Eye candy for the hungry seamstress:
Colourful doll clothes (sugar-free)
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Eye Candy
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One Bouquet per Day
Some time ago I started with a little summer project for myself.
Every day, on a morning walk, in a quick break at lunchtime or on a late-evening stroll through the meadows, I pick a bouquet of flowers, take a picture and post it on Instagram, together with the names of all the flowers. In the beginning I didn't think I would be able to keep it up under a longer period of time, but week number five has just begun - and I am getting more and more used to this daily ritual, I just have to take at least a five minutes walk every day and find a few treasures that I can bring home and put on the kitchen table, on the window sill and the cupboard in my studio.
It feels wonderful to take a look at all these photos. Summer is here, even if it seems like autumn today, rainy and cold.
Makes me smile ;-)
P.S. If you want to see all my bouquets on Instagram, use the hashtag #onebouquetperday
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Featured DIY: School Cone - Zuckertüte
One of the positive sides of an expat life and of cross-cultural relationships is that you have the chance to not only keep your own traditions but to add a lot of new ones, too. In our daily life, we try to keep both the German and Swedish traditions and customs. We celebrate midsummer as well as St. Nicholas Day, eat St. Lucia buns as well as Easter braids and sing birthday songs in Swedish as well as in German.
One of the German traditions I really like and miss in Sweden are school cones, the Zuckertüte or Schultüte (both names are common in German). In the old days, when corporal punishments were common practice in German schools, when teachers wore a pince-nez on their nose and strict discipline had to be kept, a lot of children were rather anxious to start with school. In the early 19th century, a teacher came up with the smart idea of a Schultüte, a school cone that would sweeten the enrolment: It is said that a special tree is growing in the schoolyard, the Zuckertütenbaum. The fruits of that tree are small cardboard cones filled with candy. When the fruits are ripe (= when the cardboard cones are big enough), they can be picked and it is time to start with school.
In Germany, children are literally simmering with excitement towards their first day in school. In the life of a six-year-old, starting as a first-former is something really, really big. There is a ceremonial act in school and family and friends celebrate the enrolment. Yet the biggest thing is the school cone filled with candy, with small toys and crayons. It is that sort of thing that keeps you awake days ahead, full of anticipation.
When I was a child, parents would buy school cones for their kids and fill them with sweets and little gifts. Nowadays, a lot of families buy blank cardboard cones at the craft store, paint them or cover them with photos, stickers or wool felt.
My friend Barbara runs Twinkle*Twinkle, a lovely shop with fabrics, interior products and craft supplies in Berlin/ Prenzlauer Berg, has made a great tutorialin German on how to sew a fabric cover for cardboard cones, including a pattern for a 70cm cardboard cone. If you live in Germany, have a child that starts with school after summer, you can even buy a ready-made fabric cover in case you run out of time or don't want to make it yourself. Barbara sells them either as a custom order or as one of the ready-made school cone covers in thewebshop.
I have made small school cones for the dolly school, next on my list is a small blackboard and then mini satchels. I used cardboard cones from the craft store (in Germany you can get them in a lot of different sizes), fabric remnants, ribbon and tulle. They are super easy to make (I made the pattern for the small ones myself, following Barbara's instructions).
These small Schultüten would make a lovely gift to comfort younger siblings (who use to be a bit envious when they see their brother's or sister's huge school cone filled with goodies). I do also know quite a few people who give smaller school cones to their loved ones when they start a new chapter in life, go to university, start with an apprenticeship. When a friend of mine (who loves tomatoes) started at the conservatory, his mother cleared out the attic, found his dusty old school cone, cleaned it - and gave it to him the day he started with his education, filled with a lot of tomatoes.
While Barbara's tutorial is in German, it might inspire my international readers to maybe start with a new family tradition and present first-formers with a school cone. I know that this tradition is being kept in many German expat communities worldwide, in south Sweden the German church parish even has a school start service every year where first-formers get their school cone filled with sweets and little gifts.
Barbara and I have made another DIY tutorial together some time ago, a fabric play stove. You can find the step-by-step instructions in English here on my blog, and the same instructions yet in German can be found hereon Barbara's website.
Wishing you a sunny day!
Warmly,
Juliane
P.S. The photo above shows my maternal grandfather with his school cone on his first day in school. Times were hard back then, and it was a huge expense to buy a satchel and to fill the cone with candy and chocolate. But my grandfather, who later became an electrician, thought quite practical already as a child: His biggest wish was a metal toy construction set, not candy and chocolate, he was more into mechanics than into sweets. My great-grandparents couldn't afford both candies and such a set, but since their son was so persistent about the latter, they gave in eventually. Instead of a school cone, he got a metal toy construction set on his first day in school. Since it would have looked a bit odd to be photographed with a cardboard box under his arm, and his desk neighbour borrowed him his school cone for a minute.
(In regards to my grandfather's stubbornness - it runs in the family ;-)
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Capturing Summer - My Flower Press
One of the earliest flower memory I can recall from my childhood is the rich scent of immortelle, heavy and spicy.
I am five years old, it is July, and while my younger siblings are taking a nap, I am allowed to pick flowers on my own in a dry meadow behind the guesthouse where we stay for our summer vacation. The sun is blazing and I pick one bouquet of immortelles after another. Later in the afternoon we go down the path to the lake to take a swim. I put my bouquets on the weathered planks of the bathing jetty and count mosquito bites on my legs. On our way back home I can hear the grasshoppers and pick the last bouquet for the day.
When I finished my studies at the drama school, I wrote my thesis about mnestic processes. In 2007, I received an artist grant for a whole year to focus on my research on how certain childhood memories like specific scents, sounds and surroundings, affect our perception of stories, theatre and art.
Whenever I find immortelles, their scent reminds me of one of those happy summer day I spent as a child. It is like a vehicle for my thoughts, they start to wander immediately, back to that meadow, back to that day in July, thirty years ago.
Three years ago I found this flower press on a flea market. First now I started using it - and I love the way I can capture summer days with it. Last year I have writtenthis post about Hélène's album with pressed flowers. For a long time I have been wanting to start with such a project myself, gathering summery moments between pages to look at when winter is long and to remember those sunny days. It is an important part of my creative work to spend time on gathering inspiration and ideas in nature.
Whether it is a few daisies that you find in a city park on the way home from work, a basil twig you pick on the windowsill or a seashell you find by the sea - there are many ways of gathering precious moments. Whether it is the view from your balcony you photograph every morning or whether it is this summer's black currants filled in jam jars - just find your way how to preserve time.
If you want to start pressing flowers, the easiest way is of course to use a few heavy books with old newspaper between. Lots of craft stores sell flower presses with screw clamps. If you'd like to buy a flower press that you could pass on to your grandchildren one fine day, this one seems like a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
Pressing flowers can be a wonderful project for the summer holidays as well, kids love to gather them on a walk through meadows and fields and you could add an extra educational component by letting them look up all those plants in an excursion flora and learn their names.
Warmly,
Juliane
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My Summer Colours
I collect summer colours:
The blue of the bellflowers in the meadow
The green of the chestnut leaves
The yellow of the afternoon sun
The black of the berries, like shiny jewels
The brown of the pine cones
The white of the goutweed, like delicate lace
And the purple of the heal-all that I found
Yesterday in the forest.
The only colour that I am still looking for
Is red, like the wild strawberries.
Maybe tomorrow, maybe!
This little girl, named Lotta by her new mommy, is a 50cm custom doll I made a couple of weeks ago. I used vintage fabrics and a beautiful old lace collar, found on a flea market two years ago. Lotta has found a very loving new home and enjoys summery days in the garden, I have been told by her new family.
Enjoy the weekend!
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Café Guldstenen
Café Guldstenen is the place to be at the moment. We eat lots of mud cake, have a cup of delicious goutweed tea and snail shell candy afterwards. The good thing with Café Guldstenen is that it is very close to where we live. The dresscode is rather casual, whether you come in a summer dress or in your pyjamas, you are always welcome, and it is open every day from early morning hours until bedtime ;-)
The beautiful wooden toy kitchen knives in the photo above are made by Anja, one of my relatives who is visiting us at the moment. Anja was educated in woodwork at Sätergläntan and she carves the most adorable wooden toys and objects. I can't tell you how much I love her work and I keep my fingers crossed (verymuch) that I can convince her to start with her own blog to share the joy with you.
We enjoy the summer days in the garden, everyone is busy with something. I am doing some needlework while Anja is carving and we are having a slice of mud cake with buttercup topping. Good that we have Café Guldstenen so close ;-)
Have a sunny day!
Juliane
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DIY - Baby in a Pouch
Dear reader,
are your kids already bored by those long summer vacation days when all books are read, all strawberries picked and all games have been played? Or do you need a quick-fix for a birthday present but don't want to spend hours driving in a hot car and rushing through the shops?
A few months ago I came across Coloured Buttons, the blog of a new follower of my page. Trixi is a craft teacher from Sydney, Australia, and when I saw her tutorial on how to make a baby in a pouch, I had to put it on my to-do list, highlighted and underlined.
This DIY is a perfect pastime to fill an afternoon with a crafty project. Just put some colourful fabric scraps, yarn leftovers, scissors, needle and thread on the garden table and let your kids have fun crafting. If you have a sewing machine and would like to make a baby in a pouch your own, it will take you less than 45min (it took me 20 minutes) to make a nice little gift. It would be a great idea for an advent calendar as well.
Two tips: I have shaped the head a bit with a sewing thread to make it look even more like a dolly. I also added two ribbons to close the pouch, a button or snaps will do the trick as well :-)
You can see the full tutorial hereon Trixi's blog Colour Buttons. Have fun!
Warmly,
Juliane
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Kiki's Herbarium
The crickets are singing
And the sun is burning
When I run down the path
to Smultron Cottage
Let's take a swim, I say,
Still breathless, when I find
Kiki sitting on the porch,
Eating teeny tiny strawberries with milk
As you can see, I am very busy today-,
Kiki says. And yes, I can see
Lots of books, all over the porch
And flower bouquets and cake crumbs
It looks as if Kiki has moved
Half her furniture
From Smultron Cottage
Under the gooseberry bushes
So when will you be done?
I whisper (to not disturb Kiki)
And with a deep, deep sigh she replies
Don't rush me! Haste makes waste!
Don't rush me! Haste makes waste!
Then she puts yet another pile of books
On top of three old newspapers
Together with a heavy stone
And forget-me-not between the pages
I snap my fingers twice
I take seven gulps of air
I wiggle my ears, thirty times
And then I count until fivehundredandfour
When I walk up the path
Along the gooseberry bushes, the blackthorn thicket
Through the meadow, back to grandfather's house
Kiki is busy still, pressing flowers
I have to chuckle
(a bit)
She probably didn't even notice
That I went home again
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Four of Seven
Every day I pick a bouquet of flowers. These are four of seven bouquets, picked in the past seven days,
my favourite photos.
Bellflower, oxeye daisy, yarrow, heal-all, fern, flax, great willowherb,
Phlox and queen of the prairies, dill, lupine,
Forget-me-not, purple lythrum, common tansy and meadow sweet (my favourite last week),
Rose, buttercup, clover and yellow loosestrife...
Enjoy summer!
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Like A Secret Remedy
Sometimes
When life feels like a rollercoaster
(as it can happen with anyone, all of the sudden)
When the weather changes from sunny to rainy and then to stormy
A little something can make you smile when you expect it the least
Like a secret remedy:
A handwritten postcard with colourful stamps from far away,
A flower that someone picked, just for you
Or a photo that a dear customer sent you, a photo of a happy little girl and her doll
Thank you for putting a BIG smile on my face ♥
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Blue, Red and Blue
Blue, red and blue.
And a dash of white.
It has been some time since I used this colour combination, and I love its summery freshness.
The blue fabric with white polka dots is a fabric that I have kept for many years. It was only a small piece of cloth - but perfect for a doll dress. I bought it as a sample for a dotted summer skirt, one of those projects that never turned into something, well well...
The other day, after the rain, when we took a walk, we found lots of vineyard snails.
I have never seen so many!
Their shape looks like Kiki's braided buns, don't you agree?
The last time I found vineyard snails, living ones, was at Ittingen Charterhouse, a beautiful spot in Canton Thurgau, Switzerland. We did a theatre performances at a festival and had only one afternoon off during the entire week and decided to visit the old monastery and art museum in Ittingen.
The empty snail shell is from our walk through the vineyards there, I have kept it since then as a little treasure that reminds me of that sunny autumn walk.
No coincidence that this girl in her dotted dress has found a new home in Switzerland :-)
♥
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Colour Cravings
I'd very much like to remind you of the contract that we set up
If I am not mistaken, it does not say
That autumn is going to take over while you are still on duty
Please put those grey clouds back in your suitcase
And give me a few dashes of colour to ease
Those withdrawal symptoms
A bunch of orange zinnias and blue aconites
Red currant jelly, three jars, please
And - if you have - a new dotted skirt (lime green would be nice)
Just some colour. And less rain. Please.
With regards,
Juliane
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P.S. A crafty late-summer project is in the making (more info soon), with a lot of colour to keep me in a happy mood while Mister August has decided to dress in grey and to play truant.
;-)
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A quick lesson in Japanese: Hayaku yoku natte
Some time ago I made a special Get well soon - Set for a doll collector. My customer wanted a Japanese-inspired set and I found a beautiful piece of fabric in my stash which - although it was cotton, not silk - reminded me of beautiful kimono fabrics.
I really enjoy to work on collectibles for adults, find vintage pieces like those delicate china cups and silver spoons and put together something with that specific customer in mind. This set includes a miniature version of my popular Little Mi hot-water bottle sets - a tiny rubber hot-water bottle with a cozy doll bed.
Since I've heard that redheads are rather uncommon in the land of the rising sun, Mini Mi got pretty black braids. Not sure about Giggle Tea though, I have heard of Genmaicha, Kukicha and Sencha tea, but I am sure that this one will be fine as a remedy for a cold and stomach pain.
As for today's lesson in Japanese, Hayaku yoku natte means Get well soon ;-)
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Pink and Red
If there is something I really, really like about late summer, it is the change of colour.
It is a soft change, a quiet one. A change of colour that surprises me every year anew.
Overnight, the rose bushes put on a delicate pink and a vibrant red.
I pick rosebuds for tea.
I harvest rosehips for a soup (with cream and tiny almond biscuits).
Pink and red, red and pink.
No wonder that I used pink and red fabrics for doll clothes the other day,
the most wonderful colour combination of August...
Enjoy late summer!
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Late Summer Picnics
We enjoy the last summer days, drink homemade lemonade,
gather freckles and play cards, eat lots of watermelon
gather freckles and play cards, eat lots of watermelon
and count dragonflies in the blue September sky
Did you already put away swimming clothes, floaties and beach towels?
Or do you still enjoy summery picnics and sunshine in the park?
If you need a last-minute solution for your dolls (to join you for a late-summer sun bath),thisDIY certainly will be of help - doll panties double perfectly as swimwear ;-)
Warmly,
Juliane
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Airy as Cobwebs
the other day I finished a doll dress
airy as cobwebs in late summer
in the mornings, when I take a walk
through the woods and meadows
it appears as if someone at night
has feverishly been sewing
on a delicate cloth made from tulle
and sparkling beads of dew
whosoever is sewing
while I am asleep
I am glad
that they seem to forget
to tidy away those remnants
of their nightly work
early in September
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Knit knit knit
Do you remember those ugly knitted covers for toilet paper rolls that looked like funny hats that people drove around with on the back shelf of their cars in the 1970's and 1980's just to be prepared for any unforeseen events?
As a child, I had the most unpleasant needlework teacher. Not only that, I remember the ugliest things we had to knit - such as those toilet-paper-roll-funny-hat-covers. I remember lots of ugly acrylic yarns, preferably in yellow and brown, probably the only colours that - unlike other yarns - weren't scarce goods in the GDR. Most of all, I remember that there was never space for anything creative.
The needlecraft lessons in primary school were always a horror for me. I was a dreamy child and found it difficult to count stitches and to follow patterns. My mother sometimes took pity on me and knitted a few rows on an ugly orange scarf or a brown pillow case - but it was oh so obvious that she had helped me with my unpleasant homework, you could tell from the stitches. The needlework teacher would unravel all those rows - and there I sat, with sweaty fingers, trying to somehow turn something ugly into something beautiful. With little success of course...
Until today, I am bad at knitting. I am able to knit a scarf, and I can somehow work with a crochet hook, but I am simply not able to read, to understand and to follow patterns. Give me a pair of scissors, measuring tape and fabric and I will just start working - pattern making has never be a problem for me as long as it is related to sewing. No surprise that I usually feel more drawn to spend hours at a shop with buttons and ribbons, with fabrics and sewing machines, than to enter a yarn store.
Until today, I am bad at knitting. I am able to knit a scarf, and I can somehow work with a crochet hook, but I am simply not able to read, to understand and to follow patterns. Give me a pair of scissors, measuring tape and fabric and I will just start working - pattern making has never be a problem for me as long as it is related to sewing. No surprise that I usually feel more drawn to spend hours at a shop with buttons and ribbons, with fabrics and sewing machines, than to enter a yarn store.
Last winter, I have started to join a knitting group though. Whenever I have the time, I attend a knitalong at Maglia yarn store in Höör, Sweden. A group of women, girls and ladies, that is meeting once a week to drink coffee, eat cake and to knit.
Often I just spend three hours crocheting doll shoes at those knitalongs because I want to get some work done. But since almost everyone is so fantastic at knitting, I find myself all too often admiring their work, talking about stitches and yarn qualities. Lots of aha! moments for a novice like me, lots of input and inspiration. Not to mention the click-clack-click-clackclack of knitting needles which is quite soothing and relaxing.
Two days ago I spent all afternoon and evening at Maglia because Jeanette, the sweet shop owner, had asked me to take photos of their newest yarns and of the shop itself. I arranged rowan berries together with yarns in autumn colours, took photos of shelves and baskets filled with a fantastic yarns, of crochet books and Swedish yllebroderi (a traditional way of wool embroidery). One of my larger dolls even modeled for Maglia's knitted baby clothes, perfect in size.
It seems as if I am slowly overcoming my visceral aversion for the art of knitting, thanks to Maglia yarn store. The other day I even found myself with a knitting book for children to teach myself some basics.
What I enjoy most when I pay Maglia a visit, is that Jeanette and Sofia are truly into yarns. When they talk about their newest products, when they show their newest knitting projects, pretty buttons they just had to order for the shop, or when they discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this or that pattern, they always do it with passion and enthusiasm. Their excitement is highly contagious and the reason why some people sit on the train for an hour just to join stickcaféeton Thursdays, the weekly get-together in Höör, a small place in the middle of Skåne.
And how much I was rummaging the shop two days ago, moving baskets with hand-spun wool, taking down boxes with skeins, arranging skeins of yarn in the shop window to take photos, I couldn't find any knitted toilet-paper-funny-hat-cover-and-the-like. Something I am grateful for ;-)
(And if my primary school needlework teacher happens to read my blog:
Your lessons sucked. Big time.)
Warmly,
Juliane
P.S. Butik Maglia can be found at Föreningsgatan 3 in Höör, Sweden. If you want to pay Maglia a virtual visit, knock on this door (website in Swedish). If you live in Skåne or happen to be in the area on vacation, you are warmly welcome to join the cozy knitalongs, all dates can be found here
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Doll Wigs: DollyMo Brushable (Product Review)
Dear reader,
Autum has come, with colourful leaves, with the first hoarfrost and with cozy hours in my studio. I very much enjoy making dolls at this time of the year. It is no fun to stuff doll limbs with sheep wool or crochet doll wigs with fuzzy mohair when it is hot outside.
As many of you know, I have been working with DollyMo yarns for my doll wigs since winter 2012 and in the past weeks I have had the pleasure to test their newest addition to wig making yarns, DollyMo Wool Brushable.
When I visited Debbie of Little Oke Dolls last autumn to teach a doll making class in Newton Abbot/ UK, we were talking a lot about thenew yarns Debbie planned to produce together with Kamrin, her Dutch colleague. As shop owners for doll making supplies, it is important for both of them to understand what we as professional doll makers need for our work. Debbie has asked me a lot for my opinion and ideas on their yarns, and during my stay in Newton Abbot last year, Debbie and I spent hours testing fibres and working on crochet techniques, something I truly enjoyed.
I think it is of prime importance to understand what natural attributes of the fleece are necessary to achieve the results we as doll makers desire. To attain a long, brushable yarn you need long fibres and this can only be achieved by using sheep wool as the staple and with mohair added to produce the desired softness, together with a nylon binder thread to give the strength. (The latter is something I often tell those of my customers who ask for a 100% wool yarn - no binder, no perfect yarn for doll making ;-)
When I phoned Debbie last autumn the same day she, Kamrin and Dutch Dollmaker Ineke Gray had been at the spinning mill in the heart of industrial Britain to test samples and to discuss the production. I could hear their excitement over having seen the process by which the raw wool fleece almost magically transformed into fashionable yarn. The spinners and Debbie then started searching for a breed of sheep that would give them the fibre length that was needed for the new DollyMo yarns. They spent months liaising to develop the base yarn, trying out different sheep fleeces until one was found with a long enough staple which would be suitable for brushing/teasing out.
As many of you know, I have been working with DollyMo yarns for my doll wigs since winter 2012 and in the past weeks I have had the pleasure to test their newest addition to wig making yarns, DollyMo Wool Brushable.
When I visited Debbie of Little Oke Dolls last autumn to teach a doll making class in Newton Abbot/ UK, we were talking a lot about thenew yarns Debbie planned to produce together with Kamrin, her Dutch colleague. As shop owners for doll making supplies, it is important for both of them to understand what we as professional doll makers need for our work. Debbie has asked me a lot for my opinion and ideas on their yarns, and during my stay in Newton Abbot last year, Debbie and I spent hours testing fibres and working on crochet techniques, something I truly enjoyed.
I think it is of prime importance to understand what natural attributes of the fleece are necessary to achieve the results we as doll makers desire. To attain a long, brushable yarn you need long fibres and this can only be achieved by using sheep wool as the staple and with mohair added to produce the desired softness, together with a nylon binder thread to give the strength. (The latter is something I often tell those of my customers who ask for a 100% wool yarn - no binder, no perfect yarn for doll making ;-)
When I phoned Debbie last autumn the same day she, Kamrin and Dutch Dollmaker Ineke Gray had been at the spinning mill in the heart of industrial Britain to test samples and to discuss the production. I could hear their excitement over having seen the process by which the raw wool fleece almost magically transformed into fashionable yarn. The spinners and Debbie then started searching for a breed of sheep that would give them the fibre length that was needed for the new DollyMo yarns. They spent months liaising to develop the base yarn, trying out different sheep fleeces until one was found with a long enough staple which would be suitable for brushing/teasing out.
I use a special technique for my wigs, I only crochet the binder thread, not the fibres, which takes a lot of patience for just one wig. When I teach this technique, I often notice that my students find it hard to crochet a fluffy, long-hair wig with the yarns that are available for us doll makers. Most doll makers only crochet a woollen cap and brush it out once it is finished. While the result looks pretty, the fibres usually are much, much shorter than with the technique I use, and this is one reason why most doll makers have to attach extra strands of mohair yarn to attain a wig with longer hair.
I was very curious to test the new DollyMo Brushable. Usually I work with a 2.5 crochet hook (European/ metric size, in mm), but the first test wig turned out too dense. It worked much better and faster with a size 3 crochet hook; it saves me at least two hours working time on a wig for a 55cm doll. My custom dolls are rather tall, about 55cm. For a wig with a circumference of 42cm, I need about 50g/ 90m yarn (round figures). Once the wig is finished, I brush out all excess fibers, using a comb with wide teeth and then a cat slicker brush (a pet grooming brush with thin steel pins).
As a teacher, I usually recommend a rather small crochet hook size to start with, depending on your crochet style. My technique differs a bit from others, if you use single crochet for a doll wig/ cap, you might have to take a smaller crochet hook/ crochet rather small yet loose stiches for a neat result.
In the beginning I was a bit skeptical in regards to the material composition of the yarn. The DollyMo brushed chunky mohair I had been working with so far comes with 84% young kid mohair, 8% wool and 8% nylon (for the binder). The texture of the new DollyMo brushable seemed less soft to me first, it is made from only 23% mohair, 74% pure wool and 3% nylon (binder). I have a very sensitive skin and was afraid the wig itself would be itchy.
To my surprise, it worked out very well once finished and brushed, and while wigs made with the classic DollyMo brushed chunky mohair are a bit softer than the ones I made with DollyMo brushable, I didn't notice a difference when I compared the result with the wig-making yarns of other companies that I also use for my dolls from time to time. The wig has a nice soft texture once combed and the hair has a very natural touch (something that is important to me as a doll maker).
The new DollyMo brushable, as its name implies, has been brought on the market to meet the requirements of doll makers who prefer a time-saving solution for crocheted wigs. With the technique that I use, the amount of excess mohair that I brush out once the wig is finished is much bigger than with other yarns. I usually comb and brush the wig until the pet brush is clean to make sure that the wig won't shed too much once the doll is being played with. I mention this because I know that my students usually are afraid to brush the finished wig, but the fibres are sturdy enough - and you will only brush out the excess hair (no risk to end up with a bald-headed doll)
While I personally prefer the beautiful natural shades that have been the hallmark of the DollyMo ethos, I know that quite a few of my colleagues suggested brighter colours. This is why the new DollyMo Brushable comes in two new bright shades, red rust and golden blonde. It is nice to have a wider range of colours to choose from, but I love the classic Dolly Mo colours, especially all the soft red-brown nuances. I would love to have another brown shade added, something between black and bark. It is a colour quite a few of my customers ask for, and it would be lovely if it was available as DollyMo Brushable.
In the beginning I was a bit skeptical in regards to the material composition of the yarn. The DollyMo brushed chunky mohair I had been working with so far comes with 84% young kid mohair, 8% wool and 8% nylon (for the binder). The texture of the new DollyMo brushable seemed less soft to me first, it is made from only 23% mohair, 74% pure wool and 3% nylon (binder). I have a very sensitive skin and was afraid the wig itself would be itchy.
To my surprise, it worked out very well once finished and brushed, and while wigs made with the classic DollyMo brushed chunky mohair are a bit softer than the ones I made with DollyMo brushable, I didn't notice a difference when I compared the result with the wig-making yarns of other companies that I also use for my dolls from time to time. The wig has a nice soft texture once combed and the hair has a very natural touch (something that is important to me as a doll maker).
The new DollyMo brushable, as its name implies, has been brought on the market to meet the requirements of doll makers who prefer a time-saving solution for crocheted wigs. With the technique that I use, the amount of excess mohair that I brush out once the wig is finished is much bigger than with other yarns. I usually comb and brush the wig until the pet brush is clean to make sure that the wig won't shed too much once the doll is being played with. I mention this because I know that my students usually are afraid to brush the finished wig, but the fibres are sturdy enough - and you will only brush out the excess hair (no risk to end up with a bald-headed doll)
While I personally prefer the beautiful natural shades that have been the hallmark of the DollyMo ethos, I know that quite a few of my colleagues suggested brighter colours. This is why the new DollyMo Brushable comes in two new bright shades, red rust and golden blonde. It is nice to have a wider range of colours to choose from, but I love the classic Dolly Mo colours, especially all the soft red-brown nuances. I would love to have another brown shade added, something between black and bark. It is a colour quite a few of my customers ask for, and it would be lovely if it was available as DollyMo Brushable.
As a professional doll maker, it is of utmost importance to me that all materials I use comply with the European toy safety standards. All DollyMo yarns have been tested accordingly and meet the strict EU requirements. The yarns are hand washable with a soft wool detergent and are also suitable for knitting and crochet work.
I recommend DollyMo Brushable for those of you who would like to work with an excellent high-quality yarn for wig making but do not want to spend endless hours on just one wig. Even if crocheted with a single crochet stitch and then brushed out, you will attain shoulder-long hair for a 40cm doll. If you have been one of my students and know how to use the binder-only technique, the result will be even longer hair than with other yarns. The doll pictured above stands 55cm tall - and the hair is far below the shoulder blades. (I count on your imagination, ladies, as my dolls do not have shoulder blades, but it gives you an idea about the length). As I mentioned above, I am no fan of extra strands if you can attain a long-hair wig by crocheting only: it looks much more natural and is the reason why my dolls come without additional hair.
If you make rather small dolls, I'd recommend the classic DollyMo brushed chunky mohair though as it is easier to work with for teeny-tiny wigs. The colours of both yarns differ only slightly, even the classic DollyMo yarns coming in beautiful natural-looking shades. For flower children and the like, DollyMo loop mohair is a great option, too (as well as for adding extra strands of hair to a crocheted cap). You can find all DollyMo yarnshere (Debbie) and here (Kamrin).
I recommend DollyMo Brushable for those of you who would like to work with an excellent high-quality yarn for wig making but do not want to spend endless hours on just one wig. Even if crocheted with a single crochet stitch and then brushed out, you will attain shoulder-long hair for a 40cm doll. If you have been one of my students and know how to use the binder-only technique, the result will be even longer hair than with other yarns. The doll pictured above stands 55cm tall - and the hair is far below the shoulder blades. (I count on your imagination, ladies, as my dolls do not have shoulder blades, but it gives you an idea about the length). As I mentioned above, I am no fan of extra strands if you can attain a long-hair wig by crocheting only: it looks much more natural and is the reason why my dolls come without additional hair.
If you make rather small dolls, I'd recommend the classic DollyMo brushed chunky mohair though as it is easier to work with for teeny-tiny wigs. The colours of both yarns differ only slightly, even the classic DollyMo yarns coming in beautiful natural-looking shades. For flower children and the like, DollyMo loop mohair is a great option, too (as well as for adding extra strands of hair to a crocheted cap). You can find all DollyMo yarnshere (Debbie) and here (Kamrin).
It takes a lot of energy and enthusiasm to produce yarns or fabrics from scratch. As a friend, I am proud that Debbie and Kamrin are so deeply committed to producing doll making supplies for us who make dolls on a professional level or as a hobby. DollyMo yarns offer me as a crafter a wide range of wig making materials to choose from.
Thank you for letting me test your newest addition to the DollyMo yarn family, dear Debbie!
If you'd like to see more of Debbie's range of doll making supplies, take a look at her website.
Warmly,
Juliane
P.S. As an additional note (since a few of you asked): the teeeth of the comb I use stand 4mm wide (= the 'gap' between the teeth is 4mm), it is an ordinary plastic comb from the drugstore. The cat slicker brush looks like this one here. For the finish I often use a normal natural bristle brush from the drugstore as well as a nail brush with natural bristles, both work fine.
Three of my readers were even afraid that I am working with the brush we use for our cat - which of course is not the case, it would be very unhygienic. Moses has his own brush of course and I try to keep my studio is as cat-free as possible (our cat does hope to one fine day be allowed to take a nap on a fabric pile. Hope dies last ;-)
Warmly,
Juliane
P.S. As an additional note (since a few of you asked): the teeeth of the comb I use stand 4mm wide (= the 'gap' between the teeth is 4mm), it is an ordinary plastic comb from the drugstore. The cat slicker brush looks like this one here. For the finish I often use a normal natural bristle brush from the drugstore as well as a nail brush with natural bristles, both work fine.
Three of my readers were even afraid that I am working with the brush we use for our cat - which of course is not the case, it would be very unhygienic. Moses has his own brush of course and I try to keep my studio is as cat-free as possible (our cat does hope to one fine day be allowed to take a nap on a fabric pile. Hope dies last ;-)
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Be smart! Invest in Copper!
If you run a craft business, like I do, you have to think of smart investments. The other day I read in the business section of the newspaper that copper ranks up high on the commodity list and will be listed even higher in the coming years. High demand, diminishing supply. Sounds logic, even to me as a crafter.
I have been rummaging around on flea markets and thrift stores lately to find miniature copper cookware. Not only is it smarter to buy copper than to invest in stocks, it is also way more fun to look at! Also, your spouse/ fiancé/ boyfriend will be much more supportive if you tell him the true motives of your spending spree. Let him know that if the world economy goes down the tube, it is always good to invest in something of true value. He will understand your business strategy. No nagging questions on why you have to buy so many doll-size things, tiny tea kettles, small frying pans...
I have been rummaging around on flea markets and thrift stores lately to find miniature copper cookware. Not only is it smarter to buy copper than to invest in stocks, it is also way more fun to look at! Also, your spouse/ fiancé/ boyfriend will be much more supportive if you tell him the true motives of your spending spree. Let him know that if the world economy goes down the tube, it is always good to invest in something of true value. He will understand your business strategy. No nagging questions on why you have to buy so many doll-size things, tiny tea kettles, small frying pans...
Warmly,
Juliane
P.S. And yes, these thrifty finds are for Kiki's kitchen. Not for ours. Unless, of course, we have to tighten the belt a lot and will have to eat smaller pancakes, fried in a teeny-tiny pan ;-)
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Of robbers and mushrooms (and dragons, too)
You are not supposed
To pick fly agarics, I say (slightly anxious)
Pish-posh, Kiki replies
It is all about camouflage
Imagine, she continues
You'd happen to meet
A robber in the woods
Or - even worse - a buzzard!
Are there robbers
In the forest? I whisper
Lots of! Kiki says.
And buzzards, buzzards, too.
But, I say, Aren't you afraid
When you pick mushrooms
Deep, deep in the woods?
Pishposh, Kiki says
It is all about camouflage
Guess why I am wearing
A red dress with dots
When I go for mushrooms
As soon as I see
A robber or a buzzard
I hide between
Fly agarics and ferns
A stroke of genious!
I say, and - as so often -
I am deeply impressed
By Kiki's artful tricks
Last tuesday I met
A dragon, Kiki says
A small one, but still -
Quite dangerous
I sat between fly agarics
And ferns and saw him
spitting fire, his nostrils
were as big as salad bowls...
Now you are telling me
A fib! I say. There are no
Dragons in the woods
I know that for sure!
Well, maybe it was
A little lizard, Kiki says
But it did look a bit
Like a hungry dragon
Never mind, I say
Shall we go back
To Smultron Cottage
And have a cup of tea?
Yep, says Kiki, not a bad idea!
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