And so we come to last hours of the year 2021.  It is during this time, on this day, that I become most reflective on the year past, and also begin to plan the future, the new year.  In this last month I've been carefully selecting and purchasing a few new dolls to play with and create for in 2022.   And I look back on what I accomplished this past year.  What I want to try.  Where I want to take what I've learned. 

Of note, I acquired Dolly Dingle to enhance my enjoyment of The Virtual Doll Convention, Grace Marie Fitzpatrick, and Diana Vining's illustrations of them.  I made a needle felt Remmie Lou (Rachel's dog), to go with them, as Diana often added Remmie Lou in the artwork.  And, although I didn't publicize it, I won on Ebay, a MIB original Grace Marie Fitzpatrick, which now made me feel like a real member of the club.  Dolly, with her cubby little body and bent arms, has been and continues to be, very difficult to sew for.  Yet I still go for it.  I love Diana's illustrations of her!

Having her, I was finally able to make the Halloween witch costume Diana drew her in two years prior (could have been three).  And, with Club Grace, I was able to sew complimentary clothes for her to go with the Grace dresses in her outfit of the month.

But, this year of creating was a bit scattered.  I tried lots of things.  The year before, I spent several months creating a Flapper wardrobe for Heather's doll, Kitty, and that was the highlight of my creative year.  I did not make three coordinating holiday costumes for Louise, Lawrence and Laura this year.  I'm not sure where I'll go with them next, but the Victorian time frame is theirs and I'm content with creating contemporary and vintage presently.

Perhaps the most notable doll was Paloma the Puppeteer.  A tireless, intricate project that held my inspiration and fascination all the way through.  I was looking at Michael Cheval paintings the other day for inspiration for a new 15 1/2" Iacono I won on Ebay, and my jaw dropped when I discovered that he'd painted a male counterpart to 

the puppeteer painting Paloma was modeled after.  Should I perhaps, redo the Little Red Riding Hood (Iacono) and turn her into a boy for this?  It is awfully tempting.  Gosh, that was a lot of work though!  But, Paloma is my star accomplishment of the year 2021. But, I have other favorites.  Some of Dolly's costuming, the Red Riding Hood costume I made for Mignonette, Treva, and my dear Little Miss Christmas.  I can't pinpoint why I love this doll so much, but she made me feel like a little girl again, and needle felting the blue reindeer was a joy.  I have other paper dolls by this artist, and am sorely tempted to buy another vintage Madame Alexander and do it again.

One little doll I never shared, was made during September's Little Red Riding Hood theme.  She was to be a Christmas gift to Betsy, and I took a Wendy Lawton Abigail, gave her new eyes and wig, and transformed her into Red.  It was after I made her that I dressed the Iacono doll similarly.  see below  She wears tiny red tights beneath her layered dress.

TIGHTS!  That may have been one of my best, new accomplishments.  I'd made them for Dolly and now all my dolls will get them.  Of course, I have to rework the pattern each time, but tights allow me not to have to make the dreaded underwear.  That no one sees!  I know that some people love underwear, but it feels like such a wasted effort to me. 

Another outfit I haven't shared yet was completed Christmas Eve, although I did share it on Facebook.  I'll get to that in a minute.  But first, I was able to make Cissy's New Year's Eve party gown and finished it yesterday.  This was the last project in my hopper for the year, so I'm feeling very satisfied.  

I started by looking at 1950s cocktail dresses on 

Pinterest, and when I came upon this opera gown and coat from the 50s, I knew I'd hit the mark.  I'd bought some beautiful silks on sale from Farmhouse Fabrics, and wanted to make something in the midnight blue.  I also love that this outfit had a matching coat, as well as pearl beading on the bodice.

What I ended up doing was making something unique for Cissy based on this outfit.  I'm not much of a designer, but I do come up with original ideas from time to time.  Its just that I enjoy bringing illustrations to life more.  There's a challenge in both.

Cissy's gown has a V neck, and shoulders.  Imagine pulling all that silk through the shoulder width just to have it lined.  I line everything.  To recap, I learned the Magalie Dawson method of lining a dress years ago, and adapt it where needed for all my creations.  Its online.  Look it up if you've never seen it.  I lengthened the skirting to a cocktail dress pattern, and lengthened the coat hem to the pattern I used for Cissy's oatmeal colored wool 

coat that went with the olive green cocktail dress.  This outfit is completely made up from silk.  The lining is a beautiful, muted blue, and tiny pearls are scattered among the top of the bodice of the gown.  I was tempted to add them to the sleeves of the coat, but the lighter blue lining of the coat set it apart on its own.

I added a little bow to the neckline of the coat where it snaps close, and a big bow to the top and side of the skirt.  Basically, I made this all up as I went along.  I try to stay with traditional Cissy styling, but I have to do my own thing as well.  She's wearing silver strappy shoes beneath her gown.  

The little tiara was one that came with a Little Darling outfit knitted by one of my Russian favorites.  

Now the truth, and the funny thing, is that I'd forgotten how to piece this coat together and struggled for three hours trying to figure it out - until I read the directions.  Haha!  I made notes on the pattern and will never forget now.

While I was puzzling this out, I removed and boxed up all the ornaments on our Christmas tree yesterday.  I've decided that New Year's Eve needs the sparkle and lights of the tree, but not the tedium of putting the ornaments away the next day.  My tradition has been to have all of Christmas put away before the new year, not bringing the old into the new.  So now I'm being flexible.  I like the lights and I will miss the tree.

And, here is Dolly's second outfit from Diana Vining's adorable Christmas paper doll.  At first I thought I couldn't do it.  The Gingerbread Dress.  I struggled over the fabrics, the time and tedium, and as you know, created the one the paper doll came dressed in.  But, I really loved the gingerbread dress, so before Cissy's New Year's Eve party gown, I made it.  

This dress was made with a velveteen bodice and silk tiered and ruffled skirting.  Silk ruffles also end at the wrists on the velveteen bodice.  Vintage white rick rack is the icing and tiny pom poms are the gumdrops.  A smattering of flat backed jewels are scattered over the bodice as close to the illustration as I could get them.  The peppermint brooch is hand painted silk, the same as the peppermint on her headband.

Once again, Diana's artwork. Should I do the third dress?  Maybe next year if Diana doesn't entice me to create something else with her Dolly Dingle paper doll couture.

The back in detail.  Every pom pom is hand sewed one.

And, my beautiful Grace doll.  I still haven't undressed her as I'm marveling over my big win.  She's holding the mini paper doll page that Diana made for the Club Grace December box.  Of course, Remmie Lou gets in on the action - still chewing on Grace's red glove.

In the final notes of this year, I have to say that the last four months were the finest.  I love the Bers, as my mother called them.  Septem-ber through Decem-ber.  I had more doggone fun making Peggy Sue's Mechanical Man costume, and as I love making costumes, she'll get a new one every Halloween.  She did get two this year!  Inspiration without breaks was key.  I just kept on going until every idea, new and hoppered, was complete.  Sometimes I'm just fueled on sheer determination, but this is also how I play dolls.  

And, if that's not enough, the Doug James flapper doll, the 1470 as he's calling it, will be coming, hopefully in January.  He's made some gorgeous outfits for her, so I'm not sure, if I'm lucky enough to get them, that I'll sew for her, but sewing for her is the plan.  The thing is, I don't mess with perfection.  And, his new outfit collection that's been posting to Facebook is divine.

I also bought an original Tonner 13" Fancy Nancy recently.  I have several of the books.  I've always wanted to sew the outfits for her.  And maybe make her little dolly for her.  I had this doll once, and let her go, and won't do that again.  Fancy Nancy makes me smile, and isn't that what our dolls should do for us?

I'm not thinking past the moment today.  New Year's Eve is all about resting, reflecting on the year past and hopefully all the good it brought.  We create our own joy, and as long as I can create for dolls, the joy will sparkle like the sun on snow.

Wishing you a Happy New Year, with health and prosperity - and lots of new dolls!

Love, Melissa

9" Red Riding Hood Gift

First Outfit for Dolly Dingle

The Long-Awaited Witch Costume

Enchanting Paloma

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Paloma's Partner

Mignonette's RRH Costume

Peggy Sue's Mechanical Man

Sweet Treva and Her Dala Toys

Little Miss Christmas