Something New to Obsess About

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

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

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

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.

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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

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!

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”

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.