Diane on Whidbey Island

Raphael Suits

2012-02-06T11:09:00.001-08:00

I want to share some beautiful suits by the designer Raphael.

1950

I love the pocket detail on this striped suit.

1951

Love this jacket!

1952

1953

I love the bias trim on this jacket.

1954

Four New Patterns for Sale!

2012-01-24T13:41:00.001-08:00

For more information go here.

Little Foxes Part II

2012-01-23T10:43:00.001-08:00

I love it when my customers send me photos of the doll clothes I have made on their own dolls. These photos blew me away!

photo by Alex Hayes

I am so impressed by his repaint of Bette Davis. I think he nailed it.

Happy New Year

2012-01-04T11:12:00.001-08:00

My wonderful husband gave me a new camera for Christmas. Yesterday I received my first three backdrops from here. I took a quick picture without setting up any extra lighting or editing the photo on the computer and this is what I got!

I am so excited to try my hand at taking better photos now. Now I just need some time.

The outfit that Ivy is wearing was inspired by Dior and I am working on making more at this time.

Oh, and I have 14 more backdrops that I want to order now.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T23:15:00.001-08:00

Grace Kelly’s Black Print Dress

2011-12-13T11:36:00.001-08:00

Sharing another commission with you all.

This is the dress that Grace Kelly wore when she met her future husband Prince Rainier III in 1955.

My client sent me a photo of his fabric with a photo of the original dress. I wasn’t sure about his fabric choice at first. It was an almost perfect match for Grace’s original dress, but the scale of the print was too big for a doll in my opinion.

Photo by Richard Burrows

I regret that I neglected to take better pictures of the finished outfits before I sent them.

Luckily for me, Richard sent me some photos of the dress on an actual Grace Kelly doll. We were both very happy with how the dress turned out and Grace looks beautiful in it. Sometimes a larger print can work for doll clothes.

Photo by Richard Burrows

I have decided that I need to start looking for a Grace Kelly doll for myself.

Photo by Richard Burrows

I plan on making more Grace Kelly dresses and I’m always looking for the fabrics to make them.

Jean Patau

2011-12-01T09:47:00.001-08:00

I’m procrastinating a trip to the post office, so I decided to share some pretty for your enjoyment.

I have a thing for red suits and I think Jean Patau did too. I don’t know much about the designer yet, but I have a growing file of his work.

These are from L’ Officiel, you can find the archives of this wonderful magazine here. Man I wish I could read French sometimes!

circa 1955

Circa 1955

circa 1956

circa 1957

Which one is your favorite? I can’t decide, though I am drawn to both the red with the leopard fur ensembles.

Marceline

2011-11-29T09:27:00.001-08:00

I don’t have any new work to show you right now, but I am working on a commission and planning on finishing up several patterns to sell very soon. I went into my archives and found many photos that haven’t made it on my blog yet, so I decided to share these photos of Marceline.

In Violet’s “Evening Sunrise”

I really like this dress with her coloring. She has been wearing this cocktail dress since August of 2010.

She also looks beautiful in “Oh La La”.

I defiantly need to get her to model more.

Something New to Obsess About

2011-11-28T14:58:00.001-08:00

I am always looking for new things to want/need. A week or so ago on The Studio Commissary, someone posted some photographs of her dolls using some super awesome backdrops. So of course I visited the online store and now I need many of these backdrops. I need these stairs, a few interior castle shots, a balcony, a couple of rustic European streets, and more. I will be ordering soon. So excited!

Better Photos of My Work

2011-11-08T06:56:00.000-08:00

As mentioned in my previous post, photographing my dolls and outfits is not my favorite thing. I would rather be sewing, so I decided to link you to another awesome blog. Dave has bought a number of outfits from me and his photos make them look fabulous!

Autumn in Paris

2011-10-26T10:57:00.001-07:00

Oh my gosh! Two posts in one day! I can’t believe my awesomeness!

This post is about photography, one of the many things that I need to work on, along with not buying more fabric, and making better use of my time.

I blame the incredible Rebecca’s blog for my new obsession; buying large posters for use as backdrops. She can also be blamed for my recent purchase of all four Grace Kelly Barbies, even though I don’t really collect that size of fashion doll anymore. Sigh, I am so weak.

I found this poster titled “Autumn in Paris” at Michael's a few months ago, I love it. I need to figure out how to blend the ground with the poster, but at least Ivy is standing by herself in this picture.

I hate to always crop off her feet.

This one is not so good.

I love the close-ups of the doll with the poster.

This is “Symphony in G Minor” with a new body wearing an outfit I made years ago to go with the hat from one of the Ashton Drake’s hat and purse sets.

More close-ups

Now I need to go mop a sticky floor.

Little Foxes

2011-10-26T09:35:00.001-07:00

Sharing another commission

My obsession with classic movies is mostly focused on movies starring Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Lana Turner. When I was asked to make this gown from the film “Little Foxes” staring Bette Davis, I was rather ignorant of the subject.

I still haven’t seen the whole movie, but I need to see if Netflix has it or something.

The gown is made of a really nice velvet. A bustle was requested, which stumped me for a while. I ended up making a detachable bustle/train. I am still stumped about how to make a bustle.

I had bought the beaded trim years ago with no purpose in mind, except that I liked it. I was delighted to find it in my lace stash, I love how it worked out.

The tulle wrap is also detachable.

This gown is already sold and I am out of beaded trim (wish I had bought more).

The End

It’s a Long Story

2011-09-30T16:06:00.001-07:00

Years ago, when I started my obsession about sewing for Gene, I was searching the internet and I came across a set of paper dolls on eBay.

I believe this is a Debora Paget paper doll.

I fell instantly in love with the green dot coat ensemble. I wanted to make it so bad!

Later, I discovered another doll designer had made the same outfit in green and white. I was kinda bummed, but then I saw this picture.

Modes Royale Spring/Summer 1953

I decided I would make it too. It took me a while to find the green dot, and I ended up using two different dots, but I love how it turned out.

Here is Madra with the other dot.

I used 17 buttons to make each outfit. I may have wiped out one online store’s stock twice to make all of them.

The umbrella is made with a kabob skewer and a bead painted white.

This ensemble is sold out.

I found it!

2011-09-14T09:29:00.001-07:00

Remember this post?

I am happy to announce that I found two different sized black and white dot fabrics. So excited! The outfit has moved up my long list of things to sew, so hopefully soonish I will be making it.

Now for my new obsession

Isn’t this 1955 Pierre Balmain dress adorable? I think so, so I started looking for the right fabrics to make it. It was turning out to be much harder than the black and white dot. The salesclerk at the last fabric store suggested I try printing my own fabric. Oh yeah! I have done that before with some Daniel Bingham outfits. Then I started thinking about how I would have to piece together a lot of pieces to make the skirt since the fabric would only be 8 1/2” x 11”. Then I remembered that Daniel Bingham has a link to a company called Spoonflower where you can buy custom printed fabric by the yard. Now I just need to figure out where to find a program to make my stripes. I am so excited!

“The Boy Next Door”

2011-08-21T17:55:00.001-07:00

This is the second outfit that I have made from the film “Meet Me In St. Louis”. When I first started thinking about sewing for Gene in 2003, I wanted to make all the outfits from the movie. I made the Trolley outfit in 2009, it was a lot of work. This outfit wasn’t so bad once I figured out the design.

While I was making the pattern, I noticed that the stripes in the skirt were thicker than the stripes in the bodice.

You can really see the difference in the stripes in this photo. I have not idea why the stripes are green in this photo. The stripes also look like they get thinner the closer they get to the waist.

There was no way I was going to find fabric like that so I just used a blue stripe.

Here is my lame attempt at using props.

A few of these dresses will be available for sale on my Blog Store soon.

Cristobal’s Collection

2011-07-26T19:13:00.001-07:00

This post is a showcase of the wonderful swag that we received at the Golden Gate Glamour convention. This collection was inspired by the fabulous fashions of Cristobal Balenciaga.

“Cristobal’s Collection” (to include as many outfits as possible in this photo, I added two sheaths and a long skirt.)

I bought this same book at the DeJung Museum

(Photo by Lori Richards)

This Jacket was one of the favorites among the convention attendees. I heard several woman wish that they had one in their own wardrobe.

We were so happy to receive our own jacket for our dolls. Our jacket is lined in black and is reversible. It can be worn with or without a belt.

I love this photo with the book.

(Photo by Lori Richards)

This outfit was made by using the black top, black straight skirt, black bubble skirt, green wrap, and hat.

My favorite outfit of the collection is this blue print sheath with accessories.

I love the detachable hip bow.

I put the bow on the neck for a different look.

The last outfit of the convention was this evening ensemble.

This outfit includes the lace blouse, long straight skirt, floral belt, and white fur wrap.

The peach silk train is a different look.

The hat is adorable.

We also received this evening coat.

Sandra did a great job recreating this flower hat.

(Photo by Lori Richards)

More photos of the great stuff we received.

(Photo by Lori Richards)

I don’t have a fashion sleuth picture for this coat and hat yet.

Look at all the possibilities!

(Photo by Lori Richards)

I hope to add more photos soon.

When I got home with all my new stuff, I put it all away without making a list of the whole collection, so I asked on the “Studio Commissary” if anyone had kept track of all of our swag. Thank you Kelly Ryan for this list!

Balenciaga and Spain booklet
Black folder w/ paper dolls, sketches
miniature books: Balenciaga and Spain (exhibit), Balenciaga and His Legacy
Wine fur short jacket, fur hat and jewelry
Wine burn out velvet swing coat/ belt
Black print sheath dress
Black print hip bow
Black print chiffon scarf
Black print pleated stole
Red/Black pleat sleeve jacket
Black short skirt w/ kick pleats
Black pouf skirt
Black 3/4 sleeve top
Black long skirt
Black lace over pink 3/4 sleeve top
Pink long pouf hip wrap
Pink brocade long coat
White fur stole
Black velvet hat w/ feather accent
Long black gloves
Short black gloves
Black velvet clutch purse
Red velvet long stole
Long red gloves
Green silk long wrap
Green silk short scarf
Black belt w/ buckle
Red belt w/ buckle
Black snap belt
Black and pink lace belt
Assorted rhinestone buckles
Red velvet hat w/ feather accent
Black lace net circle hat (large)
Black band hat
Black heavy lace cap hat (stunning!)
Black cap hat w/ large red rose

If I Could Only Find the Fabric

2011-07-26T14:56:00.001-07:00

When I am feeling bogged down with my sewing projects, I find myself distracted on the computer looking at fashions that I want to make. I love this dress and want to make it so badly. But where am I going to find two different sized dots that are the same type of fabric and color?

Here is another photo of the same dress. I love it!

I’m feeling a new obsession coming on.

Golden Gate Glamour

2011-07-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

When I heard that Sandra Stillwell was having a convention in San Francisco this year, I knew I had to go. Last year I had the privilege of attending Gene's last convention in Philadelphia. It was only my third doll convention ever, and I thought that would be it for me.

Sandra also had a small doll convention in September last year in Nashville, but I couldn't make it. I was green with envy when I saw all the photos from the convention. The doll fashions were stunning, and the activities looked like a lot of fun. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this year's convention.

I arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday, June 1st. I wanted to go on the tour on Thursday, it is a great way to get to know the other doll lovers and a lot of fun. I was happy to see a couple of familiar faces when I arrived at the hotel shuttle waiting area.

The convention was held at the Embassy Suites, it was a great place to stay. I loved my suite, and the food was very good.

Wednesday evening I had dinner with an old high school friend and her husband. I hadn't seen Emma since my wedding reception 17 years earlier. It was great to reconnect.

Thursday morning I enjoyed a great breakfast in the hotel's courtyard and joined the other tour attendees in the lobby. The first stop was shopping in downtown San Francisco. I was especially excited to go fabric shopping at Britex. Britex was wonderful, unfortunately we only had an hour in the store. I could have spend the day there, but then I would have spent a fortune. I did splurge on a beautiful piece of floral Italian silk charmeuse.

Our next stop was a private tour of the beautiful Palace Hotel and lunch.

We ate lunch here. Our table was on the far left. My ideal San Francisco trip would be staying in the Palace Hotel and shopping all day at Britex, which was only a couple of blocks away.

Our third stop was across the bay at Lacis Museum of lace and Textiles in Berkley. Lacis was a cool store/museum full of antique lace, hat making supplies, books, buttons, and other great things that I love.

Thursday night the convention officially started with a dessert reception and a sneak peek of all the fabulous things that we would see this weekend.

Zita dressed in blue loveliness "Legacy of Light" was the centerpiece doll.

The burgundy companion outfit was also available for purchase.

I wish I had been able to buy "The Master's Touch"

We also received swag; "Rich Girl" outfit except for the black dress, and a burgundy fur jacket and hat.

Friday we all stayed at the hotel and enjoyed a lunch and lecture about Balenciaga. "Peccadillo" was the centerpiece doll. I didn't own a "Green Eyes" Gene doll already, so I bought her in this wonderful green suit.

"Espana Noche" was great too. I wish I had bought it.

Everyone loved this suit. It went fast.

We also received a velvet swing jacket and a gift box full of fashion separates to go with the things we had received the night before.

Later that afternoon we attended a presentation given by Wayne Nilson and Lynne Day, former Ashton Drake designers for Gene. I found the lecture very interesting, since I thought it would be fun to be a doll fashion designer for a doll company. I may have changed my mind after that lecture. I loved seeing the slide show of their work.

Of course there were more eye candy to tempt our empty wallets. The fashions for this event were inspired by the San Francisco company LilliAnn.

Friday night's dinner theme was "JAMIEshow", this was the gorgeous centerpiece doll.

"Princesa" dressed doll was available for sale.

"Barcelona" was available as an outfit.

"Flamenco" was available as a dressed doll.

Everyone loved the "Marquesa" dressed doll. She was snatched up fast!

A birds-eye view of the courtyard at the Embassy Suites.

My Room

Saturday was the highlight of the convention. A tour of the Balenciaga exhibit at the DeJung Museum. It was breathtaking, we weren't allowed to take photos of the fashions, but I bought a book with better photos than I would have been able to take with my camera.

Then we went to the Legion of Honor Museum to see the "Pulp Fashion" Exhibit. That was cool too. Who would have thought to recreate history's greatest fashions out of paper?

Golden Gate Glamour ended with a 10 year anniversary banquet celebrating Sandra Stillwell events.

"X" (# 10) was the centerpiece doll.

Sandra gave us some ideas on how to use all the separates that we had received over the weekend. So much fun potential!

You should have heard the gasps of delight when we opened our last gift box and saw that we had all received the fashion that we had been lusting after. What a great night!

Sunday morning I flew home. I took a plane, boat, van, and car to get home. The weather had been warmer in Seattle that weekend than it had been in San Francisco, go figure.

Just a few photos of my ferry ride to the south end of Whidbey Island.

I hope there will be a convention next year! For more details and better photos of Golden Gate Glamour click here.

Thank you Lori Richards for the links and friendship during the weekend.

"The Misfits" Cherry Dress

2011-06-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago on the doll board The Studio Commissary, there was a discussion about how some people were interested in Marilyn's Monroe's cherry dress from the 1961 film "The Misfits". I was instantly intrigued. I googled, and found some photos of Marilyn in the dress. It then became an challenge/obsession to find some cherry printed fabric.

I was pleasantly surprised to find this fabric at my local JoAnn Fabrics store.

This is what I came up with.

The biggest challenge was getting the bodice to fit right. I wanted to use self fabric ties on the shoulders, like on the real dress, but they looked too bulky. I ended up using ribbon to get the look I wanted.

This dress also fits the Tonner dolls well.

This dress will be for sale on my Blog Store.

Sharing a Commission

2011-05-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a few commissions lately. I don't accept commissions much anymore unless it is something that I planned on making in the future. Then I move it up to the top of my massive list of "things to make".

This is is a faux "Obsidian Society" that I made to fit the Tonner dolls.

Though I don't own any Fashion Royalty dolls, I really like this outfit.

Image Property of Integrity Toys

Here is my Antionette in her auburn wig. It is my favorite of the three. I need to fuss with the wig a little more I think.

The Suit is made of black silk dupioni, lined in cream, with cream and black tulle ruffles. I even tried to replicate the ribbon trim on the side of the skirt.

Here is Brenda Starr modeling the suit. I prefer it on Antionette though.

Red, White, and YOU!

2011-04-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

When I first saw this outfit, I knew it was a "Must Have".

I would have preferred to buy the outfit alone, but now that she is here, I love the doll too.

High Seas Daphne likes the outfit too, though her hair is a little high on top for the hat.

I can't wait to put this outfit on a Gene doll.

The Return of the Tonners

2011-04-11T08:46:00.001-07:00

They're Baaaack! After spending 10 months in their boxes, they are finally out again. When I came home from the last Gene Convention with a trainload of new Gene dolls, I decided to put the Tonners away for a while. Gene is still my first love, but I have always loved the Brenda Starr line too and was so sad when they discontinued it. I am finding myself drawn to the Ann Harper line and have bought a few dolls and outfits so far. Somehow Marilyn Monroe snuck into the group picture. She is new too.

To Catch a Thief

2011-04-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

Grace Kelly wore this stunning outfit in the 1954 film "To Catch a Thief". Edith Head is one of my favorite designers, I love her classic style and have recreated several of her costumes in miniature.

I made this outfit several years ago, but I wanted my own copy. I had the genius idea to cut out as many jumpsuits as I could out of the piece of black knit that I had. Lesson learned- just because you have enough fabric to make 14 outfits, doesn't mean you should. It felt like it took forever to finish all these outfits.

"Pool Pose" Madra loves her new resort wear.

Because the jumpsuit is made of knit, this ensemble fits the Tonner/Tyler dolls too.

I think Daphne Dimples makes a lovely Grace. I use to have a lot of problems photographing the early Tonner dolls. Their skin is rather dark and would always look really dark in my pictures. I shined a light on Daphne while I was taking her picture and am really happy with the results.

She is still a little dark in the full body shots though.

Antionette can also wear this outfit. She claimed that she wanted to jazz it up a little by wearing her red sandals, but the truth is she doesn't have any other shoes.

Outfits are for sale in my blog store.

Antionette

2011-03-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

I expanded my doll collection a few months ago when I bought my first Antionette. She is a Glowing Muse Antionette Cameo. I still can't spell her name right without looking it up, but she is a beauty.

Image Property of Tonner Doll Company

I have tried the brunette wig on her and she is lovely in it. I need to take some pictures of her in it and try the red wig on her too.

Her figure is different than both the Gene and Tyler sized dolls. Her bust is smaller, and her waist and hips are a little larger. I decided that I better buy her at least one dress that fits her because I don't know when I will get around to sewing for her.

I bought "Precocious" She is adorable in it.

Here is Antionette wearing Ann Harper's outfit "A Sensible Notion". The dress fits her very well, though her hands were hard to fit through the sleeves. The wig is perfect, but it is a good thing you can't see the red shoes she is wearing.

I was inspired by another doll collector to work on making my photos more interesting. I bought a couple of posters at Michael's the other day. I love the garden backdrop, it looks great in the close-ups. I still need to figure out how to make the backdrop work in the full body shots.

I love this photo, she looks so sweet, but I wished I had straightened her sash before I took the picture.

I hope to have another photo session will Antionette soon.

Blue Parasol

2011-03-09T09:52:00.000-08:00

I need to get back to blogging about my models. "Blue Parasol" was not on my "must have" list at first, until I started seeing pictures of her on the doll boards. It was then that I realized she would be a great Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe model for the movie costumes that I like to recreate in miniature. It took me a while to find her, but she was worth it. She is one of my favorites, I love her.

Gene modeling a dress by Paintbox. One of the very few fashions by another designer.

My only issue with "Blue Parasol" is though she is gorgeous in person, she is one of my least photogenic dolls. For some reason, her eyes are very shadowed in some of her photos. I'm not the best doll photographer out there. I would rather spend my time sewing doll clothes than photographing them. I wonder if it is because her hair is so light and my camera doesn't like that there isn't much contrast on her face. I don't have this problem with my brunette dolls.

I Love Lace Part III

2011-03-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

Here is the last of my lace collection (for now).

Love this!

She looks like a big present.

J'adore!

So Cute!

I wish I could see the front of this gown.
I think I need to go lace shopping. Next up "I love brocade!"

I Love Lace Part II

2011-02-25T13:37:00.000-08:00

More eye candy to enjoy.

You're welcome

I Love Lace Part I

2011-02-18T19:09:00.000-08:00

I am in the middle of a huge batch of doll clothes again and wondering why I do the things I do. So I am distracting myself by looking through my ginormous collection of fashion pictures. If you thought my whoared of fabric was bad, you should see all the pictures I have on my computer and in 3-ring binders.

I have a small collection of lace that I am dreaming about using and here is some eye candy for you all. Most of these pictures are from L' Officiel. I pretty sure the word for lace in French is Dentelle now.

More photos to come!

The Ann Harper Line

2011-02-08T17:21:00.000-08:00

When I heard that The Tonner Doll Company was making a vintage line of dolls again, I was excited. I own many of the Brenda Starr and friends dolls, and I really regret not buying any of the Dick Tracy line several years ago. Gene was not longer being produced and I hoped that the Ann Harper line would fill the Gene void a little.

When the Ann Harper doll arrived, I as a little disappointed. She looks different than her promo pictures, but that is not unusual. I am also underwhelmed about the quality of the clothes. It is a nice design, but there were many shortcuts taken in the construction. I think she looks nice in her closeup though.

I like the Carol Barrie doll more than Ann Harper. Her suit is interesting, though the fabric looks cheap, in the promo photos it looks like silk. This is not silk.

I think Ann looks great in Brenda Starr's "Cruise on the Nile" suit. Her hair is too high and big for the hat though.

Carol looks very haughty in Brenda's Par Excellence" outfit. Her hair style also doesn't work with the hat.

I like her without the hat and collar.

Madra rocks Carol Berrie's suit. Carol may never get it back.

What more can I say? She looks stunning in it.

My restyled "City Sleeker" Zita in Ann's Suit.

"It's a Cinch" Gene in "Fresh Take". Unlike some other collectors, I heart the pom-poms.

"Pool Pose" Madra in "Captivatingly Coy" my favorite Ann Harper so far.

Though Gene is still my first love, the Ann Harper line is growing on me and I may have ordered some more dolls and fashions the other day.

Two New Patterns For Sale

2011-01-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

I thought I would finish these patterns over a week ago but I got distracted by another project.

Style 102

Style 103

To purchase these patterns please visit my blog store.

Patterns are $11.00 and are sold separately.

Even More Black Cocktailers

2011-01-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Here are the rest of the 24 black cocktailers I made.

If this dress looks a little familiar it is because it was inspired by this gorgeous DeaAnna Denton dress.

Image Property of Tonner Doll Company

When I cut of the bottom of the pleated skirt that I used to make the "Rear Window" dress, I knew I had to make Gene a copy of DeeAnna's dress. Of course it's not exact, but Gene loves her version of DeeAnna's dress.

I cut the scalloped part off of some lace trim and sewed it to the bodice neckline.

"Twilight Girl" is wearing a dress made with the same lace bodice and a full circle chiffon skirt.

Here is the same bodice with a lace skirt. I think the shorter skirt gives it more of a late 50's early 60's look.

I wish I had used red flowers instead of pink ones.

Another Black Cocktail Dress

2011-01-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

While I was collecting massive amounts of inspiration in the L'officiel archives , I fell in love with this design by Jaques Heim, circa 1954. Lace and pleats in the same dress, j'adore!

Of course, I couldn't find prepleated fabric in white or cream, but I had bought some black pleated fabric years ago.

I couldn't tell what the front of the dress looked like so I took the liberty of adding a little bit of the pleated fabric to the neckline.

The hat is from the Gene outfit "Suited to Be a Colonel". I think it goes well with the dress.

"Rear Window" Black Cocktail Dress

2011-01-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

This is the ~~last costume~~ from the film "Rear Window" that I planned on making. Actually I am planning on making another small batch of green suits and a bunch of yellow print dresses in a few months.

This dress isn't as well known as the black and white dress, but I think it is a beautiful dress.

The bodice is made of chiffon underlined in satin. The sleeves are also chiffon that are lined in peach organza to give them a sheer look. The satin collar ties in the front and the ends are sewn into the bodice side seams.

After I designed and made my prototype, I came across this picture on the Internet.

It was the most detailed photograph of this dress that I have ever seen. I sort of wish I hadn't seen it. "Well dang-it!", I thought "There are pleats on the bodice too." I decided I wasn't going to change my design, because it would be too hard to figure out how to do the pleats on the bodice. I also needed all of my prepleated fabric that I had for the skirts.

Then I came across this picture.

Look at the detail at the neckline! What the heck! I never saw that in the film! But then again, black doesn't show detail very well.

SEE?

I'm really glad I didn't see that other picture while I was making these dresses. It would have been very hard to do that detail in miniature.

Prepleated fabric is very hard to find. Even though I bought a pleater a few months ago, I'm not ~~crazy,~~ brave enough to try to pleat chiffon. My mother picked up this skirt at a second-hand store.

The pictures don't show the details very well, but the skirt was divided into three different sections. The top of the skirt had tiny micro pleats. A third of the way down the skirt the pleats get bigger.

At the bottom of the skirt the pleats get very soft. I would love to have 10 of these skirts. One for me to wear in a size that fits me and 9 to cut up and make more doll dresses out of.

I took this skirt to the dry cleaners and the lady working there commented on how lovely it was. I made the mistake of telling her that I was going to cut it up and make doll clothes out of it. She freaked out! "You can't do that!" she cried. I told her that I wouldn't be able to wear a size 8 in my wildest dreams and that I would be able to make 6 doll dresses out of it. She didn't get me at all, sigh. What is so weird about cutting up a nice skirt to make doll clothes? Doesn't everyone do that? Whatever, I'm recycling!

I used the top 2/3rds of the skirt to make four dresses. The other dresses were made out of some prepleated fabric that I bought years ago and always wished I had bought more of.

I lightened the picture to show the details better.

This dress also fits the Tonner dolls well.

All the dresses have been sold.

Sew Happy!

2011-01-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

It is a new year, and I am really sew happy. Here are a few reasons for my good mood:

I finally finished my 24 black cocktail dresses, yeah! It took waaay longer than I thought it would.

I am finishing up two new patterns from the film "Rear Window" with many more plans for patterns.

My boys are going back to school tomorrow!

And finally THIS

That's right I got a Husqvarna Viking Designer Ruby, can you say- Sweet!!!!!" I just set it up a few days ago, and am still learning how to use it. It embroiders too, now I am on the hunt for embroidery patterns to recreate more movie costumes. I am keeping my old machine to sew linings, so I don't have to change threads all the time.

I will be posting again soon.

It Seamed Like a Good Idea at the Time

2010-12-03T14:28:00.000-08:00

Twenty-four black cocktailers sewn at the same time, I would use up a bunch of fabric and save a lot of time by sewing them assembly-line style. It was all going well until I started doing the hand sewing. Whatever was I thinking?

My Place to Create

2010-11-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

WARNING! I didn't clean up my new sewing room before I took these pictures. What you see is what you get.

A month or so ago I talked my wonderful husband out of his "Man Cave". I was surprised how easy it was. I had been sewing in the corner of our family room for over 6 years. I didn't mind it for the most part, there were a couple of advantages: No one could see my space unless I invited them downstairs (I don't always feel like explaining my hobby to people) and I was still with my family. The disadvantages outnumbered the advantages though: My sewing area was always messy, I worried about other people's kids getting into my stuff, I couldn't sew and scrapbook at the same time, my fabric stash was stored in the garage, and my older boys were embarrassed about all the doll nudity when their friends came over.

My former sewing corner in the family room

My oldest son, Nathan, is 15 now. He likes having his friends over a lot and I like knowing where he is. I decided it was time to make the family room more "man cavey" and contain all my stuff in one area.

It took me a few weeks to get the old stuff out, and the new stuff in. I still have some things to organize, I can't believe how much stuff I have! The only challenge now is remembering not to isolate myself in my sewing room too much while my family is home.

My sewing area

Dolls and scrapbook supplies

Cutting/Scrapbooking/Thanksgiving table

More dolls, I need to make risers for the dolls in the back and hang up my clock.

My fabric whoared, now I can sit at my sewing table and look at all my fabric and tell myself I don't need more fabric, even though I could still fit one more plastic bin in there and the bin with the red fabric isn't very full.

My current project: 24 black cocktailers in 3 different styles.

My First Pattern

2010-11-02T14:12:00.001-07:00

I have thought about making patterns of my designs for a long time, but like everything else, it took me a while to get around to actually doing it. I have decided to make patterns of outfits that were popular, but I never want to make again. When I make a new outfit I usually try to cut out as many outfits as I can out of my fabric, or up to about 8 outfits. Whatever comes first. That is usually all my patience can stand.

I realized after I started, that there is a lot to think about when making a pattern. Writing out the instructions was hard. I can't draw, so I decided to MAKE THE OUTFIT AGAIN, even though I really didn't want to. I must say though, that making only one instead of ten wasn't too bad. I tested the fit of the pattern, wrote down all my steps, and even took pictures as I sewed. I think from now on when I am making a new design, I will take notes and photograph my steps in case I decide to sell the pattern later.

This pattern is now for sale on my For Sale Blog.

"Imitation of Life" White and Blue Gown

2010-10-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

This gown has been on my to-do list for years. When another Gene collector asked me if I was planning on making this costume from the Lana Turner film "Imitation of Life" I decided to move it up the list and take a break from making "Rear Window" costumes. It is made of silk chiffon, which wasn't too hard to work with.

This gown was relatively easy to make compared to my latest projects. The hardest thing was finding the right shade of blue for the sash.

The sash can be worn in several different ways.

The jewelry was a gift from Jennifer and Katherine O' Hare, that I received at the "Hollywood Ahoy" convention in 2009. It is perfect.

I watched the gown scene many times in the movie. In the first shots, the sash is a dark teal color, but then later it looks blue, like in the above photo. I found this blue silk chiffon in Seattle this past Summer. Almost every time I leave Whidbey Island, I try to hit a fabric store or two. My three sons love fabric stores, and by love I mean I have to bribe them with candy, toys, and gum.

Distant Venus is my beautiful model.

Obsessing At Its Finest

2010-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Since this blog is about my many obsessions, I have a new one to share. Last night I was watching "Project Runway" and I started freaking out. One of the finalists, Andy South, was making a beautiful green outfit out of silk. The top had pleated ruffles all over it. They showed him making perfect mini pleats with a pleater board.

"Oh my Gosh! I NEEEEED one of those! I swooned. I backed up the DVR several times to see the pleater board. My boys thought I had lost another marble.

This morning I googled "pleater boards" and one is on its way, along with many other "must haves" for my sewing room that I didn't even know I needed until I was on the Clotilde website .

The reason I am so excited about this is I have been looking online and all over the countryside for pleated fabrics. I have a small collection, that I have been hoarding for years, but I want more of course.

If this works out, imagine the possibilities!

Dior's "New Look Bar" Suit

The "7 Year Itch" dress

This gorgeous cocktailer

The possibilities are endless!

What do you like the best?

P.S. I guess I should mention that after I ordered my pleater board, I may have remembered that I already own a pleater board. I bought it during my doll house obsession phase. I just found it in the shed, it will make very small pleats. Now I will have two! Awe. Some.

New Things

2010-10-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Even though I have only blogged about one of the many, many things I bought at the last Gene convention, I have decided to write about the last batch of goodies that have made their way up to Whidbey Island.

A couple of months ago Integrity Toys had a Gene sale, I couldn't resist indulging in some more dolls and outfits, the prices were incredible, and they were selling Tawny.

Isn't she gorgeous? I need to figure out how to photograph the darker skin better.

Like many of my Gene dolls, she wasn't on my list as a "Must Have" until I saw Jurrie's website. When I finally decided I needed her, she was sold out, and selling on eBay for a high price. I was thrilled to buy her for a great price.

I also bought "Pearls and Pink" Ivy. She is a beauty too.

I initially passed up "Pool Pose" Madra during the 2008 Gene convention. Her sale price was too good to pass up. She is beautiful, and the perfect hat doll. I don't have pictures of her in her original outfit, because when Tonner's "Captivatingly Coy" arrived, Madra demanded to be the first one to wear it. She is still wearing it.

I have succumbed to the urge to buy more of the "Anne Harper" line by Tonner. I love the vintage styles.

"Bright Days" is lovely.

Sambuca will fit in perfectly with the black cocktailers I am planning on making very soon.

I am very happy with my new loot.

"Rear Window" Black and White Cocktail Dress

2010-09-24T11:53:00.000-07:00

I have never been happier to be done making a batch of doll clothes. I pretty much spent the whole Summer making only two outfits from the film "Rear Window". The green suits weren't so bad to make, but my batch was larger than normal. I was very ambitious when I originally decided to make ten of these dresses.

I had made this costume before, back in 2006 . I hadn't made myself a copy though, and I knew there were many Gene fans interested in this design. It is a very popular costume and I have seen other doll clothes designers make it and they are all beautiful.

I briefly entertained the idea of making the bodice with set-in sleeves, but I decided against it. I couldn't really tell in the movie if the sleeves were set in or not and I knew they would be a pain to do in miniature. I have seen them on a Barbie sized version of this dress. All I can say to Natalia Sheppard is I am beyond impressed.

I think I got the look I wanted doing the sleeves my way, and I needed to save my patience for the skirt.

I originally wanted to make the bodice of the dress in a black silk crepe, and the skirt in silk organza lined in dupioni. After several failed attempts with the crepe, I decided it couldn't hold the shape I wanted, especially in the neckline. I also couldn't find a good source for silk organza, and the full circle skirt is a real fabric hog, which would have made the dresses really expensive to make.

I ended up using casa satin and organza. The casa satin is not very shiny and has a lot of body to it. I also like the way the organza skirt shimmers. I tried using a matte organza, but it was kind of boring. Tulle was also considered for the skirt, but I didn't think it would work well with the embroidery. The underskirt is casa satin, I tried a stiffer satin at first, but it was too stiff to me.

I suffered a few setbacks with the skirts. My original batch of organza ended up having holes in it, so I had to exchange it. Thank goodness I caught it before I had sewn the dresses (or so I thought).

I wasn't sure how I should hem the organza skirt. Super narrow hems are hard on circular skirts for me to do perfectly. I did some research in my sewing books and chose a fine zigzag. I ruined two dresses trying to sew the hem using clear nylon thread. Ordinary white thread ended up working better.

The worst setback though was when I thought I was in the home stretch. I had sewn up my second batch of dresses, the snaps were even done and I was starting my third embroidered "leaf" on one of the dresses. That is when I noticed a d_ _ n hole in the organza skirt. It must have been cut from the first bad batch of organza and I had missed the hole when I inspected the skirts because it was a lot smaller than the others had been. I was devastated! So much time lost! I went through my new batch and found another dress with a bad skirt. I didn't have the heart to make two new dresses or pick apart the bad dresses and replace the skirts. I ended up making only eight dresses.

The embroidery on the skirt was my biggest challenge. It needed to look good from both sides of the fabric because the organza is sheer. I used satin embroidery floss and used a stem stitch backstich. I passed the floss through the stitches on the wrong side of the skirt to hide the threads and to back track on the leaves.

French knots or beads were my choices for the other part of the leaf. I ruled out French knots because I knew that they might look bad. The thread would show through from the underside, and the knots risked being pulled through the fabric. I used the smallest beads I could find. Some of the dresses had two groups of beads on each leaf, and others had one. I was experimenting with my technique with each dress.

Each leaf took over an hour to do, and each dress had seven leaves. You do the math.

I wish I had seen this photo earlier. It is the best picture of how the beads look on the skirt.

Only my last two dresses have the beads like this. It took me that long to figure out how to do it!

Blue Parasol is perfect as Grace Kelly. She was meant to model this dress.

All the dresses have been sold.

THE END!

Hair Part I

2010-09-17T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to write about doll hair for a while. When I first started buying Genes, the hair was the deciding factor for me when choosing which dolls to buy.

I buy most of my dolls to work as models for the clothes I make. My favorite Genes the first few years were "Love Paris" and Symphony in G Minor". I used them a lot. They look great in hats, suits, and in evening wear.

I know what I don't like; I don't like long, loose hair, and I don't like high up-dos. My favorite hairstyle is a low chignon on the back of the head. I think it is the most versatile style.

I started restyling some of my Genes hair myself a couple of years ago. I was very nervous to do it at first. I can sew very well, but hair is not easy for me.

AMERICAN COUNTESS

My first hair redo was "American Countess". She originally had her hair in a bun on the top of her head. It looked beautiful with her tiara and gown, but I needed a brunette model that could wear hats. I took her hair down, it was long and not too thick. I used the instructions on Studio Commissary and what I had learned at the hair class during the 2008 convention to make a low chignon. I was very happy with my first attempt. She is one of my few AD Genes that has a IT body.

DISTANT VENUS

Image Property of Integrity Toys

Distant Venus was next. She was my very first convention doll. I loved her beautiful face and silver hair, but her long wavy hair limited her modeling possibilities. I saw other people on the doll boards putting her hair up so I thought, "Why not?". I gave her the same low chignon as my American Countess. I left the curl by her face though. I think I cut a little off the bottom of her hair. I love the results. She has modeled many outfits for me. I especially love her in black, white, and red.

She is so gorgeous, and probably my favorite Gene ever.

SPECIAL SCENE MADRA

Image Property of Integrity Toys

I didn't have very many Madras and I decided I needed a brunette Madra. I loved Special Scene Madra's face and her dark hair. I loved her hair in the promotion pictures, but my Madra's hair wasn't as nice, I could see it getting messy on me. I decided to try to copy "Symphony in G Minor's" French Twist.

The first thing I had to do, was very scary. She had A LOT of hair on her scalp. Especially on top of her head. I wish I could have transplanted her hair to my head! I had to thin it out so I scalped all of her hair except for a few rows of hair going around her hairline. She still had a thick ponytail even after I took out most of her hair. I should of taken pictures of the process, but most of you would have freaked if you had seen her! I had instructions to follow from a HLAYG magazine that were very helpful.

I started sectioning off her hair and pinning it close to her head. I covered all that up with the roll. I had to thin her hair out even more to get the results I wanted. I have a rule about doll hair; my doll's ponytail should not be thicker than my ponytail. That is so wrong! I'm pretty happy with the results, though I wish it was a little smoother hair-do.

CITY SLEEKER ZITA

Image Property of Integrity Toys

This is one of the first doll that I bought for the clothes. Her suit is stunning, but I hated her "Bride of Frankenstein" hairdo. I really wanted to give her a "Love Paris" double twist. I thought that would have looked beautiful on Zita.

My Zita before her redo, notice how messy her hair is.

When I took her hair down, it was long and thin. There wasn't much hair in the middle of her scalp. Unfortunately, it wasn't thick enough for two twists and I couldn't figure out how to make it work. It also wasn't thick enough for my good old stand-by low chignon. It was perfect for a braid though. So I braided it and pinned the ends under. I am satisfied with the way it turned out, but I would have loved it if I could have done it "Love, Paris" style.

BUTTERFLY SHADOW

Image Property of Integrity Toys

I bought this doll nude for a good price not long ago. I was attracted to her dark hair and her bangs. I wouldn't want bangs on all my dolls, but I like the variety. She came to me with her curls a little messed up, and they were on the top of her head, like I don't like them. I dreamed of styling her hair like "Color Deal" Ivy"s.

That was before I took her hair down. The top curls were long and I knew I could work with that part of her hair, but I should have stopped there. The back and sides were very short and uneven. She looked almost as bad and my "Special Scene" Madra would look if I ever took her hair down, but that will be NEVER!

Scary pictures of her hair while I was working on it. My husband asked me "what the @&*# did you do to her?" I was wondering that myself.

There was no way I could do the style that I really wanted. I ended up putting the back and sides up again, but it isn't as nice as the original back was. I twisted the top of the hair and pinned it to hide the mess in the back. This is least favorite redo I've done, but I still like it better than the original do, at least she can wear hats, and she may be wearing a lot of them. I do not recommend taking her hair down.

STARDUST

Image Property of Integrity Toys

When I first brought Stardust home, I told myself "I am keeping her hair down!" Her hair looked so pretty in the promotion photos, mine- not so much. It was a mess, and I gave into the urge to brush it out and "fix it". I tried to gel in the waves and clean it up, but it ended up looking flat to me.

I found a helpful article about doing an up-do in an old "Haute Doll" magazine that I have saved. I brushed Stardust's hair out and started pinning it up. I didn't cut anything off, and that is why her hair is so big. I didn't want to do anything drastic, and it could be taken down if I wanted to later. I gelled the ends of her hair into curls and sprayed it with hairspray. I love her now!

CALENDAR SHOT

Image Property of Integrity Toys

I bought Calendar Shot nude at the convention. She didn't have her hairnet and her the back of her hair was in long messy ringlets. I knew I was going to have to put her hair up too. I brushed it out and straightened it with hot water. I gathered it into a low ponytail and then made two even braids. I didn't cut her hair and I twisted the braids around the back of her head. Hiding the braids' ends was the hardest part.

OONA

I received Oona at the 2008 convention for making an auction outfit. I was tickled pink. I love her but never liked her high ponytail. I knew I didn't want to take it down, but I wanted her hair up.

Her curls were always messy, and I felt like she could only wear evening wear with this style.

I braided her ponytail into three even braids and like Calendar Shot, twisted them around the back of her head.

BOUDOIR

This Gene was bought to be my Esther from "Meet Me in St. Louis" model. For more details about her hair click here.

I have my eye on a few more dolls that might need new hairdos. Fringe Festival Ivy, Glammed Up Ivy, and Love, Madra, better watch out!

"Rear Window" Green Suit

2010-08-10T00:26:00.000-07:00

I am finally able to blog about this suit! I started working on a large batch of suits not long after I got home from the Gene convention. Then life happened; home improvement projects, internet problems, computer problems, Cub Scout day camp, I kept sewing during all of it, but I was unable to blog or participate much on my favorite doll boards. I have been going crazy! OK enough with the complaining Diane, on with the blog.

"Rear Window" is one of my favorite movies. I love Grace Kelly's costumes, and the story is pretty good too.

The suit is made out of green linen-like fabric. I wanted to use silk noil, but I couldn't find it in the right shade of green. Like before, I wish I had bought more of this fabric. I don't know why it is photographing so weird in the full body shots, it isn't shiny fabric. I was told it is probably the resolution of the picture.

The fabric photographs much better close up. I must say I am pleased with how the hats turned out, since I don't consider myself much of a hat maker, but I am getting better. The hat is made out of white ultra suede, I hope I can remember how I made them if I ever want to make them again.

The veil was the hardest thing on the hat to do. I made it so it can be worn down or flipped up.

I lined the jacket and made the halter top out of white silk dupioni. The halter top was a challenge. I had to keep the bulk to a minimum at the waistline, while working with a lot of layers of the dupoini.

I flipped the top snaps to add interest.

The next "Rear Window" costume is the black and white cocktail dress. I am working on a batch of them right now.

Convention Goodies- Midnight Madra Lord

2010-06-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

I need to post more on my blogs, so I am going to blog about all the cool stuff I received and bought at the convention until I finish my next batch of Gene fashions.

Right now I have only 4 Madras, "Deep Rose", "Love Madra", "Special Scene Madra", and "Midnight Madra Lord" I hope I will be able to add more Integrity Madras in the future though.

This blog is about my favorite Madra, "Midnight Madra Lord" she is so gorgeous.

Her gown is very high fashion it was inspired by this Madame Grès creation. I love it in navy blue. The only thing I don't like are the gloves. I took them off as soon as I deboxed her because I was worried about staining, then I couldn't get them back on. Most of the IT Gene's gloves are impossible to put on though.

I love the color and style of her hair. I have been snipping off the stray hairs with little scissors though to clean up her hair-do.

Her face is gorgeous. Her lips are a dark red and eye make-up matches her dress.

This is the picture that made me say, "WOW!" I love the halter back.

Midnight Madra is wearing a new outfit now and is waiting for me to take more pictures of her.

Stardust Gene Convention 2010

2010-06-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

Warning! This is a long post with lots of photos and mundane details like what I wore, ate, bought, saw, and how little I slept. I may also use the word "awesome" too much. Read at your own risk!

When Mel Odem announced last year that he was going to pursue other interests and next year was Gene's last year I was saddened and dismayed. Gene has been an important part of my life for the past 7 years. I have loved collecting her and especially sewing for her. She has been a creative outlet for me like no other hobby I have ever had. Sewing for her has really been more than a hobby, it has been a passion and sometimes an obsession.

I knew I had to attend the last Gene convention in Philadelphia, June 3-5. Thank you Bert for arranging your schedule so you could be home for the boys. I appreciate it more than you know.

I flew out to Philadelphia Wednesday, June 2. I had to wake up bright and early to catch the 4:15 airport shuttle. I think I got maybe two hours of sleep that night. I was so excited and stressed about missing my 3:00 alarm that I never really went to sleep.

At the airport I met up with Tim and Don, fellow Northwest Gene fans. The flight was long, yet uneventful. We caught a shuttle to the Loews Hotel in downtown Philly. We chatted the whole way about Gene, fabric, movies, and fashions. The other riders on the shuttle probably thought we were nuts! There may have been an incident when we arrived at our hotel where I might have thought the black suitcase in the van was not mine and that a woman who had got out at another hotel before me had taken the wrong suitcase. It is a good thing another passenger thought to look at the name tag on that black suitcase and it may have had my name on it. In my defense, I was super tired, that suitcase wasn't the one that I usually use, and I'm an idiot.

The Loews Hotel was awesome. It is over 30 stories high and located on Market Street, in the heart of downtown Philadelphia. I was in a corner room on the 9th floor. I forgot to take a picture of my room, but it looked a lot like this, but in reverse and without the flowers, grapes, laptop, and briefcase.

I unpacked my suitcases and made my way downstairs where the early-birds were attending a pre-convention cocktail party. I hadn't signed up for it because I wasn't sure when I would be actually arriving at the hotel. I wrote my room sale information up on a white board and picked up my room sale door sign. I talked to a few people, admired the cocktail sheath that I would be getting in my convention package tomorrow and went back to my room.

ROOM SALES

I had never done room sales before. In Orlando, I rented a table in the sales room and learned the hard way that I couldn't attend workshops and be in the salesroom at the same time. Last year at the "Hollywood Ahoy" convention I take anything with me to sell. Originally, I wasn't even planning on selling my doll clothes at this convention, but then I decided to make sundresses for table gifts and that turned into making a whole bunch of sundresses and sheaths to sell.

As I sat in my room, I was wishing I could be out visiting other room sales. I felt like I was missing out on the fun stuff. I ordered room service and my food and customers arrived. I had a great time talking to everyone. I had a bunch of older fashions on my bed. I called it my "garage sale". People snatched those up fast!

After a while, I closed down my room and visited other room sales on my floor. I think I spent all the money I had just made! Then I reopened my room and sold some more.

I went to bed about midnight. I was exhausted! But wouldn't you know it, I had a horrible time going to sleep! I think my body was still on West Coast time or something.

THURSDAY, JUNE 3rd

I awakened Thursday morning rather early considering how little I had slept. While I was standing in the bathroom with wet hair I realized the room didn't have a hairdryer! I called downstairs and they told me it was hanging behind the bathroom door in a black fabric bag. I was so relieved.

I registered for the convention and received my convention package. Inside a large shopping bag was a large empty box, my cocktail sheath, a schedule of the next few days and some other goodies.

I walked two blocks to the Reading Terminal Market. It was awesome. It was just like Pike Place Market in Seattle take away the multi levels, waterfront ambiance, and people throwing salmon and add Amish bakeries and butcher shops and restaurants selling cheese steak sandwiches and they could have been twins. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted to eat so I bought jelly doughnuts at an Amish bakery, yum.

Then it was time for some shopping for me. Macy's was only a few buildings away from my hotel. It was about 10,000 times larger than my local Macy's, I picked up a few great things on sale. I still spent way more money on clothes for Gene than I did on myself.

All the convention sales rooms were opening at noon, so I decided to postpone my sightseeing trip to see the Liberty Bell until the last day. I am glad I did that because people told me that the place was swarming with school children on Thursday. I went shopping in both sales rooms and I may have bought a couple of dolls and other things.

I walked back to the Reading Market and bought a Philly Cheese steak sandwich. It was so huge I saved the other half for the next day. I opened my room for sales for a couple of hours and met some more great people and reconnected with some friends that I had made at the last two conventions.

It was then time for the first big event of the convention. I dressed up in a new blouse that I had just bought at Macy's and a black skirt that had needed that new blouse and went down to the ballroom.

I really don't enjoy mingling with people, I am shy, but when I finally start talking I won't shut up. When they opened the doors to the ballroom I found the table I was assigned to. I had been invited by my friend Jennifer to sit with her and her lovely mother Katherine. The Angelic Dreamz guys were our table hosts and I enjoyed the other people at the table. I gave out my table gifts that night. I had made everyone a sundress out of 9 different fabrics and 3 different styles. I also had 3 Ann Taintor postcard for everyone. They are hilarious!

We enjoyed a delicious dinner of eggplant and artichoke soup, chicken, and cheesecake. The service was wonderful. The whole evening was great I only have two complaints: The music was way too loud and I couldn't talk to my table mates very well, and I didn't get her

Image Property of Integrity Toys

I fell in love with the "Blue Avenue" centerpiece as soon as I walked into the ballroom. OMGosh was she gorgeous! I love day wear more than evening wear so she really appealed to me.

Here is a picture of the "Blue Avenue" at our table. OK, here is how the centerpiece dolls work. There are ten people at each table. Everyone is given a number that we keep for the whole convention, my number was 6. Four numbers were pulled out of the bag and those people have the opportunity to purchase the centerpiece dolls. Not one of the numbers was mine! Four people at our table were able to buy "Blue Avenue" I am still eating my heart about the "one that got away. "Blue Avenue" has become the hot doll of the convention. No one wants to sell her and many, many people want to buy her.

Another tradition at the meals is to receive "Swag" This was sitting on my seat.

Image Property of Integrity Toys

This was the first part of a gift set that fit into the large box I received when I registered. The details are exquisite. I was very excited to see what else we would be receiving.

But that is not all! Everyone was surprised with a beautiful "Parfait Zita", WOW!!!!

Image Property of Integrity Toys

After dinner I sold more out of my room. I was very happy with how my sales went. Everyone I met was so friendly and complimentary that by the time I went to bed, my head was huge! I had a terrible time going to sleep again, I'm not sure if it was because I was still on West Coast time, I drank a diet coke too late, or my big head, but I didn't get to sleep until about 3:30 am.

FRIDAY, JUNE 4th

Friday was a full day for me. I got breakfast at the Reading Terminal Market, and visited the sales rooms again. I may have bought some more dolls and outfits. My first workshop was about eyelashes. I bought the eyelash kit, and learned about all the different ways one can do eyelashes on a doll. My favorite tip for eyelashes though come from a fellow classmate. She told us how she uses a little dental brush to fix Gene's lashes. She passed one around the room and loe and behold it was awesome! It was like a mini mascara wand. That was one of the first things I bought at Walmart when I got home.

Next was lunch in the ballroom. The centerpiece was "Love Madra"

Image Property of Integrity Toys

I my number was called for her. I really love her, she is beautiful, her outfit is wonderful, and I needed more Madras, but I would have rather had "Blue Avenue".

Lunch was salad, chicken (again), and an apple tart. Mel Odem talked about Madra and how he wanted to create a rival for Gene before he made a man for her. He talked about how he chose her name, and the inspiration for her costume. I loved my new doll even more after Mel's speech.

The next part of our gift set was this

Image Property of Integrity Toys

A beautiful fur muff, shoes, gloves, and jewelry package. But that was not all! After lunch we got another doll! "Moss Rose Ivy" is stunning with black-hair and I love her suit.. We were all getting so spoiled! I was starting to worry about getting all my dolls home.

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I had two more workshops after lunch. The first one was on making accessories for Gene. We were given the supplies to make a purse, fur, and hat. I didn't get much done. I was too busy talking to my friend Michael that I had met last year in Long Beach. I plan on finishing my things at home. The second workshop was on how to flock hair on a doll. It wasn't a hands-on workshop, but we were able to watch Alain Tremblay flock hair on dolls. It was cool and involved electromagnetic charges, glue, and flocking. We all had fun saying the word flocking a lot. I bought a Trent doll that Alain had flocked in advance. Some people had Alain flock beards, eyebrows, and chest hair. I was happy with my Trent and his "flocken" head the way it was. I finally had me a man doll!

After the workshops I may have done a little more dolly shopping and I may have bought more stuff, maybe.

I was very tired by this time. I went back to my room and relaxed for a while. I ate the other half of my cheese steak sandwich (not bad cold) for dinner.

Friday night was a party in the ballroom. Many people dressed up like their favorite movie star or Gene outfit. I just wore a nice skirt and blouse.

At first I wasn't getting into it. I don't like to mingle and the music was too loud for talking. I got up to wander around and maybe go back to my room and I ran into Diane/Marilyn. Diane and I had gotten to know each other last year on the Queen Mary. She is really nice and I like her name. We ended up going out on the dance floor and dancing with everyone else out there. I was having fun now!

Here are some photos of the event, some of these photos I "borrowed" because I was a little lame in the photography department. I hope you all don't mind.

After dancing until my pointy-toed shoes were killing my feet. I went straight to bed. I finally had no problem going to sleep, Thank goodness!

SATURDAY, JUNE 5th

Breakfast was at the Reading Market again. I was really digging that place. I may have bought a couple more Gene outfits in the sales room and then it was off to my last workshop on shoes. I enjoyed it, and may try making some shoes out of the old AD ribbon shoes that I had thrown in a box a long time ago. I love going to the workshops, but if I was to do the weekend over, would have left myself some more free time for shopping. Then again, what am I saying!? I had no problem spending money in the little time that I had!

The Trent luncheon was next. When I saw the Trent centerpiece, I wanted him. There were only enough Trents for about half the attendees. I decided I would be very happy if I got to buy him, but I wouldn't cry bitter tears in my pillow if I didn't get him like I was still doing about "Blue Avenue". It turned out I was able to buy him and now I had two men dolls! Yeah!

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Everyone received a accessory package for Trent at the luncheon. I like it, I would have loved shoes, since I can't sew shoes. I will have to go shoe shopping for Trent when I get home.

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The luncheon was held in a different part of the hotel. I am sitting next to the blond woman on the far left just out of the picture. You can't see me, but I looked great!

The vendor's sales room was packed up (thank goodness for my wallet) so I went back down to the contest room, and Gene museum. I also took pictures of the convention collection that I had preordered. I love all of them and was glad I didn't have to worry about getting them home on the plane.

The convention package consisted of a doll for each characture, seven dolls total. How awesome is that?

The final gala celebration dinner for Gene was that night. I dressed in pink and I dressed my "Blue Parasol" in an amethyst beaded ballgown that I had made years ago. I chose this dress for Gene because the color reminded me of stardust, just like the theme of the convention.

The centerpiece was Zita Charles "Azalea". She was lovely, and three people at my table bought her.

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We also received the rest of our gift package, a wigged Gene. This opens up a whole buch of possibilities! Now I need to go shoe shopping and wig shopping.

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Here is what my boxed set looked like before I deboxed it to fit it in my suitcase.

My doll became the centerpiece at our table after Zita had been boxed up. She looked lovely!

Dinner was soup, chicken (it's a good thing I like chicken) and dessert. We also had cupcakes at our table because it was our host George's birthday. They were better than the other dessert we had.

Our Table Hosts

A commission I made for the convention

It was finally time to reveal the convention doll. We were so excited! Stardust Gene is stunning! Her gown was inspired by a 1954 Charles James gown. I love stuff like that. I even love her long hair. I will not be messing with it.

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I took all my swag back to my room and finished packing up my box of dolls to ship home. Then I stood in the shipping line for a long time but I didn't mind because I was yacking it up with anyone who was standing near me.

SUNDAY, JUNE 6th

My flight didn't leave Philidelphia until almost 6:00 pm that night and I wanted to see the Liberty Bell. I didn't eat breakfast at the Reading Market, instead I went to McDonalds. My hotel was only six blocks from the historic sites, but it was already hot and muggy by 10:00 am. I really enjoyed my little tour.

Independence Hall

I was so hot by the time I made it back to the Reading Market for "linner" I really regret not buying a big Amish pickle on Saturday because all the Amish shops were closed. I ran into Diane and we split a cheese steak sandwich and fries. She said I looked like I was melting (I think I really was!) Then we caught a shuttle to the airport. Penny was on the shuttle with us and we chatted about the convention, and dolls the whole way there. The other riders probably thought we were nuts, just like my earlier ride. I might have tried to get the driver to take the wrong black suitcase off the van. No more generic black carry-on suitcases for me! They got me into trouble twice!

This post is already too long, so I won't go into too many details about the flight back to Seattle. US Airways asked 30 people to volunteer to be bumped from the flight so the airplane could carry more fuel. I was tempted, but I wouldn't have gotten my checked suitcase back and it had EVERYTHING I needed to spend the night anywhere. My carry-on was full of dolls and doll clothes. I would have been trying to wear Gene's clothes the next day if I had been bumped. I got lucky and made it on the flight.

My husband picked me up in Oak Harbor at 1:15 am. I was so surprised to walk into a clean house. Thank you boys!

I loved going to the three conventions I was able to go to. It was wonderful being with other Gene lovers, I felt like I was with my people! I hope there will be some kind of get together in the future. I am going to end this post with this wonderful quote I found on the Gene boards the other day-

"Don't be sad it's over, be happy it happened"

"Rear Window" Yellow Floral Dress

2010-04-26T23:34:00.001-07:00

I want to say two things about the fabric. It is about the most perfect match I could have ever found to replicate the dress in the movie and darn-it that I didn't buy more of it!

Several years ago I made three of the costumes in "Rear Window". I will be making them again after I get back from the Gene Convention. I wanted to start my "Rear Window" series by making the dress that I hadn't made before. It is a very simple sleeveless, cotton dress. I think Blue Parasol looks adorable in it.

I have been sewing a lot of cotton lately and it has been a lot of fun. I look forward to making the other "Rear Window" outfits soon.

"Funny Face" Yellow Print Dress

2010-03-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

It always seems like I have to write about the fabric when I blog about my outfits. This time is no exception.

I have made a few of the outfits from Audrey Hepburn's move "Funny Face". I plan on making more in the future, like the wedding dress again, and the train station suit ( if I can figure out how to make a flower pot hat).

This dress was on the screen for just a moment, but I loved it. I looked for years for the right fabric. At first I wanted silk, yeah right, dream on. Then I decided to use a cotton print. I mean how hard would it be to find a yellow, orange and red small floral print? Well it was harder than I thought it would be. I'm sure it exists, but it wasn't to be found in Western Washington.

I like the yellow and orange print I found, it is fun and sunny. Sewing on cotton was a lot of fun too. It had been a while.

I found pictures online of the whole dress, and was surprised to see it had a peplum like over-skirt.

I didn't have a brunette Gene with her hair up that worked with the hat except for "Oh La La". She didn't look sweet enough to wear it so I used my "Candied Lavender" Gene. It was her first modeling gig and she did a great job.

The hat is made of cream cross stitch fabric and bias cut silk dupioni. It was a lot harder than the dress to make.

"V" For Tea Ivy

2010-02-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

This Ivy wears a lot of suits. She looks great in earth tones and her hair is perfect for hats.

Lucy Gallant

2010-01-25T15:38:00.000-08:00

I became a big fan of the designer Edith Head years ago while researching fashions for my dolls. I bought the DVD "To Catch a Thief" and one of its extra features was "Edith Head and the Paramount Years". There were several short clips from the fashion show in the film "Lucy Gallant". It became my mission in life to get my hands on that movie. Unfortunately, "Lucy Gallant" has never been released on video or DVD. After many months of searching, I was able to buy a copy of the film on DVD. I was so excited! The story in the movie is OK, but the fashions are wonderful. Not long after that, there was a convention for Gene based on that film. I didn't get to go to the convention, but I recognized the fashions from the convention immediately. I was bummed that I had been beaten to the punch again (It happens to me all the time).

One of my favorite fashions from the movie, besides the red and white gown and coat, was a red suit and coat ensemble in the fashion show at the end of the movie. I have been planning on making this outfit for years and I finally did it.

The suit and sleeveless coat are made of wool. I love the fur trim around the armholes. The biggest challenge was finding the fur for the outfit. In the movie, Edith Head describes the fur as sealskin, I knew I need to find the flattest fur I could, to have the same effect.

The real coat was completely lined in fur. I tried that in my little doll coat and I felt it was too bulky. I decided to only use the fur on the collar, armholes and down the front of the coat. It would have been great if I could have made it like the real coat, because then it would have been reversible. The fur around the armholes is a little thicker than I originally wanted it to be, but there was a bulk issue again. I am still pleased with the results.

My new "It's a Cinch" makes a wonderful model. I love her!

I even made faux umbrellas out of wooden shish kebab skewers, beads, fabric, interfacing, glue, ribbon, and a black sharpy pen.