70's themed Jiffy Pop Craft by guest Blogger Brandy!

Today guest blogger Brandy brings us the coolest 70's themed craft for 18 inch dolls!
Brandy's oldest daughter Jayla who turns 7 this month,wants a 70s themed birthday party.
"She of course is hinting towards Julie and Ivy.  Well...peace signs...the color orange...root beer floats...roller
skates....jiffy pop.... all make me think of the 70s.  So...she was drooling
over the catalogue and saw Julie's jiffy pop.  Hmmm...adorable yes....pricey
yes...especially with me thinking I still need to pay for an upcoming party."
So here is how Brandy made her own "copy cat" craft and you can too.

"I shaved off the rounded bottom of a Styrofoam ball...covered in foil.  Used
tiny white pompoms.  I added a touch of scrap booking yellow chalk on top
for a butter look.  Then I cut and bent a hanger for the handle."

I love this idea that Brandy has come up with. I am so happy to have it to share with you all today!
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

My Bella Doll looks like the Bella Doll From My London Girl

Today I wanted to share with you one of my new additions to my doll family. The doll on the right is my "Bella" doll that I got at Sears Canada. I was so thrilled to find her she was from the NewBerry Collection from a post I did on the new Canadian 18 inch Dolls that Sears Canada was selling, They called her Noelle she was sold out very early on and I was thrilled to find her at Sears Metro town yesterday. When I got her home I was surprised by how close to the My London Girl  my doll looked like! I was quite excited. Though the wig on my doll doesn't look as nice as the My London Girl, I am thrilled with the quality of this dolls wig and that it can be easily styled. It is similar to the routed hair of Springfield Dolls and very soft.

I am so thrilled that girls in the UK now have My London Girl Dolls. My sister Bre-Anne is traveling there in three weeks and promises me a full update on the dolls, store and more.

Take a look at this photo of the London store doesn't it look posh! I love it!
So if you are in the UK and have a My London doll or you have visited the store please let me know so I can share your story!
To visit My London Girl click here  . Sears Canada is sold out on line of it's brand of 18 inch dolls but you still maybe able to locate some in store.
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

Bitty Baby fun from BTCRAFTS on Etsy

In October I got my first Bitty Baby thanks to a Church sale at the wonderful price of $3. She came dressed for Halloween and it was the only outfit I had for her. So I set to work to find a great deal on outfits and accessories for Bitty Baby dolls to share with you all.
I found Terry of BTcrafts  on Etsy and I loved what I ordered.  I asked my nieces Laura and Thea who I look after a few days a week to pick an outfit and this is what they choose. The outfit they choose was a sleeper with a draw string bottom, a hat, bib and baby blanket.
Terry's shop offers some of the most adorable and affordable Bitty Baby items and accessories for Dolls.

Weather you are looking for bitty baby outfits or sleep wear this shop has it all. This fun 3 pcs outfit  and many others priced from $10-$20

Bitty boys are not left out either with items such as

this classic stripped outfit and the classic Pooh outfit bellow

This shop offers outfits for 18 inch dolls as well

Also offered are doll beds and bedding

Tables and chairs and pet homes for your dolls pet as well

I am so happy with the outfit I ordered and so are my nieces. Our bitty baby is comfy and warm in this adorable set from Terry at btcrafts.

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

I finaly made a doll coat! Using the Liberty Jane pattern site and Heritage Doll Fashion pattern!

I have been buying Liberty Jane patterns for a while now and have been working through them. My niece Laura wanted a dolly coat and shoes for her dolls for Christmas so I took out my pattern and worked my way through it. I have to say that as a novice sewer, I had a great time with the pattern. It was very easy to follow and I am thrilled with how it turned out. It did take me the better part of two hours, (as most patterns I do for the first time do).  I have not done button holes yet and I chose to use velcro to close the Leopard Print Coat I made for Laura, and I was thrilled with how it turned out.

 

I think I will make the bottom of the coat longer on my next coat. I love how it turned out and I even made some matching shoes for Laura's doll for Christmas. 

This pattern like all of Liberty Jane patterns are affordable, priced at $3.99. For the price of a Venti Coffee you can add to your pattern repertoire and your doll play collection. 

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  

I have added a new blog for my Maplelea Followers

For those of you who have and love Maplelea Dolls, I have started a separate blog called My Maplelea My Country My doll. To visit and follow click here
It is my hope for the new year to have posts to share on my new blog that relate to Canadian holidays, crafts and more.
Do not worry though I plan on posting on this blog daily for a long long time!
I do hope to see some of you over at my new blog and look forward to hearing from all of you.
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

80% of the Horse and Sleigh at Sears Canada today

How exciting today Sears Canada is selling the Newberry Horse and Sleigh that was regularly priced at $129.00 is only $29.99. 80% off!
Here is the link to the page Click here to be redirected to Sears.ca
I am so excited I ordered mine and with tax and shipping it came to $38.01. Such a great deal I had to share with you, a great gift idea for Birthdays or Christmas 2012, and yes I think that far in advance!
As with all my post I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Happy New Year 2012 Welcome McKenna

2012 Girl of the year McKenna has just been released.  From everything I have read she is a 10 year old girl who struggles to find balance in her life not unlike many other girls her age. I understand that McKenna falls behind in her school work and struggles to keep up with school work, gymnastics and her friends.  I can not wait to read her story and see how she handles her situation.
I would love to know what you all think not only of the doll but of her character. I like that as we are going into the Summer Olympics this year that McKenna is a talented gymnast I also like that she is from Seattle, from what I am told.
I also understand that McKenna develops a friendship with her tutor and I can not wait to see how this story pans out, friendships can be so complex and yet so rewarding.
I wonder how many of you are going to bring Mckenna home this this weekend or are saving up for her this year.
I have to say that I would really like to see American Girl come up with a girl of the year who has more of multicultural background as a strong girl of the year. Though I do think Mckenna is a wonderful doll, I hope that one day when we see the girl of the year, more girls will be able to look at her and say finally this doll is just like me.  I would also love to see a doll who's story is one that deals with being adopted.

I am so looking forward  to getting McKenna's book and get an up close look at McKenna and her entire line when I visit the Seattle store in a few weeks. I am planning a trip with my nieces to the Seattle store on January 22nd. I can not wait.
I would love to know what your thoughts are so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com
Oh and if you happen to spot me in the American Girl Store in Seattle I hope you will come and say Hello, I had so much fun at the last meet and greet.  I hope to see you there.