I couldn’t wait to see if the new pink shoe lasts I sculpted from the Sculpy clay would work… Well, I can’t tell you exactly if the boots I’m trying to make will work as I haven’t tried them on Sara yet. I had wet molded my leather to the shoe last and am holding it in place until my prick (my punching tool) arrives… it was supposed to be tomorrow, but now the mail says it will be Tuesday… rats! Then I’ll punch the holes around it and see if they fit Sara… I just used the same leather as I had the most of this color in my bundle…
Then I found some time to work on Navi’s little outfit… It’s hard to imagine when you aren’t the one sewing for her, just HOW tiny she really is. She’s only 6 1/2″ tall and this is her bodice…
It’s very tiny and setting in those sleeves is not for the faint of heart! :o)
I made her pantaloons…
…and got this much done on the top part…
Mr. Turtle is keeping an eye on what we are doing and is hoping for a pocket to travel with Navi when she wears this… I think we can accommodate him! :o)
Well, that’s all for today… Have a wonderful start to your weekend… and don’t forget to check out Pixie Faire’s Freebie Pattern today…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
This is just darling, Jeanne! I love those cute little puffed out pantaloons for a play outfit! They cost an arm and a leg for LD and Betsy McCall dolls, if you can find them! What’s that? A pocket for the turtle? Tell me more! This will be just darling with the turtle shoes!
Speaking of shoes, the ones you are making for Sara look like they are coming along nicely! Looks like they could have worked with the outfit that sold last night!
Hi Linda,
Yep. A turtle pocket…just wait…he loves it!!
I think the shoes this time just might be right. I took them off the mold and held them up to Sara’s foot and so far, so good!!
Thanks so much
Blessings, Jeanne
The new shoes are coming along; I hope that your punching tool gets there sooner than they have told you! It’s always nice to be surprised.
Navi’s outfit is going to be darling; those fabrics just belong together.
Anne, I read your comment about losing weight and your thimble getting kind of loose. Maybe you could put a little adhesive tape on the inside of the thimble, which might help snug it up on your finger until you can get the next size down. I seem to remember doing that when I was young, and we couldn’t find one that was small enough to fit me just then. A little strip of adhesive tape, maybe 1/4-3/8″ wide and however long needed to go along the inside edge should do it.
I finished my top tonight (for Me, this time!). I have several other things cut out and waiting to sew together now, too, mostly for me, this time!
Thanks Charlotte but they are cheap enough to buy new ones really and I have pretty fat fingers anyway so won’t have a problem getting one a bit smaller.
Hi Charlotte
I so wish I had that tool now so J could ginush them…now the mail says Monday.. I guess I can wait…
I was working on the outfit for Navi and she is loving it… congrats on getting your top completed!!
I hope to get it finished pretty quickly…
Thanks so much!
Blessings, Jeanne
That looks like a great start on the shoes. You are so resourceful! You sew for so many dolls of different sizes that it would cost sooo much to buy molds for each doll size. Good for you! The little tiny outfit is so cute and the turtle just unbelievable!
Hi Susette,
It WOULD cost a lot to get shoe lasts for each size doll…I’m hoping this works!!
Rebeccs gave me about 10 or so itty bitty frogs and turtles.. I might have to do an ongoing series of “critter creations!”
Thanks Susette,
Blessings, Jeanne
I think my Gigi would just love one…provided you could work in a little Pink, of course!! LOL
It seems to me that handmade boots would work very well with an outfit for Felicity. After making something for Navi, an AG outfit is going to seem fit for a giant.
I love the idea of a turtle pocket.
Here’s a RRFF link for more inspiration. I think some of the more casual styles would work with the gray shoes you have already made. https://www.happily.com/category-s/282.htm The pictures can be enlarged for detail.
Hi Marilyn,
I was thinking the same thing…the AG’s are going to feel like I’m making human clothes!!
The turtle pocket is done and he loves it!
Thanks for the inspirational link..
Lots of ideas there!!
Blessings, Jeanne
We’ll have to wait for Anne’s report today — NZ just had a massive 8.1 earthquake. I didn’t see any deaths reported or power-outs, but it cannot have been without consequences.
About 100 miles off the coast of the North Island. Shook people up a bit and most of those on the coast did what they were supposed to do and headed for higher ground when they heard or received the Tsunami warnings and alerts but I don’t think there was any really bad damage or a huge swell. Better safe than sorry.
H Marilyn and Anne,
I hadn’t watched or heard any news about the earthquake. But am so glad you are okay…
Blessings,
Wow! Those boots already look amazing. Hope your punch arrives soon. I want to see the finished product. Navi’s outfit is going to be darling, and a pocket for her little turtle too. How nice. I remember when my son was about a year old we went to a flea market. One of the booths was selling small toys. While we were talking to the lady we gave our son a small plastic turtle to play with. It was molded with a head and legs but the shell was hollow. When we tried to take it from him to put it back he decided he wanted it and hooked his fingers around the empty shell and would not let go. It was either leave the kid behind or buy the turtle so we bought the turtle. A wise choice. He’s been an amazing kid. We still have the turtle.
I saw where New Zealand had the earthquake. It was offshore, but it affected traffic on the island. They had tsunami warnings in Hawaii but cancelled them. I sure do hope everything is okay for Anne and will be glad when we hear from her.
Hi Barbara,
Now the tracking says my punch will come Monday. yay!! I hope I can master the shoes…I really enjoy doing them.
Funny about your son and the turtle…seems like we’ve all done that with our kids… :o)
Teaches us to NOT give them anything very expensive as a “distraction!”
Thanks Barbara
Blessings, Jeanne
I was thinking of Anne last evening when I saw the tsunami report for New Zealand. I believe it was cancelled though. It was a huge quake. Hoping everything is okay with her and family.
The Pixie Faire pattern is a great one today for the big girls. The little ones here are wishing it was for them. 🙂
So, how do you get the wet leather to stay flush with the last? Just press it down? It looks like it must have been held down with something to form the shape. Will the stitching go from, the top leather into the leather upon which it is sitting? Can’t wait to find out. The new boots for my Chibbi are sewn down to the under part from the mid sole up to about where the rubber band begins and then the grommets are above. It looks like the middle layer that yours is sitting on is thicker than that of the Chibbi boots. After the stitching around the sole then another sole is glued over the bottom to hide the stitching. Kind of a crazy explanation. Sorry. Can’t wait until the “tool” arrives. Does the tool come in different sizes? And is there any dye rub off from the leather you are using? The Fashion Friends girls seem to have a problem with anything that may transfer to them. I saw someone who had carried her doll in a simple denim bag to shoot photos and found that both of her dolls hands had dye transfer from just being carried a short distance. I do worry about that.
I think Navi’s little two piece outfit is adorable. Just the right scale print too. I have no idea how you are able to do those miniature puffed set in sleeves. Quite a feat. Can’t wait to see the outfit complete. So cute.
I already bought the freebie pattern for 18″ dolls awhile back and now am going to get the one for Wellies but I’ll have to pay for that one too. It seems whenever I buy a pattern it later becomes a freebie but I don’t know that it will. I might play around with the WW one a little bit and see if I can size it for my LDs. I love the pattern.
I wonder if you can’t resize the pattern pieces to get it to fit your WW. Shouldn’t be all that much of a reduction. I’ve had great luck resizing. 🙂
That was my thought. Glad to hear you’ve had good luck with that. I have a list somewhere that gives the percentage for making patterns smaller or larger. Now if I only knew where I put it.
Hi Joy,
I did look at the Pixie pattern today, but decided to pass as I have so many dess patterns already…it was cute though…
You cut out your pieces or just use a scrap and put it in some water… I left mine in there for a few minutes to soak…then take it out and dry it off on a paper towel… then take your fingers and start pushing it over a mold or a cup or a bowl or a shoe last…just keep smoothing it out pushing it in the creases around the edges…it takes a little time but then it just starts taking the shape of what’s underneath it…
Just Google wet molding leather and several videos come up…
Yes, the shoe layer is stitched to the piece under it…and then the sole is glued on to hide all the stitching…
Yes, you can buy a pack in 3,4,5 and 6mm widths…that’s how far the prongs are apart from each other…I picked the 4mm one…better for smaller shoes…
I may have to make socks or thigh highs when I have the shoes go with an outfit…
I hope I can finish them and have them look like something…
Thanks Joy,
Blessings, Jeanne
I was thinking of Anne in NZ last night as well. I hope she and her are safe. Hope she checks in soon.
The boots are coming along nicely. Once your awl arrives you will be in business, the shoe business. LOL
The Pixie Faire pattern is cute today. I haven’t bought any patterns from them yet. i have about four in my watchlist that I hope will become freebie and I’m not in a rush to get them. Two of the ones I’ve wanted in the past did become freebies YAY!
Navi little outfit in so cute with the strawberry top and gingham pantaloons and the turtle shoes. A pocket for Timmy turtle is certainly in order.
Have a lovely weekend. I’m heading to the garden store for some soil in the morning, time to get the seeds planted.
Hi Laura,
I am so anxious for my punch to get here…I just can’t wait to see what even stitching will look like.
I’m working on Navi’s hat now…the final piece to this set.
Thanks so much
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks everyone for your concern but we didn’t feel the quake here at all in the S Island. I haven’t heard that there was much damage but the far north felt it. We got Tsunami alerts on our phones down here but only to tell us not to go to the beach. I live about 6 kms from the beach so would have to be pretty massive to reach here. I read an article sometime after our earthquakes which said the geological positioning of Pegasus bay would help protect us from the worst of a tsunami. I don’t remember very well why. I guess I could google it.
I think I do need a new key board mine just failed again and the new batteries were the best I could get. Either that or find a way to extend the pull out shelf where the keyboard sits (and an extension for my printer as the cord won’t meet the USB slot on the laptop if I move it down). I quite like the keyboard on the computer so long as I can have it in the right position. The mouse still works which is more important to me. I find I am hopeless using the mouse on the computer!
I love the shaping on the boots and you are pretty clever making a last. I might see if Sam can make me one she is pretty good with her hands and she might even have some Sculpy or similar. I don’t think I will be buying one, if they are coming from Russia then I suspect I would be paying around $120 NZ with postage and exchange rate. But I would love to look at the tutorials.
I can’t imagine working with anything small enough for Navi! That top is so tiny. I have enough problem setting in sleeves for the AG size! I am sure the outfit will be wonderful when it is finished.
The Friday Freebie from Pixie Faire is pretty useful this week. I missed last weeks I have to check on Saturday and it goes into my ‘other’ mailbox and I don’t always remember to look there. I like todays little dress anyway.
Dear Anne, I am so happy that you are alright. We had a minor earthquake in my area about 30 years ago. It was scary.
Hi Anne,
So glad all is well with you…didn’t want your bag sewing to be interrupted…I wanted to see them…
Yikes…and I thought $46.20 was high for some shoe lasts…guess that’s not too bad and after making these, I have a new respect for those wooden ones… but I bet they are computer generated to get the right size and fit…
Well. Back to Navi’s set… I’m almost done…
Thanks Anne and stay safe…
Blessings, Jeanne
I have a Twinkle Tella, I know how tiny Navi is. 🙂 I also have a number of other girlies that are 16cm, I love that size.
Hi Melody,
Yes, these little dolls certainly are tiny to sew for, but I love doing it…
Thanks Melody
Blessings, Jeanne
Dear Jeanne, Navi is certainly STRAWBERRY SWEET in her new outfit. The shoes are adorable.
It is hard to believe that we are almost one week into March.
I am happy that the sun is shining brightly and the snow is all gone.
Thanks Dorothy
I’m almost on the home stretch with Navi’s set and my leather prick will be here Monday…hopefully!!
It was cold here today…in the 40’s but the sun was shining here too…that helps!!
Thanks Dorothy
Blessings, Jeanne
Those pantaloons are cute! I truly don’t enjoy Ewing for dolls that small, and I generally avoid collecting any that small because I don’t enjoy creating for them. You obviously enjoy it and do a good job of it. The boots are coming along well too!
Hi Carolyn,
I do like sewing for these little bitty girls…I like seeing the results quickly…(most of the time!)
Thanks so much
Blessings, Jeanne