Bamboo Furniture

I haven't finished the papier mache book project yet, just the finishing touches to add to it.  While I think about that I looked in an old Dolls House World magazine, September 2002, and saw a wonderful little scene project that I just had to try immediately!  It has a 'bamboo' cabinet and plant stand with the instructions on how to make them.  Here's my version of the cabinet...

The bottom shelf was a bit fiddly to get in place, it looks a bit out to me but not enough to make much difference.  I won't be painting it as I like it as it is.

 

I'm using my new glue and it is working much better than my usual PVA craft glue, it grabs quicker and maintains a bit of maneuverability before drying.  It is 'api's Crafter's Pick The Ultimate'.  It says it is a water based superglue and it dries clear.



Miniatures For A Change

I'm having a few months making things for miniature scenes.  It's ages since I spent time making doll house stuff and the only way I can get anything done with a craft is to spend a good amount of time on one type of craft.  If I try to do a bit here and a bit there with different crafts I never get anything worthwhile done.

So, first I had to decide what to make.  This papier mache book looked as though it would make a nice little scene container.  After decorating it and making a couple of things to put into it here's where I'm up to so far...

The chair is made from wood and bamboo kebab sticks, the table from wood and card, the shelves from card.  Now I've got to decide what else to make to dress it up.

 

 I was away in Morecambe earlier this week and found a fab toy shop that sells dolls house stuff.  I shouldn't really buy any more miniatures but who can resist treating themselves!

I already had the book I've used as the background, though I haven't made anything from it yet.  It is full a really good 'trash to treasure' ideas.  I bought the two chairs because two of my friends are making the miniature book scene as well.  They've never made miniatures before so as chairs are quite hard to make I thought bought chairs would be helpful to them to get the scene moving faster.  The little Reuter set is a treat my DH bought for me, I love their stuff.  The little bottles I found in a bargain shop called Body Care , they were in nail art packages that cost £1.49 each, if you buy this sort of mini bottle from doll house shops they are something like 50p each and I got ten bottles, so that was a bargain.



Best Friends Club & Design a Friend Dolls

Resistance is futile!!!

When I saw the Design a Friend doll in the Argos catalogue I thought that this would be another nice 18" doll to make clothes for.  I was hoping she would have the shoulder plate but she has a soft body like the AG and Gotz dolls.

She has gorgeous hair, rather a large head and overall is a good doll for the price of £19.99.  Her clothes are well made and would stand up to play well.  The only problem she has is that she doesn't stand well, she has to be propped up.  Also, when I got her her body stuffing was badly placed and I had to get a big needle and adjust it so that it was evenly distributed.

 

Then, on Sunday, I had to visit a local retail park and had a look in B&M, they really do have some bargains.  That is when I saw they had the Best Friends Club dolls at the amazing price of £14.99.  Well, who could resist that!!!

She is very poseable with joints in all the correct places and she stands up on her own very well.  I love her hair-do but the loose hair was very tangled, it will take a bit of sorting out.  Her clothes are very nice and she is wearing earrings.  Her face is lovely and is more in proportion with the rest of her.  She also comes with accessories...

 

I do think that all the dolls I have bought have too much hair, and these two in particular have tons of it...

I always end up putting hair bands on my dolls as I have here with the Design a Friend.

 

The Design a Friend is a pre-teen doll and the Best Friends Club is a teen, I prefer the pre-teen dolls, can't really see the point in dolls which are over shapely.



Shoes

Finished these shoes for Bridgette today...



Marie Gets New Sandals

Marie is a really nice doll for holding things due to the joints in her elbows.  She also has joints in her knees and I see that the latest version of the Kidz n Katz dolls also have wrist and ankle joints.  In this picture Marie is holding the baby rabbit I knitted a while ago from a pattern by this blogger.  The dress Marie is wearing is the one I made recently that Bridgette first wore (they are ok about sharing clothes).  Marie's sandals I made following the videos here though I did have to improvise with different fabric because I haven't yet found the vinyl recommended.  Here's a close up of the sandals...

 

The glue did seep through a bit but I'm quite happy with them.  I think they could have been a slightly shorter for Marie, but they do help her to stand nicely.

Ruffle Outfit

This outfit has a ruffle at the bottom of the skirt and a ruffle down the front of the top.  Lately I've been having a go at using shirring elastic in the shuttle bobbin of my sewing machine.  It worked really well on the sundress I made recently and has also worked fine as a trim on the bottom and front of this little outfit.



Summer Clothes

I made Bridgette a cap to go with one of her dresses and sandals...

I got the instructions for this from a video series.  It was much easier to make than I expected it to be and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

I also made Bridgette a sundress...

 This was also inspired by the person who made the cap video, she has made some very nice dolls clothes and they are so beautifully finished off, her work is gorgeous. Her dolls have some lovely outfits, shoes included.