Why Bother?
It's hard to say which came first - my love affair with textiles or my descent into doll costuming mania. It's all a little bit blurry around the edges. However. What is...
Projects
The drop-down menu above can take you directly to each doll’s wardrobe page, where there are only posts for that specific doll. On this page, you can read about all the wardrobes in progress, in whichever order I happen to add something.
Sticking Points
Sometimes a project gets set aside because I can't find my way to making a key decision. This is such a project. And yet, with the time for wearing short sleeved cotton...
MTBF
The letters "MTBF" are an acronym for a statistic. As in many things, the larger this number is the happier a person will be. I learned the term recently in a conversation...
Scallops, How I Loathe Thee!
How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways. . . Seriously. First there's the design transfer, then you have to outline the top and bottom of each scallop, and add...
Surprise! The Old Ways Still Work
When I decided to make Bernadette the LSDS 1912 Music Carrier, I knew I wanted to use leather. What I didn't know was how to transfer the complex design. This is what...
Bernadette’s Accoutrements
When Bernadette arrived in California, she brought a small wardrobe with her. This included the slip she's wearing in the photo above, as well as a corset and shoes with crocheted socks....
Edwardian Beauty Was Not Skin Deep
During a recent conversation, a friend commented on the beautiful simplicity of Edwardian fashion. She's very lucky we were on the telephone or I might have had to hit her. I said,...
Nothing Glamorous Happens on Picture Day
Maddie and I headed out to the garden this morning with high hopes of making something special happen. We had everything we needed - including a wonderful Manet poster to use for...
Desperately Seeking Frosting (and Sprinkles!)
Maddie's red sprigged summer dress has been nicknamed "the cupcake dress", for obvious reasons. I had to explain to the girls what cupcakes are. Now they all want me to stop sewing...
The Devil is NOT in the Details
You often hear the phrase, "the devil is in the details", which means imagining something wonderful is easier than actually making it happen. But - however benign this reference to satan may...