A little story about a doll.......

Once upon a time there was a doll maker, she lived in a world of lace and roses, dreams and flowers, tulle and ribbons, and well...    I could go on forever, but you get the idea.

One day a beautiful face emerged from the fabric, all dreamy blue eyes and the cutest button nose you've ever seen...

And after a few days she started to transform into a beautiful creation...

Using some of the doll makers finest supplies including Hand spun Mulberry Silk with gold twine and glass beads for her hair, and beautiful shimmery Glass house fabric and the softest of softest netting for a lovely wispy skirt ~ the doll maker thought it was her finest creation ever...

The doll maker was so excited by this beauty she took all sorts of photos, she had big plans for her...

The pretty dreamy blue eyed girl quickly found her way into the doll makers heart and the doll maker decided to keep her as her own and make her the new face of her business...

Then one day in the studio whilst the doll maker was working on some other creations, the pretty dreamy blue eyed girl unfortunately acquired some white paint to her neckline :(

So then the fate of her future was well and truly cemented, she would always live in the studio with the doll maker and be her muse, her model and companion to all creations that pass through the doors.

So you will see her popping up from time to time, and she amazingly fits some Blythe outfits that the doll maker also dabbles in...

So for any of you who were wondering who that girl is in the background, now you know who the  Dreamy Blue Eyed beauty with the cute button nose is.

xx

A Blythe Story...

So along my journey of doll making and creating, I spend an undefined amount of time doing what I call "research"  ;)  online. Anywhere from flickr, instagram, pinterest, etsy, ebay, facebook and just good ol' google.  I kept seeing these Blythe dolls pop up over and over again and eventually fell in love with them and their adorably cute outfits and accessories. I always claimed to not be a doll collector, but I think now my status has changed. I spent a lot of time researching and stressing over how to buy my very first Blythe doll, and eventually found this lass......

Disco Boogie Blythe (Takara)

I thought it best to just go second hand for a first one until I learnt a bit more about them.  So timing it with my daughters 11th birthday, she was blown away when she unwrapped her very first Blythe doll (very well aware that she had to share her dolly with mum  ;)

So needless to say, my days are now spent obsessing more about fabrics and dress styles for our precious new family member, who is yet to be named anything other than Blythe. Hmmmm we must do something about that, will get back to you soon with a name for her.



 This crochet beanie is the very first thing I made for her, it took a lot longer than I thought, their heads are quite large.

We found these glasses in an op shop on one of our travels - a perfect fit!

I set about to make a pretty outfit for her to give to my daughter on the day she got her, it's not perfect, but I was happy with it for my first try at miniature dress making.

Her bodice and straps are a little wonky but I shall keep trying until I master it. And her petticoat ended up too long, she seems to look cuter in short dresses and skirts. 

xx

Chaos

This is a peek at what my craft table looks like most days - I start and start and start different little projects all the time, sometime just flitting back to an old idea just for a few seconds and trials, then over to something else! It is a bit messy, but super fun anyway!!!

xoxo

Art Dolls

I just wanted to share with you some of my dolls that I've made this year.....

This is Anastasia - still working on this one today

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend. xx

Art Dolls

So I haven't posted since November, things have been so very busy around here!!!
Firstly the Christmas holidays and festivities went off well, we had a fantastic street xmas party that sort of just rolled right on through the week and a bit into the next as well! What a great place to live, we have such fantastic neighbors. Our actual xmas day was very quiet, just us and the kids, sadly to far to fly home to see everyone, but we skyped for a bit - thanks for the technology!!

I finished the year of with the last of my Shabby Annies on sale and they both sold promptly. Heading into the new year with a clean slate I embarked on a new style of dolls.

This was my introduction of my Shabby Annie Art Dolls on my facebook page  

I have been making dolls for many years, selling them locally at markets and to dear friends. Last year when I took the plunge and started selling online, I was overwhelmed at the response. And through the many social media networks that are available to us today, a door was opened to a wonderland of fellow doll makers and collectors. I am in awe of the many talented and artistic dolls being created around the world and the never ending source of inspiration, I find my knowledge widening at a great rate of knots, so with a few butterflies in my belly I introduce my first Shabby Annies Art Doll – ‘Sophie’.

I am still making my dolls out of 100% cotton homespun, I hand paint with acrylic paints the face and sometime little shoes. The dresses are mostly made out of 100% cotton patchwork fabrics from my huge stash, and occasionally the dresses are made out of upcycled clothing. I still like to have a little strand of pearls on them, but not every doll fits them. 

I have had quite a good response from my followers so far and no sooner do I release a new doll, she is gone within 24 hrs. I have also been getting a few orders each week, which is keeping me on my toes.

I'm not going to keep on going for too long, but will try to stop by here more often - I have missed blog-land!!

Shabbily yours ~ Paula xx

Meet Elizabeth Bennett

From Pride and Prejudice, a custom order that I loved making so much, I might have to do a few more of the Bennett girls.

And while my obsession with pumpkins and mushrooms has subsided, I have a new love for pears - this is an oversize pear - for decor or cushion.

Also have finally got started with some Xmas crafts, I have been busy working on my ruffled tree skirt today, will post some pictures soon!

I FINALLY found my password for my blog!!!! I just registered to have it sms'd to me next time that happens. Let's hope it never happens again anyway!

I've been quite busy since my last post, I have a whole heap of this I want to post but will pace them out for now.

I have done 'Marie Antoinette' earlier and have now created another one, I normally would never make the same doll twice but with all of the wigs and dresses that she wore, I could make heaps more......

This one is off to the ball! She is going into the doll show case in November that I mentioned in September, I'm still trying to work out how much to put on her, I was thinking $80? What do you think?


I had another doll that was to go into it as well, but she sold already - a lady saw her and just fell in love with her, and... well I'm not very good at saying no - so she has gone to a new home.

'Livvy'

I miss the girls when they are gone, might have to make one to keep soon!

Well that'll do for today, hope you are all well   -  XOXO

Hannah!

A little out of my usual style - I was asked to create a debutante Shabby Annie for a dear friend. Her niece (Hannah) was turning sweet 16 on the same day as she was doing her debutante ball. I was sent a photo of her and her dress - I was quite happy with how she turned out, though I did have to put a stick inside her to support her neck. The hair is single stranded all over so very heavy. I had no tiara so shes has a pearl stranded hair piece with matching earrings. Her little gloves were the cutest part, I'll definitely have to make them on another doll in the future. She still is a little bohemian and barefoot under her gown.  :)

Some little letter blocks I made from paper clay and stamps.

Lately I've been a bit obsessed with making the perfect mushroom....

Here are some self cover buttons and wooden spools....

Hand stitched felt mushies....

Machine stitched felt mushies....

Still haven't nutted out the style I am happy with but will keep working on it!


And some hessian and lacy table runners - I might sell a couple of these, although I'm sure I could find places for them in my home - they are so pretty.

I did get to the Craft and Sew Show in Newcastle on the weekend and had a fab time with my lovely friend Megan. We are going to definitely make it our annual thing! Will post some pics soon of the goodies I got!!!

Have a nice weekend - happy creating   :)

Meet Marie!!

For a while I have been playing around with the idea of some 18th century inspired Shabby Annies - so after a 
considerable amount of research (watching some movies based around then) I have finally created 'Marie' ;) I hope you love her as much as I do!!

I have done a little bit extra work on her accessories and her dress and she has caused quite a commotion in our household, mostly everyone has contributed to some part of her - and so proud of my 12 yr old son for holding his first Shabby Annie!!!  His lack of interest had never really caught my eye, but with everyone else arguing over names and hair bits and earrings, beauty spots etc ... his curiosity got the better of him - but shhhhh..... can't tell anyone!  ;)

Not too sure yet if I want to sell her - she'd have to have a fair price on her for the amount of blood sweat and tears I have put into her!!  

Have a nice day!

Finally!!!

Hi my name is Paula and it's been 2 months since my last post......

Hope everyone is well. It has been a fairly busy few weeks, but am glad now that things are settling down a bit. And it's my first full winter here, so the weather has helped to slow down things a bit.
But I still managed to find the time to make some new dolls. I took some photos of the girls today to get ready to sell,  I couldn't wait any longer to show them off!!!

Meet the newbies....

Lizzy

 Ruby

 Grace

I am so excited about the beret that I made for Grace, I am going to try out a few more of these in the future!

Betty

I have been having endless fun creating these girls, exploring all the different ways of adding vintage charm to them each with vintage jewelry, doilies, napkins and hankies. I hope you like them.

Meet The New Girls!

Finally got a couple of dolls finished, have been working on these poor lost souls for quite a while! Was so excited as I finished them both off in 1 night, still working on their names, but I just couldn't wait to share them with someone!!

Hayles made the girls a tea party to welcome them - too cute!

I have been busy making more scarves, and have even showed a few ladies how to make them. On Tuesday I went along to a local craft group and a few of the ladies were keen to learn so they could make themselves one.

And as the weather has cooled right down, I was able to wear one up town for the first time and I had quite a few comments about it. I was quite chuffed and wondering if I should make a few more to put on the co-op table at the next markets?

I have been very busy trying to make some curtains for the house, when we moved in it was all continuous lace and looking a bit tired so here are my decided upon style, just hoping they're not too dark.

My sewing table has seen better days......

My new goodies...

A few op-shop finds this week...

At craft on Tuesday my dolls finally got put together and grew some hair, hopefully they won't be naked for too much longer...

Lavender..... just because its so lovely 

Have a nice day!

Fifi ??

Here's an update on my butterfly, still not sure on her name??

Thanks for the tips everyone - the tuft of hair made her look a bit boyish, so I just went with the antennae - I knew those felted balls would come in handy!!!

And as you can see in the piccy I have been busy making pumpkins this weekend too, they still need tops. 

 Here she is enjoying a bask in the warm sunny garden - minding my fruit trees for me. xx

Have a Happy Easter everyone.