Crafty Sheep

I’ve been meaning to to sit down and make 12 heads in a row for days now. I need the practice, because I’m still not satisfied with the way they turn out. But I just cannot find the time to do it! There’s always something else to do. A doll needs a lace (Lace! I’m knitting lace!) shawl. My nature table needs things. There’s just one more episode of Grey’s Anatomy to be watched… O, and hey, I have kids too! Nynke’s obsessed with climbing at the moment. She gets *everywhere*. The falling off part is getting better, not so many bumps now, but still, she needs to be watched very closely. Not an easy thing to do when you’re just tying that last piece of string…

I would like to do an update on my pink fairy, but I think I’ll just wait until she’s finished. We’re almost there, and I’m rather pleased with how she’s turned out, if I do say so myself. I think maybe she’ll be the first doll I’m going to try to sell. Now all I have to do is come up with a price… How on earth do you do that?

• Comments (1)

There. See? She doesn’t mind being pink at all! Mama knows best.

Of course, she’s far from done. I still need to sew down her hair, then add another layer at least. The dress still needs straps and perhaps a few beads. And I’d like to knit her a tiny, wispy lace shawl – only I’ve never done lace before! Anyone know an easy pattern I could use?

Though I should really, really stop playing around right now and get back to that horrible translation I’m supposed to be editing… Because we (me and myself) do need the money…

• Comments (2)

Happy first day of autumn!

I was going to make a small (she’ll be 8.5″ when she’s done) raspberry fairy, sister to Lavendula, but now I’m not so sure. She just doesn’t look like she’ll enjoy being all pink. I mean, I’ve got the dress ready, I’ve got the exact colour of yarn for her hair, but… the doll itself just doesn’t seem to fit, somehow. She looks like she’d prefer to be a more spirited girl. Maybe she should be Autumn Fairy? No, scratch that. I’ve come this far, I won’t be changing my plans. She’ll just have to have wild hair. Pink, but wild. She’ll like that.

Isn’t it strange, the way these dolls develop their own character? No matter what your intentions are, they’ll always try to decide for themselves what they would like to be, thank you very much. Only sometimes, I won’t let them. The days that I’m Doll Mama with a Mission and I get to decide.

• Comments (1)

It’s my birthday today. Mine and my sister’s, of course! It’s a strange age, 34. My husband was 34 when we met – and now, I am too. I was 26 at the time… so young… so long ago!!

Anyhow. I’ve already had my big present – the sewing machine – a couple of weeks ago. So I bought myself some presents too, heh.

There’s the excellent Woolpets book (see the giraffe? I’m in love!!), there’s Jan Messent’s Knit A Fantasy Story and there’s Little Felted Animals. I’m not quite sure when I’m going to make all this, but that’s besides the point, right?

(Picture © Laurie Sharp/Woolpets)

• Comments (5)

We’ve spent the weekend at sea – and guess who’s been knitting!

Poor little Lina was so cold ever since Carolina “borrowed” her underwear. So I’ve been working hard to get her all decent again!

The duplicate stitching definitely could have been better (or I should just have done intarsia…), but Lina’s pleased and somewhat warmer, which is what counts here!

• Comments (6)

Actually, despite what I wrote below, the day turned out to be pretty good after all! Once I made it into the afternoon, things definitely got better – and I even managed to complete Lina’s new do!!

It may look complicated, this kind of hair, but believe me, it’s very straightforward. All you need is a sewing machine, some adhesive tape and some tissue paper. And yarn, of course.

I took photos while I was working on Lina’s wig – I may turn those into a tutorial one day. Please let me know if you’re interested!

• Comments (11)

I’m sorry, I can’t show you pictures of a finished Lina yet, because she’s still missing a final layer of hair. The reason: I stayed up far too late yesterday watching Grey’s Anatomy, didn’t get any doll making done at all. I think I watched 4 episodes in a row, but I can’t be sure – it’s all kind of blurry right now. How did I manage to miss this series the first time round?! I’m hooked now. Totally and completely hooked. I just need to see one more…and one more… and seriously, you can’t leave me hanging like that! Another one!

Sigh. I do need sleep, I do. But it’s a Wednesday. Nynke’s at home, wrecking the living room, and in a couple of hours Olivier will be back again from school. O boy. Why do I get the feeling more coffee isn’t going to help today?

• Comments (1)

While I was waiting for more dollmaking materials to get here (I’m all out of the bigger sizes of tubular stockinette), I decided to tackle a project I’d been putting off for a while.

You see, my Lina had a slight problem. She didn’t have a neck. Why? Because I forgot. Yes, I know. Sloppy, sloppy. But see: she has one now! No more floppy head for Lina. All healthy!

Thanks once again to Stefanie, who suggested the solution. (Really. How did I ever manage to make dolls before? You know, I think I should probably have you included in my will. )

Of course, there’s also the problem with her hair. It fell out. Because at the time I made Lina, I didn’t know what I know now about hairmaking. So: off with the hair! Poor Lina. But really, once I’m done with her, she’ll look better than ever. I promise.

All dolls deserve a second chance at beauty, don’t you agree?

• Comments (5)

Just as I was about ready to give up on my new sewing machine, hurl it into the garden so it could rot with the soon-to-drop autumn leaves, I remembered my pincushion.

Of course! My pincushion! Exactly what I needed to restore faith in my meagre sewing skills! So last night, I cut two circles – one in Amy Butler fabric and one in 100% wool felt – and got to work. And lo and behold, just 30 minutes later, I ended up with this:

I’m happy, the sewing machine is happy, my pins are happy. Hurray!

P.S. The tutorial is here.

• Comments (4)