Fairs...fairs....fairs

I've been having great fun at the local craft fairs and even remembered my camera for one of them! I'll be adding a new space for fairs I'm attending, so if you're in the area, pop in for a visit..we'd love to meet you!

All is merry and bright...

Elephants quilt...as suggested by hubby...very occasionally they do have good ideas! I decided to use bright colours for this one and I'm really pleased with the finished result.

Another day...another raggedy

After days of really gloomy weather I needed to make something to brighten things up..and what better way than to make a springtime raggedy..and we haven't even got to the winter weather, yet!

A pretty face...

This little gal has been very much sought after...she's now on her way to her new home in America...and I'm now needing to make another four...I just hope they turn out to be as cute as this one!

More heirloom dolls

A couple more of the completed heirloom dolls...I'm really pleased with these and they've had lots of interest at the fairs.

Antique Style Heirloom Doll

I've just completed this new heirloom doll and I'm really pleased with the way she's turned out. I tend to tea stain the dolls after I have assembled them. I use a brush and paint it on, then hang them on the line outside to dry (I sometimes wonder what the neighbours must think!), this gives a less even coverage than if I soaked the fabric before sewing as in some areas the stuffing inside soaks up some of the liquid, but I love the look of the aged patina and it means that all of the stitching has the same aged look too.

My new stand..

I found this stand in IKEA for £5.99! It's all metal and packs flat so should be fairly easy to transport and it's ideal for displaying all of my hanging ornaments. What a find...and a bargain too!

Preparing for the fairs...

I have three Christmas fairs coming up over the next few weeks and I didn't want to take just dolls as this limits my selling, so I've also been working on lots of new ideas to take with me. I especially like the way the cupcakes have worked out and they are so easy to make...just felt with rhinestones added for a little sparkle.

Special offer

Special offer now available in my Etsy shop, buy any two e-patterns and get a third for free!

New faces

Just finished painting these three antique style dolls I now need to dress them (and some others) ready for the first of my Christmas fairs next week.

I don't seem to have quite so many dolls this time, but I do have loads of christmas goodies...

So busy...

I'm delighted to already be so busy...check my other blog for what's happening in my costume world (making a Dorothy costume today) www.starlightcostumes.blogspot.com
I'm also busy filling up my Etsy Shop www.etsy.com/shop/auntpollysdolls
and if that wasn't enough I will be participating in 2 christmas craft fairs:
Crafty Christmas fair in aid of Forget Me Not charity
Christmas event with a twist
and just to finish me off (it probably will) I have two full cast sets of costumes to design and make for Shining Stars Theatre Schools...think I might be in need of a holiday!

Raggedy cats

I've just finished a batch of these raggedy cats...they're now available in my ETSY shop!

A hair raising experience?

Got these three little gals made..only to find I have run out of hair...and the places I used to buy my supplies from have stopped stocking it. So I'm now trying to find new suppliers for raw washed wool in the right colours and textures to complete them...

Ebay Listings

I was feeling brave so I've just added this gorgeous girl to my EBAY listings...she's one of my favourite makes so far, so it will be hard parting with her!

Dreams coming true...

After years of dreaming and waiting...I'm finally leaving work to concentrate on a full time business. It's sooo exciting and just a little scary, but it's got to be better doing what I love (even if I'm poor I'll be a lot happier). I'm planning to carry on with dolls and gifts and my costume making will become a very large part of it...my other blog http://starlightcostumes.blogspot.com
will feature the dressmaking part and I'll be continuing with my dolls (and adding my other prim gift stuff) here. So please keep checking back with me, I'll be adding loads of goodies to my ETSY and FOLKSY shops as well as adding a few EBAY bargains too!

They're back...

I've been asked so many times for a prim doll, I've started on yet another batch...well, why make one when you can make ten (that's always been my downfall.... there's no wonder I don't have any spare room!

This little gal is the first of my batch...she'll be joining the others in my ETSY shop...

Polite request...

I have recently had a couple of rude (or pointless...depends which way you look at it) comments regarding problems with the free download patterns. I have checked the links and they all appear to be fine, but if you do have any problems with downloads, a polite comment or email will be replied to and I can send you the download direct. For those who seem to forget that access to my patterns are a privilege not a right...you will get NOTHING...point made, I think!

If you liked that...

If you liked the link on my last post, try this one...CLICK HERE...intrigued?

Singing for Success...

I just had to share this with you, CLICK HERE, have a listen and see what you think...all will be revealed...

Pretty in Pink

This lovely reproduction china head looks really pretty in her new pink flower print cotton dress. I usually take the simple approach as I find really fancy dresses too overpowering on this style of head. I didn't use a pattern for this one as it's a simple empire line dress with full sleeves and a pintucked skirt for a little extra detail (the pintucks are good for helping the skirt to keep it's shape too).

I've actually managed to finish quite a few dolls now so I'm going to put some on Etsy and Ebay as I've run out of display space...again!

The same...but different....

I'm always fascinated by the way different artists approach the same subject...these 3 heads are different sizes of the same style head mould, but have been treated quite differently by the artists. The largest is the most simple, with shiny glazed, pink tinted bisque, the eyes and cheeks look as if the colour has been sponged on. The middle head is white bisque (not quite as shiny as the large one) and nicely painted in the antique German style with pink lines on the eyelids. The smallest head is more detailed in parian style with pink bisque and paler features (my favourite of the three).

FREE PATTERN china head doll body...

Your first 'freebie' of the year!!

This is a very simple body which is ideal for these small china heads...it also fits the small metal 'minerva' heads beautifully, too.

I have stitched across the elbows and knees for this doll as it means I can pose her better, though I haven't shown this in the pattern as it's entirely optional.

To give you a rough size guide, this head measures about 2 1/2 inches across the shoulders and is about 3 inches high, the body makes her total height about 11 1/2 inches.....you can download your FREE PATTERN HERE....enjoy!

Thank you...

I just wanted to say thank you to all you lovely people who have been sending such nice comments, they're very much appreciated (especially when I'm frustratingly busy with non-doll stuff!!).

I'm back....

I'm back....finally...after a mad few months where Christmas took over (still in the job I was supposed to be leaving....looks like I'll be there a little longer too!) ahh, the joys of working in retail...everything else had to take a back seat, including my costume business dreams...though I haven't given up on them just yet (just feeling a little fickle at the moment!!) so to start the new year I have finally completed the doll body patterns and I have just put the first ones in my Etsy shop as a digital download...I'm feeling quite pleased with myself now!