Doll Project Number 4

I've started the next doll project - I was so sad at having finished the last one that I set-up the next one almost straight away!

The last one I set-up has it's own blog and is still on show at the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green in London.

This next one has a new blog and a lovely new set of makers. It'll run for the next nine months until everyone has worked on each doll and then the surprise will be sent back... can't wait!

My doll is called Elodie but I can't show any more than this or it'll ruin the surprise for the other doll makers in the project... we have to keep them a secret. I am very bad at keeping secrets and at having surprises, I am too impatient. I want to know what they all look like NOW!!!!

Doll Project Number 3 (Bunny returns)

My doll is home!! I am so excited that she has finally made it back after being added to by everyone in the project. She is absolutely beautiful; a fluffy pompom tail and a 'bunny' tattoo, a cashmere hat, a tiny bunny doll, a knitted scarf, a carrot apron (for making Rabbit pie without the rabbit), a pet rabbit, a shell souvenir, some badges and.... a baby!!! I LOVE HER!! More detailed picture to come.

Now I am going to parcel her back up and send her to Lucy May (book artist) who has arranged for them to be exhibited at the V&A Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. So exciting, thank you so much Lucy, and it will be fantastic to have them all in the same place at the same time. More info to come....

Kirsty (print designer and baby bootie maker) has put all of our pictures into a book so we can have a record of the project and the dolls; THANK YOU Kirsty!! You can see a preview of the book here.

Doll Project Number 3 (Dolls 6, 7 and 8)

Here is the 6th doll I received; it was begun by Amy Twigger Holroyd (Keep and Share) and began as a pile of felted internal organs which have been encased, boned and embellished! I have embroidered some anatomical descriptions onto it's body.

The 7th was Amelia who was started by textile designer Bee Hayes. She has a silver jumpsuit and a reckless past! I've dressed up her outfit a little with a belt and some cuffs.

And the 8th is from textile and print designer Kirsty Reilly (now Kissell) and is Lady Vi. I've made her a lace blouse with pearl buttons and a tweed skirt.

There is just one more to go... Katys doll... and then I will get my little rabbit back home and the project will be complete. Once they've all returned to their original makers we'll be able to see them finished- I can't wait, then I can show more than just these tiny peeks at them!

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 5)

I had the nicest few hours yesterday making a miniature cape in bluebell blue wool for Mandy's doll for the doll project. I haven't made a tiny item of clothing for a long, long time and I made a pattern to fit her which tested my brain quite a lot. Making this has made me want to make whole outfits of tiny clothes; pinafore dresses, coats... ooooh!

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 4)

I've sent the next doll for our doll project on her way to Katy. This one will keep me laughing for quite a while, I wish I could show more; Ruths addition is very, very 'special', but it'll have to wait another six months before we can see them. Now I'm waiting for Mandy's doll to arrive.

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 3)

This is a peek at the third doll I've worked on for the doll project. This one is the jolliest chap (doll) I have ever met, I wish I could show more because his face is brilliant, but it will have to wait until the end so it doesn't spoil the surprise for the other doll makers. He was made by Ruth Martin and Lucy May Schofield added a beautiful piece of clothing to which I have added a shiny, red heart and a pocket for putting things in. He is off to Katy in America now; a little early but the post will take some time. I'm looking forward to receiving the next one.....

Doll Project Number 3 (Doll 2)

Here is a peek at Raymond the baby elephant who was made, in the Doll Project, by Lucy May Schofield, I have begun his outfit, but can't show anymore of it so it's a surprise for us all at the end. I'm not very good at surprises, I always want to know in advance - this is very difficult!

Doll Project Number 3

We've just begun the third Doll Project. I posted mine yesterday (it's a rabbit), you can see more at our group blog here. We won't show a photo all of any of the dolls until the end, so we can keep them a surprise from each other. I'm really excited about it!

Crepe Wool Sleeping Babies in love

Last year I made a few sherbet coloured Sleeping Babies from wool crepe- so fine, and delicate colours, and they have chalky white leather ears! I have the plan to make them little homes in these lovely boxes - this is their home, maybe a bed but it still has a long way to go. I'll put a picture up when they are all complete.
I have made the first part of my doll for the new doll project and it'll be posted on Monday, you'll be able to track their progress on the Doll Project blog.
I've also been designing some more characters for one of my clients, when they stop being a secret I'll show some pictures of them too.

Doll Project Number 1

I met up with Nina yesterday and we were remembering all of the amazing dolls from the first doll project that we took part in. It was in 2004/5 and organised by Jackie Parsons of Bo Peep Kids, who makes lovely sock dolls and monkeys.

For the first month we each made the beginnings of a doll, on month 2; we each posted the doll to the next person on the list and so, at the end, our dolls were returned to us complete having been worked on and added to by everyone in the project.

There were 10 of us in all, all designer makers and I've found all of the photos that I had - such a shame that I don't have pictures of all of them.

1. Me, Maud who you can see further back in another posting with all of her additions.
2. Petra Boase, This was the first I got so it has very little done on it and it was the hardest for me to do.
3. Isabel Stanley, Sweet little Noriko came in a beautiful box. I made her a pink satin dress. Nina made her a beautiful face - you can see a picture of her completed on Jackies website
4. Jo Gordon, I can't believe that I don't have a photo of this one, I made a blue and white spotty skirt - she was called Maybeline! and she was delicious - there is a photo on Jackies site too.
5. Cecilie Telle. I loved this one - so funny, I think she and Maud would sit nicely together but I have no idea how she ended up as she still had to go to another four people after me.
6. Emma Eardley. WOW! Golden boots, she was quite a lady! I gave her a face which was terrifying to do, I was worried I would give her the wrong personality. Some later in the project gave her a nice hair do.
7. Ken Eardley, I think Ken started his doll off with the ceramic face, my mum knitted her a shawl which we decorated with bright buttons.
8. Rachel Eardley, No photo and this was a real good'un.... Darn it! If I remember it correctly; she had a vintage badge face and was quite tiny and lived in an entirely collaged room. I made a fridge room a cigar box.
9. Jackie Parsons ballerina sock doll; she had a tiny heart embroidered onto her bottom. I made her tiny knitted stripy top which buttoned up the back.
10. Nina Mankin, A dainty little fairy with teensiest handmade cardigan. I made her a little clutch purse!

I'll see if I can track down some more pictures of them...... I had a look to see if I had many photos of the second doll project and I only have 2 which is rubbish. There were some really good ones in there - whoops!
I'll be starting on my third doll project later in the summer - looking forward to it.

Doll Project Number 2

Here's Harold.
(I had him on the blog before - when he returned home to me, but I accidentally deleted him - still not too hot on this blogging thing, Whoopsie! So here he is reinstated).
Harold came back to me at the start of this year after a very long visit to lots of other designer makers. He left me as a sweet innocent little monkey baby with a liking for chewing wires; just a stripy toweling body, ears and a blank face and he has returned to me a... well, I'm not quite sure really... he is quite extraordinary.
An enormous amount of skill, talent, time, love and care has gone into creating the individual components, which put together as a whole make the most barmy creature I have ever seen.
The rules were the same as with Doll Project Number 1 Maud, but this one had a few more makers involved. An exquisite pink knit jump suit by jeweller and illustrator Rachel Eardley. I love the colours and the sweet green stitching down the sides.
And this miniature printed satin bomber jacket by Heather Martin is enough to bring tears to my eyes.
They added to the journal as Harold visited them:
Jo Sheffield (Baby things) made some perfect hobnail boots. Lisa Marklew (Ceramics) made monkey madness with a pair of ceramic banana earrings. Jo Gordon (Knitwear) gave him a diamonte earings and some arms. Jo Hill crafted a paper guitar. Rachel Eardley (Jewellery and illustration) made his jumpsuit. Heather Martin (Textiles) made the bomber jacket. Ken Eardley (Ceramics) gave him a moustache. Claire Fletcher (illustration). Isabel Stanley (Lampshades) who I think made his legs.
Thank you all x x x

Doll Project Number 1 at the start....

I'm looking through old photos and findings some nice old friends. Here is Maud before she headed off on her journey to be added to in the first doll project. You can see her finished here.
She had the tea cosy pattern in the box when she set off so she'd have something nice to read. I had forgotten that she has a mustard couloured gusset that her legs are sewn into and that earned her the nickname 'Custard Knickers' Yuk - probably best forgotten again!

Doll Project Number 1

This is Maud (Mischievous Maud was named after this Maud). She was made in 2004/5 as part of a really fantastic doll project run by Jackie Parsons of Bo Peep Kids, who makes funny, lovely sock dolls and monkeys. There were 10 of us in all, all designer makers: Jo Gordon, Isabel Stanley, Petra Boase, Me, Nina Mankin, Jackie, Ken Eardley, Emma, Rachel Eardley, Cecilie Telle.
On month 1; we each made the beginnings of a doll, on month 2; we each posted the doll to the next person on the list and so, at the end of month 9, our dolls were returned to us complete having been worked on and added to by everyone in the project.
Once Maud came back to me, I made her a baby to live in her apron pocket. It turned out a little unsettling though once Arran pointed out that the baby has pink cheeks, scared eyes and he thought that it was crying all the time, and I said that was because she stole the baby (Whoops! BAD MAUD), and since then, to allow ourselves to sleep at night, we've had to take the zip mouth off and pretend that the baby is teething and does love Maud very much.