Author: Elizabeth Ruffing

Does anyone remember Princess Langwidere from L Frank Baum‘s Ozma of Oz? She had thirty heads, one for each day of the month, that she kept in individual velvet-lined cupboards in her dressing room. Instead of changing her gown each day, she would change her head. She always wore white, so her outfit wouldn’t clash with her head of choice for the day. Fascinating and frightening all at the same time. I loved loved loved Ozma of Oz. I don’t know how many times we read it when I was a child.

Much like Princess Langwidere, my little Lucy has a new head.

I think it suits her much better than her previous one. She now has hand-quilted ponytails as well. Very fancy.

Lucy is meant to be displayed and loved, but I wanted Lucy to be able to withstand some play. She is made of 100% cotton quilting fabrics that I fused to an additional layer of cotton sheeting for durability. She is decorated with ribbon trims, Rick Rack, and machine appliquéd fabric. I prewashed her fabrics so they wouldn’t shrink later if she needs to be gently spot cleaned and set flat to dry.

Lucy will be in my Etsy shop shortly. More photos of her can be found on Flickr. Please click here to see my available original, one-of-a-kind soft dolls and art toys.

The heat has been so oppressive for so long now that I am losing track of whether or not this is, or was, the weekend. I’ve worked through most of it. Having to be inside most of the time is

I’m sorry to even say that! I’m still plodding along with my new doll pattern(s). I finally convinced myself that no amount of tampering was going to make the head I’d made for this doll fit her body properly. Taking things apart is never fun. I’d gotten attached to her oddly disproportionate head in the same way that I grow to love what I’m afraid no one else will love, like the time in seventh grade when I got first pick of the litter of our classroom guinea pigs. I had to have the runt, a short-haired white fellow with pink eyes I named Napoleon. He wasn’t fancy, but he was a sweet little guy.

I will have to find some new purpose for this doll face. A wall hanging. A mini quilt perhaps. Something lovely and just as good as, if not better than, being on a doll body.

I’ve got a new head ready to paint, and another in a larger size. I’m hoping for the best. With pattern making, you just never know how things will look until they are put together.