Sweet Betty

I finally [almost] finished my Betty. She has been a long time coming but definitely worth the wait. Life sometimes gets in the way between artist and art, and I have really come to accept that. I guess it's "part of life!" I rather like the way she turned out. Wouldn't you say?
You will notice that Betty still needs some shoes. That's okay. We like each other because we both like to go around the house with bare feet once in a while. Betty will get new shoes later.

I think she is as adorable as could be, with or without the shoes!

Chanukkah Dolls in July

The new issue of Soft Dolls and Animals magazine just came out, and in it is my Draidel doll pattern. If you would like to make a doll for chanukkah, now is your chance!

If hair could kill...

I am proud to present my latest work of art: A blowfish.

I think I will go gesso up this blowfish and paint it. Maybe it might become Betty Boop?

The "worst" doll I've ever made

Here's what I've been working on lately.... this is actually a sneak peek of my Betty Boop doll (which I really hope to finish soon.) She has been waiting patiently on the back burner for quite a while. I guess she won't mind... isn't she creeping up on 80 years old?! :-) Not too bad for an 80-year old, wouldn't you say?

I fished copper beading wire through the hem on the bottom of the dress, right on the sides. This makes the sides fishtail outwards a little. That should give here some "boop be doop!"

Now it gets even better.... or worse I should say. I have never made a doll quite like this. Very, very bad! Don't show this to any of the boys!

This doll is too much fun, I gotta tell ya. I am almost done with Betty's head... but I think it would be wicked to make another body with some other head. It's just too much fun!

I had to "get creative" with the dress because her boobs are just so - well- you know. How was I supposed to make the dress stay up? I chose stretch knit fabric because has has a little lycra in it. I'm glad I did, because I literally had to s t r e t c h it over her boobs! And to be honest, they were so big I ended up using fabric glue to make it stay. (wonder what it would be like to have THAT problem... such problems Betty has. Naughty girl.)

If you would like to try this for yourself, a pattern is available. You can find it in my Etsy shop. Honestly, I think it's a great pattern, even if you make your own head that isn't Betty. Just don't get yourself into any trouble!

New Pad and Plans

All settled into the artist loft. I thought I would share a little about where I am and why I moved here...

This building houses both the Artist Lofts AND the Snohomish County Arts Council. The council is very serious- they are trying to create a unique artist community that will thrive and spread, making this city a destination for the arts.

I thought it was a great opportunity because I will be able to teach classes and connect with the art community in a way I would not have been able to do otherwise. The city is about half an hour from Seattle. You can read more about the project here. I think you will agree, it's pretty exciting!

Here's the building from the outside. Looks quite industrial.... big change from a house. My loft is on the top floor above the funny white part on the left. (wonder what that is?) The glass part on the bottom is going to be a HUGE area for teaching, galleries, you name it. It will go up to the second floor. It's going to be great to live and work in the same place. I really could not pass up this opportunity.

I love the inside. The ceilings are about 20 feet high, and it's spacious with windows that go almost from the floor to the ceiling. Tons of natural light, and an amazing view.

This is what I can see from my window. I've set my sofa and coffee table up facing out!

I have not been doing so much creating lately..... I plan to pick the momentum back up soon though. For now I am catching up and trying to get used to this new place, find work, etc.

Stay tuned and I will eventually show you photos of the inside of my loft!

Happy Mother's Day!

Special for moms- Buy one doll pattern, get a second one free!

Today only! Visit my Etsy shop for the patterns, and come on

over to my Facebook Fan page to let me know what you

choose for pattern #2.

Happy dolling, moms!

Shirring

Shirring is a great technique to spruce up any old fabric while adding some serious visual interest without a lot of effort. Think of it as "cheating surface embellishment."Here's how it's done:

•Just take a bit of your favorite plain Jane fabric, about 10" X 20".

•Set your sewing machine stitch length to "loosey loosey" (3.5 or 4, depending on your machine)

• Sew parallel, horizontal rows of stitching on the long side of the fabric, 1/8" apart.

• GATHER! Secure the threads on the” pulling side” to hold the shirring in place. Do this either by sewing a line across all the stitching, or by making knots in the thread.

The result: a visual playground of puffing between the lines!

If desired, use this technique on the front of your doll's dress bodice.

Alternatively, make a much larger sample- enough to fit all the pattern pieces of an entire dress, jacket, or whatever.

Go to town and use different colored thread if you like. You'll be amazed at how you can transform a simple fabric into something fantastic.

*This little tip is based on a tutorial from from the

Tikvah pattern. I hope you enjoy it! :-)

Dot's Booping Betty

Today I would like to share with you an amazing Betty, created by Dot Lewallen of speediebeadie.
I am utterly flabbergasted at this work. She basically made her Betty out of beads! Isn't she remarkable? Dot says, "She's ready to boop, and so am I. Boop Boop-Be Doop!-"

Dot, I'm ready to boop with you.

Betty Booping Front View

Betty Booping Back View

Recently I sent out an email to everyone who purchased a Betty Boop pattern in recent months, asking for contest photos. The contest ends on March 31- technically. I say technically because this was so much fun, I just want this to keep on going.

Press here to see the Betty Campaign

Press here to get a Betty Boop Pattern

Dot, I've gotta tell ya- you have really outdone yourself. Thank you for sharing! I'm just thrilled.

Keep the photos coming, everybody!

I'm creating a Betty photo album on the Doll Makers Muse Facebook Fan page.

Betty goes PDF

By popular demand, the Betty Boop pattern is now available in PDF format.
This is a vintage pattern that has been converted to PDF format, with an addendum for optional improvements and modifications by me. The original paper pattern is printed on on very large paper and quite cumbersome.
The PDF version is designed to be printed on 8-1/2" X 11" paper.
All of the original pattern pages remain intact, as well as the original text and drawings.

The addendum that shows you how to do the following:
• Make Betty's hair out of paperclay rather than yarn (with those fabulous Betty curls!)
• Harden the surface of the doll and make her look like porcelain (rather than making her out of felt)
• Pattern for improved hands is included (the original hands were not dainty- they look like "man hands!"
• Bonus- how to make perfectly mirrored eyebrows

Upon ordering, you will receive your PDF by email within 24 hours. The shop is closed on Saturday.

If you would like to enter her into a challenge, please visit my Facebook fan page to sign up.
The challenge will close in the end of March, but I will announce a new challenge in conjunction with Betty Boop fan sites in the near future.

So don't delay.... don't let them take your Boop away!

Tikvah is a Star

And here she is...
My doll 'Tikvah' made it to the cover of the Spring issue of Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine by Scott Publications.
More to come!