new Waldorf doll in progress

 hi and good morning to all

popping in today to share a new very special Waldorf doll that i have slowly been making this year.

on this post the doll is still at a work in progress stage with a few more things that need to be added.

the completed doll will be shared at a later date.

in the doll making process i do still however have a huge problem with crochet and crocheting a weft but after watching a you tube video by polly wally do dah i have come up with my own variation. i have knitted/made a skull cap and i've carefully sewn the weft onto the cap using some of the techniques from the video and then once the wig was completed i have pinned and sewn the cap onto the doll and i am so pleased with the finished result. 

one day i will share the process with you all...in the mean time i need to find a hard ball that is a similar size to the dolls heads i make to enable me to easily sew the weft onto the knitted skull cap, and then pin and securely sew the wig onto the doll..

the wig needs to be trimmed..

todays doll has been made using a pattern i have from a north coast dolls workshop i attended last year, i am so glad i went. i met some very lovely ladies and Meglene is a very patient and lovely teacher.

with her new glasses

thankfully i have all sorts of stuff in my stash from various crafts i enjoy and i have made a simple pair of glasses.

her glasses are made from pink coated florist wire..

so for now i will close off and say:

join me again soon to see the completed doll.

enjoy your day and craft happy, Ann

Twinkle a natural fibre art doll

 

hi and good morning crafters.

popping in and happy to share a new natural fibre art doll whom i've named twinkle. 

from start to finish the doll took around three/four weeks on a part time basis. needle felting a dolls heads and parts of the body is so time consuming but it does make for beautiful dolls with cute features, still plenty to work on with future dolls. 

the inspiration for the doll and her name came from the colour of weft i'd choosen and a pre-made pixie hat that was made a while ago which was in conjunction with that i'd recently started watching dinner ladies by Victoria Wood a program i really enjoyed and one of the characters in the program was called Twinkle played by Maxine Peake who's hair was coloured pink also the hat and scarf have gold threads entwined which twinkle.

for Twinkles' clothes her dress and the hat were knitted a while ago and the scarf i knitted last week.

there will possibly be tweaks made to the outfit, i may make a different dress, she also needs underwear, tights or socks are needed and a coat or cardigan to complete her outfit.

they are all in the pipe line, i just can't decide what just yet.

Twinkle is approx 12"/29cms tall

Twink's hair/weft has been sewn directly onto the fabric which gets a little tricky when you get to the finishing point, i have used two colours from my stash of curly wefts.

here is a few doll in progress photos

with the knowledge i have gained from north coast dolls for the articulated head i have adapted one of my body patterns to create this doll.

i do still have more things to improve on in my doll making process and i need to evolve my body patterns but for the moment i'm a happy little crafter. 

things i need to learn/do better: crocheting with a weft.

i still struggle to crochet and how on earth i managed to do it back in may is beyond me.. i did have a little help from Meglena.

inspiration as always comes from: 

north coast dolls

fig & me

little oke dolls

craft cottage

maryjanes tearooms

plus a few others.

well that's it for today, thanks for stopping by

enjoy your day and craft happy, Ann

Amelia a 13" natural fibre doll

good morning crafters.

sharing a new hot off the needles so to speak a natural fibre art doll whom i've named Amelia.

it seems like ages ago when i spent the weekend in clacton for the spring bank holiday to learn the skills of making a doll with an articulated head and how to firmly stuff the body with Meglena of North Coast Dolls and my fellow students, thankfully most of it sunk in, my doll is stunning if i do say so myself. there are still somethings i need work on but it amazes me how a piece fabric, a pattern, roving wool, various threads and a weft turns into something so beautiful.  i also have to say a hands on workshop is a must to all prospective doll makers. 

Amelia is now waiting for a new outfit which will be made hopefully over the next few weeks, hopefully i won't be side tracked.

Amelia is approx 13"/30cms tall

some of the items needed at the begining of a new doll

early stages of the doll making process. the wrong way around lol.

i decided as soon as i'd added the head to her torso i would add her locks..

below Amelia's articulated head in different positions

 Amelia is complete with a beautiful black curly weft which has been sewn on direct as i still can't master crocheting a wig and she has beautiful blue eyes complete with very rosy cheeks..

when Amelia is finally finished i will share photo's 

inspiration as always comes from: 

north coast dolls

fig & me

little oke dolls

maryjanes tearooms

plus a few others.

well that's it for today, thanks for stopping by

enjoy your day and craft happy, Ann

north coast dolls workshop clacton on sea

hi and good morning to all

 

back to share photo's from my recent North Coast Doll workshop over the spring bank holiday weekend with Meglena in Clacton on sea as promised.

i have to admit i was concentrating so much that i didn't take any photo's of my dolls progress until the end. i am throughly amazed with the doll i created and i also learned some valuable new techniques including crocheting a weft, needle felting the body, head and facial features to stuffing the doll. 

 

the workshop was hosted by Anita in her home and her generosity was off the scale with the two lunches that she provided including home made quiche's and lemon drizzle cake, they were scrummy. it was lovely to meet my fellow students Naomi, Yve and Giovanna. i am exhilarated and exhausted and what's worst was i forgot to switch my alarm off on bank holiday monday, we were woken at 5:15 so i didn't get the lie in i was hoping for.

to my surprise Meglena had provided a dress for the all the dolls that were created over the two intensive days but i had taken with me a little pixie hat and matching dress i had made.

the doll is complete with a turning head, bum cheeks and a beautiful honey blonde weft wig, there are a few things i need to improve on and to make a pair of brief's and socks and possibly a cardigan.

and finally i would like you all to meet

Gwendolyn.

thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day

and craft happy, Ann

minnie the manikin

 good morning crafters and welcome to my share for today.

this is Minnie the manikin a handmade natural fibre art doll that i will use to model all my hand made clothes, this gives me a head start on a little ready made wardrobe to choose from when i complete any future 12" handmade dolls.

like the dress Minnie is modelling today..

Minne is staying with me as my super cute manikin, her body, her arms, her legs and her head are not sturdy enough as i haven't used enough stuffing in her body or used enough wool on her felted features, i'm still getting to grips with all that. 

Minnie is so darn cute with her hand made auburn bebe weft wig.  

this was one style of weft i was really looking forward to using and i'm now on the look out for some more...

list of goodies used:

de witte engle fabric

small sock for her knickers

orange satin ribbon

DMC embriodary thread - dark green

bees wax crayon

bebe weft (little oke dolls)

wool batting

gutterman thread

eden cottage yarn

paterns used:

 dress:

variation of a top down dress by MJT.

body:

own

inspiration:

fig & me

dear little doll

north coast dolls

MJT

to name a few

thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day and

crafthappy, Ann

 

waldorf inspired doll

 

hi and welcome to my share for today.

i have created a new waldorf inspired doll complete with a lovely dress, cardigan and pixie hat.

the dall is hand sewn with a needle felted face and is complete with a pre-made wig and she stands approx 12".

her features have been created using bees wax for her rosy cheeks and embriodary silks to create her eyes and thread to complete her smile.

there are huge forward steps made and there are some to overcome in my future dolls.

i have still lots to learn and i am loving the journey.

list of goodies used:

de witte engle fabric

west yorkshire spinner 4ply (shoes)

zauberball shoppel wool (dress, cardigan & hat)

orange satin ribbon

DMC embriodary thread

bees wax crayon

pre maid mohair wig (little oke dolls)

wool batting

gutterman thread

paterns used:

 dress:

MJT tearoom

hat:

my own

shoes:

my own

cardigan:

cindy rice

inspiration:

fig & me

dear little doll

north coast dolls

MJT

to name a few

thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day and

crafthappy, Ann

Edie the Elf up-date

good morning crafters

sharing a little up-date on 

Edie the Elf.

Edie is complete with a dress and pair of shoes and with gorgeous flowing pink locks.

i may add a few more items to her wardrobe before she leaves.

this little lady has been fitted out with a super cute dress and a lovely pair of shoes.

for her outfit i have chosen to use some beautiful yarn, for the base of her dress i have used kidsilk haze yarn and on her bodice i have used conniston fingering yarn (eden cottage yarns).

the dress pattern i have used is by MJT (pinafore dress) and for the shaping rather than make a stitch that you pick up between stitches i have created the stitch by doing the yarn around needle stitch. (then i don't need stitch markers). for her shoes i have used west Yorkshire spinners 4ply and a variation of a MJT pattern.

that's all i have for today lovelies.

Edie will be safely stored in my ever increasing Waldorf inspired natural fibre art doll box until i decide whether or not to sell them.

i hope you all have a lovely weekend, enjoy and

craft happy, Ann

 

edie the elf

 sharing my current work in progress today

a new waldorf inspired doll with a knitted body and a needle felted head complete with scrummy pink curly hair.

Edie is only part done, i now have to decide what kind of outfit she needs to complete her look wish me luck...

Edie is approximately 12"(30cms) tall and has beautiful green embriodered eyes very rosy cheeks and a lovely smile.

i decided to create Edie wearing a pair of tights rather than giving her a complete skin tone knitted body (just to mix it up a bit).

i also added a pair of elf style ears (pictured above) but i have since removed them as her hair style hid them and they didn't look right..

her hair has been sewn direct onto her head and i am really pleased with the finished result. 

so over the next few days or so i will be concentrating on her outfit.

but already

 whirling around in my imagination will be a truer style of waldorf inspired doll.

her hair will be carrot red using a bebe weft that was delivered today from little okie dolls

and as always i need to give a shout out to the doll designers who inspire me and who's tutorial books i have and follow to the best of my ability. 

north coast dolls

Lali dolls

and for you tube advice

fig & me

here is a list of supplies used

yarns:

conniston fingering yarn: Eden cottage yarn

oatmeat fine: toft

doll supplies

pink curly weft & laib yala fabric: little okie dolls

patterns

tea room doll 2: MJT (body)

north coast doll kit (head)

thanks for stopping by enjoy your day

and 

craft happy, Ann

 

meet Miss Mulberry

 hi and a warm welcome to my share today.

this is Miss Mulberry

 a 12" waldorf inspired doll who has a needle felted head and face with a knitted body.

i have surprised myself with this creation but i have still a way to go in creating this type of doll. i have still loads to learn and there are small improvements with every doll i make, and i have to say there is only so much tutorial books and video's can teach you. i was so hoping to find a waldorf workshop this year..

back to Miss

i have sewn her hair/weft direct onto her head, trimmed the ends at the back and i have given her a little fringe, i have also embroidered her eyes, given her a cheeky grin and given her rosy cheeks.

i was so desperately trying to find a lovely name for her i got stuck on Miss Mulberry due to the colours in her outfit.

Miss Mulberry is complete with a very fetching outfit all of which are knitted.

a lovely dress, coat/cardigan, scarf, hat and a removable pair of shoes

all of the clothes and knitted doll body are inspired from MJT patterns with the exception of the scarf, hat and shoes.

all the yarns used are from a variety of sources including:

eden cottage yarns (milburn 4ply)

west yorkshire spinners (4ply sock yarn - wood pidgeon & dusty miller)

and 

rowan kidsilk haze (blackcurrant)

mohair weft - dark brown - little okie dolls

a small piece of ribbon

DMC embroidery thread

bees wax crayon

the dolls body has been knitted with:

toft fine oatmeal (skin tone) & cream (knickers)

and a needle felted head that has been covered with laibyala fabric.

thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day 

and always

craft happy, Ann

waldorf inspired doll with new clothes

good morning crafters.

sharing a new outfit i have created for one of my Waldorf inspired dolls.

i have in my stash lots of yarns including lace, 4ply sock yarn, kid-silk haze to name a few and my doll has been waiting for her new outfit for a while as i couldn't decide what i was going to make let alone which pattern i was using.

so i decide to use two of my MJT patterns with a little variation (dress and coat)

i have knitted shoes, dress, coat, scarf and beret and she is now ready for her travels where ever they may take her.

a little photo journey of her ensemble

shoes

hair ribbons & coat

her dress

and my final photo is the beginning of a new Waldorf inspired doll that has a knitted body.

all of the clothes and knitted doll body are inspired from MJT patterns with the exception of the scarf, beret and shoes.

all this week i had been planning on making cards but i got carried away with knitting hey ho there's always next week for card making....

all the yarns used are from a variety of sources including:

eden cottage yarns (titus lace)

west yorkshire spinners (4ply sock yarn)

and 

rowan kidsilk haze

the dolls body has been knitted with:

toft fine oatmeal (skin tone) & cream (knickers)

and i am currently needle felting her head.

i love the tacktile feel of all the yarns used especially the toft fine that i have used for my next dolls body.

thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day 

and always

craft happy, Ann