Happy Halloween !

Happy Halloween to all of you. Halloween is such a fun time of year for so many of us here in North America. Did you know that Halloween is not celebrated everywhere?

I found this really hard to believe when I was growing up. Here in North America, many of you may be dressing up and having Halloween parties, or going Trick Or Treating. While in other countries this day passes as normal as any other.

Some of my favorite memories of Halloween were dressing up and taking our pillow cases door to door to collect candy. My favorite costume was to dress up as a witch. Though one year I went as a TV that I made out of a cardboard box.

I hope that if you are going out trick or treating tonight you will be careful and travel with family and in a group if you are trick or treating door to door.

I would like to share with you some fun images of dolls dressed up for  Fall and Halloween I hope you will also take photos of your dolls dressed up for  Halloween and email them to me to be used next year! 

These are photos from Blogs I follow, I hope you will check them out!

 http://darlaweber.blogspot.com/

 http://americangirlworld.blogspot.com/2011/10/autumn-photo-shoot-part-2.html

 

http://caelen12.blogspot.com 

 

Don't forget to check out the fun photos on http://dolldiaries.com/ 

Have a safe and fun Halloween,

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Set a holiday table for your dolls with Napkin Sets from Sprinkle and Sparkle

I found this fun Etsy shop that sells table cloths and napkin sets for American Girl dolls perfect for every holiday season and I have to share it with you!

Sprinkle and Sparkle offers a wonderful selection of holiday tableware that will add to your doll play collection for more then one holiday!

These sets are perfect for the round table sets from American Girl.

Priced from $12 to $20 for the larger sets these are a great investment.

I love this set which comes with 6, 2 of each design and a matching orange table cloth that will fit nicely with each theme.

One of my favorite sets has a fourth of July set, Pick nick/ cowboy set and Christmas Set

A solid red table cloth is included in this set for lots of doll play use!

how about a birthday, foot ball and every day use set!

 Solid green table cloth included with this set. All the table cloths included in these sets fit the round table from American Girl but would also work on most round "tables" made from stools at craft stores. 

Thinking a head to the holiday season these sets are just darling and would really help to dress up the dolls holiday table. 

Each napkin, ring and table cloth is hand made and made from 100% cotton fabric. 

I had to ask how this Etsy shop got started and it turns out that it all started because of the shop owners Grandchildren. Kit was the first Doll her Granddaughter had. Kit's round table didn't look complete so this is were this genius Grandmother came up with her  tablecloths which  started with napkins and napkin rings. Her grandaughters love to change the tablecloths out for the different Holidays and occasions. I know you will too!

Note: Napkin rings choking hazard so the should not be given for use in doll play to a child under 4.

This lucky Grandmother and shop owner has 4 American Girl dolls Jess,Kit,Emily,Ruthie and enjoys going to the American Girl doll stores with her Granddaughters. I hope that you will stop by Sprinkle and Sparkle and see the adorable sets perfect for doll play.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Meet Libby of Liberty Jane Fame!

Today I wanted to bring you an interview with a truly remarkable young lady. Miss Libby, of Liberty Jane Fame. She is a American Girl Doll lover, Blogger, Movie maker and Etsy shop owner. Sharing with us today a behind the scene look at her work and life. 

This is the Interview and un edited  answers Libby shared with me...

Q: When did you open your Etsy Shop?

A: December 2010

Q:What items do you sell in your Etsy shop?

A""I mostly sell AG items, hand made clothes and some accessories like earrings and posters. I'm going to list some Pullip items soon! I also have a new category for my older sister's new brand Angry Penguins she makes really cute doll purses."

Q: Do you make all your own items to sell?

A:"Yes, except for the shoes when I sell outfits."

Q: When did you start sewing?

A: "Ummmm.... I think around the age of 7 or so. I would make up my own styles and hand sew the outfits. This past year I have started to use patterns (from Liberty Jane Patterns) and sew the outfits on a sewing machine. It's been a lot of fun!"

Q:The Autographed doll postcards in your shop are really neat, how did you get the idea to make and sell these?

A: "I saw the idea from some other girls that I know online, Girl of the year Studios and Kittzykk, and thought it would be fun to make a few to sell."

Q: What is your favorite thing to make for dolls?

A: "I like to make t-shirts and skirts."

Q:How many American Girl dolls do you have?

A: "I have 5 AG dolls - Kanani, Chrissa, Nicolette(#55), Juliet (custom Molly), and one that has been customized several different ways - currently it's a boy doll named Aiden. My older sister has 3 Ag dolls - Mia, Aspen(#30), and Leah(#28)."

Q: Which is your favorite American Girl of all times?

A: "Sonali, but I don't have her yet... I may try to save up for her, but right now she's pretty expensive because she's retired"

Q:What do you wish you could make but have not tried yet?

A:" The Oxford Square Coat or the Sofia Jacket. They both seem pretty complicated, but I might try one of them soon"

Q: What projects are you working on now?

A: "I have seen a lot of AG dolls for sale on ebay and craigslist that need some TLC, so I decided to start a doing doll rescue/makeover's. I have my first one just about ready and will put her up for sale soon. She's a Molly doll and I have cleaned her up and she has a blond wig just like my custom Molly (used to be Rosali in my youtube movies, but now her name is Juliet). I'll auction her on my mom's ebay store (LJC) and put up an ad on Dollabee too!"

"I also just made a Harajuku Skirt for my self, with a little help from my mom. It is so cute! My friends at school can't believe that we made it. I am going to make more of them in different colors too."

Q:Do you have any idea what you would like to be when you get older?

A:Right now I want to be an eye doctor, author, or a fashion designer. My mom says that these things change frequently, that's why I said "right now" :)

Q: What do you want people to know about you?

A:I like to be silly and goofy with my friends. I've lost 12 teeth, so far. My favorite food is pasta. My favorite color is periwinkle. I love to read, I just finished reading the Artemis Fowl Series - it was amazing! I'll be 10 on October 10th, Whoo Hoo, double digits!! I would love to go to Africa and help out at the school for orphans that we help support, (you can check out more at www.sewpowerful.org ). My dad has been there and tells me stories but I really want to go there myself, maybe even live there for a while. I love to play soccer! My team name is Extreme Chaos, my favorite position is defender, but forward is good too because that's where you can score a goal! 

Listed below are links to Libby's  on line Adventures 

You tube Libby Unplugged playlist - http://www.youtube.com/user/libertyjaneclothing#grid/user/FEC8058ABC33119C

Mod Doll Blog - http://moddollmag.wordpress.com/

ModDollbyLiberty on Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/ModDollbyLiberty

I hope you will visit all of Libby's great on line adventures!

Thank you Libby for sharing your story with us, you are a very inspiring person!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com  

How to make your doll a belt! Guest Post from Dacia of Mini Me Dolly Diva's

Today I bring you a guest post from the amazing designer of Mini Me Dolly Diva's
Dacia shared with me how to make these amazing belts for your doll and has agreed to share her expertise with all of you!

I am so excited because this is a craft I have so wanted to learn to do and Dacia makes it so easy!
Using simple items you can get at your craft store you too can make belts for your doll.

Feed your ribbon through the buckle

Hand sew or glue the ribbon end.

Then your belt is ready!

How cool is that!

Now making a ring style,

Glue the ribbon down with both rings through

I can not thank Dacia enough for sharing her photos and work with us today, I can not wait to make my own and I would love to hear from you if you give this craft a try!

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE SLIDDERS AND CAN NOT FIND THEM I DO HAVE A SUPPLY IN MY ETSY SHOP 
Remember to visit Dacia's Etsy shop at Mini Me Dolly Diva's
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Make your own Doll Glasses

Megan in Calgary Albert sent me an email explaining that her daughters doll Molly's glasses have gone missing and could I please show a craft on how to make doll glasses. So here is what I came up with.

Using pipe cleaners from the dollar store I made a few fun pairs for my dolls

Twist two pipe cleaners together at the ends. Beside the twist you made in the two pipe cleaners make a loop for the Lens part of the glasses. Twist the pipe cleaner end through the lens part three times and then on the third time bend the pipe cleaner end back to create the glasses Temple or the arms of the glasses.
Repeat the  same steps on the other side.

Then measure the glasses on your doll and run the temples along her face and bend over her ears. Remove the glasses and trim the ends.
I had to make my first pair a few times to get the sizes right but once you get the hang of it you can make several pairs!
I  recommend the wonderful glasses that American Girl sells, I love the purple plastic ones I bought on my last trip but if you can not find your way to the store you can also find some cute plastic ones at  Micheal's the craft store put out but the Springfield Doll collection for under $8

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Take your doll Shopping!

One of my readers and a member of my monthly doll craft class members Emma S. submitted this photo and let me know about this fantastic find she got from a store called Urban Barn here in Canada. The cost was $30 but it is well made and is supper cute and is a great addition to any doll play collection.

       I wonder if a Bitty baby would fit in the basket front seat?
Emma could not resist this fun shopping cart and I know I could not have been able to either! I can think of so many crafts and fun doll play scenes I could make for it!
Thank you Emma for sharing with us today your fantastic find!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Beautiful Dresses from The Edwardian Girl

Taking a step back from the Halloween posts for a day here. I recently came across the shop The Edwardian Girl  
I did feature this dress on my Canadian Thanksgiving Post, and wanted to share with you more of this shop.

I love the Edwardian Time period and the novels of Jane Austin. These dresses made by Erin of The Edwardian Girl are beautifully made and look fantastic on the dolls.

I love the delicate flowers and colors of this one.

The pearl button cameo is adorable on Rebecca!

Simple and traditional looks from a time long past back to life for hours of doll play fun!

This one is my favorite.

 

The Edwardian Girl  also offers contemporary  clothes for our dolls

I love Zebra prints especially with a splash of color, Pink being a favorite of mine.

I asked Erin how she got started sewing  for American girl and here is what she shared with me.

"I began sewing when I was eleven. It was a hot summer day and both my grandmother and myself had nothing to do. She told me to sit down as she was going to teach me how to sew. I started out making doll clothes for Barbie dolls and slim bodied dolls."
How did you find out about American girl dolls?
"I first noticed American Girl dolls when I received one of their catalogs when I was about ten. I wanted one of the dolls but couldn't afford it. Though I couldn't afford the doll I looked into making soft bodied doll clothes out of left over fabric and remnants that I had.
About a year ago I saw some patterns for doll clothes and wanted to get started again. I saved up and bought the Rebecca American girl doll. So far she's the only one I have but I've got my eyes on a few others."
What time period in history do you enjoy the most?
"I enjoy the Regency, Victorian, and Edwardian eras and have been working on making clothes from that time period"
 What is next for The Edwardian Girl?
 "I want to expand a bit into 1940's fashion and maybe a nurse doll."
Erin also takes custom orders contact her for more information. 
Thank you so much to Erin for sharing with us today her shop and insight into her sewing and historical passion! I hope you will take a look at her Etsy shop and the other wonderful outfits she has for sale there.
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Let's make Halloween Cookies for our dolls

Today I wanted to share with you an easy Halloween cookie craft you can make for your dolls. These fun foam cookies look very much like sugar cookies you can get at the bakery but are just for your dolls.
You will need tan or light brown fun foam and some pumpkin shaped stickers to make the "icing" on the cookies.

To start I cut out round cookie shapes out of the brown fun foam.  When I had a size I liked I used one of the foam stickers with it's backing on to "eye" where I would place the sticker and make sure I had the right size. Then I peeled the backing off placed the sticker on the fun foam and continued until I used up all my stickers. Creating lots of great treats for my dolls to share.

 

I made both plain pumpkin and jack-o-lantern shapes so that the cookies could be used later on at thanksgiving. 

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com