Sunday Yarn Craft Spectacular Suggested Dolly Fun! A Skirt You Will Want To Whip Up!

Today I am sharing another wonderful free pattern found on the Knitting Patterns Galore  website for a beautiful skirt pattern inspired by Grace, a lovely doll of the year! This pattern was made by Olive Groves and Doll Knits Blog and this is a site to bookmark! 

Seeing this on Grace I am ever so impressed with how stylish this pattern looks and how much I wish I could make it!
This free pattern  can be found by clicking here. 

Thank you so much for joining us here today we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Jessica T's Saturday Sewing Suggestions! Week 6 Fat Quarter Doll Quilt

This week Jessica T has found us a really exciting tutorial for a Fat Quarter Doll Quilt! This tutorial comes to us from the Polkadot Chair Website.

Jessica says "If you don't have time to do the quilting it will give you a fabulous outcome just with the fat quarters sew together!"

What a wonderful website you found for us Jessica T, Click here for the tutorial from www.polkadotchair.com 
We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Madelon's Fantastic Friday Finds! Repurposed Item for Doll Storage!

Today Madelon has a great idea for dolly music storage using a cabinet meant to hold your keys!

Find these at craft stores, thrift stores or perhaps you have one you are not using, give it a quick coat of paint and you have a lovely dolly storage cupboard! 

Thank you Madelon for this lovely idea!
Keep your eyes out for everyday items you can repurpose like Madelon does for doll play!
We love to have you join us and let us know what you think. Please leave us a comment below or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Adorable Etsy Finds-Christmas In July

Yep its almost that time again, the stores are as we speak stocking up and setting out items for Christmas, truth be told I have begun my Christmas shopping and I think that has inspired today's post. Now is the perfect time to plan, create and pick up items for the upcoming holiday season.

My Girl Clothing Co has an outfit I love and it is ready to ship! This fun Miss Merry Christmas Outfit is sure to get lots of play and love! Click here to learn more. 

Our Brilliant friends over at Tea Time Fabric Panels make sewing for dolls a dream with their printed fabric panel kits. This one is such a great value. You will create a great apron, dress and cookies all for under $25! This one is a can't be missed holiday value and there are three holiday sets (including a Hanukkah kit to choose from) Click here to learn more. 

As a person who loves to be creative I think this set from Tate Museum Online for PDF instruction listing for a chair, fireplace and accessories is a great value. This listing under $20 will inspire you and give you the info you need to create a wonderful holiday play set for the dolls in your life or the doll lovers in your life.
Click here for shop and listing. 

Thank you for joining us here we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Get Your Craft On With Brandy and Jemma! Something fun for the Wellies!

Today Brandy and her daughter Jemma have something fun to share that they worked on last week!

Creating fun dresses for the Wellie Wishers with socks! This is one of my most favorite things to do for dolls and with young doll lovers. Making something new out of things you have on hand!
I have also done this craft and shared it but for the 18 inch dolls, I love how this looks and how this craft could fill those rainy summer afternoons, sleep overs and wash day!
Thank you Jemma and Brandy for sharing this wonderful fun activity with us! Get your Craft on with Jemma and Brandy by visiting them at Brandy's Happy Home by clicking here. 

We are so happy to have you join us here! We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Hitting the books with Karen-The Racketty-Packetty House

This weeks selection I hope you will enjoy! It is The Racketty-Packetty House by Frances Hodgson Burnett and illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin.

Acclaimed illustrator Wendy Anderson Halperin celebrates Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic, a tale of two dollhouses, just in time for its 100th anniversary. When Tidy Castle arrives, brand-new and grand in every way, the Racketty-Packetty House has never looked shabbier, and it is shoved in the corner of Cynthia's nursery. But the Racketty family still dances, sings, and laughs louder than all the fancy dolls combined. When a real-life princess visits the nursery, the Rackettys learn that the humans are planning to destroy their house. Only a miracle -- or some very unusual magic -- can save them now! Since its publication in 1906, the story of how Queen Crosspatch and her band of fairies rescued the Racketty-Packetty House has inspired dreamers and readers of all ages in the tradition of The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. Now Wendy Anderson Halperin's illustrations, brimming with whimsy and wonder, unlock the magic of two dollhouses -- one posh and one proud -- to a whole new generation of readers.

You can find this week's selection on The Book Depository with free worldwide shipping by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining us here today we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment

As the summer heat drags on here in WNY, that means we are getting closer and closer to receiving the NYS Common Core State Test results in the mail.  Which, in our home, coming from two elementary educations, is actually NOT a big deal.  We simply tell each of our test taking children: do your best, take your time, don't be annoying or rude (which we know they wouldn't, but we've certainly experienced on the other side of the desk and whatever your score is, we are fine, that number does not define you as a person or a learner or your future endeavors.  There is so much more to worry about, on our short stay here, on Planet Earth, than what your score was on the math and reading tests in the fifth and eighth grade.  However, with that being said, I did tell Kaitlyn that if she received a 3 or 4, on both the NYS math and reading, we would buy her a new American Girl Doll, is it wrong now that I am crossing my fingers that she only gets a 2, on at least one of them.  (giggle, giggle).

This week I have tried hard to plan, cheap, entertaining, morning trips, while my husband was at a science workshop all week.  Hauling five kids around isn't too bad, the things I do now, I would have never thought I was capable of in the past on my own .  The kids and I had memorable times created just thirty minutes from our house everyday this week.  From fairs to trails and playgrounds.

Even mommies need breaks though. I am excited to spend the evening out with friends at "ZooBrew" and catching some dinner and a few drinks.  It has been a long, busy week.  There was an explosion of orders this week that I have been trying to stay on top of, I hate making people wait, and I feel completely honored when someone asks me to make something for their dolls.  I even made a hutch for rag doll rabbits this week, such fun!  Enjoy the week friends, keep crafting and reading!

Thank you Jenny! Find out more about what Jenny is working on in her Etsy Shop the Rita Pita Boutique by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining us today we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Sunday Yarn Craft Spectacular Suggested Dolly Fun! Red Heart Yarn's Mermaid Costume For Your Dolls...

Today we have another fun free craft tutorial from Red Heart Yarns for a Mermaid Costume for your dolls. 

Red Heart Yarns has a wonderful selection of patterns just waiting for you to discover. This one is so sweet and you are going to want to make up a few! Click here to get started on making one for the doll lover in your life! 

I would love to see what you make so do send us a photo at karenmowen@gmail.com
Thank you for joining us here today! Happy Hooking!

Jessica T's Saturday Sewing Suggestions! Week 5 GLOVES!

We know it is Summer but get a jump start on the holiday sewing with these felt gloves.

This is a great tutorial for how to make gloves for your dolls from Me and My Gals!
These are quick and easy and make great gifts!
Click here for the pre tutorial

Thank you Jessica T for this suggestion! We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Madelon's Fantastic Friday Finds! My Life As Swimsuit Set!

Today Madelon has a wonderful fun find, truth be told when I opened her email report to see this my heart ached a bit! Sometimes being an auntie and a doll lover is not enough. I love this set from My Life As, it screams summer fun and I was reminded of the fun long summer afternoons in the backyard playing with my own dolls and friends.

Madelon says...."Walmart's My Life As did it again! The purple and green swim suit is great! Comes with the hair tie and pink glasses. Bring your Walmart pineapple picnic ingredients from your shopping bag"

Be sure to check for this and other fun items for your dolls at Walmart in the My Life As section of your Walmart! 
Thank you Madelon for this wonderful fun find and Fantastic Friday Find! 
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com

Adorable Etsy Finds- Water Sport & Safety!

Today's dolly Adorable Etsy Finds all have to do with Water Sports and Safety!

How cute is this life jacket from My Girl Clothing Co? This listing is the inspiration for today's adorable Etsy Finds! Click here for shop and listing.

Read Creations has a step by step Guide to making a dolly Catamaran! Click here for the Etsy Shop listing in the PixieFaire Etsy Shop.

Our friends over at Lemon Bay Doll Company have one of the most beautiful listings for dolls on Etsy! This handcrafted wooden sailboat is one on my dream list for sure! Check it out by clicking here.

you can also make your dolls a sweet sailors cap from a great kit from Tea Time Fabric Panels! Click here to see this kit listing.

Get Your Craft On With Brandy- Dolly Lemonade Stand

Today we get our craft on with Brandy's fun dolly Lemonade Stand!  Summer is the perfect time for lemonade stands!

Brandy created this supper fun doll sized lemonade stand you have to see! This super cute stand is easy to do and is a great summer playset! Click here for Brandy's Tutorial! 

Get Your Craft On! With inspiration from Brandy and her Happy Home...

Thank you Brandy for this fun tutorial and for always inspiring me!

Thank you too, for joining us here today. We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Hitting the books with Karen- Hitty Her First Hundred Years...

Our selected Dolly Book for this week is the Hitty Her First Hundred Years  by Rachel Field....

Hitty Her First Hundred Years is one I have to buy for my niece who I know is going to love this one!
Hitty is a very special doll who belongs to Phoebe. Phoebe is proud of her beautiful doll and brings Hitty everywhere she goes. This is thrilling for Hitty, who finds herself involved in the most wonderful adventures both on land and at sea. She meets many people and makes new friends.This is the story of the first hundred years of Hitty's life. And that's only the beginning for a doll as special as Hitty.

I hope you will enjoy this weeks Hitting the Books selection! We would love to hear from you so please leave us  a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Mommy Monday Moment with Jenny

"Do what you love, love what you do, have no regrets."  Currently, this quote rings very true in my life.  I know that I am lucky, as many people have to wake up early and head off to work, leaving their children in the care of another person and locking their house behind them for hours each day.  While my life is different because I love what I do and do what I love.  I guess I owe a lot of that to my husband for believing in me and telling me to jump and of course noticing that "I was happy." I guess too, Kate is the reason I am able to be here, right now, doing this.  If it wasn't for her love of dolls, my work life would be looking much different.  Kate has brought me much inspiration this past fall, to create and become passionate about what I do.

Kaitlyn always looks forward to receiving her American Girl Doll catalogue in the mail.  She has saved them for years, they have become reference material for her and when she earns and saves enough money she can make her wish list come true.  She currently has an order ready, the nice thing is we are able to get a healthy discount because we "know a friend of a friend" that works for AG dolls.  Her order has a few new outfits, some Tenney accessories' and her golden retriever.  I did just notice last night, Target has a new OG pet line, includes a bird, ferret, hamster, and some other fun critters.  If it was me, I would purchase two or three of these unique little guys, opposed to dropping three times as much on the other brand.  I am really not brand loyal - I just like any of the pieces that are uniquely different.

This week has been full of little family adventures, with Abby off in the Dominican Republic we have focused on some little kid trips that tap into learning and exploring.  From playgrounds to zoo trips.  I have really noticed that it doesn't take much to make a two year old smile and become overly excited.  It has also become for clear that Natalie just doesn't stop talking.  In the back of the van she is either talking complete nonsense or remixing classic nursery rhymes to benefit everyone's' laughter.  Sometimes completely inappropriate, but the giggles can't be hid - she is truly the family comedian.

Take time to love what you do, do what you love, and have no regrets.  Even if you can't make it your entire lifestyle, take the necessary steps to get there slowly...

Thank you Jenny for sharing your Mommy Moment with us today! Learn more about Jenny and what she is working on by visiting the Rita Pita Boutique on Etsy by clicking here.


We would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Sunday Yarn Craft Spectacular Suggested Dolly Fun! Crochet a Cover Up and Two Piece Bathing Suit!

Welcome back to our Sunday Yarn Craft Spectacular! This week we have found you a very timely and fun crochet cover up and two piece swimsuit from abc-knitting-patterns.com!

Every doll could use a stylish wrap! Check out the pattern by clicking here.

and click here for this sweet summer swim suit pattern! 

Thank you abc-knitting-patterns for making such inspiring patterns to share! 
Thank you also for joining us here today we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com