PLEASE NOTE:
I listed Isabelle’s “Pretty as a Picture” dress set on Ebay and wanted to give you the link to the listing. You can see it by clicking the picture at the right side bar or you can click this link…
A while back Carolyn asked me about enhancing doll eyes. I mentioned it once or twice that I had been known to add a few eyelashes here and there to some of my dolls who were a little less endowed than I liked. Carolyn wanted to know how I did it and what I used. I told her I just bought a couple of water color pencils from Hobby Lobby and used them. If I didn’t like the way it looked when I was done, I could use a kneaded eraser and carefully dab them off. I might be braver than some of you and Carolyn said it took her some time to get up her nerve, but she had an Ana, Little Darling doll and wanted her eyes to be enhanced.
When Janie arrived she had almost no eyelashes and I didn’t want her looking like she had false eyelashes, but I was hoping to give her eyes a little more depth.
This is what she looked like when she arrived…
(If you click on the pictures they will enlarge.)
I sharpened my water color pencil to a very sharp point and began. You have to find which way is most comfortable to hold your doll…I actually held Janie upside down so I could do the eyelashes the same way, making sharp little strokes away from her eyelid. I may have been able to find a better shot of Janie, but I think this one will do.
Those are just a few examples of Janie with “enhanced” eyelashes.
So I gave Carolyn some tips and she decided to give it a try. Here’s Ana before…
Fuller eyelashes and a whole new look! Carolyn was quite proud of herself and so she should be.
You have to remember these little dolls faces are only about 1 1/2″ wide, and their eyes are probably only 1/4″ long, so what you see up close is super magnified. What counts is what your doll looks like at a distance.
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My sister Cindy, out in Pennsylvania, has been up to it again… her daughter, Erin (my niece) is having her first baby and for her shower she wanted a Woodland theme…Her hubby is quite the nature type… Anyway, you won’t believe all the things Cindy came up with with a woodsy flavor to it…
How about her diaper centerpiece for starters.. There’s no words to describe it… unless may it’s “incredible…”
How about this porcupine platter of crackers…
Maybe you’ll like these pretzel rods that look like birch tree twigs…
Look at this fruity owl…
Hannah’s mommy (Amy), made some carrot cake cupcakes and Cindy made the little acorns for the top from Hershey’s Kisses, a chocolate chip and a mini Vanilla wafer cookie…
Here are some more acorns she made with Nutter Butter cookies…just as extras…
Here is a sign she made for the baby’s arrival…
…and one more thing… one of the guests brought a box of “cupcakes”… (onesies rolled up to look like cupcakes… aren’t they adorable?)
Oh, and here’s Erin… ready to welcome this little boy very soon…
Well, whether you enjoyed the eye part or the owl part, I aim to please… :o) Something for everyone!!!
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
Loved the blog today, Jeanne! I do see that when you enhance the eyelashes, that the eyes do appear to be open more, and give the dolls a more awake look, without looking surprised. Great job, Carolyn. Do LD have sleep eyes?
Oh gosh, that baby shower is just adorable without all the pink and blue! That’s what I call a custom shower, made to order! Just darling, and can’t imagine when Cindy has the time to think all this up, not to mention doing it! Just loved the diaper centerpiece, and I myself would have a hard time dismantling it to use the diapers!
From the porcupine platter, to the birch twigs and the acorn cupcakes, it is so well thought out and displayed beautifully! Wonderful job, Cindy, and congrats to you and your family with the new little “deer” coming!!
Hi Linda,
No, the Little Darlings do not have sleep eyes they are painted and look like glass eyes but they don’t open and close. It is nice when you can add a few extra eyelashes. It really does make the eyes appear bigger.
I told Cindy I didn’t think I had ever seen a baby shower with the theme that had so many ideas pull together for that very thought. I thought everything was wonderfully done. Cindy sent me pictures of the nursery…I’ll have to maybe share them…
Thanks Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
HA! Must be ‘woodland animals’ is a ”current nursery fad”…. my DIL is due any second now…and she used woodland animal theme for ‘our baby’, too! 🙂 I made her a baby quilt with animal applique’s… and burp cloths, a soft toy, a nursing pillow all with ‘ animal themes’ all with green or gray color accents (the nursery colors are green, white, gray). I think she wants crib ‘bumper pads’ also…. I’m just waiting for measurements.
I do like your eyelash ‘enhancements’….. I don’t dare do anything like that – LOL!!
Hi Mary,
I think Cindy got lots of her ideas from Pinterest and I’m sure if you’re doing a woodland themed shower, you could do the same or even copy these ideas.
Have fun with your shower.
blessings, Jeanne
The woodland shower theme is inspired!!
Every did such a creative fun look…Happy almost precious baby boy:)
I have s veral Effner Little Darlings dating from 2012. The artists did not paint the lashes as full then.
I much prefer the faces of my newer Darlings with their thicker, fuller lashes:) Carolyn did a nice job in her Ana, who incidentally looks darling with a blond bob wig!
Hi Shara,
Boy, baby showers sure have changed since when I had mine with my two kids. It used to just be pink for a girl blue for a boy…that was it. If you went to one you went to the same thing for everyone else’s… only the games were different.
I like the fuller eyelases on the dolls too.
Thanks for your compliments on everything, Shara.
Blessings, Jeanne
A very fun post today! Your tutorial was interesting to read and seeing the results close up is really convincing.
Creativity must run in your family. Your sister did a wonderful job on the shower. Everything was so cute. Good luck to your niece!!
Take care.
Thank you Charlotte,
When my sister does something she does it with her whole heart. I would love to have been there…
We’ll have to see if my post makes anyone else brave enough to give adding eyelashes a try.
Blessings, Jeanne
Cindy really has an artist’s eye for everything she does. That is one of the cutest diaper cakes I’ve seen, and the porcupine cheese ball is really cute. Everything looks so nice and Erin must have been thrilled with it. I hope they took a lot of pictures for the baby book!
How fun to see my little Anna–now named Olivia–on your blog. I really appreciate all your encouragement on the eyes, as I was a little unsure about doing anything to her face, and needed a little nudge to get started. I do need to say, though, that I wasn’t entirely happy with my first attempt as the darker pencil was a little too soft to hold a sharp point. I took all that off and bought a lighter brown pencil and redid the eyes. I will send you a new picture when I get a chance.
Hi Carolyn,
My sister does have a good eye for just about anything artistic! That’s why I like it so much when she comes home!!!
Thanks for updating us on Ana eyes. I’ll post your new pictures when you send them to me. Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
The shower theme was truly inspired and so creative. All of the food displays were so cute, and the porcupine was my favorite. Wonderful cake. Cindy is quite the hostess. Have fun with the new little one.
I went to the Downton Abbey Exhibit yesterday at the Muzeo Museum in Anaheim, California, and it was wonderful. They were the costumes worn in the series and were on mannequins that were made to the same size as the actors who wore them. The detail was amazing and beautiful to see in person. I may have to go again. I’ve sent some pictures to Jeanne. My favorite clothes to wear when I used to go to the opera many years ago had fur and feathers, and someone accused me of killing Muppets to get my clothing. No fur worn for over 25 years here in California. They stay in the closet as I can’t bear to part with them.
Hi Susette
Thanks for your compliments on Cindy creative ideas for Erin’s baby shower. She does know how to throw a party…I can attest to that!
I looked at your pictures sent to me and I will be sharing them. I would love to have been right by your side when you went!
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
I’ll bet you will have a lot of folks pinning the woodland theme to pinterest. Such cute ideas. My favorite, the owl fruit plate.
I’m sure Janie and Ana are both thrilled with a little enhancement. Who wouldn’t be! Looks great.
Hi Joy,
I liked the owl too…he is so cute…almost makes you not want to eat him… I haven’t looked at the woodland themed ideas on Pinterest, but I think I might.
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Carolyn’s eyelash work is wonderful. That job would be hard to do with having to keep a steady hand. Excellent work. Ana is a cute girl. I like the Ana’s and Lian’s the best out of the LD girls. As I say that, I have to really say they are all so cute.
Oh how creative and clever Cindy is on her shower decorations. Everything was perfect for a Woodland theme. Loved the owl fruit bowl and diaper tree. The cupcakes were ideal too.
Such talent and I wish many blessings to the baby.
Jeanne, I LOVE your story about Isabelle finding her dress at “Jeanne Marie’s Fashions” and how the name of the dress came to be in the story.
Hi Paula and thanks so much for your sweet words about our Little Darlings. They really are special little girls.
Yes, that sister of mine certainly is talented… if she doesn’t know how to do something, she figures it out!
Well, it was the truth…I mean what happened with Isabelle. .. :o)
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Hi, Jeanne! You did a remarkable job on the eyelashes for your new little doll! I have wanted to “tweak” little things on a couple of my Little Darlings…including the factory doll your friend did..and maybe now I’ll find the courage. Just have to say too, that I cannot believe how talented your sister is. That woodland theme baby shower is just amazing..every single thing she made is so perfectly done, so creative. You two were sure blessed with artistic genes and I feel so blessed that I get to see your work. Wishing you many blessings…continual prayers.
Hi Bobi,
I hope you’ll take a try at your Ana doll enhancing her eyelashes…it’s really not that hard and it feels great when you looks so neat when you see what you have done.
Thanks Bobi, for your comments about Cindy’s talent. I think the Lord gave her a double portion of it!
Thanks Bobi,
Blessings, Jeanne
I love the little acorns — imagine the chocolate trees that would grow from them. I can’t imagine anyone willing to take the first bite of the hedgehog. But what I really want is the kitchen and that beautiful leafy trim around the door. Send them to Colorado, please.
Hi Marilyn,
I’d love one of those cupcakes right now…how about you? I’d even take just a single acorn right now…
I know, isn’t that trim gorgeous? I’d take that too!
Thanks Marilyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
I know I’ve been MIA for a few days because by the time I get to your post it is late and I’m not sure you’ll even see it. The weather has been absolutely incredible. We have broken or met a few records this week, so outside was a necessity.. Today was 72 degrees. Can you imagine, 72 in February?!
I wanted to comment how lovely Isabelle’s dress set turned out. Now that you mention how small their faces and eyes are I can realize just how tiny the hat and dresses for them are. A real challenge to sew for, I would think. Carolyn and you both did a super job enhancing the eyelashes.
The woodland themed baby shower is just so, so cute. I saw woodland ideas in an issue of Martha Stewart and did cake pine cones and a marzipan mouse on top of the cake for my daughter’s birthday one year.
I love foxes and hedgehogs ( all animals really) , so everything about this party is just great. The diaper cake is adorable and all the party food looks marvelous. I’m sure Erin really enjoyed her special day. I agree, even Cindy’s woodwork fits right in.
Hi Laura,
I know what you mean about the weather…it’s been wonderful here in southern Illinois too. It was 72 yesterday!
I never had heard of a Woodland themed “anything” before…guess I’m out of the loop, spending too much time in my sewing room.
Thanks for your sweet compliments on Cindy’s ideas…she really is fun to be around…so many ideas in her head!
Blessings, Jeanne
It was interesting to read about how you enhanced Janie’s eyelashes; I’ve made quite a few cloth dolls, and I had so much trouble getting the eyes to come out “even” until I learned a little trick: I do the right eye first, then turn the face/head (usually just the face since I make cloth dolls) with the forehead towards me, and do the left eye–because it is now on my right side, it’s easier for me to copy the opposite eye. (I’m right-handed; I’m assuming for someone left-handed, you would start with the left eye.)
Loved all the pictures of Cindy’s artistry–lots of eye candy!! My favorite was her little hedgehog appetizer! However, I also loved the idea of the onesies “cupcakes”–such a clever idea, and a lovely way to decorate the box, too!!