How’s that for a title? After you read this you’ll know!
Okay…remember last week when I was obsessed with making Navi, my new little 6 1/2″ My Meadow doll, some panties? Remember how many tries it took me to finally start getting the hang of it?
Well, the last few days I’ve been obsessed again with something… this time it’s shoes…tiny shoes… for Navi, again. Every moment I had I found myself in my sewing room cutting out another pattern and trying a different medium to make them. I’ve had more scraps on my floor than you can imagine. I finally swept it tonight because I couldn’t stand it any longer…(it reminded me of all the failed tries.)
So a few days ago I was in our Thrift shop and saw this tiny little doll and she was a wreck…her hair was all over the place and I had no idea who she was…BUT she looked like she had the same size feet as Navi, so for .50 cents I bought her. I didn’t like using Navi as my model when I was making the shoes, because you kind of have to “manhandle” the doll to get the pattern wrapped around her foot and it made me a bit nervous that I might easily drop her. So I was hoping this little dolls feet were the same size as Navi’s and I could use her as my “foot model!”
Well, Glory Be… look at this…They were an exact match!
So I began the process of fashioning a pattern for Navi using…we’ll call her Tillie! I made a couple of pairs…
This should be a piece of cake… a few more…
But as I was making them and “thinking” they were fine… they kept falling off Navi’s heel on her right foot. I measured around them and they were the same size… so what was the trouble? It took a close up picture from my camera to figure it out…
I discovered the toes on her right foot (left foot looking at this picture) stuck up a bit more than the toes on the left foot. The toes aren’t the same on each foot…
This isn’t a very clear picture, but you can see the toes on the left side don’t touch the floor like the ones on the right side do…
So I went back and looked at my shoes on Navi’s feet and sure enough… look what I see in several of the shoes… TOES poking up…
So I’m going to have to come up with something else for a pattern…short of filing off her big toe! :o) I need to come up with a pattern that doesn’t fit so snugly across the top of her foot.
But anyway, I thought I’d show you what I have accomplished so far…and some of the shoes do look better with thigh highs…
Okay, so I need to get back to sewing… I just wanted to show you what I was up to…
I learned a new word from one of the comments today…Barbara said a friend of her calls herself a “Procraftinator” ~ did you read that right? Pro-Craft-inator! She said it means that you put your crafting before anything else! I think I might be one! (Not really, I don’t, but I DO like that word!)
Well, now you know why a quarter, a .50 cent doll and a crooked big toe made it in a blog post!
Happy Thursday to you all,
Blessings, Jeanne
First of all, I do love all the dolly shoes you made for Navi, although I think the gold lace ones with bows are my favorites–or maybe the pink ones! And what a good idea, to find an inexpensive doll with the same-sized feet to use as a model while you’re constructing the shoes!
But you are right, her feet are shaped a little differently, with the one big toe raised! I know you’ll come up with some kind of a solution, though–maybe just adding a bit more material to go over that particular area of that shoe? A tiny dart or a bit of gather?
It’s funny how some dolls seem to have pretty “standard” feet, and others…..just don’t! I have several 16″ dolls by Julie Good-Kruger, and they definitely have feet that are shaped a bit differently than most (although as I recall they are at least mirror images of each other). But it meant that not all doll shoes in “their size” fit them equally well! We had to try different shoes to find the ones that worked the best for them. If the toes were too pointed, for instance, they wouldn’t work.
Good luck!
Thanks Charlotte,
I like the shoes too… to see them in person is really a fun sight! I think I love tiny things best of all! :o)
Actually those gold “lace” ones you like are made from that sequin fabric that is kind of stretchy like. It just took about an inch a half square of the fabric to make each shoe. I bought an 1/8th of a yard of the gold and the red… guess I have plenty to make more shoes. I tied the tiniest bow I could to add to the top. Thanks!
I used to have a ton of shoes for my 7 1/2″ Riley doll and now wish I had them to see if they would work for Navi… I’m thinking they may have been too big too… but the Ellery shoes might work.
It’s fun to see what I can come up with…
Thanks Charlotte,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne, you certainly are the “perfectionist” as much as a procraftinator, in my book! Those shoes are completely darling, and I can’t believe how cute they all turned out! They would probably look better on the feet if Navi had tights or socks on, but I am in awe of that picture you took at towards end with them all lined up and a quarter there for size!
So now how about ballet slippers with tiny ribbons going up the leg? Boots? Just think of the fun you will have creating little, tiny shoes! One toe sticking up isn’t going to bother me!!
HI Linda,
Maybe I’ll take pictures of them again with some socks on Navi, just so you can see the difference that makes.
They REALLY are tiny little things and even though it’s tedious work, I really enjoy working on them. Now I just need to get a pattern perfected so I can churn them out faster.
I think ballet slippers would be cute and I’ve had my mind thinking about boots too… The shoes with the straps around them stay on really well…it’s just the slip on shoes that won’t stay up on her heel.
Thanks for the encouragement Linda,
Blessings, Jeanne
Navi’s shoes look great!! Finding footwear for these Twinkles has been the bane of many collectors!
Perhaps you should consider offer shoes only on the Meadow Fans Facebook page!
HI Shara,
I know what you mean.. just some normal everyday shoes are non-existent it seems. I’m hurrying as fast as I can…
I put a link to today’s post on the Meadow Dolls Fan Club page… just to let ladies know I’m trying to get it figured out…
Thanks Shara,
Blessings, Jeanne
What an astute observation! I knew my Navi and Romy had different hands, (just try and get an outfit on over them) but had no idea of the feet differences. I just checked Navi and yep, those little tiny toes do stick up. Hope you can post that information on the Meadow facebook page. I’m sure it would be of interest.
What a nice variety of foot ware. I agree with Shara that you should post and put them in your Etsy shop. 🙂
Going to be noisy around here today. They are bringing in a crane to remove a giant dead oak tree from across the street. Most likely a victim of drought or sudden oak disease. Sad. Should be interesting because they have to lift it over the top of the house. Owner is leaving for the day. I would too.
HI Joy,
I posted today’s blog post on the Meadow Dolls Fan Club site. I am going to get this figured out… someway to make the heel stay on and still look the same on both feet. I tried making the right foot front longer to accommodate for the sticking up toes, but you could see the difference in the sizes of the 2 shoes…so I’ll have to get the front part of the shoe more rounded and raised up somehow.
Yikes… taking a tree out and over your house… your poor neighbors… I’d have to watch from a distance just to make sure it was all okay… Happy “watching” today!
Blessings, Jeanne
Tree had to go over the neighbors house, not ours fortunately. They are just packing up the crane now and cleaning up. Must have been 10 people on our front lawn all lined up watching the production earlier. Everyone with their phones taking pictures too. It cost $11,000 to remove that tree.
I have been getting 25mm shoes for Navi and Romy which fit perfectly. Riley’s shoes fit too when worn with socks/tights. Also, AG mini doll shoes fit as do those for Lori dolls. Ten Ping’s little sis Yu Ping also wears the same size as the Twinkles. I get 38mm shoes for the Dumplings. There is not much variety. I love slip ons for them as it makes it so much easier to dress those squirmy feet.
$11,000? Are you serious? I would have fainted with a quote like that…
I should have been working on something else but I was back at those shoes again…I just made a cute little brown pair… it’s a little Mary Jane style.
I’ll have to keep at those slip on ones…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
Too funny of a title but I sure understand why! Jeanne, you have the knack and the perseverance to get whatbyoubarevtrying to make it sew. I’m clapping for you. You did it and the shoes are great. The little redheaded doll is a cutie.
HI Paula,
I had some drab title at first and as I writing the post, I decided to make it a little mysterious if I could. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliments.
Navi is an adorable doll. Last night there was another one for sale on the My Meadow Doll Fan club site and I did a double take and had to make myself leave the site!
Thanks Paula,
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, only you would think of hiring a “shoe model” (laugh). I hope you are paying Tillie to scale. Those Hollywood types are very demanding!
I love the tiny shoes. You are becoming quite an expert. We will be referring to you as Cobbler Jeanne pretty soon.
Once you completely master doll shoes, please consider making big people shoes. Dr. Scholl’s just isn’t enough (chuckle).
HI Dorothy,
Yes, I guess I’ll refer to Tillie as my Shoe Model! She has the tiniest body…I’d hate to make clothes for her…
Cobbler Jeanne? I doubt it…but I hope to do it part time enough to make all the Navi’s out there some new shoes… They really are a challenge and fun at the same time.
Big people shoes? Probably not… I’ll leave that to Hochung!
Thanks Dorothy,
Blessings, Jeanne
This excerpt from your blog was most interesting and enjoyable. Lovely holiday shoes! Thanks for sharing your ideas and results! ❤️
Thanks so much April,
I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying Navi… She is so much fun to work with …from her shoes to her clothes… right now I’m in the process of making her a bed to use in some pictures. She is such a sweetheart and I am SO glad I bought her from you! Thanks a million!
Blessings, Jeanne
Yes put the extra ones on Etsy…that’s a great idea girls!
Maybe you could take the heel seam in a bit on the shoe that wants to fall off so it would stay put? I would love a video of you making those shoes just to watch your fingers work on that tiny size, and make those teeny bows. It would be fascinating.
Have a great day!
HI Kathie,
If I can ever get some shoes to my liking… I just might put them on Etsy…
The problem isn’t that the heel is too wide, it’s when the big toe hits the inside of the front of the shoe, it pushes it down and off it comes from the back. I thought about a flat piece across the back of the sole of the shoe like a 1/8″ raised up heel, but that didn’t do anything either.
The front of the shoes need to be raised up enough so her toe doesn’t hit the shoe on the inside…that’s what I’ve got to figure out how to do…
Thanks Kathie,
Blessings, Jeanne
I really need to get on the shoe-making bandwagon. That’s one thing my procraftinator friend does that so intrigued me. All her outfits come with shoes and about 98% of them she made. I’ve got a ton of shoe patterns for all my dolls and a lot of things to make them out of. I buy bags of leather scraps from HomeSew. I just need to stop fearing the process. But I do know one thing for sure, I’m going to start with my 18″ doll before I try anything smaller. Jeanne, your small doll shoes are adorable, always, but I’m afraid I’d be all thumbs trying to start out with them. I love the dressy shoes, but the pink ones are cute too. I never dreamed of dolls having different foot shapes. That was a surprise.
HI Barbara,
I’m still loving that term… Procraftinator… I’ll be using that for a LONG time. I’ve been making shoes for my outfits for a long time and most of the time they come together fairly quickly… who would have guessed a big toe could stump me.
The AG doll shoes are much easier to work with … the soles of Navi’s shoes are just slightly bigger than my thumbnail.
I was looking on Pinterest and Google last night for some idea of how to fix the problem… I’ll get it one of these days.
Thanks so much Barbara,
Blessings, Jeanne
I wouldn’t worry about the fit of the shoe since it’s just a little bump and there’s a good reason for it. It’s like when someone has a bunion; no one makes shoes to accommodate that. I liked your idea of a surgical intervention to correct the “defect.” I, too, would like to see a video of making the shoes. Does that particular doll come with shoes? How about some
Another alternative might be to use some Crystalline Clear Museum Wax. It is a soft, pliable material that’s used by museums to secure items to shelves. It comes loose easily but holds things tight and leaves no residue. I use it to help dolls hold something. It leaves no traces and doesn’t discolor things. I’ll send a picture along of Samantha holding some Harry Potter scepter-like thing in her hand. Someone will know what it’s called but not I don’t.
HI Susette,
On the shoes with straps it’s not so much a problem with the shoes staying on…they do okay. It’s the slip on shoes that tend to want to slip on that right foot. They are so tiny to begin with, I certainly don’t want them to be coming off and getting lost… that’s why I want to get them to stay on by themselves. I thought about putting one of those sticky dots (Zots) on the inside of the right shoe at the heel, to help hold the shoe on. They are clear and won’t hurt the dolls feet in the least. Just a thought…
I’m going to look up Crystalline Clear Museum Wax… I’ve never heard of that… I just heard a ding on my phone and it’s from you…I’m going to see what this stuff is…
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
Jeanne ~
You are a perfectionist, and I like that; it shows in everything you do! So, I have no doubt that you will solve the “shoe” issue for “Navi”, the same way you solved the “panties” issue. GOOD LUCK, and I will keep reading this blog for further developments!
Re: the leaf turning “issue” ~ Sadly, as of yesterday afternoon, the leaves along the Hudson River towns in northern NJ (and southern NY State) STILL hadn’t yet put on their Autumn glory! They, too, (for the most part) are going from dark green, to olive, to olive brown. Not much is on the ground, either. WEIRD!
Cheryl in NJ (& NY State)
HI Cheryl,
I think I might be a perfectionist when it comes to getting things right…I laid awake last night trying to think of a way to make those little shoes a different way so they fit better.
I came up with an idea and just finished my first pair…I’m pretty pleased.
We are a little bit of color but not very much…it’s always so beautiful in the hills of southern Illinois but maybe not this year…
Thanks Cheryl,
Blessings, Jeanne
Oh my, look at all those cute little shoes! That’s a good idea using the less expensive doll as a model. I’m sorry about the toes being different on Navi’s feet. That the sort of thing that can make me crazy, but it looks like you will figure out a solution. I really like the last pair—the gold slip-ones. They look like they fit very well.
HI Carolyn,
OH well, big toes aren’t going to stop me from making fun little shoes for Navi.
I’ll figure it out and get some made that fit perfectly.
The gold ones are actually the ones where her big toe hits on the inside of the shoe and it makes the heel fall down…I’ll figure out something…maybe with tights they will do better…
Thanks Carolyn,
Blessings, Jeanne
It’s now nearly 1 am, and the blog I’m getting is yesterday’s, I don’t know if this is a blog problem or something else. Before the problems, by 12:01 I could get the blog of the day.
The shoes are wonderful. The little toe lump doesn’t bother me — it’s just what a small person would do — raise her toe against the top of the shoe. How really wonderful that the doll’s feet are slightly different that way. It makes the dolls still more special. The shoe slipping off would be a problem because finding the shoe again would be so much trouble. I was glad you told us the sole was only a little larger than your thumbnail — it would be so easy to step on a shoe while you were looking for it. You may have to resign yourself to Mary Janes. But that whole set of shoes together, in all the variety, is so cute. I can see becoming a Navi shoe collector. Now to invent tiny shoe boxes for them, or maybe shoe bags that go out with every pair of shoes. Bags would be better, I guess.
Now let’s see if I can get today’s blog.
HI Marilyn,
OH this blog post thing is driving me crazy…I’m going to have find a way to get some “professional” tech support!!!
I’m still tweaking how I make the shoes and did figure out how to make the straps go across the foot to hold the shoe on…without being attached on both sides. I haven’t tried it yet, but it came to me while I was wandering around Hobby Lobby earlier…
Oh I DO like your idea of tiny shoe boxes or shoe bags to send them in…that’s a great idea!! Thanks so much,
Bkessings, Jeanne
Navi needs strappy sandals, ballet flats with an open back but tiny criss crossed elastic strings, fashionable open toe booties/moccasins, boots like Kaya’s with the ties, and/or sweater booties like the ones in the links following.
http://americangirl.wikia.com/wiki/Polar_Bear_Pajamas
https://www.americangirl.com/shop/ag/playful-polar-bear-pajamas-doll-CMV02
That way either the toe is left uncovered or it’s in a shoe with some “give” to make allowance for the raised toe. Or maybe the Barbie doll style slipper but flat, just a strap across the front of varying designs and or an attached elastic or woven back strap (you could do like the kids friendship bracelets huarache style).
Look at all the girls huaraches, what a variety.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1&biw=1143&bih=720&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=36fJW8PALcrWzgKq06z4CQ&q=huarache+sandals+girls&oq=huarache+sandals+girls&gs_l=img.3…553308.562558..563326…1.0..0.898.5084.0j17j2j3j6-1……1….1..gws-wiz-img…….0j0i67j0i5i30j0i8i30j0i8i10i30.ZFvzmUtqwqI
And I also imagine her in teeny tiny jellies… in crystal pastels and glitter styles or little tiny velvet shoes… like these https://www.amazon.com/Wee-Kids-Newborn-Christmas-Holiday/dp/B01694X4BC. What fun you will have once you get her pattern sizes locked in.
Thanks for all your suggestions, Christal!!!
I’d like to try all your ideas…AND I just might!
YES…once I get the sizes and patterns figured out, I WILL have lots more fun!
Thanks for all the ideas and links!
Blessings, Jeanne