31 May 2015

Flowers in her hair

I'm sitting in our kitchen and have one window open. The wind is blowing hard out there and at some points it feels like it is tossing around the trees and plants. You can hear it. I do not mind the weather, it is rather cozy to be indoors and listen to the voice of the nature. But summer feels far, far away, though. 
Howleen, pretty a a summer's dream.
Apple White has flowers in her hair
There is a Swedish song called "Hon har blommor i sitt hår" - She has flowers in her hair. It is from 1990 and was a big hit then. The artist is Anders Glenmark and it seems like he is back on stage again after being with his family for a long time. Every summer or when it is Mid summer, I hum this song.  I like the song. And I like flowers in the hair.
Zipporah and big daisies!
So, when I was shopping in Örebro (the nearest and largest town around here) I bought some flowers to the dollies. Even some butterflies and birds. I think it is a simple way to give your dollies a summer look.
Naomi with a bird and a butterfly.
Over it is a fashion now to have flowers in your hair and even as necklaces, elastic headbands or bracelets. I bought a couple of bracelets and headbands, they are in the right size for my Dollmore Narsha girls and for my Monster high beauties. The butterflies and birds are clips, perfect for my bigger baby doll Noomi. 

And it is a very cheap way too. And if you have left-over-fabrics you can make some flowers. There are lots of DIY on Pinterest. 

27 May 2015

Glittery hearts....

You know the feeling, when you browse the net just for fun and of course the places where they have all the dollies and you suddenly stumble over something that just takes your breath away. And you mind starts to travel far away in the dollie-land, with no contact with the real world?

Maybe a Phebe, if she would be mine.
Picture from Dollmore.
This happened to me the other day, when I visited Dollmore. They released a new Lusion Doll - Drawing Elenoir. My head popped and got filled with glittery hearts.
I saw her, in my mind, among the trees and stones near our cottage. Her wild hair blowing in the wind, she was on a mission. On a mission to find the faun she spotted some days earlier and she had her painting-stuff with her. No camera is good for her, she likes to paint it. While she is searching for the faun, she picks flowers and puts them in her hair. She sings a song or maybe she recites, whispering, her favorite poem. In the forest she is in her favorite element. Where ever she goes, there is a shining light - soft and warm. She is humble, artistic and merciful. And she listens to the name Phebe, meaning shining and pure.

26 May 2015

Esther

Esther, my first doll.
A heart to you.
She came with a blonde wig.
You are my heart.

Esther, a funny little one.

1. What's your name? - Esther, as the Jewish queen in the Bible.
2. What's your nationality/ethnicity? - I'm a funny blend of Finnish and Swedish, spiced with cinnamon.
3. When where you born/how old are you? - Hey, a lady never reveals her age! But I was born when the full moon was high up in the sky and the wolf howled.
4. What's your race (human, demon etc)? - Human with angelic personality.
5. Are you single/taken and who is your partner? (If single, who is your crush?) - Single, no crush and lots of love for Zipporah.
6. Sexual orientation (if any)? - Giggle! *blushes
7. Favorite hobby? - To take a walk in the forest at late night and listen to the sounds in the nature.
8. Favorite food/drink? - Spicy foods! Oh so yummy! I'm hungry now! And I love sparkling water.
9. Do you have a job? - Being pretty? Nah, just joking! I need to study first, I have some years left
10. Favorite animal? - Dragons and lizards!

Basic info about the doll:

-From Dollmore
-Made by Gu mi-jeong
-Is seen as a tiny ball jointed doll with her 35 cm/14"
-Good things: Beautifully sculpted head, almost like an angel. Good balance. Can pose rather well.
-Bad things: Bending-knee-trouble. Short legs can make her fall on her butt (ouch). A little hole in her torso, when bending her in the middle. 

25 May 2015

Buttons of childhood!

Buttons!
Cute as a button!
I remember the summers of my childhood, visiting my grandparents in their house, near the lake Saimaa, in Finland. The summers where warm, sunny and filled with trips to the lake and cozy hugs from my grandmother Aili (father's mother) and some fun mischief from grandfather Arvi (father's father). 

But I remember other things too. On the shelf to the fireplace, in the living room, my grandmother had an old tin jar filled with buttons. The tin jar was an old jar from the time she had coffee in it, but then she decided to have buttons in it and save the coffee in something new. This old jar with the lid with a knob was something special. Those buttons in it were a mix of new and old, with a history. From a blouse, a shirt, some pants or a skirt. Some just one of, others many. 

The other thing I remember is the fabrics I got from my grandmother's Edit (mother's mother) cousin Helli. She used to sew a lot and she gave me the 'left overs'. She gave me a scissor, thread and needle too. When we visited her in her little apartment, I usually sat in the hallway on the floor or in the open wardrobe, sewing by hand. I made clothes to my Barbie and Cindy doll. And of course I used the buttons I found in the jar. The dolls were always (well)dressed and cute as a button. 

All these loved ones passed away a long time ago (may they rest in peace), but they gave me the chance to do the things I like. And today I still like dolls, buttons and fabrics. I still sit and sew, but in more normal places.

And I would not change a thing.

10 May 2015

Patterns, patterns, patterns.....

Apple White and some patterns
Patterns. It is not so simple. The sizes on my Dollmore Narsha dolls are in a way "difficult" and I am not the only one thinking so. For me they have the perfect size as dolls but when it comes to patterns - this size is almost like a curse. And to find other doll clothes that fit the Narsha dolls are as difficult as finding patterns. So far I have bought clothes from Dollmore and made some easy peasy tights and t-shirts to them. But if I want to make something extra...well, then I meet the trouble with too tiny or too big patterns. I am not so good at making own patterns, but I have seen some videos and tutorials about that, so maybe I will learn. One day. 

During the years I have been in this hobby, I have found out that Tildas World and the dolls she has made - those clothes patterns can work. To stitch or to crochet is no trouble at all, those sizes is just to measure and make. And that works even with clothes made from socks. The last days I have been on the internet and searched for patterns for clothes for my dolls.

Pinterest is a lovely place. I have been there almost daily searching for goodies, free or for payment. A new world has opened for me and my dolls. New patterns, new ideas and even new brands when it comes to dolls. An amazing feeling! Printed out some of the free patterns and saved the links to different shops on Etsy and other places for future reference. 

And I have a new sewing machine that I bought from IKEA. There is hope for a summer with lots of sewing and making cute things for the dolls. I even found patterns small enough for Monster high and Ever After high dolls.

And Happy Mother's Day!