Madelon's Trip To The American Girl Store Valentine Addition.

Madelon resently stopped in the AG store. "As expected, some Valentine's Day decorations were on display. I really like this pale pink dress which was shown on a variety of dolls. Let's play on who do you like it best. Here is option one."

Option 2

 

Options 3 & 4

 

Option 5

 Option 6

 

Option 7

And in Girl Size too!

 

Look at the details!

While there Madelon took some wonderful photos of the Isabelle section for us. 

 

A photo of the Isabelle display with no one waiting!

Such a fun photo with the barre...

I would love to see this sweater in person, the color looks amazing!

 

Mix and Match

 

Any thoughts on this outfit? It is not at all my favorite in her collection.

 

 

"Isabelle Says Take Me Home!" Exclaimed Madelon

  When Madelon was in store this outfit was sold out.

 

New in store wrapping available to purchase!
Thank you to Madelon for taking us through the store with her! If you are lucky enough to live close enough to pop in there are many of us very jealous!
An update for those of you wondering the Store here in Vancouver Canada where I live will be opening in May I am told and take over the second floor of the Robson Street Chapters Store. I am so looking forward to the store opening here and for what I hope the store exclusives will be! Hint *** I love the Red Store shirts!
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

Check Out An Up And Coming Canadian Doll Clothes Designer! Welcome Sewing Dollimama's Etsy Shop and Marilyn Clarkin

 

I have just been made aware of another Canadian Doll Clothes Designer who has some very unique items in her Etsy shop and I am so thrilled to share that Etsy Shop with you today!

 

Known as SewingDollimamas'Etsy Shop

 SewingDollimamas'Etsy Shop is also known as Qt (Pie)  Doll Clothing a very clever name!

 

This shop offers something for every 18 inch doll to love and to wear. Handmade items start at just under $17 and you can even order a 16 piece Wardrobe for your doll including shoes and boots, under $100! 

In addition to her Etsy Shop, Shop owner and designer Marilyn Clarkin also has her own website and Facebook fan page. You can visit either by clicking any of the blue words in this post.

As many of you know I love behind the scenes looks at why the designers do what they do, what drives them and how they came to design for 18 inch dolls. I was interested to hear that Marilyn sews from a very special place in her heart. As some of you may know I too am a Mother with two children who have Autism. Her story touched my own heart and I hope it will touch yours...

"My youngest daughter has Autism and when she was younger she had some pretty major sensory aversions to clothing which resulted in me making the majority of her clothes. Of course when she received a 18" doll from her grandmother for Christmas it only made sense to her that she would have the same concerns about her dolls clothes. I started to notice that whenever my daughter had her doll out in public(which was almost everywhere we went) people would inquire about thier clothes. They would say things like "where did you buy those, they are beautiful " and " they don"t make them like that in the stores". They would gush over them. At first I started to make doll clothes for friends and family as gifts. Then one day it just clicked when a very close friend said you should start your own business. So I did! hence the beginning of QTπ Doll Clothing."

 Be sure to check out Marilyn's Etsy shop by clicking here.

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

My New Tea Set From Steeped Tea!

As many of you know I love tea, I have discovered in the last year a home based business called Steeped and I have had two home parties, which have been a great sucess, I love the tea products and drink tea everyday all day.

 At my last party two weeks ago I earned some hostess credits like many other home parties this gives you some money to spend on items in the Catalog that you would like and you get at a reduced rate or even free. I spent my credits on bags of tea (13 of them) and then I got a half priced item and bought the "My First Tea Set" it sells for $37 so I feel like I got it for a steal!

You can find Steeped Tea Consultants on line by Clicking Here as I understand that Steeped has just expanded into the USA some of you may find you want to give the tea a try!

 

As a doll and tea lover I am thrilled with this set which is perfect for 18 inch dolls. 

I just had to share it will all of you. 

If you are looking to add this tea set to your collection you can contact Steeped for a consultant near you or you can order on line by clicking here.

The Fuzzy Peach Black tea and the After Eight Black Tea are some of my most favorite flavors offered by Steeped just in case you are wondering!
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

Mini Monday Madelon Makes A Mini Dance Studio!

Today Madelon shares her Tiger Ballet Studio she made for her Mini Dolls! I made this from a box, brown and crisp microwave paper, duct tape, paper clip, scissors and bamboo skewer."

 You can open the side of the box for height if needed.

Madelon used a paper clip to make the first holes for her ballet barre. She used Duct tape to decorate her box. For her mirror she cut microwave paper!

For stage curtains Madelon used a red re useable bag she got at a book fair carefully removed the handles and used the existing "track" to feed another skewer through and hung the curtains at the top of the box!
Brilliant!

Thank you Madelon for this very fun Mini doll Craft!
As with all our posts we would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment here or email us here at karenmowen@gmail.com

Enter to Win A 1913 Apron Dress Sewn and Designed By Eden Ava Couture!

 

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know I love the patterns offered by Eden Ava Couture. I have purchased and reviewed patterns from Eden Ava as a doll lover and beginning seamstress and now as a thank you one of my lucky readers in the USA will have a chance to win the Outfit that was used in Eden Ava Couture's Latest Dowton Abby Inspired 1912 Apron Dress Pattern Photos! The winner will receive the dress shown in the photo above not the pattern!

For your chance to win this original dress from Eden Ava Couture you must; Visit Eden Ava Couture's Etsy Shop, then send me an email letting me know what pattern is your favorite to karenmowen@gmail.com, along with your USA Mailing Address so that if you are selected by random draw on Feb 14th, Eden Ava Couture can ship directly to you your prize.

You can visit Eden Ava Couture's Etsy Shop by Clicking Here  Her patterns are available exclusively now on Etsy and are an instant down load.

Would you like to save on patterns? Select 8 patterns, then use coupon code SAVE8 during the checkout process and your 8th pattern will be free (Free pattern value not to exceed $3.99).Sign up for their newsletter, receive a free pattern, and get all the latest news! Don't miss out on the latest pattern releases and Etsy listings!
Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/ziMmr or visit edenavacouture.com for more information!

 Thank you to Donna of Eden Ava Couture for this amazing opportunity and Good Luck to all of you!
Remember to email me at karenmowen@gmail.caom with Eden Ava in the subject line!
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

UPDATE FEB 16th Winner chosen at random is Betty J of MN! Thank you to all who entered!

Craft Along With Me 2014- February Make Your Dolls Some Valentine Cookies With Sculpey Clay

Bake and Serve your Doll Cookies in Under 1 hour start to finish with this Sculpey Craft Tutorial from Karen Mom of Three!

It is February 1st and time for our 2nd Craft Along with Me Project. I have created a very simple doll Valentine Cookie made from Sculpey Clay. If you have never worked with Sculpey Clay this is an easy and very fun way to create doll sized treats for your doll play collection. You can make as many as you would like for the fraction of the cost of commercially made doll treats and you get so much value from what you create.

To create you own Dolly Valentine Cookies You will need:
-Sculpey Clay in your choice of colors, I used a light tan and red from my Bake Shop Variety Pack
-A Heart Shaped Premo! Crinkle Cutters I Used the Heart Shape
- A mini metal cutter heart shape from thePremo! Basic shapes pacakge
-A Sculpey Clay Mat   or wax paper for covering your work space and baking
-A oven safe baking sheet 
-The Sculpey Clay Tool Set
-Your Oven

Step 1- Assemble all your supplies and cover your workspace. I love the Sculpey Clay Mat you can roll out your clay on it, wipe it down easily and it can even go  in the oven. Before I had the mat I would use wax paper or parchment, this is a great product because I can use it time and time again. 

Step 2- Preheat your oven to 275 F.

Step 3- On your Sculpey Mat or covered work space roll our your cookie base color. I rolled mine out so that it was 2 mm thick. Use your larger Crinkle Cutter to cut out your cookie based shapes.

 

Step 4- Cut out as many cookies as you desire. I set out to make 6 cookies, I got 5 from the rectangle or clay I used. Then I rolled the renaming clay  and cut one more. (I could have made 8 from the clay). I used the tools to help lift the clay out from between the cut out clay shapes.

Step 5- Select your accent color, I chose the red from my Bake Shop Package  and I rolled it out as I did the cookie base. Then I selected the mini heart from the mini cutters.

I cut out 6 small hearts and used the tools to help me lift the mini hearts up and place them in the center of my doll cookie base, I pressed them into place very gently and they were ready to bake! 

Step 6- Then I placed my mat on the baking sheet and baked the doll cookies for just under 10 minutes. I let them cool completely and removed them from the sheet and on to dolly's plates for the dolly tea party with my niece!

I hope you will Craft Along With Me this month! Remember to email me a photo of your Sculpey Creations this month to karenmowen@gmail.com. You can make any doll food you would like for your dolls using Sculpey Clay. Sculpey Clay is an easy, fun and affordable add to your doll play collections, makes great gifts, Advent or Holiday doll treats as well as great party favors!