Here we are on the other side of mid-May.  Happy Friday!  I hope you have wonderful plans for the weekend.  It surely is time to start spending more time outdoors and in nature with sunny days in the forecast.

The funny thing about May this year, is that it's been unusually chilly and terribly windy.  I woke up with a sore throat, but I'm sure it's just seasonal allergies.  Still, the wind is not my friend.  Especially since it plays havoc with early fire seasons in California.  

This is just a short little journal for something fun that I just finished.  Rachel Hoffman has brought back our Club Grace subscription for the Grace Marie Fitzpatrick doll's lavish wardrobe.  This year she tells us that the designs are from three sources, and the actual items are from both Ruby Red Galleria and the new VDC Label. 

Not only is Club Grace something to look forward to each month, but it gives me a chance to sew for little Dolly Dingle.  Diana Vining was superb in creating a poster to announce the new subscription with a Register Now! drawing.  The minute I saw how Dolly was dressed, I knew I'd have to create this outfit for her to go with Grace's Flower Power floral pants suit.  I was a little dubious at first about this pants suit, but once it arrived, I came to really enjoy and appreciate how sunny and lovely it really is.  

If you read the story Diana wrote for Grace's letter to club members, and interpret it as I have, Diana wore this to one of her classes where she was a substitute teacher to elementary grade students.  This outfit ended up in the first Club Grace box to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 1 - 7.

I really hadn't thought to have to put too much effort into this costume, but I did.  With all the patterns I've made over time for her, you'd think I'd have a bit of everything to work from.  I don't.  The only pieces I used were those of a blouse front and back and the stockings pattern I'd made.  

The dress is a drop waist with a box pleated red polka-dot skirt attached.  The dress also sports a wide collar that folds over the navy blue coat.  It was this coat, and the hat, that gave me the most challenge.

Dolly has this funny little body with short, bent arms, and very small legs.  Given that her legs are so short, her skirt is little more than a one inch long, pleated piece of cloth.  I don't blame others for not wanting a doll like this since they'd have to make patterns for her, but once dressed, she's as cute as can be.  

I had to make the coat pattern over several tries, and tossed two mock

ups that were simply huge on her.  Well, at least now I have a little coat pattern that can be altered for other styles in the future.

It was the hat that I began with, because the hardest thing should always be done first, in my book.  If you can successfully complete the hardest piece, the other items should follow more easily.

Many of you may be familiar with resin or composition hat molds, and I've been using them from The PNB Doll Company for years. Even if they sold this style in a 6/7 Bleuette hat mold, which they don't, it would take a month to get to me.  So I did the next best thing and figured out how to make one from an existing mold with a round crown.

I'd like to share this technique in the case you wish or 

need to make a hat like this sometime.

Instead of starting the straw at the edge of the existing brim, start only a half inch from the crown then complete the hat.  Once dry, start adding the more rows of straw to the brim and as you do, start stretch-pulling them slightly so that they'll bend upwards.  Once you have about four rows done, if the shape is correct, continue with a couple more rows no longer stretching the straw.  The straw is flexible and will pull into shape beautifully.  

If you like doll hats, please look up The PNB Doll Company and try one of their molds.  She gives you complete instructions and a little glue bag for assembling the rows of straw.  I had to look up the company since its been ages since I ordered a new mold, but it is there and still exists.

More than anything, this month has been nice for me since in April, all my favorite doll artists and dealers offered all their new dolls at once.  OMG!  Talk about an expensive month, but since I'm being good this month, its nice just to see some of the dolls showing up in the lock box of our mail station.  And the Club Grace box was one of the delightful arrivals.  

May is a nice long month with four full weeks and a half one at the end.  Its my goal each day to enjoy the day as fully as possible, even if that may mean sometimes that I am just hiking the dog in the morning and reading in the afternoon.  With the warming days, I find it difficult to sit inside at my table or the sewing machine.  I want to feel the sun on my feet.  Listen to bird song all morning long.  Right now I have to have a serious talk with Mr. Wind!  At least he keeps the flying bugs at bay. 

Enjoy the rest of this lovely month!

Love, Melissa