Tag: folk-art

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Original folk art cat doll in progress, the dress muslin

Here are some photos of the muslin of the doll dress I was working on, completed. It is entirely hand sewn using cotton quilting thread to make a basting stitch.

I draw any adjustments in fit and length that I want to make directly onto my dress muslin with a mechanical pencil. Before I assembled the dress muslin, I traced the original version of my pattern right onto my fabric using a permanent black marker. Generally, I use a pencil to mark my dress muslin while my doll is wearing it to make sure I don’t mark the doll.

There are some minor adjustments to make. There was a small pucker in the bodice at the underarm. I will deepen the bottom of the armhole to compensate for this. I also added a quarter inch to the length of the skirt, and widened the back of the bodice slightly.

I used a single strand of thread for my stitching because it is easier to pull out, which is the next step. The muslin is next carefully disassembled using a seam ripper. Then I trace each piece, refine each one on paper, and make a final draft of my pattern. I haven’t pressed the dress muslin at all, to minimize any distortion of the fabric pieces.

Incidentally, although the rough draft of a dress is called a muslin, I don’t use actual muslin fabric to make my dress muslin. I used cotton sheeting on this one. The important thing is to use a fabric similar in weight and drape to the fabric you will use for your real dress.

We’ll be adding these new collaborative dolls to our online doll gallery once they are completed and photographed. I’m brainstorming on my navigation ideas for that main doll gallery page. There are so many original art dolls now, they’re divided into four subcategories, jointed cloth and paperclay art dolls, art doll figurines, soft art dolls and art toys, and already adopted dolls. Be sure to come check them out.

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Original art cat dolls in progress, and making progress in general

Original cat art dolls in progress, Elizabeth Ruffing, Max Bailey
These are the original cat art dolls that Max Bailey and I have been working on. The one on the left will be a Siamese cat, and the one on the right is a tabby cat. The tabby is very cute, but I don’t want to give too much away before her entire ensemble is complete. I am sewing her a dress based on Shirley Temple’s dress in her 1937 film “Heidi”. She has a beautiful pet goose companion as well.


Shirley Temple as Heidi in the 1937 filmI have so many little loose ends that I’m trying to tie up, and that includes making my way through the pile of books I intended to read. I’m still working on E. M. Forster. I’m reading A Passage to India right now.

A Passage To India movie stillI think that might be the only one of his novels I’ve read that hasn’t been turned into a movie starring Helena Bonham-Carter.

A Room with a View movie stillOther E. M. Forster novels I’ve recently read are Where Angels Fear to Tread, A Room with a View (scene from the movie above), and Howard’s End.

I’m sure none of these will compare to CSS: The Missing Manual, which I ordered today. That’s by Brian McFarland. It promises to be “crystal clear”. If I still can’t efficiently absorb CSS after that, I think I’m just going to live without it, knock on wood.

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Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max Bailey

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileySnowbelle is a lovely white Turkish Angora kitty whose favorite time of year has finally arrived.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileyShe sits by the window and waits for the magical snowflakes to begin falling from the sky.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max Bailey

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileySnowbelle loves the way the snow glistens when the moon is full and all the stars sparkle in the night sky. She loves it too when there’s a snow moon, and the snowflakes swirl softly all around her. She painted little scenes on her sled so she can remember how it feels all year long.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max Bailey

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileyWhen the ground is white, Snowbelle will call her friend Hedda, and the two will take the sled and head for the downhill slope behind the barn. At the bottom of the hill they will lie on their backs and swish their paws in the snow to make kitty snow angels. Then they’ll roll the snow into giant balls to make kitty snowmen.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max Bailey

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileySnowbelle is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, created from my own design and pattern and is meant for display only. She is made from 100% cotton fabric which is sewn, stuffed, and completely hand painted with acrylic paints. She is 13 inches tall.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max Bailey

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileyI sculpted Snowbelle’s face from paperclay, which I smoothed into her fabric head. Her pearl cotton whiskers were threaded through the paperclay before it dried.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileySnowbelle’s arms are button-jointed with gold antique-looking buttons, so she can be easily posed, and her paws are needle-sculpted. Her white tail supports her very nicely, so that she can sit up all by herself on a shelf, or a table, or in a cabinet. She will also happily sit in a chair, or stand with a doll stand. (Chair and doll stand not included.)

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileyI created Snowbelle’s pretty dress from blue cotton fabric that has a delicate pattern of snowflakes, and added white lace at the neckline. She has painted ivory bloomers that match her cute little high-button shoes with gold buttons. Her kitty legs are covered with tights that are striped in two shades of blue. They match her wooden sled.

Snowbelle, Original One-of-a-kind White Turkish Angora Folk Art Cat Doll by Max BaileySnowbelle is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She comes with a hang tag, a certificate of authenticity, and a copy of her story.

Snowbelle and her hand-painted sled are available for $650.00, plus shipping. Please inquire to [email protected]

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Kitty Cat Dolls

I had a long sewing day the other day. I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, and I wanted to make sure I wouldn’t hold Max up with our new folk art cat doll project, which we’ll put in our online doll gallery when she is finished. It was just a checkup. I was feeling fine. But, wouldn’t you know, I hurt my back while I was there, just picked something up the wrong way I guess, and I came out a crooked person. So ridiculous to hurt yourself at the doctor’s. Anyway, I am still a crooked person today, and am trying to find things I can do without moving around too much.

This is my other kitty doll, the real kind, fast asleep in his bed. Now that we have chilly weather, he has rediscovered his cat bed and is putting it to a lot of use. He purred himself to sleep while I was sewing.