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

May 2012 Issue 120

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Copyright 2012 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,

Cheryl Adams won the question of the month and writes: "A belated thank you for choosing my name as the March gift certificate winner!! The Ides of March may have been unlucky for Julius Caesar but it was very lucky for me! I look forward to shopping!!" You too have a chance to win. Check out our question of the month below.

The month of May is a time for endings and new beginnings. Graduations, summer jobs, challenges over and beginning, new diets to fit that swimsuit you haven't worn for a year, and new dolls imagined or begun. How many UFOs have you completed? How many new projects have you begun? How many dream of whiling away the hot summer days doing nothing at all? How many are gearing up for fall shows? For those of you down under, you are getting into your most productive time, with cooler days and winter approaching. The Cloth Baby Doll Challenge has just ended, and now is the time to vote. I checked out the website and there were babies from all over the world. I loved them all and laughed at some of the demands they made of their creators. Take time to view the amazing creativity of our worldwide doll artists as you vote for your favorites. (Just a word of caution – it is really hard to choose just one in each category.) You can see them and vote here: http://www.clothdollbabies.com/challenge2012/

Here in the United States we also celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday of the month. First started to honor those soldiers who died in the Civil War, it has now become a day of remembrance for all those who have passed on. Take time to remember your loved ones who are no longer here, and cherish the things they taught you that have now become part of your life. I learned to love sewing at age 5 when my mother gave me an old quilt, a needle and embroidery thread. I loved creating stitches all over it and kept the quilt for years. When I had 6 daughters I knew it was time to learn to make dolls, because those in the store were too costly to buy. One doll I could afford, but six? My first dolls were Raggedy Ann and Andy (I have 2 sons), the wrinkled knee camel, and I learned to soft sculpt when Cabbage Patch dolls were all the rage, and demand far exceeded supply. I made all my daughters Cabbage Patch look-alikes that year for Christmas, along with 100 more dolls which I sold to desperate parents. I even made triplets for three sisters, matching their hair and eyes and dressed in their favorite colors. I just wish I had taken pictures of all my early creations, but back then scrapbooking wasn't "in vogue" and I didn't think of it.

So this month, have fun reminiscing, planning new projects, and clearing away UFOs. Make the time for creativity, and it will bless your life.

Bonnie and Mary Ann

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2012 UFO CHALLENGE FROM DOLLMAKER'S JOURNEY

The goal is to spend 2012 minutes this year clearing the decks for new projects and challenges. One of our customers, Marjorie, proposed some working definitions for our projects:

1. WIP. Work in Progress. This is a project that you work on at least once a month, and hopefully once a week.
2. UFO. Unfinished Object. These are projects that you have not touched for a month or more. Some may be carefully stashed away and some may be hard to find.

So the challenge remains. Work 45 minutes a week, 6 minutes a day, or 2012 minutes this year finishing your UFOs. How are you doing?

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MAY SALE

Our MAY SALE is on our largest category – ANIMALS! You will be amazed at what a diverse category it is. Not only all the animal patterns but any doll pattern that has an animal included is on sale for 20% off.
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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WORDS TO LIVE BY

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being shared"...Buddha

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APRIL ANSWER

Q: Which side of your nose should you breathe through to stimulate the creative, imaginative side of your brain? (You can blame this question on my daughter who is going to medical school!)

A: You should breathe through the left nostril which energizes the right side of the brain which controls creative activity. My favorite answer was from Sherry Jacobs, who said "I am going to make an honest guess and say the left side of the nose since I have a deviated septum and can only breathe out of the left side most days and am very creative."

Congratulations to Heather Thompson from Ontario, Canada. 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

Q: What two world-famous authors died on the same DATE (month/day/year) but not the same DAY? Why?

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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JUST FOR FUN

This is the most incredible recipe I have ever seen. We made some the other night, and even my 3-year-old granddaughter made her very own cake topped with ice cream. It is low in calories, no leftovers, very fast (1 minute), and available whenever you want a special treat. It is called 1 – 2 – 3 Cake because it takes 3 Tb mix, 2 Tb water, 1 minute in microwave.
Weight Watcher Power Points = 2 (if you top it with berries and light whipped cream.) Enjoy!

1 – 2 – 3 Cake (Bonnie Lewis)

Mix together 1 box Angel Food cake mix and 1 box any flavor cake mix

Put in gallon size airtight baggie or container. Label with flavor of cake (otherwise you might forget). Each bag makes about 48 cupcakes or more.

To make cake, in coffee mug stir together 3 tablespoons dry mix and 2 tablespoons water.

Microwave 1 minute on high. Let cool. Makes 1 individual cake. Top with fruit, ice cream or whipped cream.

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CHALLENGES

May 1 – 31, 2012 – Commedia Dell'Arte at the Court of Louis XIV Challenge Dolls on display
Friendship Heights Village Center, 4433 S. Park Ave.,Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-2797
Monday through Thursday, 9 to 9 Friday, 9 to 5 Saturday and Sunday, 9 to 2
See these and many other dolls, including marionettes, created by G Street Doll Club, along with a quilt show. The exhibit will be up until the end of the month. Free admission.

May 22, 2012 - 4rd Annual (2012) Cloth Baby Doll Challenge is over. Time to vote!
To see all the dolls and vote go to... http://clothdollbabies.com/challenge2012/
You vote for One entry/doll from each page/category. That means you vote for 3 dolls! One from the Beginners Page, One from the Intermediate Page and One from the Advance Page. Only one set of votes per person please! Send your votes to: DollChallenge@Gmail.com

June 15, 2012 – Re-Imagine History Challenge
This is a challenge for everyone from Colleen Babcock and Judi from Doll Street Dreamers. See the rules and explanation here: http://www.dollstreetdreamers.com/

July 20, 2012 – Hoffman Challenge
Entry forms available at http://www.hoffmanchallenge.com
You must use a recognizable piece of their challenge fabric. To see past Hoffman challenge doll entries and this year's fabric go to: http://www.blueherondolls.com/Hoffman%20Challenge.htm

September 2012 - Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge 2012
Dolls due last week of September 2012 for Houston Quilt Festival
You must purchase packet of materials to be used in your doll from Pamela Armas. The cost, which includes entry fee and shipping, is $20.00. The theme is: The Charmed and Mystical Gypsy
For more information go to: http://www.creationsinfiberinc.com/Gypsy-Challenge.html
Or contact Pamela at GypsyTreasures@cs.com
P.S. Bonnie just got her packet from Pamela. Love the colors. Gorgeous fabric. Won't spoil the surprise.

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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS

June 21 – 23, 2012 – Martha Pullen's Sewing Market
Arlington, Texas
Doll booths and classes from Sally Simpson
For more information: http://www.marthassewingmarket.com

July 22-25, 2012 – National Doll Festival
Hilton Riverside Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
(Shuttle provided to other doll conventions in New Orleans)
More information at: http://www.az-ps.com/dollshowusa/natldoll/index.html

July 23, 2012 – ODACA Luncheon and Sale (Original Doll Artists Council of America)
Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
More information at: http://www.odaca.org/

July 24-27, 2012 – UFDC (United Federation of Doll Clubs)
Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans, Louisiana
More information at: http://ufdc.org/

July 26-29, 2012 – All Dolls Are Art Conference 2012
Wyndham Garden Inn, Austin, Texas
Classes with Arley Berryhill, Annie Hesse, Marilynn Huston, Angela Jarecki, Fran Parrigan-Meehan, Theresa May, Lisa Renner, and Christine Shively.
For more information, visit our website: http://www.alldollart.com or send $5.00 for brochure to:
AnLiNa Designs, PO Box 514, Round Rock, TX 78680-0514

July 27-29, 2012 – RenoIowa Retreat
Staten Island, New York
Classes from Sherry Goshon and Jean Bernard
For information go to: http://www.RenoIowaRetreat.com or contact Sherry Goshon at innerchildslg@yahoo.com or Jean Bernard at Jean@JeanBernardArt.com

September 21-23, 2012 – RenoIowa Retreat
Marshalltown, Iowa
Classes from Sherry Goshon and Jean Bernard
For information go to: http://www.RenoIowaRetreat.com or contact Sherry Goshon at innerchildslg@yahoo.com or Jean Bernard at Jean@JeanBernardArt.com

September 27-30, 2012 – NIADA (National Institute of American Doll Artists)
Stamford, Connecticut
More information about the convention at: http://www.niada.org/index2.html

October 1-3, 2012 – NIADA Dollmaking School
Stamford, Connecticut
Class registration is now open for the NIADA 2012 Dollmaking School
http://www.niada.org/dollschool.html

October, 2012 – Doll and Teddy Bear Expo
Information coming soon at: http://www.dollandteddyexpo.com/

October 14 -16 and 17-19, 2012 – "Jack Out of the Box"
Ottawa, Canada
Take a class from Marlaine Verhelst and Ankie Daanen, NIADA Doll Artists from the Netherlands.
Fee Including Kit - $500.00 Deposit of $250.00 to Hold Your Spot. The sculpted bases and bodies will be prepared by Ankie and Marlaine. All students will sculpt and paint their own head and hands and make hair, hats, collars and embellishments for the costume.
For more information go to: www.alldolledupottawa.com

January 2013 – IDEX
More information coming at: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=942999

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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ADVICE FOR NEW DOLLMAKERS by Judi Ward

Cloth dollmaking is a fun enterprise but it can be very frustrating when one begins. The best thing to do is to get the sewing skills down pat. Tiny stitches... lift and turn with the needle down around all curves, often taking only a stitch or 2 after each tiny lift and turn.
Next clipping, trimming and turning, then stuffing using as large a piece of stuffing as possible for each area and "feeding" the stuffing in so it is a continuous stream as much as possible. Sadly, a lot of the stuffing on the market is fluffy, slippery bits and is almost impossible to use! When all else fails use wool stuffing...It always lets you fed it in.

Faces are very important of course, but if it is a real challenge to paint, a wonderfully made doll can be ruined in a second. If painting skills are lacking keep faces simple and embroider using a single strand of ordinary thread which will look like a painted surface if you coat it carefully with Mod Podge when done.
Colored pencils can enhance the face and they are not so apt to ruin the face.

See more of Judi's patterns at http://dollmakersjourney.com/ward.html or http://judisdolls.com/
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SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOU

Kate Erbach has donated a Free Pincushion Doll E-Pattern on the Doll Net.
Download the pattern from http://dollnetmarket.com/home.php?cat=24
See more of Kate's whimsical designs at http://dollmakersjourney.com/erbach.html

Edwina Sutherland has written a great little tutorial for making a period doll wig out of upholstery fringe. http://themagicbean.typepad.com/the_magic_bean/2012/03/period-wig-making-tutorial-for-an-art-doll-a-guest-post-by-edwina-sutherland.html

Colleen Babcock has a new tutorial up on her blog to make a Lightning Bug Night Light from Recycled materials (an old t-shirt, an empty bottle) using a battery operated tea light she found in a dollar store
http://themagicbean.typepad.com/the_magic_bean/2012/05/tutorial-for-a-bottled-lightning-bug-night-light-made-from-recycled-materials.html

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

OH BOY! Do we have a fantastic new project for you! You have got to see VICTORIA DIPIETRO'S incredible "How to Create a Portrait-Style Child Doll in Cloth and Paperclay CD." If you have ever wanted to capture the likeness of a special child in your life but didn't know where to start then this CD is an ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE. You will also get a BONUS tutorial for 8 amazing wig designs that can enhance the beauty of any of your dolls. Come take a look – our initial supply will not last long! http://dollmakersjourney.com/dipietro.html

We couldn't resist another one of SUSAN BARMORE'S amazing Steampunk creatures – "Steampunk Octopus"! Find out how much fun it is to create! – http://dollmakersjourney.com/barmore.html

What sewing room wouldn't love BARBARA WILLIS' exquisite "Pincushion Diva?" It would also be an enchanting gift to make. – http://dollmakersjourney.com/willis.html

MAUREEN MILLS must never sleep! We have two more of her winning patterns to share. Chicken Florentine and Rooster Stu - also known as "Birds of a Feather" – are just oozing with charm. "Bitty Critters" are the sweetest little bears and bunnies you have ever seen and so, so easy to make.
Come take a look – http://dollmakersjourney.com/mills.html

From across the pond in the UK the ever inventive COLLEEN BABCOCK treats us to the amazing "Dive Into a Book." Is it a doll or is it a bookmark? You be the judge. – http://dollmakersjourney.com/babcock.html

We are always delighted to bring you a new pattern from CINDEE MOYER. This week's treat is "Tinsel & Wishes" that will give you a jumpstart on holiday projects. Come take a look – http://dollmakersjourney.com/moyer.html

We could all use a little practice making our male faces look more masculine. COLLEEN BABCOCK'S "The Green Man" is a male head that is the perfect project for learning those refinements. –
http://dollmakersjourney.com/babcock.html

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SUPPLIES

We've added Marine Green to our Prismacolor pencil selection –
http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html#prism

We recently attended the annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival and came home with several great new products for you to coif your dolls. We found some lovely Straight Wool in variegations of Violet and Rose. We also have a new supply of Straight Wool in Brown & Black and Alpaca in Light Fawn and Dark Fawn. The Pink Tibetan Lamb is back in stock as well. – http://dollmakersjourney.com/hair.html

BACK IN STOCK:
Crystal Lacquer (http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html)
Dolskin – Flesh Color (http://dollmakersjourney.com/fabrics.html)

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DESIGNER DOINGS

Gloria Winer has a new, free, video tutorial: Making & Using Templates for Doll Patterns
available at both http://Mimidolls.Com and http://Maddollmaker.wordpress.com
This new demo is chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Lesson 1 Introduction from Mimi's Modular Mermaid. It takes nine minutes and discusses making and using templates from pattern pieces and how this relates to precision sewing.

To buy Mimi's Modular Mermaid and other patterns, go to: http://dollmakersjourney.com/mimi.html

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BIRD GOGGLES

Check craft stores for beads (usually linked to make a bracelet) that look like wiggle eyes for perfect goggles. Judi Ward uses them on her aviator birds.

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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

Bonnie is going to see the Commedia Dell'Arte display at Friendship Heights in Rockville, Maryland on Saturday. Hopefully she can take some pictures to share with you next month. She is also looking forward to meeting her grandsons from Uganda. They are arriving in June to attend school in the United States.

Every Memorial Day and 4th of July there are wonderful televised concerts from the lawn of the US Capitol Building. Mary Ann loves attending the dress rehearsals the night before. They are a little less crowded and she enjoys the "behind the scenes" aspects of the program as well as the great people watching and sticking her feet in the beautiful grass of the lawn. It's a little jarring to see the members of the National Symphony dressed in jeans, T-shirts and ball caps instead of their usual formal attire. She is looking forward to making her way into DC this Saturday night to enjoy another great program.

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WEBSITES:

For an endless supply of inspiration visit http://TED.com – a showcase of videos for ideas worth spreading.

People from all over the world auditioned to be included in this computer mixed choir. Beautiful! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NENlXsW4pM&feature=share

I laughed and cried. You can do anything if you believe. Watch the Butterfly Circus.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p98KAEif3bI

Cute felted animals from Japan
http://www.flickr.com/photos/feltcafe/with/5505248158/

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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!