Last day to enter the Blog Giveaway!

Hi everyone!

Well, today is the last day you can enter our blog giveaway! Please have your comment if you haven't already posted on the Blog Giveaway post from last Monday on January 7th. Today by midnight is the deadline to enter. If you are already a follower of this blog, just leave a comment- if you are not, follow the blog and leave a comment you'd like to particpate!

For those who may just be seeing this for the first time- Katniss' new sling purse with tasseled key ring will be the prize giveaway!

Updates- so it's after the holidays, and everyone on the doll boards is clearance shopping. Where oh where do you get those nifty deals on all the cute props and dolls?

I have been shopping in my local Wal-mart so far. And they are clearing out the old dolls and even some of the new ones. Usually I am not there at the moment they put out the new dolls on clearance. But I have scored the Barbie/Chelsea teacher giftset for 11.00, and the Nikki I can be a baby doctor for 6.50!! Today I browsed into the doll section then the clearance section and found Barbie's washer and dryer for 10.97. I do not know if it had been put on clearance or someone dropped it there to hide it and come back for it later...but I snatched it up as it was the LAST ONE...yeah me. I have been looking for the new S.I.S. Dolls but they are not at our Walmart, so this will be cause for further shopping trips. I did see them at Target but there were only a couple and I should have snatched them up while I could. Though I like my Nikki, I wanted someone else to be Darrin's wife, as he and Julian are getting lonely for a Mommy figure, and they would be a nice couple for Barbie town.

Be sure to enter our giveaway!
Lisa

 

Town Party Little House scene...

 

 

 

So today I did a little rough drafting as I call it, to figure out how to replicate the scenes in the Little House books with the dolls & props. This scene is one I have always wanted to replicate, but much better than this rough sketch above.

I think in the real long term, what I would like to do is have a picture from the book on the left, and a picture of the diorama, using the dolls & props to replicate the picture in the book, on the right. Today I just propped the book On the Banks of Plum Creek behind the dolls. I'm just missing a doll to be Willie Olsen with the jumping jack. I think putting elastic clear hairbands around the doll to hold it onto Nellie and make it look like she is holding it away from Laura would work. I havent played very much in the past few days with my Little House doll family, and I miss them, something about these dolls gives me a warm fuzzy feeling- they are fast becoming my favorites.

Don't forget aobut our Blog Giveaway - follow our blog and comment on that post, to be entered to win our free prize!! Right now we are up to 95 followers- let's see if we can make it 100 by Monday when the contest ends!

Progressive doll purse creations...

 

I have been experimenting with different materials and worked on this tiny purse. Again, I used a raised pattern felt, this time the purse is lined with red ultrasuede leather, with a black top stitching all around the visible edges, which makes it pop a bit. The handle is braided black leather, with finished silver ends held by matching jump rings, and a lobster claw attachment holding a tiny lock and key. Though it needs work, on the closing flap, I was pleased how my first purse came out constructed as I made the pattern by eye and  used a ruler matching the size against the doll's body- Poppy just happened to be my first willing purse 'victim'...lol.

The purse does not have a closure snap/hook yet, I was looking for something to make that flap 'pop' if you will...I have another idea for another purse in red too, so I will probably look for some type of charm or bead to add to it. I wanted to wait until it was completely finished, but thought I would take some pics. I usually don't fall in love with the first item I make, but I honestly enjoyed this one!

Hopefully more to come later!

 

~Lisa

Blog Giveaway!

Hi everyone. I am going to be doing a blog giveaway! I have waited until I have found something worthwhile that would interest everyone and make the giveaway more exciting!

So right now I am at 92 followers on the blog. I will run the giveaway from today, to midnight on January 14, 2013 and then on Tuesday January 15th I will announce the winner.( I will contact you thru the blogger system) Hopefully a week and a day will be enough time to get us past 100 likes and maybe even to 200!

Rules: If you are not a follower of the blog- follow us and comment on THIS POST. You must follow the blog to eligible for the prize.

If you already follow the blog, just comment on THIS POST.

Random winner will be picked from the comments on this post.

Now-- what is the giveaway????? (drum roll please...........................................)

Katniss' new purse plus a tiny key with handbraided tassel ring! Below are the pictures-

 

 

NOW: About the prizes-

Katniss' bag is made of burgundy felt with a raised pattern, handsewn. The strap is studded and of leather, attached to golden jump rings on either side. The purse closes with a snap closure embellished with a tiny handmade tassel wire wrapped. The extra bonus- the key, is a small silver plated key with a red and black handbraided key, with tassel also wire wrapped. This will be shipped inside the purse.

I will announce the winner on January 15, 2013 and will contact you thru the blogger system.

Now get to following and posting!

Katniss' new purse...

I was bored today, and had been dreading breaking down Barbietown's Christmas decor...which is almost done. I have a bunch of nude male dolls as I have packed away the Nativity costumes for next year. After taking off  Katniss' Mary costume, I decided to dress her up for shopping, but she was missing something. I thought it would be fun to try and make a purse or sling bag tote for her, such as the ones I lust after but can't afford on La Boutique . Though I will probably never attain that level of perfection in doll accessories, it was fun to try with the materials I had on hand. Here is what I came up with--

 

 

As you can see, it is a little large tote, embellished with the jewelry findings and a tassel, and a cool studded black leather strap. Those curved findings I purchased at a trade show a few years back are for creating miniature jewelry, and I made the little tassel hanging from

the closure. This was pretty fun, and done on the rough, so I would like to try more purses later on. I used a raised design of felt for the purse, and sewed it together.Katniss is such a pretty doll, I know she is going to be a favorite.

~Lisa

 

Ebay loot for me!

 

A TON of Ebay loot that had been purchased for my Laura Ingalls project arrived yesterday- it really felt like Christmas. First up to arrive, was the Johnny West buckboard and the accessories- a pair of pants, boots with spurs, shirt, two rifles with a rifle pouch, vest, hatchet, and water can thingy. Pa and the rest of the Ingalls family were happy. The buckboard is missing the springs on the seat and the front wheel axle comes off when lifted- I think all of this can be fixed- but I can hopefully turn this into the covered wagon.

Next up that came in the mail was Tea Elegance Barbie- also off of Ebay-

 

 

This is a quick photo here of her. She came NRFB with her teaset. AND free shipping! this was an awesome deal.
Next up, Victorian holiday Kelly. She was being sold seperately but will work for the older Carrie Ingalls from On the Banks of Plum Creek when Carrie is roughly 4-6 years old, it is hard to tell with Laura's timelines on her books.

I purchased this Kelly mostly to use her dress as a pattern, because the dresses that Laura, Mary & Carrie wear in this old picture resemble that style, a long waist with a short skirt, buttoned up the front sometimes. Here is a picture of them I am referring to-

If you notice, Carries' dress has buttons doubled on both sides up the front, with what looks a two piece dress, as does Laura and Mary(sitting). Their hair is also not in braids but pulled back like this little Kelly's hair as well. Mary and Laura's dress appear to be gingham.
As if all this ebay loot was not enough, yesterday I also picked up Mini american girl doll Nellie, to portray Nellie Olsen.

 

I adore the blue ribbons and the dress detail, AG really outdid themselves with this one on clothing detail. The only thing I might have to do is switch out her mary janes for those little white and black boots mini Rebecca wears. to make the pictures look authentic.

So yesterday was a great day as far as dolly loot! I am still taking it all in. I want to do a scene soon with all the Victorian barbies but that will mean dismantling the Ingalls' kitchen and I am still taking down Christmas decorations.

Enjoy!~Lisa

 

365 days of dolls....

Yep, we started a new project- and a new blog for those pictures!

The project is A Doll a Day 2013 on Flicker group, where you take a picture each day of a doll, any doll, same doll, favorite doll- all dolls welcome. Inspired by Miranda Wandering I also decided to do another blog with just the pictures from my Flicker album so all of the pictures are in one place, and dont interfere here with the fashiondivas.

The blog is here- 365 Days of Dolls  and hopefully you'll enjoy the progress. Two days worth of dolls already posted! This blog will only be a connection, very simple of the Flicker album and flicker group project.

Just an intro, here are some photos of  Barbietown...

all for now- and enjoy the new blog!~Lisa