Category Archives: Doll Hats

Sun Hats Needed

Hello! How are you? As you can probably tell by the title of this blog post we haven’t had much cloudy weather here in northern Illinois, if at all. As I get older I am trying to be more careful to protect the top of my head and face from the sun. It’s important, right?

We visited the zoo on Monday, and boy was I glad I brought a sun hat; the sun was so strong!!! However, the hat couldn’t help with the heat. Even with my head and face shaded it was still hot–not sure what to do about that.

As I’ve been enjoying the beautiful weather not too much has been happening in my studio, but I wanted to say hi anyway, and since sun hats were front and center in my mind…

My dolls have also enjoyed many sun hats over the past years. I collected a few photos from the past to give you some summery dolly cuties to look at. Shall we start with the tiniest girls first?

If you want to see more photos from the pictured ensembles I linked the photo to the original blog post, so simply click on the photo. Also, for more information on the dolls you can find that on my FAQ page–tab at the top.

Wilde Imagination’s Amelia Thimble in “Violas & Violet”, 2014

Fairyland’s Pukipuki in “Heavenly Hydrangeas”, 2016

Boneka Tuesday’s Child Rose in “Sweet Blossom”, 2022

Kaye Wiggs 11″ Millie in “Spring Sweetheart”, 2015

Kaye Wiggs 11″ Millie in “Summer Flowers for You”, 2015

Wilde Imagination’s Patience in “Vintage Flair”, 2015 & Izzy in “Tiny Roses Abloom”, 2015

Effner Little Darling Gina in “Sunshine Darling”, 2016

Effner Little Darling Lucy in “My Blue-ming Garden”, 2016

Effner Little Darling Gina in “Perfectly Pink”, 2015

Ruby Red Fashion Friend Holly (originally Stella) in “Summertime Pretty”, 2022

Ruby Red Fashion Friend Holly (originally Stella) in “Beauty and Blossoms”, 2022

Kaye Wiggs Talyssa in “You are my Sunshine”, 2015

Kaye Wiggs Talyssa in “Springtime Posy”, 2015

Kaye Wiggs Gracie in “Strawberry Season”, 2017

Kaye Wiggs Gracie in “A Party in the Rose Garden”, 2016

I hope this post finds you staying comfortable–cool or warm, depending on where you live. And, enjoying the first day of summer, or winter (yikes–not ready for that one yet!).

I’d love to hear what you are up to on day one of this new season. Please let me know if you’ve got a minute. Hugs from my dolls and I! 🤗

“Red, White, & Blue-tiful”

1 Reply

Hello and happy new week to you. I hope you’ve had a nice weekend and Monday. We have finally cooled off a little and got lots of much needed rain on Sunday. I think we are in a little drought in northern Illinois. The dreary days are not uplifting, but the plants need the rain.

As spring is drawing to a close I am starting to gravitate towards summery prints for my doll ensembles. Bella, my Ruby Red Fashion Friend, is the first recipient of a summer ensemble this year. She wears a simple floral cotton dress with cotton crocheted ballet slippers (on her bare feet) and a cotton crocheted sunhat. Summery blue and red are a part of her new look. When I was very young I remember loving to wear these colors in the summertime. There is a tiny bit of pink in this print, too–can’t ignore pink!

Bella’s sunhat is crocheted with three strands of crochet cotton and has a pretty scalloped navy border. A self fabric band, crochet flowers and a leaf, are all hand made and hand sewn onto the hat with beads.

Bella’s pink bouquet of flowers is tied together with embroidery thread carefully wrapped and secured around the stems. A navy silk ribbon is tied into a bow and also secured so it will not slip off or untie.

Once I figured out the pattern for Bella’s ballet slippers they crocheted up pretty quickly. The pattern took me a day and a half though. I kept trying things and ripping back and trying some more. I wanted to get the sole to fit the bottom of her foot perfectly. And then the upper part of the slipper to be low on her foot for a dainty look. Bella has such cute little feet!

Bella has some super cute jewelry with this set. Her bracelet is made of three strands: cobalt seed, mint green seed, and iridescent warm red bugle beads strung on stretchy jewelry cord. A silver toned ring wraps around all three strands with a red flower dangling from it. The necklace is silver toned with a tiny green/red garden gnome and flower dangle. The heart shows that this ensemble was made with great love and care.

Bella is as cool as a cucumber and ready for lots of fun summer picnics.

Are you ready for summer (or winter) to begin? I’m not sure I am ready to say goodbye to spring, but it is leaving us regardless of my being ready or not.

My tiny girls all say hello and thank you for visiting with us today. Sending you late spring hugs from my sewing studio.🤗

Evianna is “Beautiful in Blue”

8 Replies

Hello there! It’s a new weekend…already. They come around so quickly for me. Some of you might have the opposite experience, but for me the weeks fly by. It seems winter is over here in northern Illinois…maybe…I hope. I visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens yesterday and the tulips are in full bloom as are the daffodils, trees, and other early bloomers.

Here are a few photos from yesterday.

Would you like to see Evianna in her new ‘blue’ ensemble? Blue is so pretty on her–it matches her eyes. 💙

I had two different wigs on her for this photograph shoot–the long blonde one she arrived in, and a Kemper mohair bob. Each wig really changes her look, doesn’t it? Do you have a preference?

Evianna’s dress is in a delicate cotton floral by Robert Kaufman and completely lined in white cotton lawn. A scalloped border of cotton English Cluny lace embellishes the hemline and an ivory rayon ribbon ties around the waist.

Evianna’s cardigan is knit with mohair/silk lace weight yarn (Knit Picks Aloft). I embroidered three motifs in different blues to coordinate with the dress. I have been enjoying embroidering asymmetrical motifs lately. I find it more interesting to look at, and more enjoyable to execute. Awhile ago I found button beads at a bead store; I purchased them in the crystal AB color. They work perfectly for my tiny sweaters. Unfortunately, I only have this one color though.

Evianna’s wide brimmed hat is crocheted with three strands of cotton thread–two in white and one in blue. The three mixed together make a very pale aqua blue. I edged the brim with one strand of white in a scalloped pattern. Rayon ribbon dyed to coordinate, a crocheted rose in mohair/silk, and wool felt leaves decorate Evianna’s bonnet.

Cotton knit tights, a bouquet, and bracelet complete Evianna’s new spring look.

Evianna and I would both like to wish you a wonderful weekend filled with the kind of days that you most love. Sending you hugs from the studio.🤗 Take care, my friends.