In other news...

I am delighted to announce that my application to be part of a local crafter and artisan fair has been accepted. I will be selling art dolls at SoCal Bench Project on August 9th in Culver City. Soooo, I'm afraid that I won't be adding any new dolls (or bags) to the Etsy store for the time being until I have a good stock prepared. I will post photos to whet the appetite!

My family is planning on attending Swap-o-rama-rama on June 28th in Venice, CA very close to my place. I think it sounds really fun.

My first Instructable

I made an Instructable of my Wavy cut beads how to - much simpler and more concise than my original post here. What fun. It's a great site for finding out how to do all sorts of things.

Blanket basket

Or so I intend to use what has turned out to be an immense crocheted basket made from at least 200 grocery sacks. Using double and single crochet and scorning a pattern, this is what the new basket looks like. Next to it, the last smaller but just as functional basket for comparison. The large one is roughly 18 inches high, and has a diameter of 22 inches.

New Dolls

This is a doll that I am sending to the raffle at Life Is Good in Portland, Oregon starting later this week.... And here is the first photo of my latest doll that will be for sale. She has a darker complexioned face, is made of bright summery fabric and her charm says "Trust in Your Dreams".

Paper bead necklaces

I strung some of my beads onto some fine beadalon wire, and used sterling silver for the bead charms. Crimp beads as separators and I have a pretty and delicate looking necklace. I also made a chunkier one of five rows.

The only thing about them is that I suspect the multistrand one especially won't stand up to much perspiration. Perhaps they should be fall/winter necklaces or only worn for brief periods in airconditioned spaces!

Re-purposed containers for magazine sleeves

Finally- I've made a pretty sleeve to store my copies of Craft magazine.

I used a mix of these adhesive mats that I love for many paper crafting purposes to decorate one of the boxes that my K-cup coffee comes in. I plan on making more sleeves for other books and small sized mags.

Reusing is good! Now to find the rest of the magazines secreted amongst the many piles of reading material scattered around my house. Did I say scattered? I meant strategically placed to facilitate easy access to entertainment and learning in every room.

18 inch doll clothes

I sewed this sweet summery dress and headband for my daughter's 18 inch dolls. This will fit American Girls as well as similar ones.

I'm not one for using commercial patterns very often, but for this dress I did start with a nicely done and well fitting pattern available for free from "Infinite Freedom". I raised the waist, shortened the sleeves and added an attached petticoat.

The blue polka dotted fabric is an upholstery remnant, while the small floral is a quilting cotton. The embroidered ribbon comes from Michaels bargain bin. So sweet.