Katy Curls' Bluebird of Happiness

My Little Bluebird

It wasn't until I was actually stitching on the very last hooks to Katy's gaitors that the idea of her Best Coat just might be her Bluebird of Happiness Outfit.  Certainly there is a little bluebird on her school satchel, and the beautiful wool of her coat could be seen as "bluebird" blue, yet my mind was still cluttered with the numerous details of this complicated little winter outfit. 

The first mention that we know of the Bluebird of Happiness was a play written for young children by Maurice Maeterlinck titled L'Oiseau Bleu, around 1908.  It is a fairytale with the moral being that happiness can only be found close to home and living an unselfish life.   I can't say exactly when they became a popular theme in illustration, but the bluebird in his sapphire beauty can be seen in so very many of the antique postcards, in every season and greeting imaginable.  The image of this cheerful, and sweetly singing bird just had Katy written all over it.

Katy's Best Coat

I'm not even sure when I began working on this outfit, but assuredly is was sometime after Christmas.  I think it even sat in wait while Daisy's New Year Party Dress was quickly being made (as inspirations will have us do).  The whole idea behind creating an outfit like this, is not how quickly can I make it, but how, again, like the illustration I can come to designing it.  Each and every angle and detail was thought out over and over until the final stitch was put in.  However, I'd also wanted to make her school satchel and most definitely give her a bright, shiny apple to enjoy.  AND, she needed an outfit for those chilly and snowy winter days (that never came to California!)

Frances' Illustration

My first recollections while beginning this coat set was of this absolutely gorgeous cobalt blue wool I was working with.  It is such a happy color that my mood was always brightened while working on it.  At least for a time!  Designing is not easy.  But without a good working base design, you cannot move forward.  Questions like "How is that collar attached?", "How does that cape work with the coat?", "What on earth kind of cloche hat is that?", "Just how many buttons are on those way-up gaitors?", would be constantly on my mind as I tried to figure out what Frances Tipton Hunter had drawn.  Don't get me wrong.  Its a fabulous outfit, but a bit unusual from what I've seen before.  Yes, Bleuette has caped coats, but not one like this.  I looked.  And, looked.  Of course I hoped I might find a pattern that could give me a jump start, but that wasn't going to happen.  And, it did not happen with the cloche hat either, which I'll address later.

School Satchel and Apple

In order to keep this post as short as I can let's just begin with the basic coat.  While it may look simple in concept, its a belted wrap coat with a two button closure.  The sleeves are cuffed in fur.  You do not see the top button of the coat in the illustration because the fur collar covers it.  Yet, you have to know that one would exist.  The collar is a separate piece that hooks in the back at her neck.  A collar like this could not be attached to the coat.  The lined and fur edged cape is also a separate piece which attaches at the shoulders, perhaps for extra warmth.  Were it to have been part of the coat, sewn at the neckline, you would never have been able to sew the thicknesses together or achieved a smooth silhouette, much less gotten that detached collar around the neckline.  These are a few of the things I contemplated, and eventually decided to implement into the design of the outfit. 

Back View

As much as I love making hats, this one stumped me entirely.  We know its a cloche hat.  And, just what is a cloche hat?  Merriam Webster gives us two definitions of cloche, one being a plant cover for the cold weather, and the other, "a close fitting hat usually with a deep rounded crown and narrow brim".  Samples of cloche hats are vast and varied, yet once again, I'd never seen one quite like this. 

Study.  Studying these illustrations is the only way to get close to the costuming the illustrator had in mind.  Its not enough for me to say, "this looks like it could be it", it has to be it.  Like a detective, I have to crawl into the mind of the illustrator and puzzle the pieces together.  Again, I looked to Bleuette.  She has a similar hat, but no cigar.  I tried it.  I hoped for it!  But, alas, I had to design it on my own. 

Bleuette pattern in green vs crown pleating by me

Close up

The thickness of the wool proved to be a problem.  I steamed it, block ironed it, and a few other tortures, but it would not thin out, at all, to create a flippy little cloche.  I eventually added a brim of buckram between the layers and that helped flip up the brim in front.  If you look carefully at the illustration, you'll notice that the "pleating" in the crown is attached to a rounded flat at the top.  The stitching of this adds bulk.  This is not your normal cloche, I'll repeat.  And, all this fuss needs to fit nice and snug on Katy's head to keep her warm.  The rest of the hat was made as I would any milliner's hat, yet this time I added a vintage silk grosgrain to the inside edge of the brim that folds in to the crown.  This finished the edge and also keeps Katy's curls nice.  I added two large gold jingle bells to a brown double-sided silk ribbon, and this was the decorative finish.

Attaching the Crown

Before I tackled the gaitors, I noticed that a pair of gloves was in order.  So I switched gears and made a little pair of white gloves like the ones Lettie wore for her golfing outfit, detailed with the three-lines of topstitching.

I think I made four pairs of gaitors before I was satisfied.  One of the things I'd missed on all three first tries, was the loop, or stirrup, that she'd slip her shoe into!  I achieved this by drawing a length down each side, just off center, and long enough to work with once the two pieces were sewn together.  They were then measured, folded over under her foot, cross-stitched together, then clipped.  Each gaitor has twelve bead buttons individually sewn on and knotted, and six hooks and thread loops for closure.  A length of that beautiful grosgrain is sewn to the edge to provide "tucking" beneath the flap-over.

Detail of Gussets and Lining

While waiting what seemed an eternity for the right black bead-buttons to arrive - which were 3mm black agate rounds, I made Katy's bluebird satchel.  I could have sworn I had some nice leather for this, but it seems I was wrong.  I did have an old pair of toffee colored gloves from a very expensive department store, so I cut those up for the satchel.  It is primarily machine stitched with a bottom and side gussets.  It is also lined in fabric covered board for stiffening.  The bluebird is hand-painted on with acrylics.  It is closed with an 18k gold plated bead-button.  Plenty of room for her school books or a journal and sketchbook on a summer's day.

Oh, yes.  We do have her apple.  I purchased a small pack of wooden apples, painted one, and glued in a twig stem from a Japanese Maple out back.  The apple and stem were then sealed with glossy Mod Podge.  I'm sure you can see why Jean's little kits were heaven sent when I needed a break!

Perhaps the idea of the Bluebird of Happiness came to me because I was so relieved to have finished this set finally.  Thirty-six buttons, two snaps, twelve hooks and thread loops, and a lot of hand sewing on of fur later, I dressed Katy up last night and she seemed to beam me a delightful smile of joy.

Below are some photos of the details of this outfit.  And, of course, a few very lovely postcards with our little sapphire winged mascot. 

Love,
Miss E. Mouse (If I haven't mentioned it before, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.  Try it!)





Rows of Buttons on Cape - Two on Coat

How the cape hooks on.

Close up of gaitors with stirrups.

The Gloves

Lined Coat and Cape

Bluebird Painted On

Loving Thoughts

For Easter

For Happiness

For Christmas - Gotta love this one!

In Greetings

On Katy

Polly Got a Dollhouse

Polly's Doll House

Often when I need a break while working on a project, I look for something fun to do, something that won't take too much effort, but will provide a little restful playtime.  The creative mind needs these breathers, but often they result in inspirations that take me down another path. 

The other day I was browsing Bleuette on Ebay and stumbled upon Jean-and-Ken, Jean Nordquist's Ebay store.  I couldn't believe the adorable new kits she had and began to wonder how I lost touch with her fabulous items.  I do recall she had sold some of her business long ago, and the person who bought it could not deliver items in a timely manner.  Hence, I lost interest.

What fun to play in!

But, Jean's work struck me very early on in my foray into miniatures, tiny dolls, Bleuette and vintage ephemera.  She had it all.  One of Jean's specialties is collecting antique paper toys and images, and reproducing them in miniature kits for dolls to play with, or be displayed with.  Another part of the business she and Ken, her husband, run, is gluing these gorgeous images to nicely cut wood pieces creating game tables, trunks and darling chairs...and doll houses!  Just the thought of not having to measure and precisely cut the wood myself, much less paint miniature images on it, like I used to, was entirely appealing to me.  So I bought a few kits.  Then bought a few more!

Through these purchases, Jean and I began to write to one another and she's not only an amazing creative mind, but a treasure to know.  Any artist that graciously allows another artist to offer ideas, is a dream.  I mean that will all sincerity. 

The Exterior Papers and Paint

I had to try her little 10" doll house that was targeted for Bleuette.  One thing it did not have that her larger doll houses had was room imaged wall paper.  So I asked if she might consider scaling it down for this house.  She offered me the papers and I put the house together.  Isn't it beautiful?!  But, of course the house needed furniture now.  The Mary Frances Housekeeping furniture was too large, so back to Jean I wrote.  In the next couple of days, two pages of folding paper furniture arrived.  I just could not have been more pleased.  She will now be adding these features for her 10" doll houses!  Hooray!

I'd recently acquired two sets of B.Shackman's Dollies on Their Travels paper dolls, and miniaturized one for Polly's doll house.  I guess I'll have to make Polly a dress to match the paper doll's.

Margie's Paper Store Toy

Kit Sample

As you know, this blog is on the creative process.  And, I must impress upon you that Jean's work, whether I realized it or not at the time, was inspiring to me, and must have laid some groundwork ideas for me early on.  As you can see in the little peg wooden paper doll house I made that stored the tiny peg wooden doll and her items, it is similar to Jean's process of cutting wood, then gluing on the paper image. (As I looked and looked for these two images in old files, there were so many photos of things that I'd made it was scary!)  The paper that covered that tiny house was called The Lettie Lane House.  These were images I found on the Internet somehow.  The quality of the image wasn't sharp, but it did make up a cute little house.

Jean's mini kits are super easy and make up in a few minutes.  One is this little folding paper store glued to a base of shiny gold paper.  Margie is thrilled with her toy and it even matches the dress Arlene Hayes made for her. 


Peg Wooden Paper Doll - House Storage With Sliding Panel



Little Red Lettie Lane House

Building tiny doll houses is not new to me, as I'd made one for Bleuette a few years ago.  I don't know why, at the time, that I didn't paint it anything but white, but it could have had to do with all the tiny furniture I'd made for it.  The two tiny dolls in it that I dressed, were made by Nada Christensen.  I'm just not sure I can do such tiny work any longer, but I can certainly cut out and fold tiny paper furniture!  Of course, if I put my mind to it, and it was a commissioned piece, I'd do it, but creating such little luxuries on spec is no longer something I'm inclined to do.

The bead buttons for Katy's gaitors finally arrived today.  Her blue coat outfit is done, save for finishing the gaitors, so I'll be sharing that shortly.  And, I'm working on Polly's Snowshoeing Ensemble right now.  Thank goodness for Jean's sweet toys and kits to give me a break when I need to simply play!  You can also find her work at jeannordquistdolls.com or The Collectible Doll Company.

Love,
Miss E. Mouse



Jean's Sewing Mini Kit

  

The House that Miss E. Mouse Built

 


A Doll House For Polly

Happy New Year 2014!

Happy New Year!

The countdown begins!  2013 was a very full year and in it we experienced a few triumphs, a few let downs, and some new and innovative directions.  This journal, my blog, marks the seasons and times as much in my own life as in that of my dolls.  When we look back and reflect upon that which has been, we become more keenly aware of what we'd like to see in the future and which paths we may wish to walk down.  As a collector of antique postcards, its apparent that I've discovered a wonderful new source of inspiration for costuming and Daisy is just the doll to elect as my Postcard Girl. 

We began with the Lawnmower Dress last summer, then the charming Christmas Caroler, and for a glorious finish to 2013, The New Year's Gown.



Our Postcard Girl

Inspired By This Illustration

A few days ago when I was poking around Ebay for antique New Year's postcards, I spotted this beautiful January 1 card and immediately saved the image, printed it out and began this dress.  I was up all night thinking on how I would approach making it, and truly believed it would be a snap.  Ha-ha-ha!  No way.  For so many of these dresses, the bodice and sleeves are where all the fancy begins.  And, yet there were so many elements to the gown and party hat, that it kept me intrigued and motivated to capture each detail.  For one, there was this crown, or party hat, that is so reminiscent of the Pope's hat. 

I already had these two beautiful silks in pink and blue, that had been stashed away for something to make for Polly.  The laces would be a challenge though.  Sometime this past year, Fran, of Frans Heirlooms, who makes most of the shoes my girls wear, was sharing with me a way to have the gold laces I required for a dress I was considering making.  The solution was gold floral spray!  I purchased some and tucked it away with my other paints, but did not try it until I began to make this dress.


Close Up of Party Hat

I took a large, flattened cardboard box and pinned the laces to it lengthwise.  Then took this outdoors and sprayed the laces a couple of times until they were gilded.  The drying time was fairly quick, but I gave them a few hours to dry completely before working with them.  The embellishments on the sleeves are two laces sewn together.  A ribbed trim and picot lace.  This picot lace would be my bane however, for when I began hand-stitching it on the dress, the thread would catch on the tiny loops.  The ribbed trim is also the trim under the little crescent moons or horseshoes.  You can decide which they should represent for both icons were widely used during this era. 

The sash is attached to the dress at the back and closes with 14k gold plated bead "buttons", and thread loops.  There is also one at the neckline in the back.  The bow was fun to design as well.  It is a faux bow that is ruched in the middle then sewn to the sash.  The sash is also trimmed in the gold picot lace.



Little Gold Buttons in Back

For the gold shoes, I had a simple pair of white slippers in my collection, and decided to embellish them with tiny four leaf clovers for New Years.  These were then sprayed with the gold floral spray.  Finally a little 14k bead was sewn to their centers.  This spray is used for silk flower arrangements, and does not crack or peel.  It becomes the fabric.  As I write this, I think I would have enjoyed finding a gold horn for Daisy to blow.  I'll have to look for one and add it to the costume later.  The little boy cupid is blowing the horn while he rides on the front of the car.  Now wouldn't that be fun to find!  A car just like that for the girls!



Close Up of Dress and Good Luck Pig

And, then we come to the party hat or crown.  I've made this kind of hat in many styles, but my first were in tiny ones for the three inch Raggedy Andys I used to make.  Instead of a four part pattern sewn together, this crown is taller, pointier at top, and has only three pattern pieces.  The base is buckram, the cover is silk in a deeper blue.  I had lots of gold Dresden trim from Blumchen Company, that I'd purchased when making Daisy's party hats for her 2011 birthday year.  These were snipped and pieced together to create the gold crown of the party hat.  I then topped the point with two more gold beads.  That was fun.  I LOVE making hats.

It was towards the very end of completing this outfit that I spotted a little pig in the arms of an Alice in Wonderland doll on my shelf.  I borrowed a garland of clover from a Bleuette St. Patrick's Day outfit, and put our little Good Luck Pig together.  Coins.  We could have had coins, but just how far did I wish to go?  Maybe they'll be in next year's.  I had to decide whether I was recreating and/or making my own postcard, or simply giving Daisy a fabulous party dress to bring in the New Year.  There is always a time to call it quits.  So no coins.

I recall reading something about the way French women dress, and how, if you wished to dress like them, there were rules.  One of them was get dressed, put on your jewelry, then take most of the jewelry off except two pieces.  I think they were trying to say that less is more if you choose correctly.  And, this also applies when painting pictures.  You could work on one for years, but at some point you have to call it done...when it has the look you wished to achieve.  Likewise, this journal posting has achieved its fini. 

Daisy, our new Postcard Girl, and I wish you the happiest New Year imaginable, and a special hope that all your dreams and plans come to fruition. 

Love,
Miss E. Mouse

Work in Progress

Better Close Up of Shoes With Four Leaf Clovers

Another From the Series



One More From Same Series



A Favorite



Good Luck Clovers at New Years 



Just Love This One!



Another Blue and Gold Dress



Pig, Pounds, Serenity



Let's Begin Our New Year Together!

A Special Christmas Gift For Lettie

Lettie's Christmas Doll

I know, I know.  I said the last post would be it for this year, but Lettie's been such a good child, that Santa rallied the elves together to make a very special dolly for her.  She turned out so sweet, that I had to share her.

Nada Christensen has been making these fabulous little "Petit Bleus" for years now, and her tiny composition, jointed body, makes the perfect 5" dollies for Lettie, Daisy and Polly.  Upon finishing Lettie's Evergreen Dirndl, I wrote to Nada and pleaded our case.  She had two brown eyed little ones, and I purchased them both.  I had a feeling what I was in for with dressing this one, but I really wasn't prepared for just how much it would take to do so!

From Betty Bonnet Shops Early 1917

I used to dress doll house dolls, and when you do, there is very little sewing, and a lot of gluing seams.  The dolls are never undressed, and this is standard practice in the miniature world.  However, for the purpose of dressing a 5" dolly, that just might need more clothing, it was all needle and thread.

Dolly's Coat and Hat - Next Year's Outfit

The final, and finished dress is the third times a charm version.  Achieving the volume on this little dress required one of my favorite templates, a bowl.  Yes.  A round salad bowl.  Think "little boy's bowl cut", or how an umbrella works!  Its a circle that drapes.  For the purpose of this dress, once the circle is drawn, you fold it in half, then cut a hole in the center for the neck, then angle cut the sides to achieve the volume you wish.  Sound simple?  Well, when you consider this was my brainstorm after almost giving up, maybe not.  I have to laugh when I hear people say, "I'm so glad you learned to sew".  Sew?  That's never been the issue.  Designing each pattern is, but that is the dearest challenge, and so worth the process.

Merry Christmas, Lettie!

Lettie's little doll was inspired by Betty Bonnet Shops Early 1917.  There are several dolls on this illustrated page, and quite a few Christmas outfits to make in the future.  I chose this green and white dressed doll to match Lettie's Evergreen Dirndl.  I fashioned her hair style from a silky mohair hank, and topped it with a silk bow.

Next year I'll plan to make the white dress with the red sailor collar and belt for Lettie, and the doll dressed in a red coat and hat with long brown curls.  And, hopefully the process of dressing this size doll will go a little smoother.  Right now I have her green coat cut out, but the prospects don't look too promising.  I'm using the same velveteen of Lettie's outfit, and I already know what's coming down the pike.  Fraying and pilling. 

One more thought on how to achieve a nice drape on such a voluminous dress.  Most people would only consider it a matter of fabric, but there is another way around this if you have a certain fabric in mind...like I did, wishing it to be the same fabric as Lettie's blouse.  Steam!  I have a little travel steamer and its not only the perfect solution for getting wrinkles out in a doll's dress, but the steam will allow you to manipulate the fabric into a soft drape if its standing out like a paper cup.

The bottom line is that I never stop working.  There is seldom a day when I am not in my studio designing a pattern, sewing up a new outfit for a doll, or making an accessory to go with it.

Its Christmas Eve.  Dolly needs her coat and hat! 

Love,
Miss E. Mouse 

So many dolls and outfits to choose from!

 

A Dolly for Christmas

From Italy - Just Purchased!

From 1911 - My Favorite!

So Bleuette!



...and to all a good night!