15" Raggedy Ann and Andy photographed

I don't see how professional crafters/doll artists manage! How do you juggle production, website management, PR and housework???! Kudos to those who do all of this themselves. I am having a hard time trying to manage!

Anyway, it is a wonderful challenge to get much as I can done... in  a day (week?). The frustration is having dishes piled 3 feet high in the sink, dust bunnies running rampant, and a bored kid.

I finished a 15" Raggedy Ann and Andy pair and finally got pictures taken. The quality of my pictures is improving! Getting better and better! Charlie is still trying to get pictures of lightning...keep trying bud! 

This pair was made with small children in mind. Hand painted features in non-toxic acrylic paint, sewn on wig, no buttons.

The 36" dolls are incredible! Always wanted a huge dolly growing up. I still need to add hair to one; stuff, paint and add hair to the other one. Their clothing is already made and ready for button accents.
See them here: http://hollys-dollies.sweetwatercreations.com/raggedies.html

With the sound of thunder, I shall sign off here....egads the horse and chickens will soon be sprouting gills... but the garden is looking fabulous!

Goings On

I haven't been very inspired lately. All this rain and the humidity. I haven't felt like knitting or crocheting. So I decided to spend some time sewing!

I got quite a bit accomplished with the traditional Raggedy Ann and Andys. 3 dresses (3 sizes), 3 outfits for Andy (3 sizes). 2 15" dolls done (one waiting for wig), 2 36" dolls sewn (1 stuffed and face painted), 2 15" dolls sewn. Still need to cut out and sew bloomers and aprons.

Then I sewed (is that really a word??) a 12" prim kitty and got her painted and stained. And then this morning I sewed a Jumper and long sleeve top for a 14-16" baby type doll.

This evening I plan to crochet an outfit for 14" baby type dolls. Who knows... never a dull moment around here.

Visit http://hollys-dollies.sweetwatercreations.com/doll-clothes.html to see handmade knitted, crocheted and sewn doll clothes!

Hat Creek Market Online Craft Mall is now officially open - FREE advertising

The Hat Creek Market Online Craft Mall!

http://www.hatcreekmarket.com 

 

Last minute tweaks and I think we are finally up and running.

There are still a few behind the scene tweaks to finish up and I still can't seem to get the banner rotation to work.

I will be taking FREE ads through the weekend. Simply send in a limit of 2 ads including your website URL, banner/image URL and which ads you want to monkeefan66@gmail.com.

I don't have a shop directory page set up yet, but you can submit your shop and I will add it ASAP! More pages and goodies will be added regularly.

Please promote the free advertising to other crafters who may be interested in helping getting this launched. Just direct them to the site and have them e-mail me with the weekend free ad offer.

Online Craft Mall nearing Launch!!!

I am so excited to be quickly approaching the completion of the set up of the site! The main pages are complete and we are set up and ready to accept ads. Sometime this weekend I will post a discount.

      I just need to get this blog going, work on the directory listing then set up the shopping mall page. I will gladly accept any FREE submissions for the shopping mall through the weekend until Monday July 26th.

     Just send one image of an item, a brief description, price and a link to your site.

     Launch of the site will be later tonight, once I get all the pages loaded and looking decent. Will post upon launch! Gotta rest my eyes and neck for a few then back to work. 

     Please join me on this journey. I look forward to the challenge and anticipate a lot of fun with this site! I decided to go with a cute little web set for this one. I can change things around later down the road.

Thank you!

Holly

Scrappy Armrest pincushion - Free pattern

Image via Wikipedia

While taking a break from sewing (winding bobbins is so boring!!!), I was surfing for free patterns and different goodies and came across this adorable armrest pincushion.

http://duringquiettime.blogspot.com/2009/10/scrappy-armrest-pincushion-tutorial.html

Another item for my "to do" list!

Making progress on the first set of 15" Raggedy Ann and Andy. I have enough flesh fabric left over that I can make a body for the 36" version....sweet talk hubby into letting me get some dress fabric!!! I'd love to make the 36" version. She'd look so cute sitting on the studio sleeper sofa (good inspiration to keep the clutter off it!).

Online Craft Mall is a Go!

Image via Wikipedia

It's official!

     I have decided to create an online craft mall! The startup of any business or venture is usually a lot of hard work with little result. I love a challenge, so this is perfect! I have registered my chosen domain name and have the hosting all setup. 
     While shopping for templates and graphics, I saw some really nice sets, but they were a bit pricey for me right now. Then I realized I could, with some effort, create my own web set. Is it worth saving $30-50? I could use that dough for advertising the site and gaining traffic. Creating my own set will take quite a chunk of my time, but we can call it sweat equity!
    The plan is to gather the images I want to use for the site and make a rough penand paper sketch of the layout design. I was going to tell the site name, butI think it should wait for the debut! Then I need to decide on ad/listing rates. Being as this is new with little to no traffic, the rates are going to be exremely low. Still researching the beginning rates.
     Going to work on a traditional Raggedy pair today. The sewing machine is getting dusty!
Be well, go out and make it a good day for yourself.

Holly’s Dollies Website Updated

     Hard to believe it’s Monday already! The time just flies by here and I don’t seem to be able to get as much accomplished as I want to! The “to do” and “ideas” form keeps getting longer rather than shorter as the projects get marked off or added.

     I finally took some nicer pictures of 3 finished dollies and one blank body and uploaded them to the site. These are all prim raggedies.

http://hollys-dollies.sweetwatercreations.com 

     Going to work on a traditional Raggedy Ann and Andy set today. Would also like to make some African American raggedy dolls this week.

     I am toying with the idea of starting up a country crafts and collectibles advertising shoppe. I might approach shoppe owner to see if maybe they will be willing to help me get started and up and running. Being as I love working on web sites and pages, I think this would be another wonderful challenge.