'Jenny' doll

My sixth finish for this year is a rag doll for my wee cousin, Florence McGowan.

Her big sister, Lucia, received this version in 2020, so it was only fitting that I make one for Florence too.

I've insisted that this one is called Jenny, due to the first one being named Dana (my sister-in-law's name -see the post for the first version) - so I think it is only fair that we have one doll each!

I used a pattern called 'Pip', ripped out from Australian Patchwork and Stitching magazine, Vol 11 No 1 2010, and she is about 21" tall.

Sharing with my quilting and crafting friends via Kelly's Needle and Thread Thursday linky party!

Dolly

 Another creation in the soft toy department for this year, for 2-year old Miss Alexis Bankshaw (daughter of a former workmate of mine, the lovely Lisa).

I have been informed by Lisa that 'Dolly' is already being well-loved and snuggles in bed every night. 

 Lisa's first three daughters each received a 'Mrs Perkins' giraffe toy but, despite my hunting through the sewing room at least three times, I could not find the pattern anywhere. So, Dolly was made as a 'twin' for the other rag doll I made this year as I just loved the colours/fabrics.

Dolly is about 21'(53cm) tall and was made from a pattern (called 'Pip') in the Australian Patchwork and Stitching magazine, Vol 11 No 1 2010.  She was super easy to make and I love the final result!

Lucia's Rag Doll

I wanted to make a little something for my cousin's little girl for her 2nd birthday...

a hunt through my pattern collection turned up this adorable (and super easy) rag doll.

A second hunt, this time through my stash of fabrics, 

and I knew the doll would have 'red' hair (in honour of her Nana Jan, I might add!)

The hair is made of knotted fabric...and has earned her the name of Dana (after my sister-in-law, 

as her hair is similar, according to little Lucia and her Uncle Reece, who named her).

The eyes are appliqued, with hand-stitched edging and lashes.

The mouth is also hand-stitched.

The doll is about 21" (53cm) tall.

The pattern, called  'Pip', was from Australian Patchwork and 

Stitching magazine, Vol 11 No 1 2010.

Porcelain doll - French reproduction - Bru doll

I love antique dolls and loved making this Bru - she stands about 30 cm high and is still waiting on the dress as I have the fabric (pink velvet) but haven't got round to making the dress (can't remember if I have a pattern for her yet or not) but envision it being a type of old-fashioned late 1800s sailor-style dress that young girls would have worn.

Her glass eyes have also turned cloudy -the dollmakers had obviously
bought a big batch of the cheap glass eyes that the other dolls also have.

Porcelain doll - Googly #2

This is a taller doll, about 40cm; again with a composite body - the eyes don't seem to be affected like the other googly.

Porcelain dolls - Googly reproduction #1

This is another of my dolls, made in 1998-99, she is a Googly (the shape of the eyes and mouth give it away) and is called Alice (after my granny). This one only stands about 20cm high - she is a wee sweetie! Has a cotton body and was also hand-painted. I made her outfit, which includes layered petticoats and the pinafore.

Unfortunately that year there was a company that manufactured glass dolls' eyes which had a problem with the coloured pupils going cloudy a few months after being used and you can see that has happened here with Alice.

Porcelain dolls - French jumeau reproduction 1998

My first porcelain doll was made in about 1997 at a weekend class at Gore Polytech - I made a modern doll called Shea (she was so big I put the seatbelt on her to take her home in the car!) - I dressed her in a velvet dress (child size 2!) and she sat on an old school chair in the corner of the room.
I do have a photo of her somewhere but will have to track it down; I sold Shea at our garage sale about four years ago to a doll collector who lives in Mataura.

In the late 90's a small cottage on the main road of Mataura became a 'Doll Hospital' where the couple who lived there ran doll-making classes and repaired dolls.  I joined the classes with my dear friend Sandra Black and she made a modern doll while I made a reproduction French doll.

view of undergarments, including the boned corset!

She has been hand-painted and has a full 'porcelain' (composite) body.

I got the authentic old-fashioned style dress pattern from a Canadian doll-pattern company - she has a 'whalebone' corset and a bustle too! I made all her clothes on the sewing machine and by hand.

She is about 40 cm tall.

I was then hooked as have always been a doll girl so returned for the weekly night classes and created three more reproduction dolls.

the bustle!