Dress Sneak Peek

Okay, I'll come clean: this is essentially Viola picspam. I can't help it - she's just such a beautiful doll! Even under harsh and dull lighting she's lovely, but in late afternoon sunlight she just shines. 

No filters need apply. 

A little bit about the dress: it's really simple, just one bodice piece and four skirt panels (I didn't line it for lack of fabric), and all straight stitching except for the bodice hem. The pattern calls for eight panels, and then gathers them when sewing them to the bodice, but I wanted a sleeker look so I left them off.

The bodice closes fully in the back, so you can use snaps, velcro, or buttons to do it up. I personally like the laced up look of a corset, so I sewed up the back of the bodice a little smaller and then put in eyelets. It was a bit of extra work (and more than a bit of extra expense - thank goodness for Joann's coupons!), but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Ostensibly a photo of the back closure, but let's be real - I can't get enough of Viola's gorgeous hair.

The best part of the dress for me is the embroidery. This was my first time freehand embroidering, and I had so much fun with it, though I still struggle with French knots. 

I can't wait to share the tutorial with you, and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. While I love making things for all my dolls (paper or otherwise), Viola is my especial muse, and it's such a pleasure to create with her in mind. I hope that, no matter who is the lucky recipient of your dress, you have a similar crafting experience.

Summer Series 2014 Big Reveal

Finally the supplies have been purchased, items photographed, and at last I can reveal the new project. Kudos to Cinnamon Swirl and Ashley A. for being closest to the mark regarding what the new project is!

You may recall that last year's summer project series featured Juliet, a paper Ellowyne doll, and involved several tutorials for summer related paper doll items.

This year I decided to do something similar, only with several alterations. This series is not restricted to summer themed projects - in fact, it's not even restricted to paper items. Like last year, Ellowyne Wilde is involved, but she's of a completely different sort altogether. 

I would like to present you with "3D Thursdays," featuring Miss Viola Blair Wilde.

Viola, "Behind Blue Eyes," was a fairly good eBay deal (a gift to myself for completing my senior thesis, which is a greatly simplified version of the process of getting a PhD) and just what I needed to break me out of my creative mental block. She arrived without clothes or accessories, and since I won't abide having a naked doll around (paper or otherwise), I began to explore the whole new world of fabrics and clothing patterns. In this new summer series, I'm going to share what I've learned about making three-dimensional doll items, and provide tutorials for making your own. The first will ideally be up this Thursday or the next, and in it I'll show you how I made the dress in the photo.

I say this both as a caution and as and encouragement: I'm no sewing guru. That dress is the third doll garment I've ever made. Don't expect any fancy sewing terms or tricks, but at the same time, if I (a complete beginner) could make doll clothes that are functional and not hideous, anyone can too. I look forward to sharing these tutorials with you, and seeing what you make with them!

Texture Teasers Part 4

At last, the final teaser post! This one is the most obvious, as well as my favorite aesthetically:

Hope this cleared things up for you somewhat. I can't wait to reveal the rest!

Texture Teasers Part 3

Below is the penultimate photo. You may have noticed that they have been decreasing in difficulty (at least I think so). Sorry about the lack of quality - the zoom feature was not being cooperative. I need to get myself a zoom lens.

Did this help in your hypothesizing? (Sorry, I'm all about the alliteration today.) Share your thoughts!

Texture Teasers Part 2

As promised, here's the next photo in the series, this one perhaps a bit easier:

Hope this was helpful in your guessing! Let me know what you're thinking, and, of course, don't spoil the fun if you already know what's going on.

Texture Teasers Part 1

Can you believe it's June already? I'm so glad to be back to blogging, albeit a few weeks late. (Sorry! Next time I'll try to arrange for some guest posts.) Since my newest project isn't totally ready for unveiling and I'll be without internet for a few days, I've got a quick series of posts lined up. For the next four days, I'll share a closeup photo of the new project, and reveal it all on the eighth (presuming I can get the rest of my supplies in time). Here's today's photo - can you guess what it is?

Come back tomorrow for the next photo clue!

(Note: You may already know what the surprise and new project is from pictures I've shared elsewhere. If so, please don't spoil the fun for other readers, though I commend your deduction skills.)