New Projects, New Year

I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t made a doll in 7 or 8 months! So what happened? Well, dolls happened. I have been making tiny shoes and clothes and kits! What started out as a side project for me in my Doll Destash etsy shop has really taken on a life of its own.

That’s not all—you now know a fashion designer! I have been contacted recently by two different doll companies to design and produce lines of clothing for their dolls. The little preview picture here is one of the pieces I am working on for the fast approaching Valentine’s day launch. If you are curious, I will talk more about the companies and projects in the coming months. I can tell you I am designing a new pattern almost every day right now. My work room has spilled into the hall and right now it kind of looks like Valentine’s day threw up in here. ;]

So what are your plans for 2012? Aside from clothes and more clothes, I will be working on some new doll designs, new kits and brand new PDF tutorials including (finally) one to teach you how to make my clothes pin dolls—to be released this January or February!  I have pronounced this year to be a year of experimentation and learning—don’t be afraid to try new things.

In the spirit of learning and sharing, I am having a Buy one, Get one Free sale on all my PDF tutorials in my dollproject shop! So you can save up to 50% and learn twice as much! To take advantage of this special sale visit my shop here and follow the instructions in the listing you select. This sale is only for January.

Happy New Year! I hope you try many new things, or at least get to that project you’ve been itching to do—even if it’s painting the bathroom (that’s on my list!). 

How to put Long Stockings on a Blythe Doll

So, if you have a Blythe doll or have held a Blythe--you know her body is quite rubbery in texture. When you are dressing Blythe, fabrics tend to get caught up due to friction and it can be a challenge to put a tight or slim garment onto her limbs. (Think fat toddler foot vs tiny shoe.) 

Here is a simple, frustration-free method to put long stockings of any material onto your Blythe doll. You will need two tools--

1. Bic pen style barrel with both ends removed

2. Small rod or dowel that fits inside the barrel of the pen

Step 1 Turn both stockings inside out--To do this, feed the stocking all the way onto the pen barrel and then push your dowel into the toe end of the sock while sliding the fabric up and around the dowel. Next pull up the remaining sock up so that it is completely turned.

Step 2 In a similar fashion to step one, reinsert the pen barrel into the stocking and then push the toe area inward with the dowel. This time, only push until the sock is turned about 1 inch, as you see below. 

Step 3 Now slide both tools out of the sock and put Blythe's rubbery little foot into the 1" sock 'starter hole' you made. 

Now you should be able to slide the remaining stocking onto Blythe's leg, turning it right side out as you push it up the leg. Yay! We won the battle.

Oh, Merry Christmas too :]. This is my westie, Emma.

Holiday Madness!

I have been creating up a storm--it is definately show/sales/busy-ness season! :].Working on some new workshops too!

Tiny Doll dress Christmas ornaments

(This is a scented dresser art sachet for your dresser)

Happy Dot Doll Socks -- I now offer made to order tiny doll socks in over 50 different fabric patterns! And I have hand sewn over 1000 tiny pairs of socks...and I still love making them! That is love people. ;]

Original boot designs and patterns I developed for my ongoing tiny doll shoe workshop. Working on dress shoe designs now....

A custom party bird for a little one's birthday!

What Size Wig Does this Doll Wear? And What About Shoe Sizes?

The following table includes some popular dolls’ wig and shoe sizes. I often make custom scale clothing and legwear for clients and so I research different doll sizes a lot. Today I decided to permanently log wig and shoe sizes so I wouldn’t have to keep looking them up each time. I hope this chart is something you can use too :].

Wig size is the circumference of the doll's head above the ear line. The circumference is measured at an angle, starting at the top of the forehead and moving to the base of the skull--just like where you would place a hat. Wig size is measured in inches and often includes a slash rather than a hyphen to denote a range of size. For example, a Lati Yellow doll has a wig size of 5/6--this is 5 to 6 inches. Wig size can also be hat size, though you may want to get a slightly larger hat if the hat needs to go over a full wig.

Shoe size is the actual size of the doll's shoe in millimeters—the length is measured from the outside of the shoe, so it is larger than the actual length of the doll’s foot—usually by about 6mm, give or take. Shoes for dolls with tiny feet and big heads (Blythe, Pullip...) are often oversized to help balance out the doll's proportions.

Doll Name	Wig Size	Shoe Size
American Girl Doll	10/11	72mm
Betsy McCall 8" Doll	4/5	24mm
Betsy McCall 14" Doll	7/8	50mm
Bleuette Seeley Body	6/7	37mm
Bleuette Global Body	6/7	41mm
Blythe	10/11	24-28mm
Bobobie Eric or Erin	4/5	30mm
Customhouse Petite AI	7	48mm
Ellowyne Wilde	6/7	50mm
Kish Riley	4	25-28mm
Kish Tulah	4	28-29mm
Lati White Renewal Body	3/4	16mm
Lati White SP Body	3/4	22-23mm
Lati Yellow Renewal Body	5/6	28mm
Lati Yellow SP Body	5/6	40mm
Lati Green	6/7	50mm
Madame Alexander 8" Dolls	?	28mm
Madame Alexander 11" Dolls	?	37mm
Madame Alexander 21" Cissy	10/11	50mm
Pocket Fairy, Blue Fairy	4	24mm
Pukifee Fairyland	5/6	24mm
Puki Puki Fairyland	3/4	19mm
Pullip	8/10	20-28mm
Volks MSD	7/8	58mm
Volks YoSD	6/7	49mm

Black & White 'Earbits' hat is available in my Doll Destash clothing & supply shop. :] I am working on a gigantic master list of doll shoe and wig sizes--so far I have logged over 100 dolls. Which dolls, if any would you like me to include in my research?

5 Awesome Art Supplies (And where to find them)

You know how sometimes you stumble upon a new tool or supply and you wonder how you ever lived without it? And you know how sometimes you covet that material and wish to keep your special resource secret from the world? Here I dish on five of my favorite 'top secret' supplies. :]

Tiny Zippers

Whether you sew or not, you have to admit that teeny tiny real working zippers are pretty darn cool. I love to use them for things like doll bodices (above)--they can be dyed, cut, altered, enhanced.... Purchase them in a wide range of colors from Zipper That Doll (they also have a huge selection of other tiny & hard to find things like micro buttons).

Pulp Lace

This stuff is weird. And wonderful. It is cotton netting with bits of paper pulp blown and fused into it. It's a paper and a fabric at the same time. Pulp lace makes awesome collage backgrounds, doll clothing and such. It is also fun just to ball up and crinkle. It dyes and colors beautifully too! Get this from Loose Ends.

Glass Doll Eyes

People often ask where I get the glass eyes for my dolls and art busts. I get these from Mini World Dolls--I love the quality and the price is great too! My favorite eyes are the third section down--the oval 'realistic glass paperweight' eyes--I buy these in all different sizes. My favorite colors are the green and hazel, but I also like the blue and violet--My favorite real-life eye colors are actually grey and brown, but the grey and brown for this brand and type of eye is just too dark. The hazel is a great substitute for brown. Get these from Mini World Dolls.

Twisted Opal Wire

This wire is another Loose Ends product. It is a beautiful, shiny iridescent twisted wire called 'Neon Wire' in the color 'Opal.' This wire bends and coils and looks fantastic. It makes a super base for fairy wings and crowns--in both doll and people scales. Also excellent for sprucing up a collage or wrapped gift. Get this here from Loose Ends.

Prosculpt Polymer Clay

In honor of my newly released workshop, Face Cabs Tricks & Techniques, I am including my favorite polymer clay here. This clay is fairly familiar to many doll makers, but I am always surprised by the number of people who have never heard of it. This clay is hands down my favorite for sculpting. It conditions, blends and smooths unlike any other clay. Don't let the higher-end price talk you out of it. You will more than make up the cost difference in the time you save with faster smoothing and blending :]. Get this from the Art Dolls Supply website. Get on the mailing list, as sometimes the company offers great deals on clay!

Do you have any special secret supplies?