I have still not given up on making a pattern for Ten Ping’s shoes. I made a pair of little slip on shoes the other day (HERE),
but I really wanted something like a Mary Jane shoe. I messed around with some sheer fabric today draping it across Ten Ping’s foot and after “several” tries, I came up with a pretty close pattern. It turns out, it’s easier to make the shoes if the pattern is all one piece…
This was the first pattern I tried…(well, actually the first one that was even remotely close to working…)
Then a few tweaks and a few cut out shoes later, I came up with this pattern. It still needs to be pulled a little closer in to Ten Ping’s foot, but I think I can figure that out.
So I thought I’d show you what I managed to make today. It’s a bit crazy to spend the hours I do trying to make a little 1″ shoe, but I know I can do it and so I keep trying. Now I guess I’ll have to make Ten Ping a black and white “something” to go with this pair of shoes…
Yes, poor Ten Ping knows the drill by now… you stand or sit on the dolly shelf until it’s your turn to model something. I have nothing for the half naked child to wear, so overlook the nudity!
So what do you think?
They actually look cuter on her feet than the close up shots of them.
I’ll keep working on them… this might be a good “sewing project” to take in the car on the drive out to Pennsylvania for the wedding because they are all done by hand.
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I’m trying to get ALL the fabric in my sewing room organized! My corduroys were a disaster and my faux furs and some suede cloth type fabrics were also a mess. I folded my corduroy fabrics on a ruler like I showed you how I did my fabrics in a previous post called “From Messy to Marvelous!” (HERE) My corduroys look 110% better and next will be the second shelf and then the third. Eventually I’ll get this room in tip top shape!
So that’s it for me today… what did you get accomplished?
Oh, don’t forget Saige’s dress set ends this evening on Ebay. Click on the picture of it at the right side bar to see it on Ebay.
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
They are just darling shoes, Jeanne! I can’t begin to imagine how you do those teensy items! That’s my beef with making doll clothes! Gee, either you have giant hands or those shoes are sooo tiny! Can’t wait to see what you come up with for an outfit to match the shoes!
Yesterday,–well, we are leaving today for a short getaway to Branson, so I got ready for that and cleaned house a bit, nothing big, but I may not be here to read your blogs until the end of the week. So don’t feel I’m not reading anymore, I’ll be back!
HI Linda,
Oh, Branson… we have some memories there! I hope you have a wonderful getaway! Was this part of your Mother’s Day present? I’ll see you when I get back, but I won’t know quite how to react when I don’t see your “early bird” comments each day.
Have fun and enjoy yourself.
Blessings, Jeanne
WOW!! GREAT RRG “Ten Ping” (and “Mia”!) Mary Jane-style shoes, Jeanne! CAN’T WAIT to see the accompanying outfit you come up with!!!
What did I accomplish yesterday??? I cleared my slate & made an emergency visit to my 87-year-old Dad’s house in upstate NY to unclog his bathroom sink drain, after he frantically called me early yesterday morning. (Dad is coping with a medical condition that necessitates his frequent use of that sink.) Then, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and HEAVY reminiscing about EVERYTHING! While there at my childhood home, I “visited” my mom’s doll collection, making sure that each and every one of “the girls” wasn’t too lonely in the aftermath of her untimely passing…and I finished up the day with a visit on the way home to A. C. Moore (a craft store chain) to purchase a cute WebKinz plush froggie to give to a girlfriend from my first (and now disbanded) doll club from the last century, who recently flew in from California and will be having “dinner & dolly-talk” on Wednesday evening with my sister, other former club members, and me. VERY EXCITED about this reunion (and still trying to decide WHICH tiny “travel” doll to bring with me to dinner)!
ENJOY this sure-to-be LOVELY day! ~
Cheryl in (still steamy!) NJ
HI Cheryl,
Thanks for your comments. I’m not sure what I will make to go with the shoes, but maybe something red and white polka dot…that might be fun!
It’s wonderful that you went to see your dad and spent the day with him. I’m sure he really enjoys your visits. It sounds like your mom was a doll collector too…guess it runs in the family.
Have fun with your friends and sister. I’m sure you’ll have a great evening.
Blessings, Jeanne
Thanks for your kind remarks to my initial post today, Jeanne! Yes; Dad is a FANTASTIC & INTERESTING person (who really does “get” the doll collecting “bug” my sister & I “inherited” from our mom, who only began collecting her small collection of dolls of her own as an adult; as a “Depression” baby & the 5th child of 6 siblings, she did not have a commercial doll of her own until the 1970’s, though from her earnings as a teenager she “gifted” her littlest sister with many dolls throughout that sibling’s childhood).
BEST dolly regards! ~
Cheryl in NJ (EAGERLY anticipating the “mini-reunion” tomorrow evening of the long-defunct Northern NJ Doll Collectors’ Club!)
HI Cheryl,
It sounds like your mom was wonderful! It’s also fun that your dad “gets” the dolly world…so many don’t quite understand grown women having dolls…let alone playing with them…
Blessings, Jeanne
You are a DOLL, Jeanne! Yes; in my dad’s constant words when we chat, my mother was “FAN-TASTIC!”!!! Dad understands that everyone needs “something” in life to further complete them, and in the case of his three women, it’s DOLLS! I wish that HUBBY was as understanding!
Have DOLL-lightful evenings, Everyone! ~
Cheryl in NJ
I think that one piece pattern makes a really cute she for her tiny little tootsies. Have you ever tried ultrasuede? it is thinner and doesn’t ravel but you have to have just the right needle..it’s tough to stitch thru by hand but the finished product is nice..I’ll send you some.
OH Kathie,
That would be so sweet. I do have some needles that I bought at the Paducah KY quilt show that are made to sew through leather. I’ve used them before on tough fabrics and they work great. They are 3 sided and are super sharp. I’ll have to get my pattern tweaked for sure now!
Thanks so much,
Blessings, Jeanne
Totally understand your need to conquer Ten Ping’s shoes. When I first started sewing I told myself I had to complete the project. There was no giving up. A problem I had was I could not sleep if there was a mistake I needed to correct. I now have the problem with knitting, Correcting a knitting error often takes much more time than a sewing error. I was told and read when using ultra suede do not use a leather needle in the machine. Nothing about leather hand needles. It is hard to push a hand needle through ultra suede. I use a small piece behind the buttons on knit pieces and then clip it very close to the button on the wrong side. I truly think glueing doll shoe pieces will take less time to construct.
HI Jan,
I’m glad I’m not the only one who has determination no matter what to get something finished when you start it. I said I was going to make Ten Ping some shoes and I want to follow through and make a pair I really like. These little black and white ones are pretty close but still need some work.
The needles I got at a quilt fair are incredibly sharp…almost like a razor and have 3 sides to them. One of my subscribers is going to send me some ultrasuede so I’m excited to see what I can do with them and these needles. If it doesn’t work, I’ll try the glue…
We’ll see…
Thanks so much Jan,
blessings, Jeanne
As you can see, I’m really late reading your blog today, Jeanne. I’m not going to answer your question “What did you accomplish today?” It would be too embarrassing to answer. Your little shoes are really cute. I’ve made many pairs of shoes for Ann Estelle from my own patterns. If I can find it, would you like a copy? They would be too big for Ten Ping, but I’m working at reducing it to fit her.
Jevne
Hi Jevne,
I was wondering about you… so you didn’t accomplish much? I can’t say my day was filled with too much either, but I did get my house cleaned up. My daughter had a repairman coming out to look at her treadmill so I had to clean up the back of the house… which led to more cleaning. It was a good thing, but not good for any sewing projects.
Then tonight I had a birthday dinner for a dear friend. I’ve been gone for 4 hours this evening and still don’t have a blog post written for tomorrow.
Somebody better get on the stick…
I would love to try the pattern for Ann Estelle’s shoes. Kathie is going to send me some Ultrasuede tomorrow. I’m anxious to see how that works…
Thanks Jevne,
blessings, Jeanne
I should have said I’m THINKING about working at reducing it! lol