Grace Marie Attends the VDC Halloween Party

So soon?  Well, yes.  When the inspiration hits, I run with it.  And, I have been enjoying this Grace Marie doll.  Whatever doll I'm sewing for at the time becomes my favorite.  I live and breathe her form and features, and find a personality blossoming as I create something new for her.  And, yes, I'll get back to Peggy Sue next.  No darts.  No big rubber bottom to fit outfits over.

Here I had just finished up with Grace Marie's Summer Fling Fashions, and was contemplating an ooak, made up entirely from my imagination, when Rachel posts this fabulous Happy Halloween imagery on Facebook.  I had been hoping she'd have more of the Dolly Dingle as a witch, in black and orange, stickers made up.  They were awfully cute and I wanted one to put on my VDC binder.  Then suddenly this bright and joyful little image of Grace and Dolly Dingle pops up in a post from the VDC, and my eyes did the cartoon "boing!"  This was so adorable.  And, that's the genius of Diana Vining.  This woman can draw.  I can't imagine having such a talent to draw anything my heart desires, but I can bring it from 2D to 3D. 

So even though I needed to clean my poor, neglected house, and maybe even start decorating it for Halloween, I just had to try and make this costume for Grace.

So what are we looking at?  That's always my first question when I begin to bring an image to life.  Earlier there were collectors who had bought the red haired "wigged" doll.  One of them thought she looked like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, and photographed her coming from the sea, or even on a half shell.  I could be mixing it up, and there may have been two collectors doing this, but I think Diana caught onto this idea and followed suit.  However, I see Grace in white gown.  And, from this image I formed in my head came the idea that it was a Venus costume - half shell and all, only shells covering her bosom on the gown.  Who says "bosom"?  Bustline.  Better.  So I fixed this image in my head and began.

First I made her a VDC Halloween convention bag, or VDC Trick-or-Treat bag.  At VDC parties, you get gobs of loot and candy, too.  By the way, for those of you who have forgotten the name of Ariel's little friend, its Flounder.  Yes, I loved the Disney animated musical, too.  I kind of wish there was a real Dolly Dingle doll like this to be Grace's friend.  A small Googlie doll head with forward looking eyes on a body the size of the little French doll I dressed a couple of months ago, would be fun to have.  I digress.

Anyway, so I made another little convention bag the same way I did the Summer Fling one.  Only I did not have orange quilting cotton for the handles, so I used silk.  I have tons of silk in solids, but only since sewing for Peggy Sue have I begun to collect, yes collect!, lovely cottons, but seldom solids.

I loaded the bag with goodies that came from Rachel when you make a purchase.  They're perfect for Trick-or-Treats.

I dug into my jersey sack for a shiny white costume jersey.  I have so, so much on hand of all kinds of fabrics, that the first place I go now is to the fabric stash piles.  I don't recall what I first used this shiny costume jersey for, but I had plenty to work with.

I worked off the pattern I'd made for the Rio De Janeiro Blue bathing costume with the lace cover-up.  I lengthened it and cut a bathing suit back and sleeveless bodice at the top.  Its less fitted than a tube dress so it has drape at the hem.  I learned that you cannot iron this jersey without melting it.  Hah!  I guess a little steam is all you need.  Live and learn.  So this really only took two tries to get it the way I wanted.

The work is always in the bodice detail and for this I used the soft sculpture technique for the shells.  My husband doesn't understand why I don't get bored in my studio.  How can I when each thing I do is completely different, and takes all my creative brain power to figure out?

The shells were done in one piece and the edges were randomly sewed in a scallop design.  Fitting I would say!  These would be markers as well for the top stitching, although a bit more was done.  The piece was then turned inside out and lightly stuffed with batting, the bottom hand stitched, then the top stitching done for the shells' ribbing. To make the coloration, I used a watercolor pen from Arteza, then took a small paint brush with water and "washed" the line.  I tried this on scraps of the jersey first, and the effect was perfect.  I also did this for the smaller shell that is her hair piece.

In a moment of clarity, I ran to Michael's and looked for lumpy yarn that would work as seaweed, and sort of pinched and sewed loops of it for the bodice draping seaweed.  The hair piece's greenery is cut from hat flower leaves.  Then I strung pearls in three different sized loops, sewing them directly to the hair piece.  Straps were added to the dress after the soft shell bustier was sewn on.

The back is closed with five hooks and thread loops.  A lot of the designers for Tonner dolls use zippers, but I'm not comfortable with them.  I guess it would depend on what I was sewing, too.

This costume was an awful lot of fun to make.  Thanking Diana Vining once again for the inspiration!  This will be the only costume I make this year.  If I have time, the Three L's will get dressed up in last year's creations.  They are still in their Twelve Days of Christmas costumes by Gennedy Spirin.  Where did this year go?!  Happy Halloween!

Love,

Melissa