From My Little Hole in the Wall: Halloween Dolls

I don't know why I never did this before. Well, maybe I have. Created a Halloween costume for Wendy Lawton's 9" Mignonette doll. Mignonette and Her Malle du Voyage has been my favorite Lawton doll since I lay eyes on her so very long ago. She was created in 1999, one of Wendy's best years, inspired by a Simon and Halbig antique trunk doll that Wendy found in an antique shop in New Orleans. The color theme of the doll costuming was pink, and Boneka did a phenomenal job replicating the costuming and accessories, while Wendy sculpted the sweetest little doll imaginable.

Wendy was still working with Boneka to costume her dolls at this time, and this was one of her Masterpiece Editions. It sold for $1995, which was the going rate on her yearly masterpiece editions. I have owned up to three of these trunk collections before, but now I am down to two. The one I add costumes to, and the MIB set. And I mean

mint in the box. If the house began to burn down, I know just what I would tuck under my arm before I dashed out the door. I won't even have to think about it.

After finishing Cissy's costume, I worked on creating a 50's poodle skirt outfit for Dolly Dingle to match the Club Grace "Halloween" costume. Diana Vining once again drew the loveliest illustration, this time of Dolly in a pink poodle skirt and there was no question of whether or not I'd play Club Grace this month. Earlier I had dressed Grace in the cat suit from last year, and Dolly in the purple witch costume I made last year when Diana shared the illustration with me. I'd joined the Virtual Doll Convention online group on Facebook a year after it began, and it was during that year that Diana drew Dolly in her witch costume. Diana Vining is one of the loveliest and most generous humans I've ever met.

But, yes, I played Club Grace this month with the 50's theme. I like the 50's. I'm not the biggest fan of poodle skirts as they are so

"expected", but I did have fun making the costume.

After that I cleaned my studio and foodled around for a while, I was really in need of just one more project for Halloween. Mignonette was still in her Little Red Cap (Little Red Riding Hood) costume from a year ago, September, and I thought, Why not make her a pink witch's costume?

I suppose when I made her the gypsy costume, it was for Halloween, but it was not a witch costume. And that's been my focus this Halloween season. I also had some tiny star tulle yet to use, so I thought I'd give it a try.

After pulling out my pink and mauve, which is sort of pink, silks, for some reason, the mauve looked so much better or "witchier" under the tulle than pink. So that was the direction I went in.

This time I got the hat correct the first time. I actually used Tamara Casey's Grace witch hat pattern to make the brim but used my own wedge for the crown since I like them very tall.

There's not much to say on the construction of this costume. It's a pattern I created and have used in the past. I just lengthened it. There's black lace on the edge of the sleeves.

I made her a magic wand, gave her a cauldron, made her a broomstick to sweep the steps or ride upon. The darling wolf that has kept her company in Little Red Cap, stays with her now and is a perfect Halloween companion. He does not turn into a werewolf, but he does a nice job of protecting her and keeping Mignonette company.

This was a simple project and just the right "last" thing to make for Halloween, as far as costuming for my dolls.

This blog posting is more about Halloween dolls than just sharing a new costume for one of my dolls. This was the year that two of my favorite doll artists delighted me with their versions of Halloween.

Ruby Red Galleria for their Ruby Red Friends line, created Luna and Selena in gorgeous, gorgeous witch costumes.

And Integrity offered a special Limited-Edition doll called Spookie Sooki. She came with two outfits and lots of little accessories in what they called The Thirteen Days of Halloween. The display box had thirteen doors to open to remove the accessories from.

What a dream come true all of this was! Top it off with a great Club Grace and I'm smiling ear to ear!

Here's Diana's illustration of Grace in her 50's masquerade outfit.

And the real Grace doll, with Dolly Dingle and masked Remmie Lou, the bulldog.

The poodle on Grace's skirt was white cotton velveteen, so I made the same for Dolly. Dolly also has pink and white saddle shoes.

Both Remmie Lou and Dolly have hula hoops made from pipe cleaners. Funny, but no one even mentioned them. I guess they just blended in with everything else, but the hula hoop construction was my light bulb moment in this.

Diana's sweet drawing.

Remmie Lou in a cat mask of her own. This is Diana's cat. If I recall, the cat's name is Prince. I could be wrong so please don't quote me on this. I'm too embarrassed to ask her. I think the cat's name is Prince though.

A darling card of masks came in the Club Grace box for Grace to select from. In the photo above, Grace carries a Remmie Lou mask to wear. The Club Grace box also contained a round record-shaped handbag, and a cut-out and put-together record album. The shoes Grace wears are the crowning glory of this entire box. I added bobby socks to complete the look.

As this blog also serves as an archive of my work, no matter how small the effort, I like to include it for those purposes.

I just love Halloween and this month has been one of the best I've experienced for playing Halloween with my dolls.

American Girl came out with Harry Potter clothing and accessories, so I bought the set for Gryffindor for my Blaire doll. I have noticed that seamstresses I know are having as much fun this year as I am, creating Halloween costumes for their dolls. This is awesome!

I hope you'll enjoy the photos below. And I hope your days are full of the beauty of autumn and the excitement of the holiday season to come. For me, it's already here!

Love, Melissa