Dolly Teacher - I Hope you Learn Something New Today.

I started digital scrapbooking and yes I spend entirely to much time on it...ok I am obsessed. But how could I resist decorating this adorable picture? Enjoy!
Michelle

Displaying your Treasures

Now the bottom of the étagère!

We recently looked at what was on the top shelves of an étagère in my home where I display some of the treasures and memories of my life. In addition, we see the bottom shelves. Next to Princess Grace is my wedding veil. My father, a Master Sergeant in the Air Force when he retired, had been to Spain when I was a child. My parents allowed us to open one present on Christmas Eve before we went to midnight Mass. Dad gave Mother and I the boxes to open that year when I was 12. I gently opened the box and there before me was this wonder of lace, a Spanish mantilla. I cried it was so beautiful. My mother wore a black one and I wore the white to mass that Christmas Eve. Later I gently folded it to store it back in the box and my father asked why? I told him I was going to wear it for my wedding veil. And I did. I even bought a frame to hold it up as we see mantillas in pictures. (Though not quite so high)

Oh, yes, what is that all piled in the bottom? There is fur and some red and some white, all jumbled up there, well not really. Those were my grandmother’s hats. My mother and aunt gave them to me by my mother and aunt. I cherish them, and every time I pass, I see her in them. Kathi

Making a Silk Ribbon Peace Rose

How to Make a Multi-Colored Peace Rose.

All you need to make ribbon roses is a Rose tool, scissors, ribbons and glue.Step 1

Begin with pink ribbon slipped between the prongs of the rose tool. Place a small amount of glue on the end, fold ribbon over prongs to meet and begin to roll, at least one time around.Step Two
Fold the ribbon 45 degrees and secure with dot of glue at the base.
Steps Three and Four
Continue with folds for two or three more “petals". Secure with dot of glue at the base and clip away the pink ribbon.
Step 4
Step Five
Place a bit of glue on the pink ribbon edge and begin again with a yellow ribbon
Steps Six, Seven and Eight
Continue several folds, pictures 6, 7, 8 until you have the desired fullness.



Step Nine
Press a bit into shape after the yellow ribbons is removed.
Step Ten
If desired add a couple of additional petals of pink as shown here in pink. Remove from rose tool and add stem if desired.

Step Eleven
Clip about 1/3” green ribbon at angle on either end. Glue this bit to the underside of the rose to appear as a calyx.

Step 12
Glue more small ribbon snips to represent leaves.

Kathi minipatterns.com

Teddies on display!

What do you think they are doing while I am sleeping? Do they chat, and have a life of their own? Are they happy? I think they are, look at them, they have smiles on their faces. I am betting you have one on your face now, too!

Have a great day!

Kathi

Nu-Way Millinery Lesson

Many years ago I purchased these Millinery "Lessons" dated 1928. I will periodically post some of the lessons. It is fun to read the about them and hear the type of language used "back then". Michelle

1830's Gown

I absolutely love the dresses of the "Romantic Era". They are so feminine. And I am a girlie girl. I have no idea why as I spent my first 16 years as a tomboy. But for some reason, probably boys, I turned girlie at about 16. These dresses are so inspirational as well. I had wanted to do this wedding gown for a great long time and when I decided to enter a doll into competition, well, there were no more reasons why I shouldn't. My painting earned me a red ribbon at a Seeley's Competition Show. (1 more point and I would have earned a blue ribbon.) The things you learn from competition are excellent.

My inspiration dress was found in French Fashion Plates of the Romantic Era, Edited by Judy M. Johnson. (Dover Books, http://store.doverpublications.com/)
The porcelain doll, "Marie Therese", a mold from Bass River Dollworks was completed by me. The pattern for the dress was developed by me for this figure and is not currently in published form. The garments are as historically correct as my research could get me. She is one of my favorites still today. Kathi

Doreen Sinnett's Early Work

I am still thinking about the loss of Doreen Sinnett. I am so saddened by this. A few months back I purchased this cloth doll kit on Ebay. Some of Doreen's early work. They are dated 1975. I do not know why I bought them, I do to make cloth dolls, it must have been because Doreen has always been a favorite of mine. She really inspried me. A talented artisan and a successful business owner doing what she loved, creating. Michelle

Sadness in the Miniature Doll World

I am extremely saddened to hear today that Doreen Sinnet passed away on May 30, 2008. Doreen's was, I feel one of the greatest miniature sculptors of all time. Her dolls are really perfection in miniature. She was truly the Grandmother of miniature dolls and I admired her and her impeccable work deeply. Every time I saw Doreen at a show I would drool over her dolls knowing that I wanted one of her originals. I am so glad that I was able to buy one eventually. I purchased one of her little girls and am so glad she is still in my collection. The picture below is a doll I made using one of Doreen's perfect molds. Michelle From Doreen's daughter Drena:

Dear Friends;
I will try to keep this as brief as possible, and not too terribly sad.. Doreen passed away on May 30th. It was unexpected. Come to find out, she had a massive Brain aneurysm that had ruptured, so the diagnosis was not good. She basically went into a coma when it happened in the middle of the night, and never regained consciousness. My sister and I and one of my 2 nieces, Julie, were there with her until the end. When it was close to the end, we gathered around her in a circle and held hands and Julie said a very nice prayer, and now she is in heaven, hopefully happy. She was not very happy these last 4 years during her retirement. Since she wasnt able to do her passion in life, it really wasnt worth living for her. We all tried to keep her happy and busy, but we knew she wasnt. She tried really hard to be happy and not to be a burden for Joy and I, as she just didnt want to be any burden ... to anyone. She really missed all of you doll ladies and good friends, but couldnt bring herself to write or email, it just upset her too much. So, I want you all to know she thought of you often. Doreen had been creating her crafts since 1962. She started with Paper Mache boxes and published a book called "6 Sturdy Boxes" made out of the Paper Mache. She also dabbled in making paper mache bricks for the dollhouses. (I remember as a kid, I would be filling those plastic molds and swiping them flat and letting them dry...Oh, that seems like a long time ago.) She also made some cloth dolls and patterns to make them with. She produced the "Mini Hooker" rug punch needle for making miniature rugs. I know I am missing many of her little projects, but of course her passion was sculpting her miniature dolls. She was a perfectionist in that area. So much patience and persistence with getting them right. I, Drena, will still be operating the business as it has been for the last 30 years...I will continue to do shows and keep the website up and running of course. I have absolutely no plans of letting go of any of this, as it has also been my life for the last 20 years. Mom had wanted her business to continue on, and I am planning on doing so for her, and for all of those special Doll Ladies out there that want to make their own special dolls from Doreens original sculptures. Doreen used donate often to St. Jude Childrens Hospital. So, in memory of her, I set up a "Doreen Sinnett Memorial Fund" at this link: St Jude Children's Hospital http://stj.convio.net/goto/doreensinnett if anyone would like to pay their respects in this way. It is just one way to help others in need, as that was the way Doreen was herself. There are some pictures of her and her family on this fund page also. Thanking all of you for your kind words, thoughts and prayers. And, last but not least, I want to thank Dana and all of her staff for their support and kind thoughts in helping me to let everyone know, as, I just didn't know how to get it started... Kindest Regards, Drena West & Doreen :)

Cindy Gates and Her Rendition of Romantic Style

One of my favorite miniature doll artist is Cindy Gates. Her style and eye are Fabulous!! This is her version of a doll dressed in the Romantic Period. She is barely over 5-1/2" tall. For me I always thought that this was kind of a strange style period in history. But I think it has kind of grown on me. I love big sleeves...I kind of wish I had bought this doll when I first saw her. How do you feel about this period? Michelle

The Romantic Era of Fashion

The neo-Gothic influence in fashion history dress fashions was at its peak during the Romantic Era between 1825 and 1835. The romantic spirit in fashionable dress lasted until the late 1840s.
The silhouette for women during this time is characterized by a waistline moving down from under the bust to several inches above the natural waist, fuller skirts with increased decoration at the bottom, and a wide variety of sleeve types.
A notable feature in women’s costume of this period is the variety of sleeve styles that were popular. The types seen in this collection are the marie-sleeve (full sleeve tied at intervals with ribbon); the imbecile or idiot sleeve which is extremely full from the shoulder to wrist, and the demi-gigot (full from shoulder to elbow, then fitted to the wrist). The Beret sleeves were cut from a circle. There was an opening in the center for the arm and this was gathered and bound into a band. The outer circle was gathered and set into the armhole. Sometimes a sheer over-sleeve of silk embroidered shimmering gauze covered the beret puff. Generally the beret sleeve was worn for evening.
Hair was worn parted in the middle, with the back arranged in a knot, and side curls beside the face. Bonnets were popular headgear during the day. Men wore tight fitting trousers or pantaloons, coats nipped at the waist, and top hats. It was customary for the trousers, waistcoat, and coat to be different colors. Michelle

Whats In Your Closet?

In a display cabinet, I have some little ladies in various states of dress. Things I love and things I would like to change or FINISH. But there, they sit waiting...waiting for me to have time... waiting for them to bubble to the top, but I am afraid it is going to be awhile. The taller lady in the back was a gift that came in a box so she is completed. Coming forward a partially clad Simon & Halbig (Seeley's Ingrid) that I made in a class, And two little Millettes, the right side a Jumeau I made and the front a Bru made by Mary McKenzie (Millie and Magee winner.) The clothes on the Bru are by and Australian artist. Her dress was purchased at a Chicago Seeley's convention and it is impeccable. Now if I could straighten their legs and get them some shoes! Kathi

What can one say???...

When somthing is to cute for words??......Michelle