Back to school Historical fashions from Gomunk Creations

If you are a fan of the historical dolls then take a look at these fun back to school. I love this outfit for Molly  offered at $15 from Gomunk Creations click here for shop link

I love the pattern of this 1970's inspired Baby Doll Dress and I think you will too. Click here for shop listing offered at $12

Staying with more fun 1970's fashions I know it is dating myself but I think I may have had something just like this.... Click here for shop listing.

I love this pale blue princess seam blouse offered at $8 (skirt sold separately click here) This shirt would make a great addition to your dolls wardrobe and can be paired with almost anything! Click here for shop listing for the blouse listing.

Also offered in this wonderful shop is this Regency Era inspired dress and Wonderful interpretation of fashions from Kaya's Time Period

My niece Laura would go crazy for this...perhaps I should put this on my Christmas Shopping list...
Check out all that Gomunk Creations has to offer, I know you will not be disappointed!

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

Dear Jillian

Dear Jillian, 
 How was your summer? What did you do? I missed your posts. I hope you will write more posts again in September.
Missing you,
Molly

Dear Molly,
 Thank you so much for writing me. I have had a busy summer and have missed writing too. I did so many wonderful things this summer! I actually went to the American Girl Doll Hospital this summer and got hearing aides.  I love them and they help me hear so much better! You are probably wondering why I needed hearing aides in the first place. Here is my story. When I was a baby I used to get really bad ear infections. I had them all the time and even though I had lots of antibiotic treatment and great care at home and with my doctors I developed scar tissue that has lead to some hearing loss in both of my ears. One ear is much better then the other but they both needed help. I was upset when I learned I needed to have hearing aides thinking that I would really hate them but I really like them! I can hear so much better with them and I like the way they look. In school last year my teacher had to wear microphone to help me to hear her voice but now with my hearing aides I think I will be able to hear my teacher much better.
This summer I also went on a road trip, had sleep overs with my friends and got new clothes and played with family. I am happy to get back to school and back to science class!
Thank you for writing me Molly!
I have missed you all too,
Your Friend,
Jillian

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

An interview with Ashley of Sewed Her Mind Doll clothes

Today I wanted to share with you an interview I did with Ashley of Sewed Her Mind Doll Clothes. 

Ashley's shop caught my attention with the resurgence of popularity in doll fashions from the New Historical Doll Caroline Abbot's time of 1812. I hope you will enjoy today's interview and visit Sewed Her Mind's Etsy shop

  Q:How did you get started sewing for 18 inch dolls?
A:"When my daughter was a toddler she had several 18-inch cloth dolls and an Our Generation doll. I made my first doll clothes for her from an old McCalls pattern. She was so happy with the things I made that I was hooked. 

But I really got going when Santa gave me Kirsten and her holiday outfit for Christmas in 2009. Since she and her collection were archived that year, I looked around for pioneer clothes patterns so she could have a wardrobe. That's when I discovered the old Pleasant Company patterns online. I started making pioneer dresses right away and have been sewing doll clothes ever since!"

Q: Which ones do you have?
A:"I have Kirsten (my favorite!), Josefina, and #55 whom we named Charlotte Farmington. My daughter has Julie, Ivy, and McKenna. I'm really considering getting Marie-Grace because she is just so pretty and unique."

Q: What do you like making most?
A:"I certainly like making historical clothing versus modern clothing. I obviously have a weakness for pioneer clothes, but I also made Julie a rocking pair of bell bottoms that were really fun to sew. I love to embroider too, and have embroidered several camisas for Josefina. I have also made a few silk Regency-era gowns for my shop that turned out super pretty. But my daughter keeps reminding me that poor Charlotte needs some t-shirts and a pair of pajamas. Maybe someday!"

Q: Who inspires you to create for 18 inch dolls?
A:"I'm so inspired by the many talented seamstresses who create such gorgeous things for American Girl dolls. But I'm mostly inspired by my daughter. Sewing clothes for her dolls makes me happy and excited. I love to see her playing with the doll clothes I've made."

Q: What is your favorite time period to create for?
A:"Definitely mid-1800s. There are a lot of Civil War-era patterns that I want to try. I just love the detailing and giant skirts of the time period."

Q:What is your favorite fabric to work with?
A:"I LOVE a good piece of quilter's cotton. The prints make me happy and good cotton is so easy to work with. I also like sewing with dupioni silk because the end result is so pretty. But that feels like I'm sewing with tissue paper sometimes."

Q:How do you find the time to sew with such a busy life?
A:"That is a really good question. Most days I don't. Besides my daughter who is turning nine soon, I have a three-year-old boy and a five-month old boy who keep me pretty busy! We've also had a busy summer. Hopefully when school starts and our family's routine is re-established, I can sneak in some sewing during afternoon naps!"

Q:Is there anything else you would like my readers to know?
  A:"I'd also like your readers to know that I have a blog where I post updates for my shop: www.sewedhermind.blogspot.com.

 

I hope you have enjoyed today's interview and that you will stop by and check out Sewed Her Mind Doll Clothes Etsy shop. Remember you can always message Ashely on her Etsy Shop Page and read more about her life and work on her blog  by clicking here.

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 

A wonderful new line of 18 inch Dolls to love- Harmony Club Dolls

I am so excited to share with you today a wonderful new line of 18 inch dolls to love and add to your doll family! Harmon Club Dolls.

I recently had the opportunity to interview the lady behind the Harmony Club Doll Line and today I asked her to share more about her dolls and background with us.

"My decision to build this company was inspired by hours of playing with dolls with my 4 1/2 year old daughter. My daughter is a competitive dancer and loves fashion and dolls. As a young girl, like my daughter, I was quite passionate about fashion and I loved dressing my dolls and soft toys. As such, this business made good sense for me."

"My favorite part of the business has been working on something that I love to do, and playing with my daughter and her dolls"

"My professional background is corporate banking. I have worked 10 years in commercial finance and corporate underwriting, most recently serving as a Vice President at Union Bank of California. I also am an MBA Graduate from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. I studied Entrepreneurship and Finance in graduate school and have been waiting for the right opportunity to begin my own business."

"My husband, Bill Elliott, has helped me to build the foundation of this business.Bill will continue to work with Harmony Club Dolls, focusing on accounting, finance, and marketing."

We currently have two dolls available for sale, Summer, a strawberry blonde with blue eyes, and Ellie Ann, a brunette with blue eyes. 

"We are expecting shipment of two more dolls, one brown eyed with black brown long hair with bangs, and one brown eyed with wavy brunette hair."

"All of our product is manufactured in China. The hair for our dolls is wigged like American Girl. The hair is synthetic and very high end. The hair looks very real and can be brushed and washed without affecting its appearance. The texture also feels very real."

"Our dolls have the exact measurements as American girl, and are soft bodied like American Girl. The eyes are open and shut and the limbs are pose-able. The dolls are very durable and make great play dolls."

  

"We presently have 500 dolls in production in China that are expected to arrive in the fall. Our manufacturer is Everyest, a reputable company in China, that has worked with American Girl."

"Our blonde doll, Harmony, will wear a pink spandex work out jazz outfit and tan jazz shoes that are made in the same style as the shoes available to dancers by Bloch. Our brunette, Justice, will wear a purple spandex tap workout outfit with black tap shoes."

"The name of our company, HARMONY CLUB DOLLS, comes from the inspiration of music and dance. My daughter loves dancing at shows, and so do her dolls. Harmony Club Dolls made perfect sense for the style and personality of the dolls we have created."

"As for our Limited Edition dolls, the first doll introduced "in the summertime" is named SUMMER and is wearing our SUNSHINE Outfit. My daughter, herself, named Summer after her favorite Barbie doll, and it made good sense to me. The next Limited Edition doll is Ellie Ann, who is named after the newborn baby of my best childhood friend. The doll herself looks like my friend as a young girl, who is now the mother to "Ellie Ann"."

"Our current production of dolls will include Harmony, named after Harmony Club Dolls, and Justice, a strong popular teen name."

"All of our clothes is designed to fit 18 inch dolls such as American Girl. I purchase the clothes both direct from China and from local wholesale vendors who buy large bulk purchases from China. As the company grows, we will purchase 100% direct from China with our own design."

"Our doll fashions are inspired by my daughter's wardrobe."

"Our doll clothes fall into four categories, dance wear, city clothes, simple and sweet, and western. All of the styles are trendy and incorporate peace signs, bright neon colors, and fun accessories that girls love."

"We are expecting shipment of Halloween costumes next week to include, Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, Cinderella and Belle"

"Our longer term marketing plan is to market our merchandise to competitive dance companies around the US. These companies produce hundreds of competitive dance shows each year, where dance related merchandise is sold. Additionally, we will be marketing our product to retailers throughout the U.S.  Most importantly, our web store will remain a large part of our business, and all of our product will remain available on the website."

"We will ship internationally and domestically.However, need to pass through the shipping cost to the buyer."

 

I am so thankful to Harmony Club Doll creator Karen for sharing with us today about these truly wonderful doll. I know you are all going to love the dolls, outfits and accessories offered by Harmony Club Dolls. Click here to visit their online store 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

Little Yellow Dress I made using a Kotton Candy Pattern

Back in August I sewed this Little Yellow and grey dress for a swap in my swap group. I used a great pattern from Kotton Candy Doll Fashions 

I used their Perfect Party Dress Pattern  This is a great pattern. Offered at $4.99 In their Etsy shop and a Pattern I recommend.

There are some wonderful patterns and package deals on this Etsy Pattern shop as well.

 Though I did not do a gather stitch (Still working out the kinks in my machine and ablities) I still love how this dress turned out and hope my partner did as well.

Check out this pattern and Kotton Candy Doll Fashions Etsy shop by clicking here
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

Check out these wonderful doll t-shirts from The Beach Shack Etsy Shop

I have found a wonderful Etsy shop that has doll t-shirts that are so fashion forward and stylish that I myself would wear most of them.

The Beach Shack Etsy shop offers almost 2 dozen t-shirts your dolls would love to wear

Syd Ingram is the t-shirt designer who's keen eye for fashion and up cycling has created quite an impression in the dolly fashion world.

Her t-shirt designs attract tweens' and doll collectors alike

Syd's eye for fashion and doll photography truly show her dedication to her craft and passion.

Syd's creations are offered from $6-$18 , something to fit everyone's doll and for everyone's budget!

Offering more then just t-shirts check out these Swim Suits and complete outfits from The Beach Shack  

Check out The Beach Shack today and see what fun fashions they have in-store for you today!

Syd shared with me that she  "started the shop partly out of necessity, and
   started it was because I wanted unique tees for my own dolls, and no one else was making them. So... out came the sewing machine!"

I am so glad that she did!
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