Tag Archives: embroidery

“Feelin’ Peachy” This (Almost) Spring

Do you believe we’ll be starting a new season in 11 days? It’ll be springtime here where I live in northern Illinois. If you are starting autumn that is a wonderful season as well. But here it’ll be spring… and, oh spring you are my favorite!

The warmer days after a cold winter are pure bliss, and all the surprises coming up in the garden are well, wonderful surprises. And we’ve already received some of these gifts. We have had a couple of days that have gone over 60° and my crocuses have started blooming. It seems early this year being that it is still early March, but so appreciated after the -24°F windchill on Valentine’s Day. It’s hard to believe that was less than a month ago!

My spring welcome committee continues to grow. Bethany has received the latest spring ensemble. It’s been so long since I’ve made anything new for Bethany. Before I received my first Little Darling (Christmas 2012) Bethany got lots of new things to model.

Here is my blonde Bethany modeling “Feelin’ Peachy” for you.

Bethany’s rose floral dress is a print by Robert Kaufman from the Margeaux collection. I’ve had it in my stash for about four years. Alice received a new ensemble made from this fabric in 2017. You can see her here. Scalloped cotton lace peaks out from the hemline and a rayon ribbon sash tied around the waistline is the perfect color to add some brightness to this pastel ensemble.

Bethany’s soft and warm cardigan sweater is made with hand dyed merino wool. I dyed it in a very pale peachy pink. This yarn has become my favorite to dye and use for doll sweaters. It is Knit Picks Preciosa in fingering weight. It is a one-ply yarn which makes it a little bit fuzzier and cozier than a plied yarn. I embroidered two coordinating rose motifs on the front and added glass pearls for the buttons. I think Bethany loves it!

Bethany’s accessories include a crocheted pearl headband, rayon knit tights, and a crocheted mesh drawstring purse. She carries three little Easter eggs inside. The mother-of-pearl heart dangling from the bottom shows that I made this for her with love! 💖

I have a new YouTube video from the past week showing this ensemble in progress.

Isn’t Bethany a beautiful doll? I think she is just perfect.

How is March shaping up in your area? Did it come in like a lion or a lamb?

Sending you hugs and wishes for beautiful days ahead! 🤗💐 Thank you for stopping by.

Rose Has Her First Ensemble for Her Wardrobe

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Happy Sunday to you all! How are you? It is SO COLD!!! here in northern Illinois! Our wind chill right now is -20°F (-28°C). Is anyone else this cold, or colder? I am very thankful for my cozy and warm home. 🥰

I mentioned in my last post that I had completed Rose’s ensemble. She is so thrilled with how it turned out! After being neglected for so long Rose is one happy little girl, and has forgiven me. She’s such an angel.

Rose arrived in December of 2017. I made a couple of holiday ensembles that she happily modeled for other little girls to wear, then she went into hibernation. Until now that is! And this one she is keeping for herself. I hope to give her another very soon.

Rose’s dress is made with the fabric that you all voted on. Do you remember? Here is that blog post in case you missed it. This dress really does look sweet on her, and it’s extra special because you all helped with the creation of it. Even if you picked something else–that’s okay, too–you all helped! Thank you! Secretly, I liked all the fabric equally.

Rose is a 10″ Boneka vinyl doll who was sculpted by Dianna Effner. The good news is that these dolls are in stock and available at Happily Ever After, or at Boneka directly. You can change their wigs to give them a different look too. Rose is a Tuesday’s Child. I think they make cute little sisters to the Little Darlings.

Oh, I think I forgot to mention I published a new video on YouTube. It shows my progress on this ensemble and on Didi’s cardigan.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend. Stay warm… or cool, if you are south. Bye for now, my friends. 🤗💕

Mid October

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Hi there! I wanted to get this post written yesterday, but was stuck in bed with a low grade fever and all over feelings of achiness–especially my head and sinuses. You never know these days so… I have a Covid test scheduled for tomorrow and in the meantime am quarantining in a bedroom by myself until the test results come back in a couple of days. Right now my temp is just about normal and the last fever reducer I took was at 2 am, so fingers crossed it will stay down by itself. However, my head is still quite achy as well as my sinuses. (Please forgive me if I write something that doesn’t make sense.)

On Saturday I uploaded part 3 to show you my process when I make a Little Darling dress. This video shows how I hand stitch the bodice lining to the skirt to make a totally finished dress inside. (I find it so enjoyable to dress my dolls when the inside is all finished. Anyone else feel the same?) Also, I show how I sew on snaps to get them lined up perfectly and also how I sew on the decorative buttons. Thank you if you’ve watched and/or commented on my first videos. I really appreciate your support!!!

Anyway, the ensemble is finally complete for the dress I’ve been making in the three videos.

I had the perfect shade of silk ribbon in my stash–a cherry red.

I think the apples in this ensemble are the ‘Pink Lady’ variety–they are reddish pink.

I did some recording of my embroidery process for this sweater, but I am not super happy with it. I may make a quick video from it though–maybe how I embroider one of the apples? Perhaps the next embroidery footage will come out better.

For me embroidering the knitwear is the most difficult step in creating an ensemble. It is touch and go, or I should say, stitch and rip. I think embroidering this cardigan was more ripping than stitching, or it felt like it. The embroidery fairies didn’t show up to help me out–lol. So, after spending two days embroidering this cardigan I can say I am happy with the final result, which is all that really matters, right?

I was so saddened to hear the news of Dianna Effner’s passing. Her dolls have provided me with so much joy. They’ve especially helped me through some hard times these last few years. Those precious faces…! If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile it is probably quite obvious to you that Dianna’s Little Darlings are my favorite doll of all time. My Gina, Lucy, Alice, and I send our most heartfelt condolences to her family. ❤ ❤ ❤