A birthday present
Greetings from Sleep Deprivation Land! Woah – sick kids and no sleep are beginning to get to me… I have tried to edit this post over 24 hours and I just can’t get a nice flow so publish and be damned, I say, and sorry it isn’t more sparkly:
I have just finished this doll to give to a good friend on her big 4-0. I based the idea for this doll on a quick doodle I did last year. She’s a bit more clown-like, but I quite like her. I made up a new pattern using elements of my punkdorf doll pattern (arms and legs – less seam allowance), and a crazy adaptation of my marshamllow rabbits, believe it or not. Her legs are attached with buttons – a technique I learnt from Mimi and her fabulous felt doll tutorial at Purl Bee. Her dress is lifted directly from Fiona’s gorgeous Poppy Doll pattern (such a good pattern!) which was so quick and easy to make that I am looking forward to finding some time to make an actual Poppy doll. I used wool fleece to stuff my doll which was a great choice for something that needed a strong form and not much squish. Even so, I had to stablise her neck with half a paddle pop stick and it still has wrinkles (grr).
Off to have a coffee (my best friend).
Tomorrow we are off to Byron Bay but I am going to auto-publish next week’s What’s Hot and What’s Not on Wednesday so join me then – hopefully the widget works. xx
Responses
11th October 2009 at 10:16 am
She is super cute, love the freckles and the striped stockings. Have a wonderful holiday 
x
11th October 2009 at 10:43 am
Love her hair and stockings, your friend is gonna love her.
11th October 2009 at 11:12 am
What an adorable doll!
Hope the kids feel better soon.
11th October 2009 at 11:12 am
She is awesome! Love her stripey stockings and that she’s having the kind of hair day we can all relate to.
11th October 2009 at 11:45 am
Love her hair!
11th October 2009 at 11:57 am
You have done very well with sleep deprivation and sick kids. Very cute!
11th October 2009 at 12:49 pm
oh sorry to hear about the lack of sleep, it really is torture. the doll is beautiful, i just love the turquoise and red colours together.
11th October 2009 at 1:21 pm
She’s sensational. You are so great at choices of materials, the hair the fabrics, etc. It’s your style that comes right through. Fab.
11th October 2009 at 2:09 pm
that is some rockin hair! she is like one of your sketches come alive.
11th October 2009 at 4:38 pm
She’s fab, she just reminds me of Swedish authors Astrig Lingred ( think thats how you spell it!!) Pipi longstocking, and Lauren child did some gorgeous illustrations too. I love her hair it’s brilliant! Have a wonderful relaxing brake
11th October 2009 at 4:56 pm
Oooh I love her! She’s a little bit Astrid Lindgren Pippi, isn’t she!? Her hair and stripey legs are lovely! Her face is so cute! Ace work, you clever clogs! x
11th October 2009 at 6:38 pm
She is very special indeed.
Happy holidays! Hope you all get some rest and reading time. xx
11th October 2009 at 7:22 pm
She is gorgeous. Would love to know what you used for her hair.
11th October 2009 at 8:56 pm
Just beautiful and unique – I love the socks.
Are they sewn on? If they are not, I think you will be pulling them on a lot – or your friend will – they are going to be so tempting to roll down/remove.
11th October 2009 at 9:13 pm
Oooh! She’s absolutely exquisite! I keep scrolling back up to look at her gorgeous hair – just perfect.
(Thanks for the nice words about the pattern, too! )
Have a lovely holiday, and hopefully lots of blissful uninterrupted sleep. xo
12th October 2009 at 12:18 am
She is fantastic! I am sure she will be the perfect gift for 4-0. I love her hair… and her stockings. Well, and her face. Okay enough
12th October 2009 at 6:51 am
She’s beautiful! It really is like one of your drawings has just leapt of the page. So much character! Enjoy Byron.
12th October 2009 at 9:09 am
Well she is a adorable and like everyone else, it seems, I love her hairdo!
12th October 2009 at 9:23 am
Oh Claire she’s divine! She’s just oozing personality.
Have a wonderful break. I hope the weather is kind to you & you get to laze & read & relax.
12th October 2009 at 10:06 am
What a great gift!! I think I love her yarn hair the most. It’s a quirky, cut, disheveled-yet-tidy look… if that makes any sense at all??
Coffee is my best friend, too. I realized, very painfully, that any day I skip out on my date with a cup of Joe is a day where I have a terrible headache. A sign of addiction? Maybe… but it just spurs me on to making sure I don’t forget to drink my coffee!
12th October 2009 at 10:54 am
The little freckle details are just too cute! What a great gift!
12th October 2009 at 9:24 pm
Oooh, the stripey legs are a huge winner! She’s beauteous!
13th October 2009 at 6:17 am
Have you started your eldest on Pippi yet? My 7 yold just loves her, so strong, independent, devil may care – a great character. She loved her so much she went as Pippi to the book parade at school – love, love. p.s. I’d buy one of them dolls if they turned up in some online purchasing place….
13th October 2009 at 11:20 am
She’s great! I love her sweet but sly expression and thick red locks. Beth
13th October 2009 at 12:06 pm
As soon as I saw her I thought of Joan Holloway from Mad Men, for some reason. Must be the cheeky smile and saucy sideways glance! What a great way to usher in the 40s. Love it!
13th October 2009 at 1:29 pm
She reminds me of someone, a real person, although I can’t recall who…. Looking forward to decadent shots of byron.
20th October 2009 at 10:28 am
Ooooh! I love her! She is «magnifique!». And her hair are so cool! : ) Your friend is very lucky!
22nd October 2009 at 8:35 pm
Oh, I dont know if you´ll ever read this but just in case, I wanted to tell you this doll is absolutely WONDERFUL!!! i love it!!! really so, SO beautiful! are you planning on making a pattern?
with love,
ishtar
26th October 2009 at 10:49 am
What a thoughtful gift, love the color combination. Definitely know how sick kids can wear you down. I work with ReadyMade, and if you have some time you should take a look at some of their do it yourself crafts
29th October 2009 at 7:23 am
OH i LOVE her hair and socks she is SO adorable!
11th October 2009 at 10:08 am
Such a gorgeous gift.
I love that she’s a red head!!
Andi