Sally Ann, in her own words

I have recently been wondering about where my antique dolls came from?

Who was their first mommy?

Did some little girl, 90 years ago, open her on her birthday;

or maybe on Christmas?

I thought her story might be something like this:

"Hello, my name is Sally Ann."

We dolls don't remember anything when we are asleep 

in a box or a trunk, so all I know before I first

opened my eyes was what I heard

Barbara Ellen tell her friends.

My story starts sometime in August 1928.

Barbara Ellen was going to turn 9 years old when

she saw this advertisement at the corner store.

She saw a photo of me (or a doll just like me)

On the cover. I cost $3.50. Barbara's Mamma

wasn't sure they could afford that.

Maybe for her Birthday.

Barbara's Mamma  pointed at the next 

page and asked if she wouldn't like 

to have a new dress instead?

"The flowered dress would look so pretty 

with your hair.  A dress is so practical too."

But Barbara wanted me!

Barbara tried to be patient.  There were still

two months until her Birthday!

If only her Mamma would remember,

it had to be a Sally Ann doll.

FINALLY, the day arrived,

BARBARA ELLEN'S BIRTHDAY!

Everything was perfect UNTIL, her cousin Teddy blew out her

candles! She was very disappointed, Teddy was 

always doing things like that!

Barbara started to cry, but Mamma brought 

out two boxes! Barbara forgot all about those candles.

There was a big box and a small box.

Oh Barbara was so excited!

She opened the small box first.

It was a Fairy Tea set from Aunt Leathea, Teddy's Mamma.

AND THEN!

The big box...

It was me! Fast asleep.

Barbara was SO happy.

When she picked me up and I opened my eyes

I knew she was my Mommy.

But Barbara's surprises were not over.

Barbara's Grandmother and Daddy had a surprise up their sleeves.

They had purchased a pattern for my wardrobe!

Daddy bought fabric and Grandma sewed dresses.

And her Daddy bought Barbara my book!

When I first awoke I already had four new dresses with 

matching bonnets! Barbara told her family it was 

her best Birthday ever!

That night when Barbara Ellen tucked me in bed,

I was the happiest doll ever.

Barbara Ellen, Teddy (Teddy Bear not cousin Teddy!)

and I were the best of friends.

We did everything together.

Barbara Ellen gave us (pretend) baths.

And took us for walks outside to get fresh air.

She always made sure we were warm.

Barbara Ellen loved me and I loved her.

Then Barbara Ellen grew up like all little girls.

I think I must have fallen asleep for

a very long time...

Then a very nice lady found me.

She was a Doll Doctor.

She thought I was still beautiful

and she gave me new paint and a new dress.

Until one day I was ready to go to a new mommy.

The next thing I knew I was here!

With all my sisters and all our friends.

And now I'm ready for new adventures!

Doll Hat Tutorial 2

Hat Tutorial 1

This is part 2 of my Doll Hat Tutorial.  One of my readers 

requested that I do a hat making tutorial, so here we are! 

Go back to the first tutorial for a list of supplies.

Today I am making 2 hats.

This, as you may or may not realize, is a woven place mat.

I found this is at a thrift store. I grab them whenever I see them.

Here are some other thrift store finds

just waiting to be decorated!

Here is my Patsyette, Helena, wearing a mini straw 

hat like the one above.

I measured the diameter I wanted and cut away the excess.

I ended up with an 8 inch circle.

You can see how I unraveled this mat to

get to the desired width.

The raw edge has to be folded under and hot-glued.

These are sewn, so they will continue to ravel

if not secured with glue and fray check.

This is what your folded and glued piece should look like.

This will be the back of the hat.

I also cut a 5 inch circle of wool felt.

A cereal bowl makes a good size circle.

Lay the bowl on your felt and draw 

around it with a pencil.

After it is cut, I stretch the center with my thumbs

until I get an indention.

Your felt should look like this.

Set this aside and we'll start with the woven hat. 

 I also stretch the woven mat to make a cone shape

Save this extra stuff!

We might do something with it in another tutorial!

Using my hot glue gun.  I start by

creating a circle of roses on the top.

Next I added a row of smaller ivory flowers.

I had an open spot in front and used

a ribbon instead of flowers.

The ribbon tails I hot glue with a bit of

a curved bend for interest.

Next I add netting. Twist and pinch before

folding under to attach.

This netting I just pinned to reuse it on different hats.

Finished!

You'll see both hats modeled at the end.

Here is our wool felt ready for decorating.

I cut about 3 feet of this spool netting.

I then fold it in thirds.

I always crumple my netting to soften it's look.

Next I loosely twist the netting and encircle 

the brim of my felt.

Pin all the ends into a bunch in the back.

Next I use a needle and thread to pull 

this bunch of netting together.

Like this. Tie off the thread underneath 

where it doesn't show.

I sew the net in place in 2 other spots

around the temple area.

Toward the front of the hat over the eyebrow

I sewed these 3 flowers and added some

embellishments.

I  added 2 more spots of flowers, one on the left and 

a grouping in front of the net bunch in back.

Trim the bunched net in back to make a pouf of net;

And the hat is finished!

DESIGN

There are a couple of things I keep in mind

when I am designing a hat.

The first is a line from a Regency novel.

It was something said by a male character 

to a female character.

Something like:

"It is exorbitant how much a milliner may 

charge for a wisp if lace and net."

I like this idea - make it seem but a wisp.  

Less is more.

The second thing I keep in mind is the rule of 3.

Keep flowers and decorations in groupings of 3.

This includes using a triangular pattern in placement.

You can see in my illustration the 2 triangle shapes

on the right.  A large triangle and a small triangle.

The other decorations are also in 3s.

And the overall placement is in 3 zones.

Design is important to bear in mind BUT  

this is just a guide - let your creativity flow!

READY TO SEE OUR CREATIONS?

First the Net Hat

Next the woven wide brim hat.

I used the netting to give a graceful bend to the brim.

The netting is pinned under Cissy's hairdo.

I am very happy with these 2 creations.

I hope this tutorial was helpful

and many beautiful hats are in the making.