Christmas 2022

Just seven days to Christmas!  Six if you don't count today since its rather late in the day anyway.  I've been going full steam ahead since Thanksgiving and it feels marvelous to sit and write once again.  I can only hope that some of you are still following me since I'm pretty sure you're not receiving these posts, but again, I'm sorry, and please follow me on Facebook under Melissa Hoover.  I will always post a link to the blog when I share new work and have written about it.

I just vacuumed half the house cleaning up everything brought in from outdoors, and tons of glitter and clippings in my studio.  In an attempt, at some point, to clean off my work surface, I must have hand swept my favorite needle card into the trash along with the above mentioned.  Dang.  I've never done that before.  You can always buy more needles!  Not a problem.  But having tidied up a bit, I feel comfortable sitting down to write a long story of December.  

One of the reasons I had not posted is that I was working on Christmas gifts for two of my closest friends.  Betsy requested a silk dress for her Iacono play doll, and I was happy to make one for her.  She loves pink, and I found this delicious plaid that seemed to fit the bill.  

I'd bought her an Esme at a rather good price earlier this fall, to turn into a doll for her doll, and that was part of the box I sent to her as well.  I used my Virgo doll as a model and that's why you see the grape leaves in her braids.  

The dress is a puffed sleeve confection with a separate collar.  The dress can therefore be worn with or without it.  Talking with Betsy last night, she told me she found a sweater that fit her doll, so for winter, the doll with wear this dress with a sweater over it.  Nice!

Here's little Esme transformed.  I removed her red mohair wig and gave her a little brunette wig and sewed the braids up in a Carl Larsson child style.  This also helps in dressing the doll because mohair styles don't hold up to lots of play.

The little doll got a pair of pink stocking and black shoes like her 16" mama.

The nice thing about this is that when I make new dresses for Betsy's doll, I'll make a matching one for Maggie's dolly.

Here's the dress with collar and large sash to tie in a bow around her waist.

It's a little luxury!

My friend, Heather, had just received her Connie Lowe Pearl doll and I went nuts for it.  I've really become enamored of these dolls and hope beyond hope that someday I'll own one.  People selling them second hand want three times the price and I simply cannot, will not, do that.

So, Heather offered to send Pearl to me to play with, and I asked her if she'd like me to make Pearl something for Christmas.  So, I made what I'm referring to as a fairytale play set.  This came about as I went along.

The dolls I saw posted on the groups on Facebook were wearing very artful creations and I wanted to do something similar.  There's a clothing company called Unlogical Poem and they carry artful clothing like this.  They were my inspiration as well.

I made the overalls with different sized offset pockets and knew something would have to go inside of them.  This is when I decided to make a little frog prince and castle tower out of felt.  I may have spent just as much 

time making them as I spent on the outfit.

The overalls are a striped linen, and the blouse is muslin with a large spotted collar.  The Connie Lowe dolls are dressed in what I'll call shabby chic, so I don't expect to see one dressed in silk.  They are extremely fun play dolls and pose incredibly well.  

Here's Pearl with her fairytale toys wearing the paper crown I made for her.

I learned a lot about making crowns from scrapbooking paper or scrapbooking card stock.  This was the third try.  I had a beautiful shiny gold, but it was mylar ironed to card stock and the gold ripped away at the edges as my scissors turned.  It also refused to bend into a crown shape and developed creases.  pft!  The second attempt was from a glittery cardstock and it just didn't look right.  

Again, more time is spent in perfecting a finished set than sometimes hoped for.

I'd love to sew for this doll again, and maybe next time, I'll have one of my own.

Mid December arrives and the Club Grace box arrives.  When Rachel previewed the box via YouTube, there were add-ons galore and one of them was this Winter Princess gown for Grace Marie Fitzpatrick.  Kate Middleton, or Catherine Princess of Wales, wore this gown to an event in South America, if I recall correctly.  Ruby Red Galleria did a phenomenal job on it, and they sold out immediately.  

These dresses also fit Tonner's new Ellowyne, so Ruby Red Galleria made them in light blue, red and lilac as well.  I loved the dress so much I bought two more.  One in the red and one in lilac.  

Of course, Dolly Dingle couldn't be left out of getting a Winter Princess outfit, so I set to the task of making her one.

Tulle is interesting.  I don't like sewing with it, but I learned a lot about working with it this time around.  I have sewn with it before, but the tulle I used was a drapey nylon mesh and easy to work with.  Sellers don't mention what kind of tulle they're selling so I know to ask next time.  

Dolly's glitter tulle was the stiff kind.  Good heavens!  There is nothing that will turn you into a Grinch faster than working with this stuff.  I managed though to create a similar look, yet unique for little Dolly.

There's a tulle layer that is trimmed into points and upon these ends I added crystals.  I also added a scattering of the crystals to her bodice.

I did, at the last moment, decide to try and make the gathered trim for the neckline.  I knew it would be good for me to try to this since what I was going to attempt for her next costume would require such patience.

I gave her silver slippers.

Side view to show the tier at the waist.

Pretty from behind as well.

Both Grace Marie and Dolly got tiaras.  The ones I'd purchased had big combs attached to them and I carefully removed the comb and added jewelry elastic to keep the tiaras on their heads.  Tonner used this technique with many of the hats he made for his creations.

I had a crown on hand, and Remmie Lou was happy to wear it, referring to herself as Her Majesty.

The Club Grace box for December was called Santa's Helper and Grace's dress was a shorter version of the kind worn by the actresses in White Christmas.  I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do for Dolly until I started looking on Pinterest.  I am continually inspired by what I find there.

As I was looking and searching for ideas, I found these children's Christmas tree costumes.  I went nuts!  I'm sure I saw them before, but what could be more perfect than a Christmas tree costume for Dolly?!

So, I bought more tulle, and this time got lucky with the soft drapey glitter tulle.  When I get a chance, I'm going to write to this seller and ask her exactly what kind this is as opposed to the stiffer, more common kind.  I don't want to make the mistake again of purchasing the stiff stuff.

I'm actually amazed that this little Christmas tree costume came out so well.  I literally agonized over making it.  How to do it puzzled me no end.

The tulle was 60" wide, and each ruffle is exactly that length.  Do those three times and sew in the gathering stitches (I use two) and that's a lot of thread.  I also added silk ribbon to the edges and that was a lot of work in itself.  I think once I got going, and got into the rhythm of it, it went along fairly nicely.  

Attaching all this to the bodice was another question.  I was referring often to the Pinterest image of the two little girls in their costumes, to figure out the construction.  If I'm correct, their costumes have a onsie beneath them.  How you'd attach this mess to a onsie without the top edge showing befuddled me, so I went back to plan A and made it into a dress.  

Adorable costumes for little girls!

Close up of tulle and the shoes I made to go with the costume, similar to the ones the little girls are wearing.

The tights were dark nude and the shoes needed to match somewhat.  I had a small piece of pigskin in this "flesh" color and used it.  The silk ribbons are part of shoe and glued beneath the body of the shoe before the sole is glued on.

And she needed her tree top hat.  

This went along rather quickly as I'm pretty confident in my ability to make conical hats.  The ruffles which resemble the top branches are machine sewn directly on.  The hat base is covered in both the silk and tulle and topped with a shiny gold star.

Yesterday I went to Michael's looking for beads for ornaments on the tree costume, and easily spotted these pearlized plastic ones and used them for the decorations.  They came in three sizes, and I used the mid-sized for the dress and the smallest for the hat.

The back view.

Let's not forget Remmie Lou!  Remmie Lou joined the Santa's Helper fun with antlers made from pipe cleaners and a jolly red Rudolph nose pom-pom.

She wears a silk ribbon with bells sewn on that ties in a bow behind her head.

Diana Vining had included a Christmas paper sheet of Rachel's two dogs and I reduced it in size and made up Christmas gifts from it.

I really had more fun than expected creating Dolly's Christmas tree costume and as I finished this costume today, I feel I can now take a deep breath and enjoy a week of more Hallmark movies and do some very necessary housework.  

There are always things I need to do, but its Christmas and I'm planning on just having fun.  There's no rain or snow in the forecast, but with recent winter storms we were able to go cross-country skiing three times, the next day after each new snowfall.  It's been a wonderful December and I'm ready to put my feet up and let the carols play.

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Love, Melissa

Diana Vining's artwork for Club Grace

 

Warm Thanksgiving Wishes

And where have I been?  Seems like an eternity since I posted a blog.  Sort of.  When you consider how many I posted in October, you'd think I went on strike.  Well, given that I truly believe, now, that my subscribers aren't getting notifications, it's been a bit of a letdown.  And, if you're here, and you're not, I am on Facebook and always post all my new creations and with a link to my latest blog posting.  Melissa Hoover.  Look me up!

What have I been up to?  Okay, so I did make some something for the November Club Grace.  I didn't post it because I didn't feel it was worthy of a full blog.  Ruby Red Galleria did a smash up job of recreating one of Kate Middleton's red outfits for Grace, and as the queen had recently passed, I decided to dress Dolly Dingle in something sweet and commemorative.

I'll get to that.  First, what I've been doing.  Trying very hard to get something done.  This is a busy time of year.  We all know that.  And this year I'm making Christmas gifts of doll clothing and that includes everything from finding fabrics, waiting for them to arrive, reordering if I don't like them, drafting patterns, redoing them, on and on and on.  The bottom line is, I've nothing much to post but warm wishes to you.

I did pull out a project from early last winter and thought I could just jump in and complete it.  But no.  I realized why I hadn't.  I needed more of this and that, so took a few days finding just the right notions and fabrics to finish it.  

I've long wanted to make Tonner's Fancy Nancy some outfits from the books, and this one is from Its a Snow Day.  At this writing, I do have everything now to complete it, but presents for friends first.

Rachel had Ruby Red Galleria make this gorgeous red outfit for Grace and some beautiful coats in different colors as "ad-ons".  I purchased the green one to give her a holiday look.  I can't even imagine what is in store for December since this one shook the timbers!

During the queen's last celebration prior to her death, there was an adorable YouTube of her and Paddington Bear having tea together.  It was the inspiration for making Dolly a Paddington Bear outfit.

Later I would discover that Kate had been photographed with Paddington Bear, too, so this all came together nicely.  

Diana Vining had illustrated some beautiful paper toys with the Club Grace offering and one of them was a crown.  I printed it out smaller, cut it out and placed it on Remmie Lou's head.

Here's Dolly Dingle in all her glory, complete with a note to look after her.  I created this the first few days of November and since then have been scrambling and getting nowhere.

And Remmie Lou.  I never forget the dog!

Here's the story in which Kate and Grace are friends, and the outfit is a gift to Grace.  It's a who wore it better moment.

Given that, this posting is short.  I'm not even sure I'll have time to create anything new in December, although I might be able to finish Fancy Nancy's outfit before Christmas.  The goal is getting the gifts done and shipped!  I'll be able to share these creations after Christmas, of course.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I'm looking forward to a lovely turkey dinner like many of us.  It's been dry and cold and the leaves have started their final journey to the ground.  On days like this, I take my dog out to stretch a bit, me and him, and shuffle and crunch through the leaves.  Earlier in the month we had a huge rainstorm that dropped 25" of snow in the Sierras, so my husband I didn't waste time in getting up to the snow two days in row to go cross country skiing!  Were we in Buffalo, New York, nobody would be getting doll dresses for Christmas.  Snow is a treat and a priority.

The tree is up and strung with lights.  Tomorrow I'll decorate it.  Another priority!  I've been watching Hallmark "royal" Christmas movies at night and enjoying them for the happy feelings they give me.  

And now, I'd best get back to work.  Wishing you a wonderful start to the Christmas season, and for those of you in the U.S., a Happy Thanksgiving!  Here's some of my favorite images of our holiday.

Love, Melissa

 

Gracie's Halloween Costume

Two days to go!  Then its Halloween!  I really hadn't expected that I'd want to make just one more costume, and then I did.  Gracie called.  I just may die with an army of OOAK Gracie dolls.  Actually, I think this little doll is going to get a wardrobe.  Just a small one, but a holiday paper doll one.  

Way back when, I had a subscription to Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine.  I loved the paper dolls inside and they were the main reason I got the magazine.  Time and tide, many moves and life changes, the magazines went the way of the western wind.   Now that I'm sewing, I wish I had them all once again.  Thank goodness for Pinterest, since I can save off copies just to work from now.  Who needs all this paper in the house?  I seriously just dumped tons of doll catalogues from the 90's, a few months ago.  

As you know, I love Chinese dolls, so Gracie is just going to be a favorite for a long time to come.  Interestingly enough,

I just acquired two Helen Kish Song dolls to turn into OOAK art dolls.  The basic Song has lighter coloring.  I really like her.  Urban Song has darker face painting and will make a lovely doll to dress from some Chinese holiday at some point in time.  I had Urban Song many Chinese moons ago and sold her because I didn't like her clothing and I didn't sew.  Now when I collect, I'm recollecting dolls I once loved but for the purpose of creating something unique with them.  But let's get back to Mary Engelbreit.

I guess I had shared this Gracie paper doll on Facebook and a couple of the comments got me thinking, and that, then, was the challenge to make this costume.  I knew it was going to be involved, but I had a week and time on my hands, so I gave it a whack.

The most frustrating thing was not in the making of the costume, but in finding a suitable wig.  A red wig.  I ended up purchasing

several red wigs from a seller on Etsy, and when they arrived, I chopped away at the mohair one with bangs.  It just didn't have the "clown" look.  The hair smoothed under like the Gracie doll's wig and she looked awful in red hair.  What can I say?  Still I was able to achieve the short bob look, but the doll will never wear the wig.  The wig was the base for the cute little raspberry colored clown, bowler hat.

Funny how things work out, but I just tossed two little doll suitcases recently.  And of course I'd need one to put Gracie's wig in.  What does a clown carry with her?  A suitcase.  A suitcase of props and magic tricks.  I had this little pink metal suitcase in my stash, so I used that instead. Its small enough not to take up too much room on a shelf, displaying Gracie.

Gracie's Halloween clown costume is made from silk.  I looked for a moon and star fabric in my stash but must have tossed all the quilting cottons I had like that.  This is why I have so much "stuff".  You never know when you'll need this or that.  The moment you toss it, you find you need it.  Well, it would be doubtful that any of them would have been correct for the costume, so I'l have ended up making my own "fabric" anyway.

Dark purple and orange pumpkin silk make up the costume.  The moon and star appliques are yellow silk, backed by iron on interfacing.  The tiny appliques still tended to fray, but there wasn't anything I could do about that.  

I traced the tiny stars and moons onto the interfacing side, cut them out, then glued them to the purple silk with fabric glue.  After it dried, I touch ironed them to set them.

The ruffles gave me a fit.  Green silk that was edged in a zig-zag stitch.  It still frayed.  There's the big collar that has four layers, the ankle ruffles that also have four layers and the cuff ruffles that have two.  The collar snaps in the back, but the cuff and ankle ruffles close with hooks.

I had to go out and purchase green yarn to make the pom-poms.  I got the last green in this color at our Michael's store.  Once used, I put it away with my yarns from my knitting adventures.  I do not ever expect to knit again, but the yarn is there just in case I need a pom-pom.

The hat is needle felted.  It's pretty tiny, but I gave it a go and its cute.  It has three green leaves and a yellow flower with orange center.  Its all in the details. 

I probably could have gone to town on the accessories because they are all so wonderful.  Cookies, cupcakes, drink cups with spiral straws!  What fun!  But, it was the lanterns that caught my eye, and this is what I made. 

First I had to make her clown shoes.  I've never made clown shoes before, so I really had to think on this.  Clown shoes are supposed to be long, big, over-sized.  But if you cut out that paper doll costume, the clown shoes would fit perfectly over Gracie's Mary Janes.  Now how is that "over-sized?"

And her feet can't flop in them.  So I made them just a little little longer, like half an inch, and the heels are nice and snug.  The spats go over the big red clown shoes.  Why did clowns wear spats?  I think it was to make fun of "dandies".  Clowns were often dressed as hobos wearing over-sized suits trying to look dressed up.

In the paper doll illustration, Gracie's holding a little pumpkin.  So, I needle felted this little pumpkin and ran a thread through it to hook over her wrist.

The lantern is the best of the costume.  I thought long and hard on how to make both lanterns as I love the owl, too.  I started the owl, but the shape wasn't quite right so I just may try again this weekend.  Something to do.  

After buying ping pong balls and cutting holes out of them with a hot knife, I decided to try foam balls.  I had Styrofoam but didn't like the rough surface.  So, I bought the smooth ones.  Now the way you're supposed to make these according to someone on the Internet, is with rice paper papier mached over balloons, then once dry, you pop the balloon.  Ummm....  I'm not sure, and you'd never get one this tiny.  

So I drilled out a hole in the smooth foam ball with a 3/4" bit.  Then I used Mod Podge and string to make the "wire form".  Once dried, I papier mached tissue paper over the lantern.  This is all miniature work, or doll accessory work.  The lantern came out sweet for Gracie to hold, but I think you can tell that two balls, one smaller, would just not do for the owl.  The body needed to be oblong and paper wings and tail and all other manner of paper bits would have to be cut out and applied to make the owl.  It's also a very gluey mess and nasty to clean off your fingers, but I may give it a go this weekend anyway just for fun.  I would use the grainy Styfoam balls because you can pinch them into shape.  

I'd love to make Ann Estelle's ruffled jester costume someday.  And I've had plans to make an Audrey Ann.  Tonner did not make her into a doll, and I love her.  I've enjoyed having the magnetic paper doll f her.  I know exactly what I'll do to make her and then she'll get her own paper doll wardrobe.  Just as soon as the Tonner doll I wish to use appears on Ebay.  

I'm still having fun, and I love sharing these things with you.  I'm sorry if you haven't been getting my blog posts through email notifications.  I tried to look into this and there is no technical support for this blog.  It is free through Google.  If you recall, I had this notification about needing to export all the subscribers, back in 2019.  I thought I'd done it correctly as things seemed to be going along smoothly, then a couple of close friends of mine said they weren't getting notifications any longer.  There is nothing I can do to fix this.  

I hope if you've enjoyed my blog and are reading this, that you might join me on Facebook under the name Melissa Hoover.  I post all my new creations there and provide a link the blog posting I wrote about it.  I apologize if you haven't been getting the posts, but I just can't find a way to fix this.  You are what keeps me motivated and inspired.  I hope you'll consider this option.

Monday is the big day.  Happy Halloween!  When I write again it will be during that quiet month of November when we begin preparing for Christmas.  I think the tree will go up mid-month.  Why not?!  It takes so long to decorate it that its worth having it up a bit longer.

Love, Melissa

 

Test to see if you're getting these in your email.

 Some of you have mentioned to me that you're not receiving my blogs any longer.  I just changed something in the settings, so let's see if this works.  One of you, please let me know you got this.

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

 

Ruby Red Friends Luna and Selena

Spookie Sooki in outfit #1

The album I used for Sooki's accessory

Outfit #2, a Frankie costume

Happy Halloween, Mignonette!