Loved Crafting As A Kid and My Crafting With Kids Pinterest Board

I absolutely love to craft and especially love creating free tutorials, e-patterns, free e-printables, free e-books and how-to's for my customers and blog readers and have created a lot of "freebies" over the years.  To say the variety of crafts I like to try is an eclectic mix would be an understatement.  I don't think I've even found a craft I haven't liked.

All of my "freebies" are available on the "My Free E-Patterns, E-Printables, E-Tutorials, and E-Books" page of my Linda's Blog and on my "My Free E-Patterns, E-Printables, E-Tutorials, and E-Books" Pinterest board.

My love of crafts developed as a young child.  You see, my family is a family of crafters and have been for many generations. From my great aunt, grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, brothers, sister, nieces, nephews, children and grandchildren we're sewing enthusiasts, painters, woodworkers, knitters, crafters, designers, etc. and we all learned as small children from each other. 

And, as a crafter, there is nothing more enjoyable than teaching a young child how to make something and watching the sheer delight on their face as they learn how to make something and how proud they are when their creation is complete.  The sense of accomplishment is immeasurable.

So, of course, I had to set-up a "Crafting With Kids" Pinterest Board with some of the amazing tutorials, e-patterns, video's and how-to's I've found out there. 

Crafting With Kids Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's 

If you love to craft with your kids I hope you find these tutorials, patterns, video's, and how-to's helpful.

If you love my Crafting With Kids Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun with the kids.

Who Doesn't Love Purses? I Know I Do! How About You?

My recent project got me to thinking about purses and totes. Now I wonder why that is?

I love making totes and have designed and made many of them for It's Raining Baby Showers collection, my Alpacas Rock collection, and my Custom Fabrics Designs collection.  They can be big, small, lined, unlined - it doesn't matter. They are just so versatile. You can never have enough of them and you can never run out of uses for them. 

I loved making them so much I decided to create a free e-pattern for the Halloween tote above here and a free e-book for the large flower tote above here.

As I mentioned in a previous post back in 2012 I decided to take my first online class with Pat Winter on Artful Gathering. The class was called Crazy Quilting 101 and I  LOVED every minute of the class. Pat was such a fantastic teacher. I only wish I had taken one of her classes years before. I made the crazy quilted purse shown in the picture above which I posted about this here.  

After taking this class I had visions of making several semi-formal and formal clutches - some for me and some as gifts.  I never had time until.......  Does this give you an idea of what my latest creations were? Come on? Really? You must have some idea?

In any event, my latest projects got me to thinking about purses, clutches, wallets, totes, etc. and all the wonderful tutorials I've found for my  Purse, Bag,Tote Tutorials, Pouch, Clutch, Wallet, Pocketbook Patterns, Video's & How-To's Pinterest board.  

I have close to 1,000 pins on this board.  All wonderful "freebies" for creating beautiful purses and totes.

I've been collecting these pins for several years now and have visions of making all of them.  For sure that is not going to happen.  Even for me that is a bit much.  Close to a 1,000 purses... really?  For sure I'd be in divorce court... lol. 

While I won't be making all of them I do have my eye on a few tutorials I'd like to try.  There's the craft organizer sewing bag tutorial by Torie Jayne here,  the boho bag tutorial by Gerry Krueger here,  the quilted suitcase tutorial by Ashley of "Mommy By Day Crafter By Night" tutorial here, the crocheted granny square purse by Lily of  "Sugar'n Cream" which I would need to learn how to crochet first here (it's on my list of to do's),  and the fold over bag tutorial by Anna Graham here.  

There's so many I want to try and make.  So, many little purse organizers, wallets, storage baskets, etc.  You get the idea.  More than I could possible make in a lifetime.  I'll just have to settle for a few.  Maybe a little more than a few..... lol.

Purse, Bag & Tote Tutorials, Pouch, Clutch, Wallet, Case & Pocketbook Patterns, Video's & How-To's

There are so many wonderful tutorials out there for making all sorts of purses, totes, bags, pouches, clutches, wallets, pocketbooks, bags, etc.  I, of course, love them all and have collected close to 1,000 tutorials, patterns, and how-to's on my Purse, Bag,Tote Tutorials, Pouch, Clutch, Wallet, Pocketbook Patterns, Video's & How-To's Pinterest board.

If you love making purses, totes, clutches, wallets, pocketbooks, etc. then you're going to love my Purse, Bag & Tote Tutorials, Pouch, Clutch, Wallet, Case & Pocketbook Patterns, Video's & How-To's Pinterest board.

Have fun!

St. Patrick's Day Craft Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's Pinterest Board

St. Patrick's Day Craft Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

St. Patrick's Day is always a fun holiday. I hope you enjoy some of the St. Patrick's Day crafts tutorials, video's and how-to's I have found.  Have fun decorating.

If you love our St. Patrick's Day Craft Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's board please follow our board by clicking on the link above.

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.

Doll Clothes Tutorials & Accessories Tutorials , Video's, Patterns and How-To's

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.

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.

Doll Furniture & Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's For Making Doll 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.

Rug Making Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's Pinterest Board

When I was a teenager I used to accompany my mother up to the wool mills in Lowell where she could get wool for the braided rugs she liked to make. This was when original wool and thick, waxed thread was used to create handmade rugs.

I can remember her cutting the wool into strips and them feeding them through a red and green colored clamp that she attached to a table. With the help of 3 braid aids she was able to create a tight braid for the rug she was making.

I was surprised that her first braided rug was such a large rug. It was a 11' by 12' oval rug for our family room. Once she had her braided pieces she would spend hours on the floor stitching her rug together with the thick, wax thread. It was difficult to do and she inevitably wound up with backaches and cuts in her hands and fingers from the wax thread.

However, the end results were just beautiful and her rugs lasted the family for several decades.

I loved watching her do this and have thought from time to time that I might like to make a handmade wool rug on my own. Unfortunately it would take a lot of time which is a commodity for me these days. Perhaps when I finally do get a chance to make a rug the tutorials, video's and how-to's on my "Rug Making Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's" Pinterest board will come in handy.

Rug Making Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

If you love my Rug Making Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the "Follow On Pinterest" link above.

Have fun making your rugs.

A Memorable Shopping Trip and My Penny Rug Tutorials Pinterest Board

If you've been following my Linda's Blog for awhile and my The Book Review Corner Blog then you know that among a million other things I LOVE crafting with wool felt and wool felt kits.

In fact, I've written several posts about my wool felt adventures, which are as follows: "I Just Love This "Pumpkin Patch" Penny Rug", "More Handmade Presents for Christmas 2009 - Wool Felt Santa Ornaments," and "More Of My Projects From This Year - My Needle Felting Projects."

Whether it's making wool felt penny rugs, or needle felted penny rug pictures, or ornaments I just LOVE wool felt.

And, it doesn't have to be limited to penny rugs  or ornaments. Over the years I have made hundreds of cloth dolls using wool felt, brushed felt, shaggy felt, etc. I have found that it is especially useful for making animals, but the uses are practically limitless.

I was introduced to penny rugs during a shopping trip with my Mom to Sturbridge many, many years ago. There were several wonderful primitives shops out there that we liked to visit that carried primitive doll kits, wool felt kits, punchneedle kits, and penny rug kits.

One store in particular specialized in wool fabric. And, boy, did they have wool fabric. Some of the most beautiful wool fabric you'd ever want to see. And, boy, was it EXPENSIVE.

This store, in particular, would put together wool fabric bundles, maybe 10-15 wool pieces per bundle. I just loved looking at the color combination's and would imagine what I could make out of them. Then, my Mother would snap me back to reality by turning the price tag over. YIKES! Beautiful wool is expensive. Alas, all I could do was dream and save my pennies.

During the last couple of years there was a store out there that we liked to visit that put together penny rug kits. It, too, is no longer there. However, during our last visit I bought several penny rug wool kits and have been trying to find the time to make them during the last few years.

As usual I had many, many kits that I wanted to buy.  So many, in fact, I asked my Mother if she would carry a few to the counter.  Well, when she saw how many I had she said, "LINDA, one or two would do!  Look at how many you have!" I, of course, just laughed at the numbers I was carrying and decided to put a few (just a few) back.

That year I had decided that I wanted to try needle felting and wool felting as it seemed like everyone was having so much fun with it this year. I started with three wool felt kits where one was a penny rug type decoration that needed to have some sheep and tree decorations needle felted. The other two kits were more like wool felt embroidery kits to create primitive wool decorations which could be hung on a wall or placed on a table top.

It took several years before I had the opportunity to create some more of the penny rug kits I had bought. I had already created 3 of the kits back in 2009 and had posted about them in a Linda's Blog post entitled "More Of My Projects From This Year - My Needle Felting Projects." During this window of opportunity I was able to finish two more of the penny rug kits I had bought. One of those was a pumpkin patch penny rug picture that I wrote about in a Linda's Blog post entitled "I Just Love This "Pumpkin Patch" Penny Rug."

I still have a couple of penny rug wool kits left from that shopping trip with my Mother.  Maybe in 2017 I'll have another small window of opportunity that I can use to finish the rest of the kits.

And, if I do that, well - I'll just have to go on another shopping trip.  However, as the shop is no longer in Sturbridge this time I'll let my fingers do the walking all over my keyboard and all over the internet. You never know what I'll find but, I'm sure I'll find something I like.

And, I'm sure if I go overboard in the amount I'm buying a little bird will be whispering in my ear, "LINDA, don't you think you have enough of those!"

And, I'll answer, "Just one more Mom. One more!"

Penny Rug Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

In the meantime I decided to create a "Penny Rug Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's" Pinterest Board.  I hope you like my selection.

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

Have fun making your penny rug creations.

My Dollhouse & Miniature Creations Pinterest Board Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, How-To's Pinterest Board

Laura Diana's Victorian Dollhouse Part 1 (of 2)

Laura Diana's Victorian Dollhouse Part 2 (of 2)

I have always wanted to build a dollhouse and had high hopes that I'd be able to do that when I had my own house.  I didn't want a plastic toy type house.  I wanted a Victorian wood house with wood floors, wallpaper, working lights, miniature Victorian furniture, miniature rugs, etc.

I did have high hopes for this earlier on.  In fact, when I was in my twenties I used to but little miniature Victorian furniture kits for making furniture like a miniature Queen Anne dresser, Miniature Queen Anne sofa, etc.  I never made them and haven't seen the kits in years.  I'm not even sure if I still have them.

Unfortunately, 50 years go by rather quickly, and I haven't built my dollhouse.  I still want to.  The problem is one of time.  If you want to build a dollhouse, like the one I want, you need to reserve a whole block of time for it.

Since I won't be making my dollhouse any time soon that doesn't stop me from looking at all the beautiful dollhouse eye candy on my "Dollhouse and Miniature Creations" Pinterest board.

Dollhouse and Miniature Creations

I just LOVE dollhouses and have always wanted to create one of my own. Someday I will and will look to these beautiful works of art for my inspiration.

Follow Dollhouse and Miniature Creations

If you love my Dollhouse  and Miniature Creations board please follow my board by clicking on the "Follow On Pinterest" link above.

Aren't they all beautiful?  It would be hard to choose which one is your favorite - don't you think?

When Id do finally make my dollhouse I'm hoping that all the tutorials, patterns, how-to's and videos I've been collecting on my "Dollhouse Tutorials & Miniature Dolls & Crafts Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, How-To's" board will be helpful.

 Dollhouse Tutorials & Miniature Dolls & Crafts Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, How-To's

I just LOVE dollhouses, miniature dolls and miniature crafts. Someday I will make a dollhouse of my own. When I do perhaps some of these tutorials, video's and how-to's will be helpful.

If you love my Dollhouse Tutorials & Miniature Dolls & Crafts Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun making your dollhouses and miniatures.

Gotta Love Punch Needle and My Punch Needle Tutorials Pinterest Board

I just love trying all sorts of different crafts and was introduced to punch needle several years ago while shopping at a colonial store in Sturbridge with my mom. We were in one of our favorite stores in Sturbridge which sold all sorts of colonial fabrics, patterns, and craft kits.

When we went up to the register to pay for our patterns there was a woman who was seated behind the counter working at something with a tool we hadn't seen before. So, of course, we asked her what it was.

Well, it turns out it was a punch needle pen that she was using to make a tiny punch needle picture. She asked us if we wanted to learn how to use the pen and we, of course, nodded our heads,  We loved it and, of course, I ended up buying some punch needle patterns, a punch needle pen, and embroidery floss.

I finished my first few punch-needle kit rather quickly and decided to buy more kits for some of the handmade Christmas presents I was giving to my Mother, Sister, and Sister-In-Law that year.

As I was working on my punch-needle kits I kept thinking about how I wanted to finish my pictures.

You see, punch-needle is basically the weaving of DMC embroidery floss onto a preprinted even  weave type fabric to create a specific picture. So, I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to finish my pictures.

Did I want to use picture frames and a mat, cloth, or wood? Did I want them hung on a wall like a picture or create a stand alone box?

I decided to create wood frames for my punch-needle pictures that were capable of standing alone on a bookshelf. So, I enlisted the help of my younger brother and his amazing workshop to build my wood borders and to finish my punch-needle pictures.

The first frame took us a little longer than all the rest to work out all the kinks, but we got it down and completing the rest was relatively easy as we decided to wrap the punch needle to size around a 1/4" wood square and then create a border around that. We also decided to use a box inset to create a framed affect. The borders were painted and then I added heavy fabric wallpaper to finish the backs.

I ended up giving quite a few punch needle gifts over the years.

Punch Needle Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

I just love punch needle and, as you can see, have made punch needle creations over the years. I love watching punch needle video's and reading punch needle tutorials and how-to's. So, of course, I set-up a "Punch Needle Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's" Pinterest board.  I hope you enjoy my board.

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

Have fun making your punch needle creations.

Primitive Tutorials, Rustic, Woodland and Folk-art Crafts & Home Decor Tutorials Pinterest Board

I was first introduced to primitives with something I saw many years ago during a shopping trip to Sturbridge with my mother.  In one of the crafts stores we liked to visit I was looking at a box filled with patterns and just started laughing my head off. Of course, my mother asked, "what's so funny?" So, I showed her the pattern I was looking at and she burst out laughing, too. It was for a primitive cloth doll which was so ugly it was actually beautiful. So there we were - two grown women standing in the middle of a store laughing our heads off.

As I scanned through the box I found other patterns for primitive dolls that were just as ugly and just as beautiful. So, of course, I bought a few and could hardly wait to get them home so I could make them.   And, make them I did.

The popularity of primitive dolls - especially "raggedies" continued to grow and grow.  Primitive decor seemed to take over with all sorts of primitive things that could be made for one's home -  dolls, raggedies, make-do's, shelf sitters, holiday and seasonal primitive decorations, primitive animals, primitive graphics, primitive woodcrafts, curtains, rugs, furniture and so on and on.

Over the years I decided that I wanted to design my own primitive dolls and crafts of various shapes and sizes and create patterns for them so you could make some of your own. So, that I did.

Around this same time primitive decor was all the rage and gaining in popularity online which created a ton of primitive websites, blogs, and groups. It seemed there were primitives everywhere and no shortage of freebies for creating all sorts of primitive dolls, crafts for home decor, etc. So, of course, I printed off all the free tutorials, patterns, and how-to's I found and wanted to make. Over time the primitive crafts pile kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger to the point of being ridiculous.

So, when Pinterest came along I was thrilled. I could store all the free tutorials, patterns, and how-to's I found for primitive dolls, crafts, home decor and more on my Pinterest board and get rid of all my piles. Yippee!

Primitive Tutorials, Rustic, Woodland and Folk-art Crafts & Home Decor Video's, Patterns & How-To's

If you love primitives, too and would like to learn how to make them I hope you find the tutorials, patterns, articles, projects, and how-to's helpful.

If you love my Primitive Tutorials, Rustic, Woodland and Folk-art Crafts & Home Decor Video's, Patterns & How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun adding your primitive creations to your primitive decor.

Animal Art Doll Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's Pinterest Board

Several years ago I decided to design some animal art dolls of my own and designed my Victorian Animals Society which included bears, dogs, cats, mice and even Victorian moose dolls.

Unlike my Victorian animal art dolls which were made of felt animal art dolls can be made in so many different mediums.  Styles can  range from simple styles to very complicated art doll designs.

Animal art dolls are a favorite amongst artists and crafters alike with the bear art dolls being the dominate style.  I've seen some absolutely beautiful bears but have also seen some amazing rabbits, dogs, and other crazy creatures.  If you'd like to see some amazing and beautiful creations from some animal artists please visit my Animal Art Dolls & Teddy Bear Artists Pinterest board HERE.

Like everything else I do I love collecting all sorts of free tutorials, patterns, and how-to's for helping me learn how to make beautiful animal art dolls.  So, of course, I set up a Pinterest board for all those I've found.

Animal Art Doll Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's 

I just love animal art dolls and teddy bear art dolls. If you do, too and would love to learn how to make them perhaps these tutorials, video's, patterns, and how-to's will be helpful.

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

Have fun making your animal art doll.

Believe It Or Not I've Never Made Some, But I Do Love Them

Matryoshka Tutorials, Babushka & Nesting Dolls Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

I just love Matryoshka, Babushka & nesting dolls but have to admit I've never made some.  I would love to.  Just haven't had the time.  If you love Matryoshka, Babushka & nesting dolls, too and would like to learn how to make them I hope you find the tutorials, patterns, articles, projects, and how-to's helpful.

If you love my Matryoshka Tutorials, Babushka & Nesting Dolls Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Have fun making your Matryoshka.

My Goddess Doll Adventure and My Goddess Doll Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's Pinterest Board

It's no surprise that over the past few years I've been on a goddess doll adventure. It started back in February of 2009.   I had decided that I was going to try something new that year. To try and make a type of doll that I haven't made as of yet. Given that I've made over 2,000 dolls it would hard to imagine there was a doll I hadn't made.

Well, believe it or not but there were thousands of different types of dolls I hadn't made and one of them was a beaded goddess art doll. Either with a clay face or with a cloth face.

I had been wanting to make one for quite some time. The problem was - lack of time. So, I thought that maybe if the bodies were already made then I could just embellish the rest. Maybe?

So, when I saw that Monica Magness of "Girl Gone Thread Wild" blog had a batch of 10 small goddess art forms for beading, painting & altering for sale on her GirlGoneThreadWild Etsy shop I decided to buy them! The doll bodies were between 4"-6" tall in size of various colors.

The question became how I should I finish them? Some of the "goddess dolls" that I had seen were either faceless (which is fine with me) or had cloth faces, clay faces, had sun or moon faces, even beaded faces. Some of the face shapes were round or oval, some were square, and some were triangles. I hadn't quite decided what kind of face I wanted to try but I wanted to be prepared.

I also needed to decide whether they should have hair or no hair. Headdress or no headdress? I knew I wanted my "goddess dolls" to have beaded decorations along their bodies or in their clothes so I decided to visit my local craft stores to see what they had. I was expecting a little section of beads. Au Contraire! Make that ROWS and ROWS of beads. Aisles and aisles of beads. So many so that it was almost impossible to decide.

Should they be round? Should they be flat? Should there be a combination of the two? Should they be large, small, or medium in size? What color? Solid or multi-colored? Shiny or not? And on and on it went!

Obviously, this was not going to be as easy as I had thought. I really hadn't thought this through and should have tried to design what I wanted my goddess dolls to look like before I attempted to by the beads. Should they be traditional mixed media art dolls or should I make them a little different? Maybe they shouldn't even have beads? But, I really want to try beading as the dolls I've seen are just so beautiful. Time consuming to make, but beautiful.

In any event, I bought several different colors and sizes of beads and because I like to be organized I also bought some containers to house my beads. Can't have them falling all over the floor. That would not be good!

So, I had my goddess doll forms, hair, beads and embellishments. Since I just love history I decided to do a little research on the Internet on "goddess dolls" also known as healing dolls and spirit dolls and ended up writing two blog posts on this:

 "A Little More Information on Making Goddess, Spirit and Healing Dolls Of Your Own."

The History Of Faceless Dolls - Updated February 2015 - Part VII - Goddess and Spirit Dolls

My goddess doll adventure started in 2009 and didn't end until September of 2015 when I finally had a chance to make them and wrote about them in my blog post entitled "Update To My Goddess Doll Adventure - After Seven Years They Finally Came Into Being." 

A couple of weeks after I finally made them I decided to see if there was any more information out there on them so you could make one of your own and wrote a blog post entitled "A Little More Information on Making Goddess, Spirit and Healing Dolls Of Your Own."

Since then I decided to create a Goddess Pinterest board for all the wonderful tutorials, patterns and how-to's I've found on Goddess dolls.

No matter what type of goddess, spirit or healing doll you choose to make they all promote aspects of femininity, humanity, spirituality, compassion, humility, healing power, beauty, love, wisdom, peace, passion, truth, strength, intuition, fulfillment and empowerment. The goddess is seen embracing all aspects of life, all seasons, and all natural elements and goddess dolls represent all of her various aspects.

Today's "goddess dolls" are there to share your hopes, dreams, and listen to your fears. They provide comfort and solace in your time of need. They provide you with the strength you need to face the challengers in your life and empower you to succeed. To release your own "inner goddess." They are lovingly made and given out of heartfelt love from one human being to another. They offer nothing more than love, compassion, understanding, and peace.

Goddess Doll Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's

I have a goddess doll obsession and want to learn everything about them. I hope you enjoy the tutorials, video's, patterns and how-to's I've found.

If you love my Goddess Doll Tutorials, Video's, Patterns, and How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the "Follow On Pinterest" link above.

Have fun making your goddess doll.

Gotta Love Softies and My Softies Doll & Craft Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's Pinterest Board

Who doesn't love softies?  I know I do.  In fact I designed several for my "Egg Muff's" family of dolls. They are a fun loving group of dolls that love to sneak around and maybe, every once in awhile, drop in unexpectedly.

Toni E. Hawk and her brother, Tom A. Hawk, are the most fun loving of the group. You might find them peeking around a corner, peeking over the windowsill, peeking through a keyhole in a door, or sneaking into your room. You just never know.

Sometimes you might just catch a glimpse of their eyes and hair as they try to sneak a peak. If you listen carefully, you might even hear them laughing, even chuckling away. Sometimes you might even catch them doing a little jig. You just never know what they may do.

They love to laugh. They love to have fun. But, most of all they love to play hide and peak! No, not hide and seek! Hide and peak!

Toni E. Hawk and Tom A. Hawk are twins. She might seem shy and well-mannered, but she is anything but. She is highly intelligent and loves a good joke. She isn't afraid of taking on her twin brother, Tom A. Hawk, or his best friend, Spike A Peek. In fact, Toni E. Hawk actually comes up with the best thought out practical jokes around which makes her just a little bit intimidating to the other member's of the Egg Muff Series. However, when everyone gets to laughing at Toni E. Hawk's latest gag everyone soon forgets how intimidated they are by her intelligence.

Tom A. Hawk is anything but shy and well-mannered. He, too, is highly intelligent and loves a good joke and isn't afraid of taking on his twin sister, Toni E. Hawk, or his best friend, Spike A Peek. Unlike his sister, however, his intelligence isn't intimidating at all. In fact, Tom A Hawk does an exceptional job of hiding his intelligence while showcasing his wit, his charm, and his good looks. The girls just can't resist a charming, good looking, bit of a devil in him type of guy with a tomahawk hairdo.

Spike A Peek is actually the most rambunctious of the Egg Muffs and, generally, the least level headed. He always lets the fun get the better of him and finds that, more often then not, he's in the "Muff House" (the Egg Muff Series version of a doghouse) being "muffed!" This is also known as a "time-out!" Spike A Peek doesn't use his "time-out" and being "muffed" wisely. He uses it as an opportunity to think up his next prank. The one he's going to play on Tom A. Hawk.

Nancy Dew Drop is actually the most well behaved of the Egg Muffs and, generally, the most level headed. Sometimes, even Nancy lets the fun get the better of her and you might just hear her giggling in the background. Just listen for a sweet "tee-hee-hee" and that will be Nancy Dew Drop.

Over the years Mr. and Mrs. Hawk's family has grown to eleven so Tom A. Hawk and Toni E. Hawk have a lot of brothers and sisters to play jokes on.   With one short of a dozen the Hawk's thought it would be a good time to introduce them all to you.

Ditsy Daisy Hawk is the 3rd oldest and most assuredly the "ditsiest" of all the Hawk's. The 4th oldest is Dapper Devil Shamus Hawk and he is, well, a bit of a devil. He has a wicked sense of humor - in true Hawk fashion. The 5th oldest is Penelope Pinhead Hawk and she is every bit as lovely as as she is a pinhead. Common sense is not in her vocabulary.

The 3 middle children are Wild Irish Rose Hawk, Tangerine Lilly Hawk, and Henrietta Hawk. Wild Irish Rose Hawk is a "wild child" who is as carefree as she is wild. Tangerine Lilly Hawk takes after her father Tom A. Hawk. If someone is pulling a prank on someone else Lilly is the first person suspected. Henrietta is a little on the timid side and is always being taken by surprise.

 

The "babies" of the Hawk family are Devilish Cousin Andy Hawk, Cousin Reginald Reggie Pinhead Hawk, and Cousin Hillary's Secret Hawk. They are a trio of mischievous cousins that try their Aunt Nancy Dew Drops patience at times. After baby sitting them for a few hours Aunt Nancy has a migraine and has to go home to rest. That's when she leaves the baby sitting to Spike A Peek and that might actually be her mistake as he tends to put ideas into the mischievous cousins little heads. He is an "Egg Muff" after all.

I love designing my own, but that doesn't stop me from loving softies created by other designers and there are a lot of them that I love.  So much so I decided to create a softies Pinterest board to store all the wonderful softie tutorials, patterns and how-to's I've found. Hopefully, they'll inspire you to create some softies of your own. Enjoy!

Softies Doll & Craft Tutorials, Video's, Patterns and How-To's

I just love softies and everything and anything made with felt - especially dolls. If you would like to learn how to make softies and felt dolls I hope you find the tutorials, patterns, articles, projects, and how-to's helpful.

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

Have fun making your softies.

Gotta Love Paper Clay and My Paper Clay Tutorials, Video's, Patterns & How-To's Board on Pinterest

When I first started making dolls I made cloth dolls.  Following this I made cloth and wood dolls, then wooden dolls.  I had always wanted to make clay dolls with faces but making porcelain dolls was too much work and required a kiln.  When sculpey came out it was a step on the right direction, but required baking.  Then paper clay came out and was an answer to all my prayers.  It air dried. Fabulous!

So, when I saw that Artful Gathering was offering a class by Colleen Moody in 2013 teaching you how to make "Briley The Birdie" with a paper clay head and body I signed right up.  This gave me a great introduction into using paper clay and I loved it.

I decided to make 3 birdies. I should have known better than to ever let the "dollies" mingle with the trio of "birdies" as they convinced the "birdies" they should be different than "Briley."

So, despite my best efforts to get them to conform my trio of "birdies" decided to be rebellious and be the class radicals. They decided they didn't want to be cream colored like Briley was. They  wanted to be sponge painted. They insisted on it and then they had all the "dollies" urge me to sponge paint them.

I loved working with the paper clay and had some wood shelf sitter bodies I'd cut out years before but hadn't done anything with them yet.  So, I decided to make some mixed media shelf sitter scarecrows with paper clay faces that I sculpted.  After all what would Fall be like without adorable scarecrow decorations?

After this I decided to more of the wood shelf sitter bodies I had to make a few mixed media shelf sitters with paper clay faces that I sculpted as Halloween was just around the corner.

Then I decided to make three  mixed media Victorian collage and paper clay shelf sitter Man In the Moon wood art dolls dolls with paperclay faces using a mold that I had purchased.

I loved the way the mold worked for my Man In the Moon shelf sitters so I decided to make two wood art dolls with paper-clay faces using angelic face molds I had purchased and one hand sculptured.

I just love looking at pictures from museums displaying Victorian dresses on mannequins or headless dress forms and had wanted to create some dolls of my own like those. So, I decided to combine my mixed media Victorian collage art dolls with mannequin faces that I sculpted. This means they have the shape of a head and indentures of a face, but nothing is painted.

Following this I decided to make three  mixed media Victorian collage and paper clay shelf sitter angels - all with paperclay faces that I made utilizing a mold I had purchased.

Last year Artful Gathering was offering an online class teaching you how to make a Regency Era doll.  There was no way I wasn't going to take that class as it would be perfect for learning how to sculpt beautiful art dolls with paperclay heads and bodies.

The online class was taught by Hally Levesque who is an exceptional art doll artist, photographer and a bit of a history buff. Not only are her video's easy to follow and beautifully taught but they are sprinkled with historical tidbits of life with Jane Austen - which I loved.   Now why would that be? Hmmm.... History tidbits for a history buff....... Hmmm....

I was looking forward to taking this class as it would be the first time I would be sculpting the dolls faces, hands, and feet out of paperclay and then painting them with acrylic paints. Acrylic painting of any sort is not my strongest skill - so I knew this would be very challenging. At the very least it was going to be interesting if not comical.  Since I never do anything in moderation I, of course, couldn't just make one doll. I had to make two.

I had no problem with the costumes and cloth body. Sculpting the heads and legs was a bit of a challenge but I finally got the knack of it after experimenting a few times. Sculpting the fingers was much harder than I had anticipated and I ended up not liking mine. They looked like Frankenstein hands so I changed them into more of a solid hand.

Painting the faces was a real challenge. I just couldn't get them the way I would have liked them to be. Suffice to say, acrylic painting of doll faces is still not by strongest suit.

They say practice makes perfect so, who knows. Perhaps it's a skill I can master over time. Right now I wouldn't hold my breath.

This year Artful Gathering had another class being taught by Hally Levesque teaching you how to make a "Romantic Rosabella" shelf sitter art doll with paperclay heads and shoulders.  So, of course, I took this class.

I was only going to make 2 dolls but could not decide which color I wanted the base to be so I ended up choosing seven different colors from solid color fabric my sister had given me.

I figured at least one or two of the dolls would come out nicely and was pleasantly surprised when they all did. Even though the dolls are all similar looking they all ended up having their own little personalities. To no surprise most are "Diva's" or at least they think they are.

Each of the dolls is handmade with hand sculpted paper clay faces, arms, and bonnets. Each has handmade silk ribbon flowers as well as painted flowers down the front of the dolls dress. Handmade silk ribbon flowers are also used for their bouquets and to decorate their bonnets. Each doll also has lace and tulle gathered overskirts in the back which combined with the silk ribbon flowers makes the doll very romantic and very elegant looking.

I love working with paper clay and have so many ideas in my head for different kinds of dolls and crafts I'd like to try making with paper clay.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to make some of them this year.

While I love paper clay for it's ease of use I still want to learn how to make other dolls and crafts using polymer clay, sculpey, cernit,  ceramic, and even porcelain. So, of course, I decided to create a Pinterest board for all the dolls & crafts tutorials, video's, patterns & how-to's I've found.

Paper Clay, Ceramic, Polymer & Porcelain Clay Dolls & Crafts Tutorials, Video's, Patterns & How-To's

I just love paper clay, polymer clay, sculpey, cernit,  ceramic, and porcelain dolls & crafts and hope you like my selection of wonderful paper clay, polymer clay, sculpey, cernit, ceramic, and porcelain dolls & crafts tutorials, video's, patterns & how-to's.

If you love my Paper Clay, Ceramic, Polymer & Porcelain Clay Dolls & Crafts Tutorials, Video's, Patterns & How-To's board please follow my board by clicking on the link above.

Happy clay doll and craft making.