Linda Walsh Originals Blog Pages

Thursday, December 01, 2016

A Special Request and My Doll Clothes Tutorials & Accessories Tutorials Pinterest Board



Back in 2008 I received a request from a customer asking if I would consider making a special order item for them. Now, I don't normally do special orders, but my customer wanted a graduation doll and both of my were sold out.

I told my customer that they could make either my "Anna" or my "James" graduation doll as both patterns and e-patterns were available. Well, for my customer, that was not an option as they did not sew and they already had a 20" doll. What they really wanted was a graduation cap & gown to fit their 20" doll.

So, what to do? My customer pleaded with me to "please" consider a special order request and make them a graduation cap and gown for a 20" doll. After much discussion I finally agreed and made them the black graduation cap & gown you see in the picture above.

Since I had already created the pattern pieces in order to make the graduation cap and gown I figured I might as well create the pattern to go along with the pattern pieces. My customer was happy with their gown and I ended up with a new pattern.

My new graduation cap and gown for 20" doll e-pattern is for making a gown with a two-snap front closure with fold down lapels, gathered front, and mid length full sleeves. The lined cap has a cardboard top, tassel, and elastic strap for affixing the cap to the doll's head.

As it turns out, it is one of my best selling patterns and because it is easily adjusted is used to make all sorts of graduation caps and gown for various size dolls, bears, centerpieces at graduation parties, etc.

I have full intentions of creating a handmade doll clothing line for various size and styles of dolls, but just haven't done so as of yet.  It's on my list.

I have, however, designed hundreds of my own dolls all with different styles of clothing which I can use as inspiration for my handmade doll clothes line. While, I'm sure, you'll love my doll clothing line you can't wait for me so I set up a "Doll Clothes Tutorials & Accessories Tutorials , Video's, Patterns and How-To's" Pinterest board to help you.



I just LOVE making doll clothes and accessories for my dolls. If you do, too I hope you find these tutorials, video's, patterns and how-to's helpful.

If you love my Doll Clothes Tutorials & Accessories Tutorials , Video's, Patterns and How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun making your doll clothes.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

My Birthday Cakes Tutorials Pinterest Board


Like most young girls from the "baby boomer" generation I learned how to cook from my mother. We'd bake cookies, cupcakes and cakes. The latter I wasn't particularly fond of as my brothers favorite birthday cake was white cake, white frosting, and coconut sprinkles everywhere.

I never had a piece of this cake.  I couldn't stand the smell of it. The reason is I had made the mistake of eating a whole package of coconut snow-balls on a dare from my older brother and ended up upchucking the whole bunch. As a result and to this day, I can't stand the smell of coconut. If someone asks me what kind of dessert I want for my birthday I always say lemon meringue pie. So, when it came to birthday cakes I let my mother make them.

I loved baking small things like cupcakes because you can easily decorate them. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when the Easy-Bake Ovens for girls came out. I could make all the cakes and cupcakes I wanted. Unfortunately, my first attempt at a cake in the Easy-Bake oven didn't turn out so well. It was hard as a rock and inedible.  Subsequent attempts, however, were a hit.

I've always wanted to learn how to make those fancy decorated cakes you see in the bakeries but have never had the time. However, it's on my craft bucket list.  In the meantime I set-up a Cake Tutorials, Video's and How-To's for Decorating Cakes Pinterest board and have been adding all sorts of delicious looking cakesto it.  Enjoy!



I would love to learn how to create beautiful cakes. If you would love to learn this, too, perhaps these tutorials, video's and how-to's will be helpful.

If you love my Cake Tutorials, Video's and How-To's for Decorating Cakes board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun making your cakes.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

The "Dollies" Are Stirring and My Doll Furniture & Tutorials Pinterest Board


My "dollies" have always thought they were human and entitled to human niceties. As a result we have had many confrontations over the years as to something they wanted and which I was not prepared to give them.

One of the things I did give some of them was chairs.  I love taking pictures of my dolls in various types of chairs as they always look so beautiful sitting in them. And, I love displaying some of them as decorations in my home sitting in their chairs.

Several days ago I heard  rumbling coming from "The Dollie Storage Room." I thought all the muttering and sputtering that I was hearing was due to my using the little red wagon for my Fall decorations seasonal scene which I had posted about HERE.

However, that was days ago and I thought the boy "dollies" had already gotten over that. So, if it wasn't that what was all the clamor about? I didn't have to wait long to find out.

The "dollies" were annoyed that not only had I given chairs from the group of chairs my sister had gotten for me to Baptist and Jael but they now were prominently displayed on top of the book shelves in the upstairs hall.

"Just Look At Them," one of the "dollies" said. "Just Who Do They Think They Are?"

Oh, boy! The "dollies" weren't happy about this.

Of course, the "dollies" aren't happy unless they're all included. Well, with 2,000+ dolls of my own creation there was no way I was going to give each of them their own chair.

So, I explained to the "dollies" who had gathered in the upstairs hall that the chairs didn't belong to Baptist and Jael. I was going to use the two wonderful chairs Baptist and Jael were sitting in to display some of the other dolls from time to time.

The "dollies" that had gathered in the upstairs hall seemed pleased with this idea.

That is, until they returned to "The Dollie Storage Room" and told the others. I should have know what was going to happen. It had happened before with the boy dolls." The "dollies" wanted to know how I was going to decide who should be featured and when.

They were all yelling and stammering and jumping about so as to get noticed. When this happens the only thing to do is to shut the door and walk away. The "dollies" would have to figure this out on their own.

So, I shut the door and started to walk downstairs. As I passed Baptist and Jael in the upstairs hall I couldn't help but think how adorable they looked in the chairs. Perhaps I'd teach the "dollies" a lesson and give the chairs to Baptist and Jael after all. If all the clamoring in "The Dollie Storage Room" didn't stop soon that was exactly what I would do.

When I got to the bottom of the stairs I looked up and could see Baptist and Jael smiling from ear to ear. They were thrilled with their chairs and the possibility of their chairs becoming their permanent seats.

Given the "dollies" generally get their way I knew I was going to need other doll chairs and other type of furnishing for "The Dollies Storage Room."  Luckily my brother is a woodworker and capable of making just about anything I would need if I decided to make more furniture for the "dollies."

The problem would be deciding what to make.  So, of course, I set up a "Doll Furniture & Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's For Making Doll Furniture" Pinterest board for when and if I need to make some more furniture.



Dolls need doll furniture, too... don't they? I hope you like some of my doll furniture favorites and tutorials, video's, patterns and how-to's for making doll furniture.

If you love my Doll Furniture & Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's For Making Doll Furniture board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun making your doll furniture.


Monday, November 21, 2016

Presents For You Santa


Several years ago I decided to enter one of the doll challenges on the Cloth Doll Artistry community that I belong to. I didn't win, but that was okay with my Santa. You see, I had told him if he didn't win it would be okay as I would make a pattern out of him.  So, a pattern he became. And, that suits him just fine.

I had previously written about being "In Sewing Heaven" on a post on my Linda's Blog when I was creating him but, wasn't able to tell you the details of the challenge at that time.

Well, the rules of the challenge were that we would each have a partner that we would swap 3 different holiday fat quarters with. Each of us would use the fat quarters sent by our partner to make a Santa doll. We were each sent a simple body pattern to use that could be altered anyway we wanted. The clothing was entirely up to us as long as we used the fat quarters we were sent and, as a bonus, could add 2 solid colors. There were three categories we could enter our doll in: Silliest Cartoon Character Type Santa, Most Creative In Color In Style, and Most Traditional In Style To Father Christmas.

My partner had sent me a bright red/green fancy floral fabric, rustic pine cone printed fabric, and a light beige/cream fabric. I decided to make my Santa Victorian in nature (pray tell now why would I choose that? LOL LOL) with a long lined coat and cuffed and gathered pantaloons.

I also decided to partially embroider and watercolor his face and give him silver embroidered glasses, as well as a raised nose. He had a full curly mohair mustache, full combination straight and curly mohair beard, and a straight mohair full head of hair.

His lined jacket was adorned with gold trim on the inside and outside edges of his jacket with the front lapels folded back and tied in place with red DMC floss bows. His lined jacket was fastened with a wired gold bow with wood button and the lined sleeves were gathered and cuffed with bright red fabric.

You can't tell from the pictures, but he's also wearing a solid green tunic that is gathered at the neck and wrists and fastened around his waist with a gold rope. His hat had a lined band, large red pompom and matched both his coat and cuffed two colored pantaloons. His black boots had criss-cross laces of white DMC embroidery floss. And, I decided to sit him atop a wrapped box with a large wired ribbon bow and have him hold a pre-bought decorated wooden sled.

It was a tough challenge as all the Santa's that were submitted were excellent. I submitted mine under the Most Creative In Color and Style category. It was hard choosing which one I liked for each category - besides my own, of course!! LOL LOL

Alas, he didn't win. Of course, I'd hoped I would win. I didn't but - a pattern he'll be for all of you to make. And, he's just fine with that.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Hunting Is In My Blood, Quinn Free E-Pattern


"Hunting Is In My Blood, Quinn" is a hunter to the core and he's ready to get going. It's hunting season after all and he looks forward to it every year. It doesn't matter if it's freezing out there - he'll be outside.

He doesn't mind a little cold weather, freezing weather, or even rainy weather. He loves the outdoors and all that comes with it. Of course, he also loves to hunt. Not for sport, but to talk to his "friends." You see, he loves nature and he loves all his animal friends. He "hunts" just to talk to them. To him there is nothing better than a brisk walk in the woods and talking to all his "deer" friends.

Quinn's all set for hunting. Now if he could just find his "deer" friends.



Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Designed and Written By Linda Walsh


Saturday, November 19, 2016

Cookie Making Marathons, My Love of Fudge, and My Fudge and Candy Pinterest Board


One of the things I always looked forward to during the Christmas season was my cookie marathons with my mother. There's nothing quite like the smell of cookies baking, the scent of Christmas candles burning, and the festive atmosphere of a busy kitchen during the holiday season.

For many years my Mother and I would reserve 3-4 days in the weeks before Christmas for our annual cookie marathons. We would spend two days baking cookies and then one day packaging the cookies for our friends, loved ones, and several senior centers and nursing homes.

Every year we would select the cookies we would be baking from our list. For the most part we kept making ones that we knew were really good. Once in awhile we would add a new cookie, but it had to be exceptional to bump another cookie off the list. Sometimes we added fudge and chocolate candies that we'd made. We knew that our cookies were good - how could they not be with many, many years of experience honing our cookie making skills? As our list continued to grow we even had people asking to be put on our list. So, of course, we added them and the list continued to grow and grow.

During this period we really took over the kitchen, the dining room, the family room and the sun-room. Let's face it during our cookie marathons we basically took over the house. There were tables everywhere for cooling the cookies or cookies on cookie sheets waiting to go into the oven or tables for the bags of finished cookies. Everywhere you looked there were cookies, but the smell was irresistible.

During the Christmas season hubby and I would inevitably attend one of the larger and more popular craft shows in our area. One show, in particular, always had a fudge booth which I loved seeing. I couldn't resist all the different types of fudge. I wanted to try making some so I started saving fudge and candy making recipes I thought might be good.

During one of our cookie marathons I told my mother I wanted to make some fudge and candy. She thought it was a great idea. Given how we were distributing our cookie containers and the time frame involved with doing so we decided that we would only make fudge and candies that didn't require refrigeration and selected several types of fudge we wanted to try. We created the fudge and then put each into a long rectangular Tupperware container for setting and then put it into a large cooler we had in the garage so it could set overnight.

The following day my mother and I emptied the containers and went to cut them. They were too big for us to easily cut so hubby lent a hand and cut them into 1" by 1" cubes. With the fudge done we started making the cookie recipes we had decided on. Since we had the fudge we didn't need quite as many cookies that year

It was a good thing we both were really organized and had similar kitchen styles for baking, washing, and cleaning up. While one was putting the cookies in the oven the other was taking cookies off the cookie sheets for cooling on the racks. While one was adding new cookie dough to the cookie sheets the other was washing some of the dishes. While one was mixing new dough the other was adding the cooled cookies to the plastic storage bags.

Two cooks in the kitchen spoils the brew was never a true adage during our cookie marathons. It was more like a Mother and daughter so in-tuned ;with each other they would be reading each other's minds at exactly the right moment. ;Knowing exactly what to do without speaking a word.

Oh, what fun we had. What warm memories to last a lifetime.

Over the years when I've seen different fudge and candy recipes I thought might be nice I'd save the recipes to a folder. As you can imagine my folder got quite large so you can imagine how happy I was when Pinterest came along. A fudge and candy making Pinterest Board was a perfect solution for storing recipes I wanted to try. So, I set one up.



I LOVE making fudge and candy and I'm always on the lookout for new recipes to try. Here's a few that look yummy!

If you love my I LOVE Making Fudge and Candy board please follow my board by clicking on the links above.

Have fun making your fudge and candy.



Friday, November 18, 2016

A Group Of Adorable Christmas Decorations Free E-Patterns, Tutorials and E-Patterns



Who can resist adorable Christmas carolers and decorations. Certainly not I.

If you can't either then you'll be happy to know that we have several free e-patterns and e-books for creating some adorable Christmas carolers and decorations. Just click the links below. Enjoy!






Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Bowling For Xmas, Santa - Free Bowling Pin Bendable Santa E-Pattern



"Bowling For Xmas, Santa" just loves to spend his leisure time bowling.  The problem is that during the holiday season he has no time for anything but getting the toys ready for the good girls and boys. He's just too busy to even think of taking time off for his favorite sport. Mrs. Claus has him going from sunrise to sunset. By the time the day is over he's just too exhausted to even think of bowling.

"Bowling For Xmas, Santa" is an 8" bendable Santa whose body is made from a wood bowling pin. He has a painted face, white roving beard and moustache and his arms and legs are bendable with black wood beads for shoes. His shirt is gathered at the neck and tucked into his red felt pants with Christmas fabric patches on the knees.  His pants are embroidered and gathered at the waist. His matching red felt jacket is embroidered along all the edges and has Christmas fabric patches on the sleeves. His pants are tucked into his white felt socks which are criss-cross tied with rope over his black bead shoes. His white roving hair is barely controlled under his green felt hat with white felt band, Christmas fabric patches, and white pompom.

A fringed Christmas fabric scarf is wrapped around his neck and he is holding a miniature wood pony and small present.

"Bowling For Xmas, Santa" is hoping to have some time for his favorite past time after the holidays. That is, if Mrs. Claus gives him some time to bowl. We'll see.




To view and download my free e-pattern please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view our free e-pattern. Then just download our free .pdf e-pattern by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Bowling For Carols, June - Free Bowling Pin Female Caroler E-Pattern



"Bowling For Carols, June" just loves to sing and loves the holiday season when she can go caroling.  She loves the music and loves the festive atmosphere of going from house to house. And, if she's offered warm cocoa - well, that's just icing on the cake.

"Bowling For Carols, June" is a self-standing female caroler with a painted face, wooden bowling pin body, dowel legs and half egg wood feet. She is wearing bloomers that are gathered at the waist and ankles.  Her favorite shirt is gathered at the neck and tucked into her warmest wool skirt, which is frnged at the bottom.  Her warmest and cheeriest wool cape is wrapped around her shoulders and keeps her warm against the winter chill.  She has curly brown doll hair that is barely controlled underneath the fringed wool scarf that is wrapped around her head,    She's holding the bells for ringing in the next carol.

 "Deck the halls with............FaLaLaLaLa......





To view and download my free e-pattern please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view our free e-pattern. Then just download our free .pdf e-pattern by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Bowling For Carols, Henry - Free Bowling Pin Male Caroler E-Pattern



"Bowling For Carols, Henry" is a unique caroler.  Not only does he love to sing, but he loves to bowl.  And, bowling with Santa is one of his favorite past times.  Unfortunately, Mrs. Claus has Santa so busy during the holiday season he doesn't have any leisure time.  So, Henry is spending his holiday doing his second favorite activity - caroling.

"Bowling For Carols, Henry" is a self-standing male caroler with a painted face, wooden bowling pin body, dowel legs and half egg wood feet. He is wearing his favorite pair of BIG corduroy pants which are gathered at the waist and his warmest wool sweater.  He has straight brown doll hair under his blue wool cap with pompom and has a fringed wool scarf wrapped around his neck.  He's holding the bells for ringing in the next carol.

 "Deck the halls with............FaLaLaLaLa......




To view and download my free e-pattern please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view our free e-pattern. Then just download our free .pdf e-pattern by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Christmas Floral Decorating Fun Free Tutorials, E-Patterns, and E-Books


Christmas is my most favorite time of the year to decorate with all my Christmas floral designs. I have so many at this point in time that I have to rotate them year to year. Since most are made with silk floral or pine-cones and nuts they never wear out and look just as good now as they did when they were made. Some have lasted twenty years or more.

If you love decorating for the Christmas season with floral as much as I do then you'll be happy to know that we have several free tutorials, how-to's, and e-books for creating floral Christmas decorations. Just click the links below. Enjoy!














Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Linda's How-Do-I Series? How To Make A Fall Silk Floral and Straw Front Door Wreath Free E-Book



One of the floral crafts I love creating is wreaths.  As far as home decorations are concerned you can never have enough wreaths. They're just so much fun to work with and so versatile.


This year I decided I wanted to create a fall wreath for my front door. The challenge with creating a wreath for my front door is I only have a 3" clearance between the front door and the storm door as you can see in the picture above.  So, it couldn't just be any type of wreath.

I had bought a straw wreath many years ago that was actually 3" deep and 14" around that I thought would be perfect. I thought it might work so I started making my wreath.  As I was going along I thought, perhaps I should have tried the wreath on the front door before I started making it. Nah! It would fit. So, I continued with my fingers crossed.

As I was going along I decided to cover the straw wreath with ribbon and velvet leaves, which wouldn't increase the depth of the wreath and to place the silk florals inside the inner circle of the wreath, which also wouldn't interfere with the depth.

When the wreath was done I brought it upstairs and, with my fingers crossed,  tried it.  Luckily for me it just fit.

I was so pleased with the way my wreath came out so I thought you might enjoy a step-by-step tutorial of how I made my wreath.   Here's how I made it:

How To Make A Fall Silk Floral and  Straw Front Door Wreath


Supplies Needed:

3” Deep by 14” Around Straw Wreath
1 1/2” Wired Gold Ribbon - 4 Yards
Hot Glue and Glue Gun
18” Fall Fern Silk Floral Stem Bunch - 1 Bunch With 10 Fern Stems
15” Fall Velvet Leaves Floral Bunch With 6 Stems - 4 Bunches With 6 Leaves (2” to 3”) Per Stem
Wire Cutters
18” Brown Cattails Bunch - 1 Bunch With At Least 5 Stems
7” Green Autumn Accent Beads - 1
7” Orange/Rust Autumn Accent Beads - 1
21” Brown/Cream Fall Beaded Floral Bunch With Multiple Stems - 2 Stems
Floral Greening Pin (For Hanger)  - 1

Instructions: 


1) Apply hot glue to the wrong side of one end of the 1 1/2” gold wired ribbon and glue to the back center bottom of the straw wreath.


2)   Wrap the gold wired ribbon around the straw wreath leaving a small opening between each wrap until meeting your starting point.  Trim the wired ribbon if necessary and then hot glue the end to the back of the straw wreath.


3)  You are going to glue the fern stems to the middle of the sides of the straw wreath in two rows of 5 fern stems each.  Cut the 10 fern stems at the junction of their stem with the wire cutters.  Starting at the bottom center of the middle of the side of the straw wreath insert the end of one of the fern stems just under the side of one of the bottom ribbon wraps and hot glue the end to hold it in place.


4)  Leaving the top 2” of the fern unglued hot glue the fern stem to the middle of the side of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon along several areas of the middle of the back of the fern stem to hold it in place.


5) Insert the end of the next fern stem under the ribbon closest to top of the previous fern stem and hot glue it under the ribbon to hold it in place.  Hot glue the back of the previous fern stem over the bottom of the fern stem you just glued in place to cover it.  Leaving the top 2” of the fern unglued hot glue the fern stem to the middle of the side of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon along several areas of the middle of the back of the fern stem to hold it in place.


6) Continue gluing 3 more of the fern stems in this same manner along the middle of the side of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon until the middle of the side of the wreath is covered.  Make sure the fern stems are glued enough in back to hold them in place without the glue showing.

    

7)  You are going to glue the back of the remaining 5 fern stems to the side of the straw wreath 1” below the 5 fern stems you just glued around the middle of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon in the same manner as Step 3 through Step 5.


8) Cut all of the fall velvet leaf’s at the stem of the leaf itself with the wire cutters.  Keep 3 velvet leaves aside for now.  Starting at the bottom center of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon hot glue the back of the bottom of one of the leaves over the middle of the fern stems you glued along the middle of the sides of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon.


9)  Continue gluing the velvet leaves in this manner on top of the fern stems glued around the middle of the sides of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon until meeting your starting point again.


10)  You want to create a 2nd row of velvet leaves glued in the same manner as Step 9 above the row of velvet leaves you just glued and covering the top half of the sides of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon.


11)  Continue gluing the back of the leaves in this manner until you reach your starting point again.


12) Cut three of the 18” cattails approximately 12” long with the wire cutters and insert them into the straw wreath in a fan pattern in the center bottom of the inside rim of the bottom of the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon where you started the wrapping of the wired ribbon in Step 1.


13) Cut two more of the 18” cattails approximately 12” long with the wire cutters and insert one into the straw wreath to the right of the 3 cattails you just glued in place and one to the left side bending them in the manner shown above.  Hot glue all 5 of the cattail stems to hold them securely in place in the straw wreath.


14) Insert the green and orange/rust Autumn Accent beads into the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon just in front of the cattails you just glued in place and as shown in the picture above.  Hot glue both to the straw wreath and wrapped ribbon to hold them securely in place.


15) Cut two of the 21” brown/cream Fall bead florals approximately 9” long with the wire cutters and insert them into the straw wreath in the center of the bottom inside of the straw wreath just behind the cattails you previously glued in place.   Hot glue them in place to securely hold them to the straw wreath.


16)  You are going to cover the floral stems you have glued in place in the bottom center of the straw wreath with the 3 velvet leaves you previously set aside in Step 8.  Position the 3 velvet leaves to cover the stems you have glued to the straw wreath and then glue the velvet leaves to hold them.


17)  Insert one of the floral greening pins into the center of the top of the back of the wreath until there is about 1/2” left to form the hanger as shown in the picture above. Hot glue all around the pin to hold it securely to the wreath making sure it will hold the weight of the wreath.


18) Hang the wreath on your front door.

I also created a free e-book for you showing how I made the fall silk floral and straw front door wreath shown in the picture at the top of this post.


To view and download my free e-book please CLICK HERE. You'll be brought to Google Drive where you can view my free e-book. Then just download my free .pdf e-book by clicking on the down arrow in the top center.

For more information on all my free e-patterns, e-printables and e-books please CLICK HERE.

Please respect My Terms of Use:  All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.

Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.

However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.

Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.

Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.

Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.