New Fair...

I'm really looking forward to this weekend...I'll be taking a variety of works in progress...might even get a couple finished while I'm there!

Water's Edge Fair.

I've had a busy weekend at the Water's Edge Easter craft fair...there were lots of visitors and I made a few new friends during the weekend. It's much more like a social event than work, but still quite tiring! I'm looking forward to my next fair and hoping that my new stand will be ready as I can't fit all of my new dolls on this one!

Cute or what?

I made this doll from brown brushed cotton denim, so the fabric is very thick and heavy, but has a beautifully soft touch!! I have to say I think this is the easiest fabric ever to paint, the paint glided so smoothly on to the surface and stayed exactly where it should with no bleeding...must get some more of this fabric!

A new look...

More new styles of doll... I would usually give the dolls a raggedy style face, but this time I opted for a more whimsical look. The doll on the right has a pinch stitched nose for added detail.

Antique lithograph style doll...

To make this doll, I used an image from an old photo and printed directly on to the fabric, then made the doll in the usual way. She turned out quite well, though her face is a little grey!

A lesson learned...

I won't be repeating these in a hurry, although the fabric was very easy to sew and turn, I discovered thet it didn't hold acrylic paint very well and the paint bled into the fabric...so I'll definitely remember to 'paint test' my fabrics before starting on any dolls that need painted faces!

Work in progress...

I've been busy working on some new dolls...they're all painted and ready to finish, though not without a few difficulties along the way. The darkest doll is made in recycled brushed denim and although she was very difficult to turn and sew due to the thickness of the fabric, she was a dream to paint! I can't say the same for the other darker doll, she was made in a very soft pure cotton from a shirt and I discovered that the paint bled very easily, so although she was easy to turn and sew, she was a nightmare to paint!

All the fun of the fair...

I had a lovely weekend at the 'Crafts Uncovered' demonstration and sale of work this weekend. The Water's Edge Visitor Centre is a lovely place to visit (and has a fabulous little cafe!).

Primitive Doll

This little doll turned out so cute! She is from a SweetMeadows Farm pattern and has been made in calico, then painted. Her cotton dress has a lovely watermelon print and she has matching rags in her pure wool hair.

Big Ol' Mammy

I've just completed this lovely ol' mammy doll. At 34 inches, she's one of the biggest I've made so far. The pattern is a Sweetmeadows Farm original and I love the style of her hands and feet. I think she'll display quite well at the next fair!