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I just received the newsletter detailing some of the activities planned for attendees at the upcoming 2010 International Doll Makers Association Convention which is scheduled to take place July 28th – 31st in Scottsdale, Arizona. This year’s theme will be “Remembrance of Love”, and the variety of fascinating workshops being planned totally makes me drool! We were finally able to find a pre-loved travel trailer that we feel will meet our needs, and may actually be able to attend this year, and I think we’ve picked the perfect year to be there! I’ve gotta get my membership fee in the mail in a hurry so I can qualify to attend – I’m running a bit behind schedule on that!
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I’m frequently asked how I think the doll industry is doing, and I find the answer to be a bit complicated. On one hand, I have found that there is still a lot of interest out there among the experienced doll makers who would dearly like to see our craft flourishing again like it was a few years back, and who are hanging on through thick and thin, struggling to find supplies and make their dolls. I think we can safely say that the only thing that’ll stop this group is physical infirmity. These are the core of doll makers who attend the shows in their areas and take part in as many seminars and classes as they can, and who have developed a level of expertise to which the rest of us continue to aspire. And these are the ones who have been gracious enough to share their secrets about successful doll making so freely with the rest of us. Thanks so much to each of you!
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Dorothy Drake will start her round of shows for 2010 with a bang in San Diego, California January 16 & 17th when she’ll also be hosting the Teddy Bear & Friends coveted Industry Choice Toby Awards. This exciting event will take place right after the show closes on Saturday, January 16th, along with a silent auction benefiting the Good Bears of the World organization.
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I’m sure you remember reading about the marvelous doll show called Les Belles Poupees that took place in Grapevine, Texas last summer, and maybe you were even part of the great group that was able to attend and take part in all the delightful classes, seminars and other fun functions that were scheduled around the show itself.
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The Center 50 + chose December 24th to honor their senior members with a lovely, free Christmas dinner. The meal was sponsored by Comcast and prepared by the Center 50 + Chef, who also, along with his assistants, prepares the meals for the local Meals-on-Wheels outreach, as well as the lunchtime meal for Seniors which is served Monday thru Friday at the Center. Dinner was followed by Christmas Carols, and a movie. As part of the Christmas celebration, the students from the Beginning Doll Makers classes were asked to display their dolls for everyone to enjoy.
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So many dress styles for your dolls call for tiny pleats, especially those for Antique Reproduction dolls, and trying to make pretty, even pleats can be a real challenge. I purchased a pleater some time ago that someone had made, but it was rather spendy and I often find that the pleats I can make with it aren’t the size I’m looking for. Then, just the other day, I happened onto Rubie Mae’s blog, Journeys to Doll Treasures, and noted that she had addressed the pleater issue very well in her article of December 2nd. Since this is something that many of us might find helpful, I contacted Rubie Mae and received permission to reproduce her article here in hopes that more of you would get to see it, and maybe even decide to make your own pleaters in the sizes you most often need. Thanks so much, Rubie, for sharing this with us!
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My doll class ladies are busily trying to get their dolls finished up in time to be put on display at the Fifty + Center here in Salem on December 24th so all the members who will attend the Annual Christmas Feast will be able to enjoy them, and I must say they are very excited about the chance to show off their handiwork.
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Some years ago I found the Goodie Two Shoes website and ordered a shoe making kit. It was one of the best things I ever bought. I followed the instructions carefully for using my latest doll’s foot for a last, making a custom pattern, and finally making the shoes. I didn’t have sole leather, so I covered a piece of cardboard with my shoe leather, rough side out, and they came out rather nicely. I got lots of compliments on them, but better yet, I was hooked on shoe making.
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I came across this free crochet pattern for doll stockings while surfing the web looking for interesting sites to add to the Doll directories recently, an thought it might be a nice time to share it with all of you. Maybe you’ll want to take it along when you visit relatives this Christmas so you have something to work on while sitting around catching up on things.
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With so much emphasis being placed on Bleuettes these days, a very special gift for that doll maker on your list might be “Bleuette Clothing Patterns, 1905-1916”, which is a hardcover book by Louise Hedrick and Barbara Craig Hilliker. Normally retailing for $50.00 per copy, this book is currently available through Amazon at $31.50, and shipping is free!
Not only is there interesting historical information included in this book, but it contains lots of beautiful, full color pictures of the outfits to go along with the patterns, and tells what trims and embroidery stitches are appropriate.
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