Do you remember the mushroom motif craze in the 1970s?  They’re back!  Actually mushroom motifs have been popping up in design for a few+ years now, and in more modern colors, which I am happy about.  Back in the ’70s they were mostly seen in those 1970s colors—orange, avocado green, brown, and harvest gold.  Even though I cannot get used to that color scheme again, when I saw these canisters at the Volo Antique Mall last year I thought they were cute.  (My aunt had these in her kitchen.)

I think the first year I started seeing mushrooms pop up again in design was 2012 when I  saw this fabric designed by Natalie Lymer.  I immediately fell in love with it.  To this day, this is one of my favorites for Bethany.

I really need to make something for this girl again, she’s so cute!  But, I digress, sorry about that.

I’ve been saving this new mushroom print by Lizzie Mackay for one of my first fall-ish ensembles.  I know it’s not fall yet, but I couldn’t wait to use it!

Here is Lucy modeling “Woodland Whimsy”.  Aren’t the colors in this print lovely?  They’re modern, vintage, and cozy, all at the same time.

Did your see Lucy’s little girl gnome charm?  She told me it’s for good luck.

I’m not sure how I initially got the idea to knit mushrooms for this ensemble.  I get side tracked a lot, especially in the mornings.  I think I picked up a scrap ball of bare wool, and started knitting in the round on my double pointed needles.  I most likely wanted to  practice starting with a few stitches to make sure I remembered this technique. (It is almost Santa hat season, and I start from the top down.)  I guess a mushroom cap started forming, and all of a sudden I have accessories for “Woodland Whimsy”!  Magic!

Lucy’s little capelet is knit with moair/silk lace weight yarn and her vintage styled headband hat is knit with a fingering weight Peruvian Highland wool in the same color.  The colorful little mushrooms were fun to embroider in bullion and straight stitches.

Lucy’s 3/4 length sleeve dress is finished beautifully inside.  It is tedious as there is a lot of hand sewing to do, but I love to dress my dolls in dresses finished like this, it’s so luxurious.  (lol)  The dress is completely lined except for the sleeves so as to keep the bulk down.  The sleeve seam allowances that show on the inside have been double turned and hand sewn in place.  All the other seam allowances are hidden in the lining.

Since it took so long to finish the inside of this dress, I’d love to show you what it looks like.  I think this bodice takes four times as long as a lined sleeveless bodice.  All that just for sleeves!

Here is a sleeve turned inside out.  You can see the tiny hand stitches holding the double turned underarm seam and hem in place.  The bodice armhole lining is hand stitched to hide the top of sleeve’s seam allowance.

And, with the sleeve back in place.

Okay, I have to know . . . Is anyone else as neurotic silly with the insides of their doll dresses?  I’ve tried to change, but I can’t!!!

Lucy’s “Woodland Whimsy” ensemble will be available tonight at 7:00 pm CST, cindyricedesigns.com.

I hope you all have a nice day!  Thank you so much for stopping by.