This is Clara, the doll who was waiting so long for a dress and then new shoes. Finally, she has it all.
Author: Elizabeth Ruffing
Astronauts, unclothed
These look to me like of a group of astronauts who just stepped outside their space station for a little floating exploration. I’m thinking their first thought must have been, “We’d better stick together.”
That, or they are a pile of dolls drying on a piece of black plastic. I kind of prefer the space version. Someone pointed out to me that it is interesting that I frequently create things with wings, or creatures that exist in space or in the sky when I myself have never even flown on a plane and am resistant to the idea. Perhaps I just prefer the fantasy.
There is a raglan effect on the sleeve, which is done by making a curve down from the top and then out toward the side seams on the front and back. The curve on the sleeves turns out and down, and then up and out as you draw from the top of the sleeve to the underarm seams. Dress length and sleeve length depend on the doll, but extra needs to be included for hems, casings, or pin tucks. Widths depend on the amount of fullness you want.
I add casings to the wrist area of the sleeves for gathering, and sew the sleeves to the front and back. I then do the hemming and pin tucks if I want any. I finish the back opening and sew a seam about halfway up from the bottom of the dress. I interface the yoke, and sew it together at the shoulders. Then the whole bottom of the dress is gathered onto the yoke. I sew a yoke facing on at the neck edge, sew the back edge of the yoke, turn it right side out, turn the bottom edge of the yoke facing under, and hand stitch it down.
I add snaps in the back and make a sash or a band similar to a cummerbund to gather the fullness of the dress in, and that is about it. Whew.
Where did June and July go?
I realized yesterday that I had posted seven blocks-of-the-month, and that September made nine. I fished around and unearthed June and July. How did I miss both June and July? I must have been in a time warp again.
Blue and Yellow Quilt, continued
This is the September block from the block-of-the-month class I’ve been going to this year. I’m glad to say I’ve been keeping up with my homework this time. I know I will get behind as soon as it is time to put it together, as I have reworked the entire layout, adding two extra blocks, a big hand appliquéd center piece, and I don’t remember how many little squares all along the outside edge. I’m sure it will be glorious, if I finish it before I am elderly.
I have been very busy lately, editing photos of art dolls and scans of art for Max, who is coming out with a new line of prints. I still have much to do, including finishing some dolls who have been extraordinarily patient about receiving their wings, clothes, paint, etc.
Hopefully soon I will get a gazillion projects of my own finished. Well, that is always unlikely, as I start ten while I’m working on any given one. Hope is good though.