Apologies for a couple of the blurrier photos...still working on that. I think I need a tripod....wait a minute...I think we have one around here somewhere....
An old friend of mine from many years ago used to use the phrase, "She's a tulip!" to describe a small child (hers!) with a fun personality. I decided there was no better name for my new doll than "Tulip." So here she is! Tulip is probably going to have a few freckles (when I find just the perfect pen or paint to apply them that isn't too dark and won't smear or rub off) to go with that red wool hair, green eyes, and fair skin. She's quite the busy little girl, never stopping till she falls asleep (wherever she happens to be at the time) with her natural cotton velvet blankie. She takes it everywhere. Her busy-little-bee personality is the reason why her hair only has a few braids (no patience to wait for mommy to do all that) and why her hair isn't done up perfectly. Tulip is about 18" tall and dressed in a loose cotton top and pants with white trim, panties, and white crochet "boots." She's ready for a new mama in February!
Apologies for a couple of the blurrier photos...still working on that. I think I need a tripod....wait a minute...I think we have one around here somewhere....
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I've been working on my first full-sized Waldorf doll and she is finished, but waiting for clothes! I am so excited by her personality and can't wait to get started on her clothing. She is not a very patient tot and if she had toes, she'd be tapping them, saying, "Come on, would you. I'm freezing!" She has masses of carrot-colored hair, green eyes and freckles. She loves to tumble and play, but has no patience for mommy to braid her hair, so it gets braided a little and then pinned up and when it starts to fall, Tulip doesn't care. She just keeps on playing as hard as she can go. Stay tuned for a day or two for new photos of Tulip in her play clothes.
Well, as I said, Alexa needed a companion, so I drew out a bunny in wool felt and cut, stuffed (just a wee bit), sewed him up and embroidered facial details. He is sewn together by buttonhole stitch on the outside. He has pinkish ears and even whiskers and is only about 5 1/2" tall. Now Alexa has someone to cuddle with and keep her company until she has dolly friends or a new home with a mommy of her own. The pink rickrack is not part of the bunny, but is attaching him to Alexa for display, so they don't get separated. The blue aqua embroidery floss ribbon/bow IS part of the bunny (and sewn on.) Alexa is very pleased to have a cuddly bunny friend.
My next project is a 15-16" doll that I am already working on. This first one involves some pattern drafting and tweaking around of sizes and parts, and then some more pattern drafting for clothes. I haven't purchased patterns for these dolls, but am trying to following the guidelines for Waldorf dolls, but be as original as I can. That goes for the clothing, too. It will be simple, but well-made and easy to change for the little ones. I just completed my first Waldorf doll, and it was so much fun. I do see things I'd like to do differently (or better) in future dolls, but overall, I'm rather pleased with her. I had a name all picked out for her.....it was going to be "Holly" because, well, it IS December and I have lovely holly trees loaded with berries in my yard. However, when she was all done, she whispered (shyly and very politely) in my ear that her name was "Alexa..... please" which wasn't even a name I'd thought about or put on my list of future doll names to use. But there you have it. And so, without further ado, meet Alexa! True to Waldorf tradition, Alexa is made from pure cotton knit "skin," 100% wool stuffing, and the softest alpaca hair. She wears a handmade (by me) cotton top and shorts, hand crocheted "boots," and a pink elastic hair ribbon. Her hair can be "finger combed" all day long and doesn't fuzz or pill. She stands about 13" tall and can pose, sitting, very nicely. Most of my Waldorf dolls will be more like 15"-16", but this was a good size with which to start. Alexa has the simplest of facial features, as the original Waldorf/Steiner dolls do, so the child can imagine all sorts of emotions for the doll. I prefer the original "no nose" design, both for its simplicity and the fact that, in the dolls of this sort that do have noses, that is the first place that they wear out. I'd rather not see a much-loved doll with a hole where it's nose used to be! That is just sad :(
I may also make some panties for Alexa, and then a small felt animal companion for her, so she won't be lonely waiting for her friends to come to life in my hands :) She needs a friend to whisper her little girl secrets to. ;) I've spent a couple of weeks working on holiday gifts I can't discuss (or show) and a few things actually for myself. I found great men's long sleeved T-shirts in Kmart for about $10....nice heavyweight knit and well-constructed. Looked like they would be very durable and comfortable. Not being "girly" in either color or style, they needed a little help to make them more suitable for my taste, even though they are just casual tops to be worn with my jeans. I found a Pinterest idea that suited me perfectly and just went with it. I cut out patch pockets from various scraps that coordinated with the shirts and just top stitched them right on to the left front. I now have four new, comfy casual tops for winter for $40. I figure the pockets were free as I already had the fabrics and the rest was just my time. I did these in an afternoon! Here's one example: The color isn't showing well here, but this is actually a dark teal shirt with an aqua pocket. I made each pocket a little different in shape (I have a metal pocket template that really helps with different rounded corners), but what really made it easy was that I just cut out two of each pocket and sewed them right sides together all the way around, leaving just about a 1" opening to turn them right side out. This is much easier than trying to press them under. Then I pressed them well and top stitched across the top edge (for show.) Then I topstitched the other three edges right onto the shirts. Because of the lining, the pockets have plenty of body, too.
This is a fun, fast project for yourself, or maybe for a gift? Bet you know someone who'd appreciate one of these in their favorite colors or designs. Of course, you can make these with regular women's T-shirts.....or kid's shirts, too. How about a heart shaped pocket for a little girl? You could also add round or oval shapes in fabrics to match on the elbows of the sleeves. I think kids would especially like these. Have fun. :) |
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