Dollmaker’s Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
Dream ~ Imagine ~ Create ~ Grow ~ Believe ~ Magic
At http://dollmakersjourney.com we help your creative dreams come true.

May 2010 Issue 102

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Copyright 2010 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 Dollmaking Friends,

Bonnie's grandchildren brought her a calendar that had unusual holidays on it. Some of the things were crazy, some bizarre, and some just unbelievable. So she went to the internet and found the source for these wonderful holidays. http://www.brownielocks.com/month2.html

Here are just a few that we celebrate in May. Mother's Day, Memorial Day, May Day, ALS Awareness Month (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Borderline Personality Disorder Month, Get Caught Reading Month, National Moving Month, National Salad Month, and National Family Month. May 1-7 is Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week, May 2-8 is National Hug Holiday Week, May 3-9 is Work at Home Moms Week, May 17-21 is National Bike to Work Week, and May 26-30 is International Whistler's Week. The kids will like these: May 1 – Free Comic Book Day, Mother Goose Day; May 3 – National Two Different Colored Shoes Day; May 6 – No Diet Day, No Homework Day; May 7 – No Pants Day – the list goes on and on (for just the month of May I printed out 11 pages!) Did you know that May 28 is Slugs Return From Capistrano Day? Find your birthday and see what else the world celebrates on your special day.

We love it here at Dollmaker's Journey when you share your successes, shows, and creations with us.

Stop by our Showcase and be amazed by what Cynthia Garrison has done with several of JILL MAAS’ patterns – she has created all of the characters from the board game CLUE and they are sensational!
http://dollmakersjourney.com/showcase.html

Bonnie and Mary Ann

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WORDS TO LIVE BY

"Nothing is impossible; the word itself says, 'I'm possible!'" Favorite quote of Audrey Hepburn

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MAY SALE

STUMP DOLLS is the category for the MAY SALE and you will find a very diverse collection of projects discounted 20% for your creative enjoyment. – http://dollmakersjourney.com/

Remember, visit our website at http://dollmakersjourney.com at the beginning of each month to see what our new sale will be. That way you won't have to wait for a newsletter.

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CHARITY CORNER

The Evangeline Booth Miracle Home is a temporary emergency shelter for homeless women and children located in Schenectady, NY. We will be holding our annual fundraiser on September 23, 2010. The event is called "Every Doll Needs a Home" and is a doll art benefit. Donations of dolls are being accepted anytime now up until August 27, 2010. You can also read more about the Booth Home and doll art benefit by going to: http://home.roadrunner.com/~tsmall/2006/indax.html

What kind of dolls are we asking for?

The live auction will consist of handmade dolls of cloth or cloth and clay. These can be anything from ragdolls to brightly colored funky dolls and/or hand-sculpted cloth and clay artist creations.

Porcelain, vintage, and manufactured dolls are also accepted.
They will be offered in a silent auction.

A couple of people have asked about donating handmade doll purses, bags, etc. I think they would make an excellent addition to the event!

Dolls can be dropped off or shipped to:

The Evangeline Booth Miracle Home
ATTN: Pam Small
168 Lafayette St.
Schenectady, NY 12305

Any questions? Please call (518) 370-0276 or (518) 3700277 and ask for Pam.

We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed in the past. Hopefully you can help again. This year I am also asking that you might spread the word to other doll making friends by word of mouth, forwarding this email, or posting to your doll groups (if allowed).

This year, we are adding a new twist. We will have a special section of old Barbie dolls that have been altered. Barbie will not even look like herself anymore. Anyone who is interested in doing this should contact me as there will be a set of guidelines and categories. These will be treated mostly as an altered art project rather than sewing. Barbie turned 50 last year. We thought it was time to set her free! Also with the faltering economy last year, I decided this event needs a good shot in the arm to further growth and Barbie might just be the gal to pull it off.

Your efforts go a long way to help these women and children. It also does a lot for them spiritually. If you could see their faces when they see that so many women from all over actually care about them and want to help. Spirits around here continue to boost every time another doll arrives. Your assistance not only helps to keep this shelter open but you help to create hope where there sometimes was little or none.

Some of the dolls that arrive early enough may appear in the main library's glass (locked) display case for the entire month of August and may well appear in the newspaper or on local cable TV.

If you have any questions contact Pam at:
Pam.Small@USE.SalvationArmy.Org
Or her personal email - erasmuse@nycap.rr.com

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JOINTING THREAD

While at Judi Ward's last Saturday, she checked out our waxed linen jointing thread. Judi said most linen and waxed thread is not strong enough to successfully joint arms and legs. She showed us a tiny amount of jointing thread that she got in Germany – all she had left – and said she had been searching for a replacement. We gave her some of ours, and she tried to break it. Couldn't be done. She bought some, and told us the wax helped keep knots tight when using her invisible jointing method. We also carry the special covered buttons used in this technique. You can find both items at http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html
Scroll down and look for waxed linen cord (under the eyeglasses.)
Go to http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html#supplies for the buttons
Watch Judi's invisible jointing video at:
http://judisdolls.com/video.html
Also see a detailed pictorial of Judi's technique by Mimi Kirchner at:
http://mimikirchner.com/blog/archives/2007/03/hidden-button-movable-joint/

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APRIL QUIZ WINNER
Q: What do you call something that's spelled the same forward and backward? Give an example.

A: Palindrome. Examples are: mom, dad, Hannah, rotor, kayak, racecar, refer, level, civic, radar, deified
And one of my favorites: aibohphobia (fear of palindromes)

Palindromic phrases include:
Madam, I'm Adam (What Adam first said when he met Eve)
Rise to vote sir
A toyota
Able was I ere I saw Elba (attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte)
A man a plan a canal panama
Tin mug for a jar of gum
Was it a rat I saw

Bonus Question: What word can be written forward backward or upside down and can still be read from left to right? SOS lol (not really a word) NOON SWIMS I
If you turn it upside down and it becomes another word, then did = pip, MOM = WOW

Congratulations to Bonnie L. Fontaine from Rhode Island. Your name was selected at random from all of the correct quiz entries, and you will receive a $10 gift certificate from Dollmaker’s Journey. Watch for your name in a coming month!

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MAY QUESTION

This month's question is in honor of the movie Eclipse that will be coming to theaters June 30. (Bonnie is a great fan of Stephanie Meyer, and her daughter's favorite bumper sticker seen on a passing car was "I drive like a Cullen.")

Q: What is the largest crustal break in North America and where is it? (Hint: It also refers to a vampire coven.)

Everyone who emails in the correct answers by June 15th will be entered into a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Dollmaker’s Journey. The winner will be announced in the next newsletter. Email your answers to Bonnie at EnchantedR@aol.com Put May Quiz in subject box. Please include your full name and where you live (state/country) in your email. NOTE: Several times in the past a winner was drawn with no name or state/country included. When that happens we have to draw again. So please, make sure you include this information with your answer.

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NEW BOOK

One of our readers, Ellen Lumpkin Brown, has just written a new doll book called Doll Fashionistas. It is all about sewing stylish dolls and modern, fashion-forward wardrobes for them to wear. It includes patterns and instructions for sewing the dolls, painting faces, creating custom hair styles and dyed skin colors. It also includes a DVD where Ellen and Nancy Zieman demonstrate how to make the dolls. Check it out at http://www.TheDollLoft.com or her blog at http://thedollloft.squarespace.com to learn more.

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ANTIQUE CLOTH DOLLS USING GLUE
By Judi Ward

Judi Ward wrote a wonderful article on how to antique cloth dolls using glue. It appeared in Soft Dolls and Animals in November 2009. For those of you who missed it, here is her quick summary of the technique.

I just wrote an article for the glue method that June Slack asked me to test and write about. This method works sooooo much better than the various crackle products, the results are consistent, and they don't seem to be effected by humidity or the way you hold your mouth! LOL

It works sooo well and eliminates so much sanding! The article has more tidbits, but this is the gist of it.

Basically here it is. Let things dry between the coats of course.

1. Paint the Gesso coat and sand just enough to take off the lifted fibers. You can do another coat of Gesso if desired.

2. Paint the flesh coat. Again sand very lightly. I just rub with a dry, rough face cloth.
Do another flesh coat if desired.

3. Paint all features and hair etc.

4, Paint on a good thick coat of Elmer's white glue. It may separate as it sets up. Don't worry, it seems to self correct, and dries smooth and clear as glass.

5. Now paint on a coat of clear, matte or satin acrylic varnish. I have used several types and all worked fine. I even used a polyurethane floor finish and a German wood and bamboo finish.

6. As the varnish dries very tiny little "cracks" will appear. At first you will think nothing is happening, but soon they start to appear. Let the item dry overnight. You can then rub it with brown shoe polish and rub most of it off or paint a coat of brown acrylic paint over all and rub that off. You may have to add a bit of water to a cloth to rub the acrylic off.

7. Finally spray with a coat of Clear, matte acrylic spray like Krylon. Viola, you are done and the glue makes the surface so smooth!

If you use oils let me know how it works. I don't oil paint so have not tried it with those.

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JUST FOR FUN – Quiche in a Bag

In the last newsletter, one of the quotes for Mother's Day was

Real mothers don't eat quiche.
They don't have time to make it.

I beg to differ. One of my favorite recipes is quiche in a bag. You just dump the ingredients in a gallon Ziploc bag, freeze flat, and when ready to make defrost bag in a sink of hot water for 5 minutes, squish bag to mix ingredients, then pour into a 8" x 8" greased pan or large (10") pie pan, put in the oven, and bake. This quiche makes its own crust, is really fast to make, and has endless variations. A great way to use leftovers!

Quiche In a Bag (Bonnie Lewis)
(Bonnie’s favorite recipe. It makes its own crust!)

1 cup cooked meat, any kind (diced or browned and crumbled)
3/4 cup vegetable (any raw – blanched if needed, thawed frozen, canned)
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (or any other kind of cheese)
1/4 cup onion, diced (or 1 Tablespoon diced or sliced dried onion)
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1/8 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup flour (whole wheat works fine)
2 teaspoons baking powder

Combine meat, vegetable, cheese and onion. Place this mixture in a labeled 1-gallon freezer bag. With a mixer or blender, combine the milk, eggs, Tabasco sauce, flour and baking powder. Pour into the bag with the meat/vegetable mixture.

Seal and freeze flat. To serve, thaw completely. Shake bag well and pour into a spray-treated or greased deep dish pie plate (10”) or quiche pan (8” square pan also works). Sprinkle with paprika if desired. Bake at 350° F for 35-45 minutes, until lightly browned on top and well set in the center. Cool about 5 minutes before serving.

NOTES: For a vegetarian meal, just leave out the meat and increase the veggies by 1 cup for each recipe. This is one of those dishes that you can get on the table when you haven’t even looked in the freezer until 5:30. Just thaw the bag in the microwave, pour it in a dish, and pop it in the oven. Presto – dinner! Great way to use up leftover ham, meat and veggies. Make several and you will always be prepared.

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CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS

See the new Hoffman Challenge fabric for 2010 here:
http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=277

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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

June 9 – 12, 2011 – Figurative Artists Consortium
Algonquin College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
http://www.figurativeartistsconsortium.com
July 17 – 21, 2010 – 23rd Annual National Doll Festival
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois
For more information email Rowbear & Faith Lowman at DollFestival@aol.com

July 17 – 21, 2010 – 23rd Annual National Doll Festival
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Chicago, Illinois
Email for more information: DollFestival@aol.com

July 17-21, 2010 – NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists)
Swissotel, Chicago, Illinois
For information: http://www.niada.org/info.html

July 18-23, 2010 - UFDC (United Federation of Doll Collectors)
Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
For registration form click here: http://www.ufdc.org/documents/RegistrationCard-Print.pdf

July 18, 2010 - ODACA (Original Doll Artist Council of America)
Hyatt Regency Chicago Hotel, Chicago, Illinois
For information: http://www.odaca.org/events.php

July 21-25, 2010 - Dimensions in Dollmaking -2010
San Diego Comic-Con International Convention, San Diego, California
Go to http://www.iolccsandiego.blogspot.com for promise forms and registration to sell your doll

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

Nancy Hall, one of our new designers, has a great free project called "Sunny Sue." Enjoy!
http://dollmakersjourney.com/sunnysue.html

Learn how to use Apoxie Sculpt (http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html) to repair an antique doll. Go to http://www.avesstudio.com/ On the left side click on tutorials under Ave Extras and then click on doll restoration. Also check out the article on Fantasy Chairs by Jean Bernard and sculpting hair using Apoxie Sculpt.

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NEW PATTERNS/BOOKS/CD-ROMs/DVDs/MOLDS

Nothing makes us happier than introducing you to talented new designers. Come meet NANCY HALL of Whimseydoodles. You may have seen her work in several magazines and we are delighted to bring you her “Lisette CD” – a doll with stunning beaded embellishments.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/hall.html
As an added treat NANCY has contributed a great FREE PROJECT called “Sunny Sue.” You are going to love her detailed pattern presentation! – http://dollmakersjourney.com/sunnysue.html

MAUREEN MILLS must have an over abundance of whimsy genes! We just fell in love with her newest pattern “Baby Bloomers” and we think you will, too. While you are there, look at her "Craft Show Dollies." You have to check out this charming array of dolls! –
http://dollmakersjourney.com/mills.html

“Sis and Me” is a sweet pair raggedies from MICHELLE ALLEN of Raggedy Pants. http://dollmakersjourney.com/allen.html

“Margaret” is another splendid rendition of an 1865 China Head Doll by KAREN MUSSON. Her thorough instructions will glide you effortlessly through this wonderful project.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/musson.html

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ENGLISH POURED WAX DOLL

Carolyn Moore shared this website with us. It tells how they made poured wax dolls long ago. Carolyn writes: "Here's an interesting little article on the English poured wax doll. It's worth going to this site, just to see the featured doll, and her beautiful blue costume! The description of applying hair in the more expensive dolls is also interesting, but made me want to go lie down!"
.
http://www.victoriana.com/antiquedolls/antiquedoll.htm

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CUSTOMER QUERIES/COMMENTS

Q: I would like to make an old lady doll complete with wrinkles. The only problem is that I have no idea whatsoever how to do the wrinkly part. Is there someone here who can tell me how to make wrinkles? I have tried to Google everything I can think of but keep getting all those wrinkle cream ads. I want to make them, not get rid of them! LOL I am still fairly new to doll making so if you can explain it in VERY simple terms it would be appreciated. I know this has to be much simpler than I am imagining. Kathy Smith

A: Readers from all over share their suggestions:

* This site might help you a little.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4835737_needle-sculpt-cloth-dolls-nose.html

*Use some soft sculpture techniques on a stretch knit fabric (such as Dolskin) to create older features - it allows you to manipulate the stuffing and add the extra features to age the doll. Just remember -it's not wrinkles per se that age the doll - it's heavier eyelids, jowls, extra chin/ neck wattles that will age the face.

*Try sculpting a head in polymer clay or paperclay and cover with cloth to also give you that aged effect.

*Remember pose/stance will help achieve the effect - slightly stooped etc. - not standing or sitting bolt upright.

*Linda Peffley writes: I have made wrinkles by cutting out two faces, and then sewing where I want the wrinkles to be, through both. I then cut a small hole in the underside between the wrinkles and insert stuffing. I think this is called trapunto. I also use this process to make lips and teeth stand out

*Check out Marilyn Halcomb's dolls for good soft sculpture ideas (such as Miss Matilda the Cat Lady) at http://dollmakersjourney.com/halcomb.html

*Susanna Oroyan's Designing the Doll book has a section on how to add extra padding and wrinkles to the face at http://dollmakersjourney.com/books.html

*Patti LaValley had a great article in Soft Dolls and Animals (February 2009) for Granny Gayheart, a granny doll with an ingenious way to create wrinkles. You can see her at: http://pattisdolls.com/gayheart.html
See more of Patti's designs at: http://dollmakersjourney.com/lavalley.html

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SUPPLIES

Burnt Orange is the newest color of Mohair Locks over in the HAIR Department. Take a look at the lovely variety of colors we’ve collected so far. – http://dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html

Mohair producers around the world are going out of business at an alarming rate and it is becoming very difficult to restock our supply. We are happy to report that The Honey Blonde and Dark Auburn Straight Mohair are back in stock along with the Fox Red Braided Wool.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html

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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

Bonnie survived Women's Conference last weekend. Hundreds of people attended the Youth Fireside, an all-day Women's Conference, and Adult fireside that evening. The guest speaker at all the events was Barbara Barrington Jones from San Francisco, California. All the tables had unique topiaries and floral table runners. The cake served for the luncheon was a 36" high vanity made of cake with a mirror and a picture of the DC Temple engraved on gum paste. A girl was seated in front of the vanity. Her head was papier mache, her torso was cake, and her legs were papier mache. She looked really strange after the cake was eaten with her head and legs intact, but no body. I took pictures. When I figure out how to download them, perhaps I can share them with you. The talks encompassed how to look 10 pounds thinner in front of a camera, five things women need from men and five things men need from women, how to be happy (we even all got up and did a Happy Dance!) and much more. Bonnie brought three grandchildren to the Youth Fireside where Barbara talked about Satan's greatest lies (once won't hurt, nobody will know, and everybody's doing it). Her granddaughter commented that it was the first time she didn't fall asleep (during a two hour speech).

Mary Ann and Jim went up to NJ last weekend to attend the Community College graduation of her nephew Kevin Cantrell. He graduated with highest honors and is going on to Rowan College to pursue a degree in Mathematics. They are returning to NJ this coming weekend for the graduation of Kevin’s sister Megan from Rutgers University with a degree in Criminal Justice. Mak and Jim returned to Apple Rose Farm for more mohair and to check in on Murphy the lamb. Elizabeth the owner went out to the pasture fence and called for Murphy and he came running across the field to visit with them. What a sweet boy he is! Jim’s children have given him a wonderful new Pentax camera for father’s Day and he is a happy camper indeed. Mary Ann will have to dream up some photography projects for him.

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WEBSITES:

Bonnie's daughter Amy and her son-in-law David (from Uganda) have shared this Ugandan tribute to Mothers. The following a music video by Clever Jay called "Sweet Mama"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JUFgacdXV8

Free tutorials. Scroll down to Millinery in Miniature
http://www.cynthiahoweminiatures.com/tutorialindex.htm
http://www.cynthiahoweminiatures.com/bowmakingtut.htm
The length (height) of the needle (tool) used will determine the size of the bow. Learn how to use a special tool to make miniature bows.

http://www.cynthiahoweminiatures.com/ribbonroses.htm
Make tiny ribbon roses using 4 mm and 7 mm silk ribbon.

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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, 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!