| Dollmaker’s Journey
CUSTOMER CONNECTION
May 2006 Issue 55
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Dollmaker’s Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
Dream ~ Imagine ~ Create ~ Grow ~ Believe ~ Magic
at http://dollmakersjourney.com we help your creative dreams come true.
May 2006 Issue 55
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Copyright 2006 by Dollmaker’s Journey
Dollmaker’s Journey Customer Connection newsletter is a free e-mail newsletter. Tell your friends, family and fellow dollmakers about us, and feel free to forward this newsletter to those who might be interested. You can visit our companion website at:
http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/
**Notice!**
You can read all the past issues online. Go to:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/archives.html
The archives include an easy to follow index to all the past issues.
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Dear Dollmaker Friends,
We’re having a glorious Spring here in the northeast US and hope you are having the same wherever you are. Something about the fresh, cool breezes seems to stir the creative juices. It’s a great time of year to explore something new. Why not select a project the exact opposite of what you usually make. If you specialize in dazzling fairies, make a troll. If you never make animals, try a dragon! Challenge yourself to grow your doll making skills just like the flowers blooming in your garden.
Please know how much we enjoy serving you and being a part of your own doll making journey.
Mary Ann and Bonnie
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NEW BOOKS
Thanks to Dimitra, our wonderful customer in Greece, we found the extraordinary bead artist ROBIN ATKINS. We are starting with two of ROBIN’S exquisite books “One Bead at a Time” and “Spirit Dolls” that are sure to enhance your creative journey in untold ways. Why not treat yourself today. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/books.html
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MAY SALE
KATE ERBACH and ELLEN HAYTAS are our May DESIGNERS OF THE MONTH. You’ll get 20% off the patterns they each design along with the many fun patterns they design together. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/erbach.html and http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/haytas.html
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CHARITY CORNER AND HOAX
Every Doll Needs a Home - Doll Auction for Evangeline Booth Miracle Home
Deadline: August 29, 2006
You can see some of the dolls up for auction to benefit this women and children homeless shelter at: http://home.nycap.rr.com/tsmall/2006/indax.html
If you are able to donate some dolls, please email Pam Small at: erasmuse@nycap.rr.com
Donations can be mailed to:
The Evangeline Booth Miracle Home
ATTN: Pam Small
168 Lafayette St.
Schenectady, NY 12305
Dolls will be displayed at local library, appear in newspaper and auction catalog.
For more information call (518) 370-0276
SORRY FOR THE MISINFORMATION in the April Customer Connection Newsletter. One of our friends informed us that the New Orleans library thing is a hoax! It's been going around all the writer's lists, and then somebody finally said that the library has NO storage space.....what they need is MONEY, not books. So please ignore that charity request in the April newsletter.
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TUDOR HISTORICAL COSTUMING
by Bonnie B. Lewis
A customer wrote: Can you suggest a book or designer of patterns for a historic doll costume approximately 14" -20". I am specifically looking for a Tudor male court outfit.
I love historical costumes. The Tudor period began in August 7, 1482 and continued throughout the 1500's. To get an idea of the type of costumes worn by men back then, my favorite website is the Costumer's Manifesto at http://www.costumes.org/history/100pages/16thlinks.htm
There you can find many links, and some patterns, especially through the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). You will have to scale down these costumes to 1/4 scale to fit your doll. Also check out Long Ago at http://longago.com/medievalmen.html for historical men's costumes. You would have to resize them to make them fit your doll.
The best book on the subject is “Patterns for Theatrical Costumes” by Katherine Strand Holkeboer. She has patterns for clothing from ancient Egypt to modern day, and all patterns are in 1/8 scale. Therefore, to fit your doll you would have to enlarge them 200%. This should then fit a 16" to 18" doll. I suggest if you use her book you make a trial outfit out of muslin to make sure it fits correctly. You can find these books at http://amazon.com
It will cost $19.77, and is probably the best investment you will ever make if you love historical costumes.
I am not aware of a costume specifically for dolls that is available, but you can easily make your own using the resources above.
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CHALLENGES
Party Time Challenge from Doll Crafter & Costuming Magazine is over. Winners have been selected and pictures will appear in the September issue (available in June).
Annie La Bouche Challenge sponsored by Kate Erbach and Dollmaker’s Journey
Deadline: June 30, 2006
Download free pattern at http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/freepatterns.html You have until 30 June 2006 to complete the doll and send us pictures. Send pictures to EnchantedR@aol.com and put challenge in the subject box. Make sure you identify who made the doll, a way to contact to dollmaker, and the name you have chosen for your creation. Dolls will be judged in three categories: Best use of color, best use of vintage pieces and viewer’s choice. First place will receive an original Annie La Bouche doll made by Kate. Additional winners will receive Dollmaker’s Journey gift certificates.
The Art of the Doll (Pump House Regional Arts Center in Wisconsin)
Display: July 1 – August 19, 2006
Must be artist’s original work
For information go to: www.thepumphouse.org
Email info@thepumphouse.org Phone: (608) 785-1434
2006 NIADA Challenge Invitational Exhibit: You’re out of your Gourd
Deadline: July 27, 2006
Every NIADA registrant is invited to participate using gourds to interpret the theme.
For more information go to http://www.niada.org/info.html
Hoffman Challenge 2006
Deadline: July 28, 2006
To see fabric and for information go to http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com
“Let the Fun Begin” Camp Doll U Challenge
Deadline: September 23, 2006
Must use challenge kit ($15.00) to create doll
Go to WWW.DOLLU.COM for more details.
Treasures of the Gypsy
First week of October, 2006
You need a kit of trinkets, trims, and treasures to participate. These are available for $15.00 (US) $18.00 (Australia and Canada) and can be ordered from:
Pamela Armas
Treasures of the Gypsy
P.O. Box 748
Mountainair, NM 87036
(505) 847-0963
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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS
Year round classes – John C. Campbell Folk School
Brasstown, North Carolina
May 14-20 – Ancestral Treasure Hunt: Mixed-Media Dolls, Dayle Doroshow
June 4-10 – Cloth Dolls-Imagine It, Design It, Create It!, Charlie Patricolo
September 17-23 – A Doll of Your Own, Dee Dee Triplett
October 22-27 – Behind the Magic: A Doll Maker’s Toolbox, Kathryn Walmsley
October 29-November 4 – Advanced Needle Felted Doll, Sharon Costello
Click on http://www.folkschool.org for more information or call 1-800-365-5724
May 6, 2006 - Calgary Doll Club Spring Sale
North Glenmore Park Community Assoc., 2231 Longridge Drive SW
Calgary, Alberta
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: Adults $3.00, children under 12 free
For more information call Marina at (403) 243-6479.
June 7-10, 2006 – 2006 International Doll Makers Association Convention
Pirates of the Emerald Coast
Panama City, Florida
http://www.idmadolls.com
July 20-23, 2006 – Enchanted Doll Artists Conference
Embassy Suites, Albuquerque, New Mexico
http://www.enchanteddollartistsconference.org
July 27-31, 2006 – NIADA Conference 2006: New Ideas, Rich Traditions
Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Minneapolis South, Bloomington, Minnesota
http://niada.org/info.html
September 28-October 1, 2006 – Camp Doll U
Issaquah, Washington (near Seattle)
http://www.dollu.com/
March 3-10, 2007 – 2007 Soft Doll Art Cruise
Leave Miami, Florida for a 7 day fun-filled cruise to 5 islands in the western Caribbean on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas. Take classes from Ute Vasina, Patti Culea, Leslie Molen and Barbara Willis
Call Carl at 1-888-537-8267 or Tim at 1-800-755-1191 for more information.
April 15-21, 2007 – Creative Doll Artist’s Voyage
Leave Galveston, Texas for a 7 day fun filled cruise to Montego Bay, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island & Cozumel, Mexico on Carnival Conquest. Take classes while you sail from Jean Bernard, Sherry Goshon, Jeff Kantrowitz and Maryanne Oldenburg. For more information email Jeff Kantroqitz at nyeggartist@si.rr.com or call (718)983-1888.
May 3-6, 2007 - Artistic Figures In Cloth
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.cyndysdolls.com/AFIC/AFIC.htm (not updated yet)
May 16-22, 2007 – Week of Workshops and Classic Cloth Conference (WOW!/C3)
Concord, New Hampshire
http://www.aadadoll.org/WOWGeneral.htm
To save yourself time and energy, get all the details on upcoming doll related events at CLOTH DOLL CONNECTION: http://clothdollconnection.com/
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SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOU
KATE ERBACH’S “Annie La Bouche” is now in three formats for easy downloading. We hope you are all enjoying this wonderful FREE pattern and we look forward to seeing the results in our Annie La Bouche Challenge. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/annielabouche.html
Free dollmaking tutorials:
Mimi Winer's Dollmaking Techniques (There is a lot to learn here)
http://www.mimidolls.com/DCC-Techniques/Index.htm
Mary Tressler's Basics 101
http://www.uncommonfolk.com/Basics101.html
Phyllis Robinson has a design tutorial:
http://designsbyphyllis.homestead.com/designing.html
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CUSTOMER QUERIES
Q: I make 1/12 scale porcelain dolls, and I'm trying to find a source of leather that's appropriate for such tiny doll shoes. Do you think any of your leather products will work? How about the material for shoe soles? Is it too thick to be in scale?
A: Our leather would be perfect for small doll shoes. Leather is sold by weight and the smaller the number, the thinner the leather. I would suggest for 1/12 scale dolls you try the velvet pigskin suede. It is 1.5-2 oz, and the lightest weight leather I have ever seen. I have used it for dolls from 5" to 18" with great results. One side is suede, and the other is leather (textured). For shoe soles I would recommend our kidskin, which is a little heavier at 2-3 oz. One side is smooth leather and the other suede, but it is slightly heavier and would work for shoe soles. We have also used poster board cardboard for shoe soles. Lightly sand the edges with a nail file, paint with permanent marker (including the edges) and seal with Crystal Lacquer or gloss varnish. You can also cut out heels from cardboard, gluing together multiple layers to create stack heels.
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ORGANIZING STUFF TIP
Sharon Mitchell writes: I bought big raffia bags from the $2 shop, to store all my materials in. I sorted them into colors, with one for 'special' material, one for calico and one for velvets. I keep Velour in a big boot box. I have used nappy wipes plastic cartons to store hair, special wools etc. I have a full length bench in my sewing room with a narrow full length shelf. Under this I keep all the little things that clutter up the place, in the lids of the boxes that photocopy paper comes in. They act like drawers that I fill with cottons, sewing gear, cello tapes and glues etc, paints, tools. Bulkier things go in boxes on top of the shelf. As my room is small and also houses my computer, this works quite well for me and ensures that I clean up more often so I have a surface to work on.
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NEW PATTERNS
CAROLINE BARNARD has created the most amazing alien family we’ve ever seen called “WeeTeeganMonsters.” You’re going to have a ball learning wonderfully imaginative construction and embellishment techniques on this delightful project. http://dollmakersjourney.com/barnard.html
SHELLEY HAWKEY is on another design roll and as a result we have 4 great new patterns from her that are all quite different. You’re going to flip over her precious baby cupids “Dain & Clove,” a rascally boy “Brady,” a charming seated rabbit “Emery,” and “Maggie” a sassy stump doll witch. Why not treat yourself to any one of these great projects! http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/hawkey.html
“Harriet” is the latest character to emerge from the whimsical mind of New Zealand’s JILL MAAS and she’s a real love. Jill has devised a very interesting body construction you’re sure to enjoy. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/maas.html
Australia must be a mermaid’s paradise because we just received another new mermaid pattern. SANDY PINE’S “Miranda” comes with a paperclay mask and is armatured to achieve a wonderful pose.http://dollmakersjourney.com/pine.html
Also in from Australia is SUZETTE RUGOLO’S very regal “Lionheart” arrayed in a majestic Tudor costume.http://dollmakersjourney.com/rugolo.html
We all know that SHERRY GOSHON just can’t sit still. She’s just created another body called “Cinnnamon” for JEAN BERNARD’S new “Mother” face mold. You’ll find lots of super costuming techniques in this pattern! http://dollmakersjourney.com/goshon.html
We’ve just added two more of LESLIE MOLEN’S charming patterns the primitive style “Folk Art Story Doll” and her stand-alone “Flower Fairy.” http://dollmakersjourney.com/molen.html
Explore a variety of fabulous embellishment options with MICHELLE HARROLD’s beautiful new mermaid “Sirena.” http://dollmakersjourney.com/harrold.html
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SUPPLIES
CRAFT VELOUR – Check out our newest color, “Honey Bear” http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/fabrics.html#velour
GELLY ROLL PENS - We’ve added some larger sets for your enjoyment and convenience - a set of 10 regular colors and a set of 10 Metallic colors. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html#gellypens
MINIATURE SILVER BUTTONS (1:12 scale and smaller)
http://www.plique-a-jour.com (go to gallery, click on buttons)
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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
Bonnie spend last month helping with a new granddaughter and teaching 3 different classes - pattern design at G Street Doll Club, basic cooking 101 at a Women’s Conference for the Mormon Church, and antique doll design at Shenandollies. Best of all, she had her whole family – 28 in all (except her son Michael who is in Bolivia teaching entrepreneurship classes to the natives and one granddaughter who couldn’t come) join her for Mother’s Day as they blessed the new baby at church.
Mary Ann and Jim traveled to New Jersey (surviving a flat tire in the Baltimore Tunnel!) to spend Mother’s Day with Mary Ann’s mother Marion. As an extra special bonus her son Michael and his fiancé Kyah flew in from California to participate in a Christening the same weekend. It’s hard to believe their wedding is in two weeks. Mak found another great dress (on sale, too!) and is working hard on the Hawaiian quilted ring bearers pillow.
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OTHER SITES TO SEE
Cute Japanese doll website (check out her handwork lessons):
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~eq5k-mgry/my_doll_e.htm
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We’d love to hear your thoughts about our Customer Connection newsletter.
Contact the editor Bonnie B. Lewis at
enchantedR@aol.com with any comments, suggestions, address changes, etc.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to any of your friends. Help us spread the word about Dollmaker’s Journey! All we ask is that you forward it intact, with all the subscription information included.
Thanks! (By the way, you might want to print this out and put it into a binder to keep for reference….)
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Copyright © 2006 Dollmaker’s Journey
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