DIY your own doll sized tool belt

 

I found this doll sized tool set at the party store for $1 and it is perfect for dolls! The only thing missing was the tool belt. So I made my own.

To make the tool belt you will need

Now I glued mine with a glue gun you can use white craft glue or sew this project, as an impatient crafter I use a glue gun for instant results.

First find the middle or your rectangle and your ribbon. Run a line of glue along the felt and glue on the ribbon. Fold and finger press the rectangle to make the apron pockets. You will need four pockets for this set. run a line of glue along your finger pressed seams. Let the glue dry and add your tools and let your doll begin her own DIY projects!

This tool set and apron make a great addition to any doll play collection. As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a message here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Like lots of Dots? Try this great Etsy Shop!

Beth's store Lot's of Dots was brought to my attention by one of my regular doll class attendees Emma who has bought a few outfits from Beth's shop. I have seen first hand the quality work that Beth does and highly recommend her work.Lots of Dots is a great Etsy shop, I wanted to share some of the adorable outfits that Beth has in her store.

Beth's shop prices start at $8 and go up to $18. Very reasonable for the type of work that Beth does! She makes items for both bitty twins and 18 inch AG dolls.

Beth says her grandma, who was an excellent seamstress, taught her to sew when she was a little girl. She started sewing clothes for a little doll she gave her. She started making clothes for AG dolls when my daughters babysat for children who had the dolls.Beth  was homeschooling her children at the time and decided to try selling the clothes at craft fairs to make some money. She  did really well, so she continued making and selling them. Beth now has her doll  clothes in two shops in her area.

Beth's Doll collection includes 6 AG dolls and 2 Bitty Babies and the Bitty Twins. Beth clearly loves cotton fabric with dots on it, which is where she says she got the name for her  Etsy shop. She use allot of different patterns and make some of her own. Beth says her best seller is probably  flower garden skirt outfit.

Beth opened her  Etsy shop two and half years ago and is really enjoy it.  I am so happy that Beth shared a little about her self and store with us.
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

Host a Doll Pool Party! A great thrift store or dollar store GEM!

I really lucked out recently at a thrift store that also sold items left over from a dollar store that closed. For 99 cents I picked up a "baby pool" which is the perfect addition to  my doll play collection. FIRST OF ALL OUR DOLLS SHOULD NEVER BE PLACED IN WATER. The pool is a great tool in staging the perfect doll pool party.

Four dolls can comfortably fit in the pool and you can add some adorable pool party accents from your local dollar store, you maybe able to find small beach balls, or small water toys that you can add to your pool. You could add left over blue Easter grass as water if you wanted the pool to appear full.

 You can find some great doll swim suits on line or create your own. You can add party balloons, flags and small plants to make your own doll sized back yard. How about the hand made BBQ you can make from the ideas shown on my blog. The photo above shows the grill I made from my post on Doll Diaries from June 24th shows my dolls have a great party! Samantha on the Grill while Chrissa and Addy enjoy the pool.
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

Truly Unique Fashions an Etsy shop with Style

 

I came across this great shop on etsy called Fashioned 4 You , Unique Fashion 4 American girl .

With over 130 listed items and prices ranging from $8-$20 there is something for everyone in this store.

I love the embroidery hairbands and t-shirts that this store offers. I love the word Believe and this shirt is a favorite of mine!

 

I also wanted to share with you the most adorable boots!

Handmade and priced at $12.

I also love the way that Lori, shop owner puts her outfits together and her store photography is fantastic also!

Take a look at these great bathing suit sets.

Priced at $16! Great for a doll pool party or day at the beach!

Lori also makes a wonderful pair of PJ's that remind me of Rebecca's

 

Lori also has dresses that are just gorgeous!

as well as causal every day wear for dolls

 

I asked Lori about her shop, her doll hobby and how she got started and she shared with me the following.

 I love the embroidered t-shirts Lori makes and I asked her if she makes them herself.
"Yes, i machine embroider the shirts and sew them all myself. My first shirt was the Band Geek shirt that I made for my niece, her fave shirt is one just like it that she wears. "
I also asked how long Lori had been sewing doll clothes and I was so surprised by her answer!
"I started making clothes for Ag dolls about 10 months ago when I made a wardrobe for my nieces dolls. I really enjoyed it and after 28 years as a retail manager I found it a refreshing change."
Always curious I asked Lori how many American Girl dolls she had and which ones...
"I have 3 dolls that I use as models: Kit with bangs,(I call her Kat), Julie 'cause she is my era and I remember wearing her style clothes, and a JLY with auburn hair that I call CC for Cindy Crawford, because she was my first model."
I wondered which outfits where Lori's favorites...
"My favorite outfits are my camouflage sets, In pink and green, I try to make each one with different shirts, or details to keep it fresh.
My favorite pattern has to be the Liberty Jane fitted tshirt pattern, I can make it in under 20 minutes."
I ALSO LOVE AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND LIBERTY JANE PATTERNS!
With so many outfits to choose from in her shop I asked Lori, how she managed to keep so many outfits in her shop?
"This is my job right now, so I try to sew 6 hours aday, at least."
I had to asked what are Lori about her best sellers...
"My best sellers have been sets with a white tshirt,strappy tank in stripes with jeans, or shorts, or skirts, or capris, you get where I"m going."
I wondered if Lori sold her doll clothes anywhere other then on line...
"I sell only on Etsy, this is my first venture into online sales. I feel extensive retail management experience is key to making sure my customers have a great experience. I strive to answer all inquiries quickly and make each customer have only positive things to say."
I also wondered how long Lori ha been sewing...
"I have been sewing for 40 years, My Mom has always been the queen of crafting and as kids we did every craft under the sun. I even got to use my long almost forgotten macrame' skills to make belts for a cool retro Julie outfit. I have added some crocheted hats to outfits, too. Sewing is a skill that you never forget, and the more you sew, the more you refine your skills.I am always on the lookout for any new trend that I can incorporate into the clothes I design for American Girls and Bitty Baby, too."
I want to thank Lori for sharing about her life and her store with us and hope you will check out her store at http://www.etsy.com/people/fashioned4you

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

Would your doll like some water? Try this craft out with help from a parent.

 

Today I am bringing you a craft I was really happy to make. Doll sized water glasses with straws! The best part is this doll water will not spill and is the perfect size for 18 inch dolls.

To begin with I bought a solution called QUICK WATER and it was AWFUL. I took it back to Micheal's the craft store and exchanged it for the more expensive Everlasting Elegance 

This product was so much easier to use and I highly recommend it.

I also needed some thin straws, a pair of scissors, a wooden stir stick, a measuring cup with a spout (that you can only ever use for crafts after using this product) and a package of shot glass sized plastic cups from the dollar store.

THIS PROJECT SHOULD ONLY EVER BE DONE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN ADULT.

Everlasting Elegance is a product used by florists arranging artificial flowers in glass vases the result makes the vase appear to have water in it. Once the solution hardens it is not going to turn yellow according to the manufactures. 

Each box of Everlasting Elegance makes 12 oz of product enough to make about 14 shot glass sized doll waters. The product costs about $24 per box here in Canada but with a coupon I managed to get it for about $15. 

This product is perfect to make as an addition to any  loot-bag  however if you are making it at a party it needs 8-10 hours to cure so I would only do it if you are having a sleep over party and can let them take home the next day.  I must also stress that due to the fact that we are dealing with chemicals it should only ever be attempted under supervision and in a well ventilated area. I did mine in the front yard. You also can not use the measuring cup again for anything other then craft use according to the information included in the box. I did try to color one cup with food coloring and the result was okay however adding any liquid to the mix will make the product take longer to cure or dry. I cut my straws into three parts to make it more doll sized before adding it to the cup. I put my filled glasses with straws in a cupboard to cure or dry over night.

The end result is a perfect glass of doll water. Which makes a great addition to any doll play food collection.

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

Meet the amazing Mrs. Cotterman

A few years ago when I was getting into the world of 18 inch dolls I had the good fortune of corresponding with a woman named Mrs. Cotterman. She was instrumental in getting me oriented in the doll world. I was so inspired  and encouraged by her that I began sharing my knowledge gained since then with all of you. I  had lost touch with Mrs. C  but recently re connected with her in last few months. I wanted to bring you her amazing story and share with you her talent at restoring dolls and give you a peak in side her doll room world.
Mrs. C is a Doll Collector, Doll Clothes Maker, Blogger and Grandma Extraordinaire!
I recently sent her some questions and here is what she shared with me"First you need some background information.  I am the second child in a family of seven children.  My father was a career serviceman.  I had four brothers and two sisters.   We were "very" poor and I did not have dolls,  I had real babies to take care of.   My sisters are six and twelve years younger than me and I purchased dolls for them.  Four brothers, two sons and lots of nephews made it so I was not very interested in dolls. (FYI-- I did live in Anchorage, Alaska in the sixties and graduated from East High.  I started at West High but the 1963 Good Friday earthquake flattened the school so we all went to East High)" 

Says Mrs. C 

When did you get started collecting AG dolls?
 In 2001 we were blessed with our first granddaughter, Kylee.  A friend told me about the American Girl dolls and I started researching them. (http://curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting/Main.HTML  and http://www.agplaythings.com/)  These two sites are very helpful.  Curt was known from our son's Star Trek fascination and I met Meg through ebay.    In May of 2002 I purchased Kirsten to give as gift to Kylee when she got older.  

 
When did you start sewing?
I have porphyria and must spend most of my time out of sunlight.  Other "health issues" limit many of my activities so my father taught me to sew, knit, crochet, tat, embroider, and quilting.  I was around four years of age. 
Who did you make your first American Girl doll outfits for?
 I learned that American Girl dolls are a "bit" pricey so I stopped buying books on ebay and started selling doll outfits I made for Kirsten and Girl of Today dolls.  

 
What are your favorite patterns to make?
I enjoy many different patterns.  My own patterns are fun but I also enjoy Bunny Bear patterns, Liberty Jane patterns, and Joan Hinds.  I do have a habit of altering patterns too.  
 
How did your doll room come to be?
 I decided to start collecting all of the historical American Girl dolls, their outfits, furniture and items.  As I sold doll outfits, I purchased dolls and pieces from other ebay sellers and American Girl.  As I bought, I removed them from my lists and photographed everything.  All of these purchases were kept in boxes until Sept 2007.   I started with a Sauder Wardrobe and made my first doll house. 
What is your favorite room in the doll house?
I do not have a favorite room in the "doll house" but Kylee loves the music room and Hailey loves the kitchen.       

 
Do you have a favorite doll?
 I really do not have a favorite doll but I do lean toward Samantha and Molly with her short hair.  

 
Your Abby doll from NCIS is so fantastic did you design her all by yourself?
Yes, Abby's outfit is my own design.  The doll is American Girl doll of today #4.   She is of Asian heritage.  I am working on a new outfit for her right now.  :)  
Do you create your own patterns?
Yes, many of my outfits are of my own design.   I was known on the doll collector's board for my Princess Leia outfit before I even knew there were boards.  :) 
    

Do you find you sew more in the winter months then the summer months?
 I'm not sure when I sew the most.  I cut things out and then sew in spurts.  My gardening time is limited to about an hour so I can spend the afternoons in the basement sewing.  Winter months are filled with holiday activities so I feel rushed then. 
Mrs C makes over and rescues dolls to see some of her make over process visit http://cotterman.shutterfly.com/99
You rescue dolls and make them over where do you find the dolls?
Yes, most of the dolls come from Ebay, but a few have been purchased from college students needing help with the cost of books. 

When you get a rescue doll what is the first thing you do?
 The rescue dolls are most interesting.  I gathered information from several sources when I decided to try to restore a TLC doll.  The first thing, is to clean the poor doll.  Face, limbs, and body.  Remove all warts and scratches. ( http://www.justmagicdolls.com/   Maria does a wonderful job of step by step doll care.  She is making some changes so be sure to get her new website bookmarked soon.)  I do enjoy restoring the dolls to their original beauty.   The dolls I have taken care of have found loving homes.   Be patient and take your time and you can change the "unloved doll" to a doll of beauty.
 
This is my album of the three white bodied dolls I purchased and restored.... they are AR real treasure. http://share.shutterfly.com/share/received/welcome.sfly?fid=2f8d677d07478e8f9a16dcf07a6807f9&Sid=0IatXDVo4bsWKC
Can you tell me about your blog?
I really do not know a lot about blogs.   My granddaughter is entering the tween years and wanted more hip clothing so I checked out Liberty Jane Patterns.  One of her requests is for partners to have blogs.   Picasa is a wonderful place to store pictures so I followed the instructions and started a blog.  Gomunk said just to write as if I was talking to a group of people.  (I am a storyteller so that part wasn't hard)  I have have not promoted the blog enough but once I get into the habit of writing every day it should be fun.  Ebay is an interesting site 
Can you tell me about your Ebay and Etsy experiences? "Ebay is an interesting site.   Long before I knew American Girl dolls, I used ebay for books.  I love to read and then the sons needed text books so Ebay was the place to buy cheap and then sell when the course was over.   Has it been easy to shift from a bookworm to a buyer and seller of dolls and doll things?   Yes, and No.   I had some bad experiences at first as a new seller.  As an unknown, my outfits were purchased cheap and then resold making profit for another Ebay seller.   The fees and demands of Ebay have changed .... really Changed.   It can be very time consuming and expensive to sell.    As a buyer of American Girl retired items.... it is the only place to go.  (Craigslist is available but be alert when buying)   A suggestion (strongly given) is to set your price and do not get into a bidding war as a buyer.   (As a seller .... it's great for me but remember that even Felicity's gold thimble will come around again.  Don't spend more than you can afford.)  
Another tip for Ebay shopping, be creative in your searches.  Sometimes your wished for treasure can be found in a most unlikely auction.  Remember men sometimes sell dolls and have no idea of what they are selling.   If you have time or have friends that will help you look you will find the doll, or doll items.   Be patient.   My entire doll house was purchase by sewing, selling, and buying one at a time.
I knew nothing of the Etsy site until about a year ago.   I had set up an account a few years back when I was looking for a pattern.  The Doll Wardrobe blog suggested that I list some outfits on etsy as the fees were cheaper than Ebay and so I gave it a try.    It is a lovely network but you must be patient building clients (repeat buyers) and be aware that all artists are looking for deals.   I've had wonderful ideas show up in other shops and even other sellers ask for lower prices, free patterns, and items purchased to copy and then returned or resold.   I thought that Etsy would be "high end" but it's just a website for artists, buyers looking for deals and friends that want to know what you are selling.   I like the friendships but have not found the selling success that I had hoped for.  (This could be my own fault as I am a grandma and can't give the Etsy community the attention it deserves)    I do like to shop for unique "one of a kind" gifts and do check Etsy first. "
Here is a link to Mrs. C's doll house photos   

https://picasaweb.google.com/donnacotterman/DollRoom2010
You can follow Mrs C's blog at http://mrsc-clothes4dolls.blogspot.com/

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 

Create your own doll sized Golf Course!

I found this recently and wrote about it on my column for www.dolldiaries.com . This really easy to create doll sized golf course can be yours if you purchase a set from your local dollar or party store. I got mine for under $3 at my party store.
I removed the handles of the clubs and trimmed them with craft scissors and replaced the handles I cut them so they would be doll sized. With so many of these inexpensive sets avalible you may even find one small enough already for your dolls.

These sets are plastic an even when altered to doll size will be functional for girls and their dolls. This would make a great addition to your doll play collection and a really fun doll and girl party game. Girls could make their own sets at the party, play with them together and still take them as the parting gift at the end of the party!

 

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