Lily's Year of the Dragon

Happy New Year!  We're now solidly into February and I've missed journaling on my blog.  January did not turn out as I'd hoped it would, but things have turned a corner on this new year and I'm back in my studio creating once again and nourishing my soul.

February is a special month this year with so many reasons to be creative.  We have my favorite Chinese Lunar New Year on the 10th.  Mardi Gras follows on the 13th, and Valentine's Day pops up the day after on the 14th.  Add to this, it's a leap year, with an extra day to enjoy.

Since January buried me four feet under, I worked on clawing my way back to the surface with very little time left to begin a Chinese New Year celebration costume.  But nothing cheers my soul more than a project like this, and designing in brilliant red.

The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival, marks the transition from one animal sign to another in the Chinese Zodiac.  On February 10th, the rabbit retires and we enter the Year of the Dragon, which symbolizes bravery, creativity, and innovation.  The Dragon is linked to the Earth element in the Chinese Five Elements Theory, making gold, yellow and green lucky colors for 2024.

This is the year of the Wood Dragon. The fixed element is Earth, which represents stability, honesty and loyalty.  The Wood Dragon is the most creative and visionary of the dragons.  They are optimistic, ambitious and adventurous.  They like to challenge themselves.  They are generous, compassionate and loyal to their friends.  2024 is predicted to be a great year to start new projects, explore new

opportunities and create value for yourself and others.  

This year appears to be a lucky one for Roosters! (see chart at the bottom of blog)  The write up for Roosters indicates that Roosters will enjoy harmony in their family life during 2024.  They will easily pick up new ideas and it will be a perfect time for studies.  The Dragon's influence will improve their communication and negotiation style.  A good time to meet people with whom they can establish important partnerships. Success in achieving goals with family and real estate, investments.  

Well, some of that has little to do with me, but I like most of it and on the eve of the animal change, I can already feel the influence of these predictions.

The first project I launched this year was one to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, and I chose my Ruby Red Fashion Friends doll, who I've named, Lily, to represent me virtually at the festivities.  I adore the beautiful costumes the Chinese girls wear to these celebrations and chose the most elaborate one I could find to create for Lily.  By accident, of course.  I never set out to challenge myself to this degree, but this costume was too beautiful to pass up.

I used a bright red silk dupioni to create this, and gold metallic Venice lace for the embellishments.  I probably could have used a lower nap teddy bear fur, but this is what I had on hand, and I need to use what I have in my stash.

The costume is a long-sleeved dress with an enchanting short cape that sways with an elaborate bead fringe.  Three gold tassels drape in the front sewn into the waist, and fur trims the cuffs and edges of the cape.  

As it is winter in China, just like it is here, fur lined or trimmed pieces are created for the girls and women to wear to these festivals.

Here's a side view that shows how the bead fringe drapes in the back.

Beneath the decorative cape is a beautiful gown with lace at the waist of the bodice.  Lily might wear the dress as such while indoors, but the cape helps provide warmth going from one celebration site to the next.

Here's a close up of the cape.  Sixty-one individually knotted strands of beads were sewn onto the edge of this cape.  The beading is gold with one amber hued crystal bead five beads from the bottom.

I was able to use one of the Chinese clasps I purchase last year to close the cape.  This one is of butterflies.

Her hair jewelry is of red and blue flowers with gold beads in the centers.  These are affixed to a miniature hair clip to fasten in Lily's hair.  Do remember that Lunar New Year is also considered the Spring Festival, so flowers and butterflies are quite appropriate for embellishments.

Detail of the back of the cape.

A full length view.  I would love to see a young girl walk in this costume!  I can imagine the beads swaying and tinkling as she moves about the room!

I made a pair of Chinese slippers to match the gown.

And, of course, Lily needed a dragon toy. This was actually the first and initial part of the project.  If I couldn't create the tiny dragon, the project would be meaningless, or just another pretty outfit.

I looked long and hard at the easiest dragon to replicate into needle felting and he turned out to be quite a challenge.  The details of such a creature would be better represented on a much larger scaled critter, so I had to do what made most sense to represent him.  I learned a lot about dragons making him.

The dragon was made on a pipe cleaner skeleton.

He has his individual little clawed footsies and horns, and whatever those wiggly things are that come from his muzzle.  How's that for a description!  Just trying to figure out how to make those and where exactly to sew them caused me some serious consideration.

I don't needle felt except when its necessary to create something as a doll accessory, but I think he came out rather well.  

Some of the greater challenges were in the ridge of points along his back down to the tail and the lumps along his underside.  Our little dragon even has a tiny, forked tongue.  I did my best to represent teeth on this little guy, but I don't think he's going to be frightening away any other miniature critters any time soon.

Lily is a 14" child doll by Ruby Red Toys for Ruby Red Galleria.  This doll's face mold, eye coloring and shape were the reason I chose her to be my Chinese girl.  Ruby Red Toys has made some incredible dolls called Girls of the Orient, but they have their own beautiful costuming.

How Lily will be displayed on my shelf.

I think this project took me roughly, three weeks to create from start to finish.  The beaded fringe took me a solid six to eight hours to do over the course of two days.  The slippers and hair jewelry were the last pieces to make.  

I have my next project ready to go on table already, which I must complete before the 13th.  I sorely missed being able to make something for Dolly and Remmie for the Grace Marie Fitzpatrick New Year subscription box.  I hope to be able to do something this month for my girls as they are still in ice skating costumes.  It's a priority after the 13th!

I hope the beginning of 2024 has been a wonderful time for you.  Rachel Hoffman hosted a month-long Virtual Doll Convention that helped carry many of us along through the snowy days and ended with a wonderful Land and Sea collection sale.  The girl is just plain brilliant!  I have great admiration for Rachel Hoffman.

And this year gives us much to look forward to, especially with a UFDC convention in Kansas City in July.

Spring is on its way, but winter's snow and rain are essential to the glory of the leafing season.  I was only able to go cross-country skiing once this season and look forward to the snow that will surely give me more opportunities. 

I hope you'll enjoy the illustrations of some of my favorite Chinese Dragons.  I've included a pattern for a little dragon for those who like intricate little projects, and a simply hat pattern for your dolls.  Just size it appropriately for your doll.  I'm also resharing a few past Chinese New Year projects.  Gracie might need her own little dragon as she already has a Tiger and a Rabbit, but he will be a very simple needle felted one.  I'd best get busy!

Kung Hei Fat Choy! 

Melissa