life of seven

Lucia, the Christmas Doll

Lucia is ready to meet her new Mommy this year for the holidays. What a joy this dolly was for my hands to make. She is made of all of so many of my favorite things. Keep reading if you want a very long, detailed description of my process as I created her! If you don't care to read, no worries! The pertinent info is that she will be in my Etsy shop on Friday, December 1, at 9 AM MT. Lucia measures approximately 13.5", just the right size for small ones to cuddle, though I recommend her be given to a child of at least five, due to small parts and pieces.

Of course, as we all know, to start with, her body is stuffed full of soft, fluffy, sweet smelling, versatile wool, something that as a knitter I can never get enough of. And as a dollmaker, I love it just as much in its unspun state, because it is the perfect thing to make dolls huggable, lovable, warm, and lifelike. 

For Lucia's hair, I used something new to me- Teeswater locks, that I sewed into a long weft and crocheted into a cap to fit perfectly on her head. And, Teeswater locks have now been added to my list of very favorite things. So bouncy, so curly, so resilient, so irresistible, so playful.

You must know that before I even started this doll, I had already knit that cranberry red elf cap that you see there. That cap was the germ of the idea that put the whole picture of the doll in my mind, even though I didn't have the complete picture yet until sometime yesterday afternoon. All I knew for certain was that I must make a doll with blond curly locks-  I could picture them perfectly framed with the hat around a pixie-like face. 

While making the doll, I commissioned my sister Amy to make a simple linen dress and apron, which I knew I wanted to embroider. Yeah, I think I've been bitten by the hand-stitching bug...this is one of those situations where Pinterest either helps or makes you go insane, depending on how you look at it! So, so, so, so, SO much inspiration there. At least in the case of creating Lucia, it was more helpful than anything else, since I knew she must have cranberry red Christmas roses on her dress, and I couldn't remember how to stitch a rose. 

So, about Lucia's delicious little sweater you see there: I've been seeing bobbled sweaters everywhere lately- ravelry, pinterest, instagram, and they are always just so cute and playful looking! I thought a doll sized one would be wonderful, and I had the perfect speckled yarn that reminds me of stark birch trees in the middle of winter.

About the linen dress: I hand dyed the fabric using brewed coffee! Dyeing with a natural dye was another first for me, and something I thoroughly enjoyed, and it added another of my favorite things to the creation of this doll, coffee! To add to the vintage-y and cozy feel, I crocheted a removable collar out of cashmere that looks great with the simple style of the dress, to make it just a bit fancier, or can be worn with the sweater. And, I knew I wanted to add a handmade lace edging as well, using, again, more cashmere. The softness adds warmth to the dress, and contributes to the classic, time honored style of her clothes.

The apron needed just a few roses and simple snowflakes and it was just what I pictured in my mind's eye.

I thought all that remained was the shoes, so I crocheted two cranberry red boots that button, to match that gnome-like hat. When I put the entire ensemble together, I was pleased as could be. But I couldn't get something out of my head. Here at Christmas time was a doll with a beautiful plain linen dress that only needed a red belt to transform the doll into St. Lucia for St Lucia's day on December 13. No, I don't celebrate it, but I read Kirsten's Surprise growing up, thank you very much! How I longed when I was little to have an all white night gown and act out the story! I had lovely, fuzzy, red suri alpaca yarn that went beautifully with the entire ensemble, so I decided to make a skinny scarf that could double as Lucia's belt, and I couldn't believe how that red scarf tied the entire doll together. I finished it around midnight, when the Christmas lights in our house were all aglow, and she looked absolutely magical in that dim, cozy setting.

And now for the last step, her name. Sometimes when making a doll, a name comes to me before I even get started, sometimes its in the middle of the process, less often, it isn't until the very end that a name is decided. While making her, I kept turning names over and over in my head. I almost named her Christmas Rose, but wanted her to have a more versatile everyday name. Well, you may have guessed that as I finished the red scarf for her belt, right near the stroke of midnight, that her name became Lucia, and I think it suits her perfectly.

I have one more thing to add, that I wasn't able to get an entire picture of- that little bit of embroidery that says "peace" is on a lovely little linen drawstring bag that you can put Lucia in to keep her dust free, or she can store her accessories in when it turns summer, or can be used for multiple purposes, I should think. I couldn't give you an entire shot, because I am waiting a few more hours for my disappearing ink that I use when stitching to disappear! However, I couldn't resist showing you that little bit of stitching.

Well, if you have really read this far, congratulations- I enjoyed sharing the process with you. I love to talk about all things crafty, though I suppose I can wax on for way too long... And, oh this sweet girl Lucia- I love being able to share her with you as well!

 

Sigrid, an Icelandic Doll

Please meet Sigrid. Oh, you guys. This was probably the funnest doll making project I have ever undertaken. The gem of the idea of Sigrid came to me about a year ago, when I knit with Lettlopi, which is made from Icelandic sheep's wool, for the first time. This yarn is used to knit traditional Icelandic sweaters, which are generally yoked sweaters, with stranded color work. This yarn is absolutely ideal for stranded knitting, since it is quite "sticky", and the strands hold together well. On top of that, the colors are absolutely hazy and beautiful and blend like a rainbow. This is fairly thick yarn, and Icelandic sweaters are known for being very warm. 

When knitting with this yarn, my thoughts turned to doll making, and I wanted to make a doll who I thought must live in Iceland, in a house with a sod roof, with goats grazing on the top of the roof, in a beautiful valley beside the sea. Of course she would have a beautiful, warm sweater knit with traditional Lettlopi.

Well, Sigrid. I have seen dolls with joints at the knees and elbows. Furthermore, I have been experimenting a great deal with making some of my dolls double skinned. It is quite the challenge, indeed, but makes the limbs so much smoother, and more sturdy. Well, a few weeks ago, I spent the entire day sewing, and at the end of it, I had made a doll leg. The most beautiful doll leg I had ever made. I sewed the first leg with a joint at the knee. I loved the way it bended and moved. Then, all of a sudden, it occurred to me- place a second layer of skin fabric over the top! I immediately realized how lovely it looked- covered the joint seams perfectly, kept the leg from bending to the point of looking hyper-extended (we don't want that!), and gave a beautiful knee that I made rosy colored with blush. I showed that leg to everyone. I was so proud of it. I've never made a doll leg so...so...leg-like.

I followed the same technique with the arms, giving her both wrists and elbows. The joints can be bent and moved as much as desired, but because of the underlying skin fabric and seams, they will stay as sturdy as they are now.

Now on to her head. I have heard of doll makers including armature. I am not ready yet to use it throughout the entire body (that day may come), but I adore the idea of making the head and neck bend. To me, those poses are what give the doll the most like. Looking up at you, body. Looking down, shyly. Gazing out the window. Reading a book. Nestling down onto her elbows. I love this so much that I think it will be a pretty consistent thing with my bigger, more detailed dolls.

As for Sigrid's face- You guys, it is a little intimidating to create a doll head that is significantly different from what you have done for years. Not only did I do some very significant face sharing, but those eyes- I wanted to try a totally new eye shape that made her look like she was squinting happily at me. I sewed different eyes and eyeshapes...4 times. Finally I found an eye that I loved.

To add to the pose-ability, I weighted her feet and body. The extra weight helps her hold her poses better. And the posing...is there anything this doll cannot do? I could play with her all day long. Really. Actually, I think I have done that. She looks good in every outfit, in every pose. Every hair style- her hair is commercial mohair weft. This is so much sturdier than alpaca. It can be braided, and brushed, and ponytailed, and bun-ned, and I've heard, even curled (this is not something I have ever tried, though, so I cannot recommend it personally).

Yes, all her knitwear is made with that wonderful yarn, Lettlopi. I made the yoke sweater based on traditional designs...but when I got halfway through the body, on a whim, I decided to give the sweater lined pockets. who want cold hands??? I'm so glad I added this extra (nontraditional) touch. Her hat is cabled, and her shoes are crocheted, and they button.

For warmer days (yes, Iceland has those!), she has a sunny yellow sundress and navy pants, and a Liberty fabric (always Liberty, always...) shirt, as well as a cute little head/neckscarf, sewn in the same fabric. Each piece coordinates wonderfully, and she actually has a significant number of outfit choices.

Sigrid ended up being around 21" tall. She is recommended for an older child, but for anyone who loves pretending with American Girl Dolls or similar, I can promise you will absolutely adore Sigrid.

I put so many hours of love into this doll. I can't charge by the hour for this girl. But it was a beautiful learning process the entire way. I am pricing her at $550 + shipping, and I truly hope she can find a wonderful home. Please contact me if interested, and she will very soon be listed on Etsy as well.

Okay, thanks for reading Sigrid's story!

Happy Fall

Hello! Happy fall! Happy, happy, fall; it is so easy to be a in a great old at this time of year. So cozy. School starting- kids nestled down with their books, new ones starting for the first time, baking every single day, if not multiple times a day, boots and flannels, and knitting. Of course, the last one is a joke- I don't have to wait for fall to begin knitting. I never stop. It is true, though that new inspiration hits in the fall.

We made apple fritters last week. They were so delicious that they may be worth the work. Of course they were worth the work as a one time thing. Just not sure if I will do it again, haha! 

I  tried, once again, homemade mac and cheese, as well. Now, I love homemade mac, but I never can seem to get it right. Any favorite recipes I should try? This one was....just okay.

I have also made a number of (undocumented) apple pies in the last several weeks. The best crust, I've learned, is made with all butter and ice water- no egg. Also, be sure to add enough salt. The best apples to use, I've found, is golden delicious.

It goes without saying these days that I have also been making dolls. This sweet one has been so tolerant of the multiple times per day I walk by and pose, and admire, her. My love Icelandic yoke sweater knitting has, of course, translated into doll clothing as well. She seems almost human in her lifelike poses. Apparently she loves to read, too...

One day soon, I will try to take a picture of my children, instead of just dolls. But they move so fast. And the dolls stay where I put them.

The Story of Pat and Cuddles

****If you are anything like me, you may want to skip all the story telling and scroll down to the bottom to get the details about purchasing the dolls. I put it there for you nice and concisely.***

First, a super quick blog update- Sweet Blog, I have missed writing and taking pictures for you. But thankfully you are still here waiting for me, patiently, like a true friend (See, I told you that would be quick).

I went back to sewing dolls again, as should now be obvious. I returned to it for a number of reasons, but, as I knew would be the case, the more dolls I sewed, the more those reasons increased. I am once again utterly charmed by the entire process, just as I was when made my very first Waldorf  style doll 11 years ago. Doll making covers every craft I love. The textile ones: sculpting, drawing, designing, knitting, embroidery, sewing (machine and hand), toy making, just for a start. And even the non textile ones: story telling, writing, photography, imagining, and dreaming.

The idea for Pat first fluttered into my head when I began reading a book recommended to me by a friend, who knows how much I love L. M. Montgomery. Surely you can guess the book by now, right? Pat of Silver Bush. When reading about Pat, so full of life, and love for her home and all who lived in it, I wanted to make a doll who represented Pat in my imagination. For this, I didn't go through and reread all the descriptions or try to put in every detail about the fictional Pat Gardiner. Instead, I borrowed the name and tried to create the spirit of who I felt that Pat was. Thus, the light brown skin, since I picture Pat at the end of the summer, having played outdoors for hours with her friends every single day.

In my mind, I saw her as quite brown and healthy, from all the sun and outdoors. I gave her a green floral dress. In the book she wears a beautiful green chiffon dress for a wedding, and so I pictured her as often wearing green. The color and the floral motif of the Liberty fabric (Liberty of London fabric, naturally...so very, very glad I still have my stash) further represent how I picture Pat, playing out in the grass and among the flowers throughout the summer. I believe Pat enjoys fancy clothes and dressing up as much as any other girl, and so the flower headband was a must. I'm sure she wore it to her aunt's wedding. And when she goes to school, or does her chores, of course she must put on her blue pinafore to keep that gorgeous dress clean.

In the book, Pat has a baby sister named Rachel, that everyone calls Cuddles. This is just so charming to me. Nicknames are no strangers in our house, where everyone has some form of endearment besides their given name. Always, the youngest in our family has the most nicknames. Baby Boo, Boo Boo, Cwemmie, Little Sweetness, you get the idea. My doll Cuddles is much older than Baby Cuddles in the book. But I envision the two dolls as sisters and the very best of friends. In this, I was inspired by my oldest daughters, Cate and Grace. From the very beginning, Cate and Grace have been the absolute best of friends. You may not believe me, but the girls can't even remember the last time they had an argument. I know this isn't necessarily the case for all sisters, and certainly it was not for me and my sisters when we were growing up, but nevertheless, I know that it happens, since my own daughters are so sweet to each other. Rather than telling a story about two sisters who don't get along (perhaps a Beezus and Ramona doll set!), I wanted my dolls to be the very best of friends, and represent that precious bond that is only shared by siblings.

Cuddles has a bitty sweater and hat, for extra warmth, and extra cuteness. If she lives in Canada, like the Cuddles in the book, she will need them. 

Pat is a 13" doll, the first time I have made that exact size. And, oh my, it is such a huggable size. It gives Pat such petite features, while still feeling like a substantial doll that can be involved with all kinds of play.

Cuddles is a wee, tiny, 10" doll. There is no way you can see a doll this size and not squeal. It's impossible. I've set up all kinds of scientific experiments to test the theory. And, every single, time: "squeal."

Both dolls are made using the same pattern: they can sit up on their own. They can stand, if propped. They can be posed in many ways. They have knees, belly button, neck. They had long, extra soft, extra lovely hair made of Suri Alpaca. It is as soft as down. My daughter Grace has learned to brush the alpaca locks into soft wisps and sew them into a long weft on the sewing machine, that I then crochet into a wig. It is a time consuming process, but so worth it. However, the softness comes at a price: The hair is very delicate and a little sheddy. What I have found is that it can be very gently brushed as long as your hand is gripping the roots tightly. As far as play is concerned, if the hair is braided, it is actually quite secure. Nevertheless, this type of hair would not be good on a doll that was to be given to a young child. Both dolls have small parts and pieces. I haven't made them baby or young child-proof.

Both girls have dresses made out of one of my very favorite Liberty of London prints. Oh, what on earth am I talking about? They are all my favorite. Each dress includes a pair of matching bloomers. Pat comes with a pinafore and a floral wreath. Cuddles comes with a hand knit cap and sweater, knit of one of my favorite yarns, Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. Her hat and sweater feature a simple floral design. Both girls have crocheted shoes that button.

I did a bit of sculpting for the faces of both dolls. Enough to accentuate cheeks, chin, mouth, a nose. I use needle felting for this, and it has the added benefit of causing the face to retain it's shape over time ,and when washed. I don't recommend hand washing, however. Spot cleaning is best, if possible. 

About the price: I'm sure you've read a number of explanations similar to this before, but I'll put it in here, anyway. Each doll takes many, many hours to make. On top of that, I make them using handcrafting skills I have been developing my entire life. Doll making alone is something I have been doing for 11 years now. I have been a regular knitter for 15 years now (though I learned when very young). Sewing has been an on again, off again skill for me since I was 10. I love sewing, and I hate it. And I have made dolls and toys of all shapes and sizes since I was a child. I put all these handcrafts together into one entity, a doll, that have taken years for me to learn. My sister, Amy, has been a seamstress as long as I can remember. She makes the doll clothes for me, and they are sewn with such detail and perfection. I'm proud to be able to offer clothing of this quality on the dolls I make. After putting so much time and detail into every single doll, and after using the absolute highest quality of materials that I can find, you may be able to understand why I need to charge what I do to make the dolls. Anyway, that's all I have to say about that for now.

I am asking $425 for Pat, plus shipping. 

Cuddles is $400, plus shipping.

Shipping is $16 in the US, $40 worldwide. Your doll will come to you beautifully packaged, with some fun treats of various types included. Please email or message me on Facebook or Instagram if you would like to purchase either doll. Thank you!