Soft Sculpture Cloth Cat - Calico

Miss Nosey is finished!
She is a soft sculpture cloth cat made of muslin and hand painted with white, black and orange acrylic paint. And threaded button joints. Her eyes are green. I see her expression is a bit sour. Maybe she ate a mouse that tasted icky!
She is a kitty created from a pattern shared a challenge at Cloth Doll Artistry. We were given the pattern with no pictures or instructions.
The kitties that others have made are increbible. I loved seeing the variations created.

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.

Counted Cross Stitch - Frustrations overcome!

I've never done cross-stitch. I love seeing completed framed examples. While shopping to redecorate the kitchen (Roosters, sunflowers and crows), I saw a Rooster Counted Cross Stitch kit that I really loved and thought I could do it. Three-and-a-half years later, I am not even a third of the way done.
The kit was poorly designed, especially for a beginner (and I really shouldn't have picked something so challenging), the colored weren't marked or designated. I had to look a the picture and guess.
I eventually tried to find some DMC color matches and failed.
My friend is really good at this and I went over and we spent the day figuring out what to do with this. The conclusion: frog it and start again. We worked out the DMC colors needed and she gave me advice on getting this started. Then she kindly suggested I start with something easier and come back to my rooster. I'm working on some cute sunflower and corn designs and she gave me a racoon pattern to start on after these are done.
The frustration is finally OVER! I feel like a Kindergartener, and a little bit embarrassed, but I truly needed to start simple with this kind of needlework. I am outlining the corn at the moment and am going to at least get started on the racoon. I cannot do another simple one right after this. If all goes well, I might be able to start on the Rooster by July.

Primitive Doll Crow

Pictures at last!
I don't think I have ever had so much trouble making a doll. My goal for this gal was to use only "on hand" supplies.
I repainted the "lazy eye" and it looks a lot better. I love her green eyes.
No lace trim so I had to hand crochet a lace edging.
This was a pattern for a draft dodger doll. I changed things around a little bit. Her hands aren't sewn together and her dress and pinafore are adapted so that she can be dressed seasonally.
I would really love to offer her and 4 dress/pinafore/bloomer sets as a complete set. Would that be of some interest? Maybe offer the clothing separately? Your comments and ideas are welcome!!!! Let me know! She is available at my website.

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!

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!).