Making shoes for 10.5" Fashion doll

When I found Toni she did not have any shoes, so

I went searching for shoes that would fit her.

These are the shoes available on ebay that fit these 10.5" dolls.

This pair is over $8.00 for molded plastic!

SO, I decided I wanted to make some shoes.

Below is a pattern I created myself.  

*Click on this image, save it to your photo file and print.*

When you print it make sure the square prints out as 1 inch.

 I cut 2 pieces of thin cardboard - like from a cereal box - for each foot.

Then I use white glue and glue the cutouts onto a piece of fabric.

(I didn't get a photo of this step, sorry)

After it is dry cut away the excess fabric from the cardboard sole.

At this point I place the sole on the doll's foot to get the right bends for her heel height.

 Next I use small ribbon or bric-a-brac for the strap.

I glue the first side just behind the ball of the foot on the sole.

I use hot-glue because it is fast, but you could use white glue and

 pin the pieces in place until they dry.

 Here is the top sole with the strap glued in place.

For this heel I used a 3/16th dowel and cut it to about 1/2" length.

I sanded the tip to create a pointy heel.

Then I used red nail polish so it would have a shiny finish.

I hot-glued the heel onto the bottom sole, 

then I carefully ran a line of red nail polish along the sides of each shoe.

And here are the finished shoes!

 Here are a couple more I have made as well...

For the gold shoes I found some little plugs of some kind in my husbands tool drawer.

I used glitter glue on the gold heels.

For the blue shoes the heels are made from glass beads.  

I have not been completely satisfied with the side edges of my shoes, but I am looking for a solution.

I'll keep you posted!

Restringing my china baby doll

This is the China Baby my grandmother painted for me when I was a little girl.  She has never been properly strung due to the fact that there are no hooks inside her limbs.
 She has always been kind of jury-rigged.
My grandmother originally used sewing elastic which did not hold up over the years. 

I have done some research but since this is not a
regular manufactured doll, I could never find a better way to string her together.
SO, I am still trying to hold her together the best I can.
Poor baby!

Here she is in 5 pieces. You can see the clips we have used.

They are actually safety pins for buttons that have 

masking tape on the ends to keep them from damaging the china.

I know, what?

I started with her left leg and looped the 5mm

elastic through the pin.

 I then criss-crossed the elastic to the opposite arm.

I used the needle nosed pliers to grab the elastic and draw it out.

I threaded the elastic through the pin in each arm.

Here she is with arms and legs criss-crossed with elastic.

You can see here how I have drawn all the elastic 

through the right arm hole.

(You can see my grandmother's signature)

At this point I tie all the elastic together and

reinsert it all into her arm hole.

Here she is all restrung.  Her limbs never fit really well together.

It's important not to string porcelain or china dolls too tight

as they can be damaged or cracked.
If any of you doll experts out there have a better solution I would be grateful for suggestions!!

Diaper

Slip

Christening gown and bonnet.

This is her basket bed that I made for her years ago.

Black Cloth Doll Makeover

Black Cloth Doll Makeover

I have long wanted an American Girl Addy's Ida Bean doll.

I love her earrings and dress, and I just love miniature dolls.

SO...,

I got this little 6" doll with some other doll items.

At first I thought, I'd just put her in my donation bag, 

but then I wondered if I could give her a makeover?

First I popped off those bead eyes - too big!

Her little smile I liked, but I felt like she needed more stuffing.

I opened her side seam and added some more stuffing

to plump up her face a little.

I pulled off the strange 'sticking-up' hair and

I used cotton embroidery thread to make French knots all over her head.

This doll had faded a bit and the beads left unfaded spots, but I am just going to ignore them.

I embroidered some new eyes, gave her some earrings, a flower and a bracelet.

I had made this little dress for an 8" doll.

It turned out a little too small, so I left it in my sewing box.

I thought I might find another use for it, then I saw this little doll.

Would it fit this little girl??

Yes it did! And so cute!

I added a little kerchief apron and she is lovely!

Before      &       After

I am so pleased with this doll.

I feel like I gave her a new life.

We are going to call her Abby.

Abby got some new shoes!

 The shoes turned out slightly different for each foot, ah well.

But, sadly her feet are not quite the same size.

I like how the bows slim her ankle a bit.

I think Abby likes her shoes.

Another addition!

 Well, I finally got around to making her some pantaloons.

NOW I feel that she is really complete!

My Raggedy's

Some of my very favorite stories as a child were the Raggedy Ann & Andy stories.

On library day I would scour the shelves for Raggedy Ann books.

BUT,

Believe it or not, I never owned a Raggedy Ann or Andy Doll

until last year when I found this pair of 24" dolls in a thrift store.

Their expressions were so sweet, I couldn't leave them behind.

  A couple months later I found these 2 lovelies, also in a thrift store,

(In Las Vegas of all places)

The Green doll is 14" and Ann is 18"

Obviously, this Ann needed an Andy

I found this Andy on ebay, but his outfit didn't match Ann's

I had this check fabric and made him a new suit, tie and hat.

and here they are together

We named this girl Belle.

We believe she is made from an Edith Flack Ackley pattern.

 These are all 8 & 9 inch Raggedys, which are actually

Dolls for our AG dolls.

 Very cute 9" Alice in Wonderland Raggedy.

 Sarah and Betsy 6" dolls from Colonial Williamsburg.

 9" Holly Hobby

And a 9" Country Andy.  I am still looking for an Ann for him.

(although, I think he has eyes for Alice)

AND...

Of course, I have a collection of Raggedy Ann Books.

My Sock Animals

Awhile back I decided to make sock animals for all the kids in our family.

I made a variety of animals out of athletic socks.

 One of my favorites is my sock Kitty.

All my animals have a felt heart and a tag.

A Girl Bunny.

and another bunny girl who has been loved quite a lot.

Another favorite is my sock Elephant.

 This Sock kitten is made from little girl size socks.

 A Large headed Lamb.

Not to be confused with a pink nosed puppy.