Tiny Steps

So 2013 has been a year of change, most notably we moved house!  Which, as many of you will know, is both a wonderful and ridiculously stressful thing to do!

When we last moved, 16 years ago, we were just two people, a lot younger (by about 16 years I think ...) and more accepting of imperfections but now I suppose I know how I want my life to run (ha) and have a vague idea of how I want my house to look...

Today one of the big things (to me) was ticked off the list!  yea

A mantle!  Just in time to hang stockings too!

Of course now there is just a little tiny bit of wallpapering to do and then total perfection!  Hmm that's not happening any time soon!

But I am enormously grateful that I have somewhere to display a little bit of Christmas candle goodness.

Onwards and upwards!

The Dolls Dressmaker

A little bit festive

Trying to get into the spirit of Christmas because I want to get a least some presents wrapped before Christmas Eve!

The Dolls Dressmaker

Poor little blog

Ah well now, where was I?

Oh yes that's right I was supposed to be making Dolls clothing and writing on this here little blog about it, but life got in the way somewhat.

So much change since I last visited here but now onwards and upwards!

I have a new craft room and lots of good intentions towards my little shop.

So here's to a new start and hopefully lots of dolly related goodness on this blog! (Once I get all those handmade Christmas presents out of the way!)

The Dolls Dressmaker

Distractions..

So many distractions are keeping me away from my little hobby business!  One day, one day, I will have free time to devote to my shop but for now it's on a back burner.

Especially when I keep creating distractions for myself, 

A gift of a dollhouse!

How could say I no?  The list of work is pretty long;

* front door missing
* nail varnish on roof
* crayon on windows and floors
* broken electrics
* no decor 
* generally grubby

So this is a bit of a fixer-upper but my little girl is already playing with it in the condition it is in, so hopefully some progress will be made soon.  Of course I have managed to create a Pinterest board for inspiration!

The Dolls Dressmaker

An interruption

Ah!  Didn't mean to disappear like that!  Life seems to have a way of making things busy and complicated despite my best efforts for it to remain otherwise.

I will be away from this space for a bit longer and may not return, I haven't decided but Lisa Eggs, if you could contact me with your address, I will send the dress out to you!

The Dolls Dressmaker

A giveaway

I have spent most of my precious free time clearing out stock and re-organising and so I thought a little giveaway was in order.

One of my favourite Dolls Wardrobe dresses made with a beautiful Liberty tana lawn called Felicitie which is now sadly discontinued.  Tiny capped sleeves and embellished with pink ribbon and polka dot blue button.  Fully lined with matching blue cotton.

Please leave a comment and I will pick one at random, good luck!

The Dolls Dressmaker

New Liberty

It took forever for this fabric to arrive (although not as along as some other fabric coming from China which I am still waiting for!) and a trip to a DHL depot but it's here and it's lovely!

NEW-SEASON-TANA-LAWN/Saeed-B-Tana-Lawn

Now what shall I make with it?

The Dolls Dressmaker

Photography

So new year, new me?  Well not really as I'm not a big fan of New Years Resolutions but I always get caught up in the general feeling of a New Year, a new start and I have started to compile a couple of "To Do" lists.  

On the top of my Etsy shop list is to up my game when it comes to photography.  As this is the way I promote my dresses, taking good photos is essential but I have a very standard camera and that coupled with a very badly lit craft room mean my photos are not up to that standard I would wish to see.

So of course I have a Pinterest board on the subject but I also received a book, Crafters-Guide-Taking-Great-Photos.

I have also been playing around with backgrounds because all-white seems a bit boring?  But then again?  

So all I need to do now is find some time to read up on the subject! 

Hopefully that will do the trick. 

The Dolls Dressmaker

Liberty Tana Lawn

Love this, from the Liberty blog

I will be hosting my very first giveaway soon!  Please keep checking back for more information (or in other words when I have worked out how to do it!!).


The Dolls Dressmaker

Snow!

The neighbours must think I am mad playing with dolls in the snow but surely they must know me by now??

The Dolls Dressmaker

On my table Friday

Lots of lovely blue Liberty fabrics!

The Dolls Dressmaker

A little top for a little Miss

One of my aims for 2013 is to make more clothes for human sized people.  I have finished my top, which I will post about later, but I am now working on something for the littlest in the family.

I have a problem when it comes to reading patterns (bit like instruction booklets) the words seem to swim in front of me and to be honest I would rather just "have a go" and it usually works out in the end!

I don't know if it's just because I am more experienced now with sewing clothes or if it's because these patterns are in French (and therefore take more serious consideration!) but I have no problem following these patterns!  The pictures help greatly and I know enough French to grasp the basic sewing terminology.  Anyway, I love these patterns and I love that they are printed on proper paper not flimsy tissue!

The fabric is Liberty Tana Lawn, Eloise which is now sadly discontinued.

Should my daughter wish to she could also dress her doll in a matching dress!

The Dolls Dressmaker

On my table Friday

Hmm need to sort out those ribbons and trims...

The Dolls Dressmaker

For the love of Liberty

I think it is now safe to say that my favourite fabric is Liberty's Tana Lawn.  With such a high thread count it makes such beautiful, soft items and of course it comes in a wide range of tiny prints which are perfect for dolls dresses.

Having found a (another) new blog to drool over Liberty addict I've realised that I also may have become a bit of a Liberty fabric collector, why else would I be bidding on tiny pieces of fabric that definitely won't make a dolls dress on Ebay?  Well because, you know, it might come in handy, right?

Also feeding my collecting habit is my Pinterest board "Liberty Love" where I store up gorgeous pictures of Liberty fabric with the vain hope that one day I might make something with it!!

However I am starting the year with good intentions and I am nearly finished making a new top for me, using Liberty Tana Lawn "Glenjade" and have a pattern and material for a top for my daughter using Liberty "Eloise".  

Although from this photo it looks like I have a long way to go, better get on with some sewing then!

The Dolls Dressmaker

Overhaul

Back to school today for the children and back to work for me!

Lots of inspiration has been gained from many (far too many) hours sat looking at Pinterest, so now that the house and my craft room are nice and quiet, it's time to get back to sewing.

But before that can happen I want to sort out my existing stock and have a tidy up.  I also want to re-photograph some of the dresses.

I am sure I will feel better for the (early) spring clean!

The Dolls Dressmaker