someone visited the link to my blog and purchased an item.

ChristieCottage is a fantastic blog host, the owner really knows how to promote her site and other crafters products. She works hard at getting the word out there, as well as The Lord's Word.

I highly recommend that you advertise as Shop of the Week at ChristieCottage. It truly is worth the small investment. Advertising dollars well spent!

Make it a productive week. Create your to do list and give it to God. He'll take it from there.

The winner of the giveaway doll quilt is......

Ruthi, aka abitosunshine!
Congrats, Ruthi! Email me your shipping address and I will have it in the mail tomorrow!
monkeefan66 at gmail dot com

One day left to enter the doll quilt giveaway!

Only one day left to enter the giveaway. Only 6 valid entries so far. Come on! You can have up to 3 valid entries per day. Simply tweet, facebook share and comment on the giveaway post.
I need confirmations of tweets and shares.

The drawing will be tomorrow evening at 7pm mountain time. The deadline will be 6pm mountain time. We'll be out fishing again tomorrow and no telling how long we will be gone.

Visit the giveaway and enter!
http://knitting-monkeefan.blogspot.com/2011/07/giveaway-doll-size-quilt.html

New addition 8 Inch Berenguer Doll

Friday, I met a new friend at a craft shop. She encouraged me to try designing my own crocheted doll dresses and such. I was really hesitant to try to do this with a larger doll, like the American Girl Doll. So while we were shopping at Wally World, I browsed the dolly section to see if there was a smaller doll that wanted to come home with me. Well, of course they were ALL crying to me. I found one that really tugged my heart strings. This is a little Berenguer 7.5-8 inch baby. His/her smile and expression are so close to the expression in a photo I have of Bubba when he was 3 months old.
I then set about designing a dress, headband and booties! That wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I wrote down all the stitches, increases, decreases, etc.

Crocheted Dress, Booties and headband on ArtFire

Today I started to work on a pair of overalls and a shirt. So far so good.
Will I be brave enough to try sewing for this little darling? Maybe.....

The next dolly on my wish list is Berenguer's 14" Lola. Her gleeful expression is also very similar to Lil Bub's photo.

Giveaway - Doll Size Quilt!

Front Of Quilt



















Back Of Quilt

This giveaway is for a 14½” x 14½” doll quilt in the 9-Patch pattern. Strips are a white floral print and backing is a country girl print. Machine quilted. Perfect size for 18” dolls like American Girl Doll, Our Generation, Gotz, Madame Alexander or even a baby doll to cuddle in.

This is the first quilt I’ve made in over 20 years!  And my first ever doll quilt!! I feel ready to begin making more now.

To enter:

*Earn 1 entry by leaving a comment here on this blog post. Let me know what you think of the item!

Earn extra entries: (limit 2 posts on Twitter and Facebook per day) must leave comment letting me know.

*1 entry - Share on Twitter by posting the following (or something similar but be sure to include @hollysdollies so I can track your tweets): I’ve entered a giveaway to win this handmade doll quilt on Holly’s Crafts Blog http://t.co/ML0RudZ #giveaway #handmade @hollysdollies You could win!

*1 entry – Share on Facebook using this link or clicking the share button at the bottom this post and leave a comment on this post with your status update.

Drawing will be held on August 10, 2011 by my son selecting a random Name from a hat. Winner will be notified by email, a blog post, twitter and Facebook. Good luck!

Double the Price Double the Fun!

I cringe at the thought of having two shops open (plus one other which is free so it won't count in the stress factor). One fear is can I produce enough to supply both shops? I think I can I think I can.

Another fear is the fees. Can I afford the fees? Not so sure on that one, but I have to try.
I've made some really good friends on each.
Dear Lord knows I have enough supplies to make a fantastic start on getting items listed (note - need to get snaps and velcro and sewing machine needles, and lace to finish those need to be finished things!).
And the third problem I need to make a decision on. To have each shop focus on something in particular. I am leaning heavily toward yes since a terrible fiasco over the weekend convinced me that certain items will simply have to go in the other shop. 
Now off to work on some long over-due seasonal dresses for my bunny doll. I need to make another doll before I make the clothes. First up will be Halloween, the Thanksgiving/Autumn, then Christmas/Winter - I'd love to knit her up a wee hat and scarf!

Sugar And Spice And Everything Nice Collection on ArtFire

Fond memories of nursery rhymes!
Sugar and Spice and Everything nice, that's what little girls are made of!
This collection features items that are sugary, spicey and ever so nicey!
take a peek and please do leave a comment!
thank you!

Sugar And Spice A...

Curated By: HollysDollies

Craft Supplies

"Sharing The Love" ArtFire Collection

This collection was put together featuring items from a group of artisans who gathered together to help promote each other. More folks are signing up, so we can all make more collections!
These items would all make excellent gifts.

Sharing The Love

Curated By: HollysDollies

ArtFire.com

Unique Gifts