Tag: Soft Dolls and Art Toys

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I think the rain ate my brain

Just grasping for a title. It’s dark and rainy this afternoon. So, I have no decent photos of the dolls I finished yet, four “Gumdrop Babies” and one extra-small “Hug Me! Slug“. I think I will make a slug set with the tiny one and a medium-sized one because I don’t think I want to try to make a tiny one again! He’s cute, but he was challenging due to his smallness. I’m at work on some new doll/toy designs, and my Lucy dolls are still waiting to be sewn up. I’ll have to update my Etsy shop sometime soon.

Other than that, I vacuumed my workspace and put my dolls in a big box to keep them clean and nice. I spent some time this morning trying to set up a webcam that wouldn’t work, regardless of what software I tried installing, and then I tried to decide if I wanted to install Skype. A friend suggested I get it, but I don’t really have a great love of talking on the phone to begin with. Add sitting at the computer some more to that, and I’m not sure it appeals to me. I suppose being able to see a person, via webcam, while talking to them might might eradicate one complaint I have about talking on the phone, which is not being able to read a person’s expression, but considering what passes for the “casual wear” I wear to work here at home…I’m not sure I want to be seen! I’m not sure I like that little eyeball staring at me either. Maybe I’ll come around with encouragement. Maybe not!

Update: The third (or fourth?) time is a charm? The webcam came on. I still have no idea what to do with it, and it is only photographing the kitchen while leaving me in total darkness…but it did come on. Such excitement.

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Slugs of All Sizes

I’m expanding my slug population. They now come in small, medium, and large! I am particularly smitten with the small one. His very smallness is irresistibly cute.

I think I will even attempt an extra-small “Hug Me! Slug”. I’m just not sure I can turn them right side out if they get any smaller.

The medium one looks kind of like a teenager 🙂

I have an extra-large one from before. He was the first “Hug Me! Slug” that I made, before I realized that those Priority Mail boxes didn’t come that big! Oh well. I had plans at the time to smuggle him into my then-boyfriend’s apartment, and leave him perched on top of the TV shelf, or some similarly semi-conspicuous place, as a surprise, but I never got back over there. Oh well, on that too. So it goes. Mr Extra Large is all mine now, I guess 😉

So…small is about 7 1/4 inches tall, medium is about 10 inches tall, large is about 12 1/2 inches tall, and Mr Extra Large is about 17 inches tall. I’m still working on about eight million other things all at once! I’ll add more toys and dolls to my Etsy shop soon.
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Soleil the Sock Baby Doll

This is Soleil, which means “sun”. She cheered me up, and so I thought that would be a nice name for her. I modeled her sock body as closely as I could after the body of the sock baby I have from my childhood. So she has the same squishy softness I love so much about my doll. I used my own design for her sweet face, which I hand embroidered with Pearl Cotton, and I carefully hand sewed loops of honey-colored soft yarn all over her head for her curls.

She is presently visiting with my “Gumdrop Babies“, my “Hug Me! Slugs“, and one “Super Slug“. I’ll be making more toys and dolls and adding them to my Etsy shop.

I designed a more modern outfit for Soleil than the outfit my original doll had, which was more of a prairie-style dress and bonnet. Soleil has a pair of pants and a top which are both elasticized at the top so she can be dressed easily. Like my original doll, she is still dressed in pink. I added a heart appliqué to her shirt.

Soleil should be safe for children three years old and up, or any children who are no longer putting things in their mouths, or at risk of getting tiny fingers caught up in her yarn loops. I try to make my toys as child safe as possible. I’ve sewn down her loops of yarn hair and tacked down her ribbon ties, but yarn and ribbon make her better for children who are at least a little past babyhood.

Soleil can sit on a chair or a shelf for decoration, and she can be played with and hugged. I prewashed the cotton quilting fabrics I used for her clothing in Tide Free, and dried them in the dryer. Her clothes can be washed in warm or cool water. Soleil herself can be gently spot cleaned with warm or cool soapy water, rinsed, and set to air dry.

Update: Soleil has been adopted. Thank you!

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Angelica the Gumdrop Baby

I thought I’d finish a doll, rather than just do a little on this one and a little on that one, so I’d have something to show for myself! This is Angelica.

She reminds me of Little Red Riding Hood, only as a baby.
We ran outside to try to photograph her before the rain started. The sun was shining here this morning, but it’s been getting darker. We have rain so far, but no strong winds from Hanna yet. Here’s hoping it won’t amount to anything serious.

I have so many projects going on right now, I’m not even sure what I will finish next. Most likely, I will start a few things too. I’ve been putting my cloth dolls and toys over in my Etsy shop.