Tag 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! 🤗

Evianna is “Beautiful in Blue”

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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.

Sophie is My “Lavender Lovely”

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Hello to you! I hope you are having a very nice weekend. It’s nice and hot here in northern Illinois–very summery feeling.

This month is flying by, and I don’t have much dolly-related making to show for it. Granted I have been taking a lot of time to enjoy spring and all the beautiful flowers. And, we have had a birthday and a college graduation to celebrate this month. May has been busy. There hasn’t been much time to settle down and create in my studio.

Last month I started a new ensemble for Sophie and it is now complete. Sophie is a Mary Engelbreit doll by Robert Tonner. She is the best friend to Ann Estelle. Do you remember those adorable paper dolls Mary added to her Home Companion magazine? These dolls are those paper dolls come to life. The dolls were first sold in the early 2000s and were very popular among doll collectors. At one time I had Gracie and Georgia too. Sophie is my only remaining M. E. doll. By the way, she shares the same body as the newer Patsy doll by Robert Tonner.

Sophie’s cropped cardigan is knit with lace weight merino that I hand dyed to a pink violet. I used six different shades of violet and pink for the roses. I mixed them up in different combinations, tiny rose jewels. I used Patsy’s cardigan pattern to knit this sweater for Sophie.

Oh, this fabric! I think it’s one of my favorites. It’s a Kaufman lawn, Sevenberry Petite Garden is a line of small scale florals from Japan. I originally purchased it from fabric.com. They don’t have this exact print anymore, but they have some other lovely prints to choose from.

I crocheted Sophie’s summer hat using three strands: #10 cotton, #10 bamboo, and #20 cotton. To decorate the hat I used lace that matches the dress and muted turquoise velvet ribbon. I hand tacked both separately and pulled snugly on the trims so that they hugged the hat neatly. I LOVE mother-of-pearl and happily used one of my mother-of-pearl buttons for this hat!

I think Sophie is thrilled with her new ensemble. She’s been waiting patiently for one of her own that she can keep.

I published a new YouTube video showing bits of this ensemble in progress.