Happy Forth USA - 233 years!

My 2 Loves Collide

I am thrilled to finally accomplish this task. After months of THINKING about it...I actually did it and was successful. You may or may not know that I began to make jewelry a couple of years ago. This past winter I finally bought a torch so that I could learn a little silver smithing. It is not EASY!! I had done very little with it..afraid to turn it on for a long while. Afraid I would blow up the house. I insisted that my hubby get me a fire extinguisher to keep by my side. When I have done things they have not always turned out...some in a melted heap. But when my dear friend Kathi's Birthday neared I wanted to do something special. I could not keep it a surprise though. Knowing that she makes incredible French Fashion doll's I wanted to try to make her some silver and enameled buttons.....so I had t ask her what color and size she wanted. When she said 1/8' I freaked..that is TINY!! I have never soldered anything that small, let alone punch out silver disks that small. I had to get a smaller punch. Then I went over it and over it in my head...how I would do it. For months!! I finally got a quite moment and just did it. It was not that hard!! I only melted 1 down while soldering and did not burn the house down...YEAH!!! Now we can't wait to see that doll!! Michelle minidolls.com

Do you want to make your own Carpet Bag?

A reader, after seeing our last blog post offered a pattern for you to make your own carpet bag. Her name is Shirley, she specialize in half dolls but my first love is antique french and next is the Parians. See some of her dolls here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shirleykdolls/
Thank-you Shirley!!

Enlarge or reduce pattern to suit size of doll

Cut 2 end pieces, 1 body piece, 1 cardboard inner

Glue piece of cardboard into base.

Fold along dotted lines and glue end pieces into place.

Using bias strip, folded in half lengthwise, glue or sew along top edge of opening, both sides. Make handles by folding and gluing more of the bias.

Handle can be one continuous length around and underneath and back up.

Depending on size, attach one center strip or two strips and add small buckles.

Thin leather is good for this also.

Refer to picture for finishing.

Chapter 11, The Carpet Bag and a Gift

After to long of a break....here is Chapter 10 of Emilie Claire......

Emilie has been shopping and returned with a new carpetbag for her travels. The tapestry is a beautiful floral that will go with her many outfits, and especially her traveling suit. She will have it delivered to her compartment for her immediate needs with her personal trunk. All her additional trunks and cases will be stowed in the luggage car and later delivered to her uncle’s house. Her new evening corset delivered while she was out is gorgeous in pink silk. In addition, she purchased a beautiful china doll as a gift for her young cousin, Lisabeth.

Diary Entry

My new corset arrived today. It is a beautifully quilted silk. Perhaps a gloved hand will guide me as we waltz and leave no handprint on my exquisite new gown. I have taken every precaution. Secretly, Dear Diary, I would prefer a handprint to no waltz at all.

The day grows closer as does my excitement! E.C.

IGMA Artisan Lynda Ulmer has a Gift for You!

IGMA Artisan Lynda Ulmer has been busy. She is a customer of mine and I have not checked out her website in a while. But I caught a post of hers on the MSAT mini dolls list and clicked on one of her ebay acution of the most wonderful detailed miniature shoes. So that led me back to her website.
A little about Lynda in her own words, "Miniature dollmaking is challenging because it involves many diverse skills, such as sculpting, working with porcelain clay, firing and china painting, costume and pattern design, sewing and wigmaking. Although frustrating at times, being able to utilize so many creative talents can also be extremely rewarding. The wonderful people I have met as a result of my involvement in dolls and miniatures have truly been an inspiration and a blessing. I am an Artisan member of the International Guild of Miniature Artisans (IGMA). I am also a member of the United Federation of Doll Clubs, Bismarck Doll Friends, and the Midwest Miniature Guild. I participate in the Tom Bishop Chicago International miniature show every other year. My dolls and accessories are in private collections in the USA, Canada, England, Spain, Switzerland and Germany."

Then a saw this precious tutorial and give away and had to ask her if I could share it here. She said yes...so here it is from Lynda Ulmer. Be sure to check out her website and dolls also. LyndaUlmer.com

Michelle minidolls.com

Kitten Fan

Click here: Gift for You to see how you can receive this vintage-style kitten fan!

Supplies:

kitten fan

Xacto or craft blade

small sharp scissors

brown or gold magic marker

tacky glue

super glue gel

cardboard surface or self-healing mat to cut on

head pin or small brad fastener (included with the size fan you request)

corsage pin (for XS and S fans) or small paper punch (for M, L and XL fans)

2 tiny decorative findings and 1 flat-back Swarovski crystal (included with XS and S fans)

embroidery floss for tassel (optional)

Step 1

Cut out the seven sections of the fan using an Xacto or craft blade on a cardboard surface or self-healing mat. Press firmly and keep your blade perpendicular to the fan. Trim

any uneven areas with a scissors.

Step 2

Stack the first section on top of the second, matching the sections at the wide end (ears of the kittens). Trim the narrow bottom ends even and rounded. Repeat this step for the remaining sections.

Step 3

Make a hole at the base of all the fan sections with a corsage pin or small paper punch, depending on the size fan you are working on. This is where either a head pin or small brad will go that holds the sections together. If using a pin, push the fan section all the way up onto the pin so the hole will be large enough to insert the head pin in Step 5.

Be sure to keep the sections matched up at the top. Then all the kitty ears will be even when the finished fan is open.

Step 4

Use a brown or gold magic marker to color over the cut edges on all sections. Set the finished sections aside for a few minutes until the marker dries, or seal the back with clear acrylic spray sealer so the marker doesn't smudge.

Step 5
Carefully slide each section onto the head pin or brad. Be sure to place them in order so the printed poem reads properly from beginning to end.

Step 6

If you want to add a tassel to the front, do so with a dot of tacky glue before securing the head pin or brad.

If using a head pin (for the extra small and small fans), slide the extra gold finding onto the back and secure with super glue. Place the wire cutter next to the finding and cut off the excess pin. Seal the cut with a dab of glue. Use super glue to cover the front head pin with the other tiny finding and a flat crystal.

If using a brad (for the medium, large and extra large fans), secure it and trim off any excess wire that shows in the back.

Close-up view of where to glue tassel and finding on the front.

Step 7

Spread out the fan sections and admire your work. How cute!