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Dollmaker's Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
August 2002 Issue Fourteen
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Copyright 2002 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.
Visit out companion website:
http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/
** Notice! **
You can now 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 were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of designer
and doll artist extraordinaire Mary Thomas. She had
a special gift for putting the spark of life into the
beautiful faces of her dolls. Her gentle, loving spirit
who will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched.
If you would like to express your feelings about her
to her family, their address is: Thomas, 122 Brookside
Place, Marina, CA 93933.
If you've ever entertained the thought of teaching
a doll class but weren't quite sure how to go about
it, then this month's article is for you. As always,
Bonnie has come up with a collection of links that will
delight and fascinate your creative spirit. Enjoy!
Mary Ann and Bonnie
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CHALLENGE
From the fertile imagination of Starship California's
SYLVIA SCHORR comes three extraordinary doll patterns
for the 2003 Miss Galaxy Pageant. Following the huge
success of the 2002 event, Sylvia had broadened the
scope of the competition by giving you three amazing
characters to choose from - Jana- The Teenage Time Traveler,
V- the Federation Showgirl and Zeta 21793- a Hybrid
Earth/Sky Being. Enter one or all three! The deadline
for the photo entries is October 15th for Australian
entrants and November 1st for Canadian, English and
US entrants. Check out these incredible dolls at http://dollmakersjourney.com/schorr.html
For complete 2003 Miss Galaxy Pageant details visit
Sylvia's new updated website at: http://starshipcalifornia.com/
or for specific information on the pageant go to
http://www.starshipcalifornia.com/miss-galaxy-2003.htm
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NEW DESIGNERS
New designer KERRY SEYMOUR has just released her delightful
"Brandy S. Moonbeam" - an ever so charming
witch-in-training just in time for Fall dollmaking projects.
Kerry's "Voluptuous Val" 10" wall doll
packs a ton of attitude as she struts her stuff! See
them both at
http://dollmakersjourney.com/friends.html
Meet the ultra talented KATE ERBACH. Her pattern collection
begins with three very whimsical characters - her signature
"Phat Phaery", the "Treasure Keeper"
wall doll and the way out "Aunty Luna". Plus
she has several more wonderful projects coming out very
soon. Treat yourself to a peek at her patterns at http://dollmakersjourney.com/erbach.html
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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
Artistic Figures In Cloth, a new Midwest doll convention
in Columbus, Ohio, will be held May 1-4, 2003. You can
see a list of teachers, classes, and workshops at Cyndy
Sieving's website:
http://www.cyndysdolls.com/
To save yourself time and energy, get all the details
on upcoming doll related events such as We Folk of Cloth
in October and many other events by regularly visiting
Karen Samuelson's CLOTH DOLL CONNECTION website. For
the most comprehensive news on designers, events, challenges
and activities be sure to check out and bookmark http://clothdollconnection.com/
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SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOU
Our FREE introductory online hatmaking course will
begin September 9th. It is called Hatmaking Fun-Damentals.
Students will learn specialized measuring methods used
in millinery that will enable them to create hats in
correct proportion to fit any doll or stuffed animal
perfectly no matter the size, shape or composition.
This free course is a pre-requisite for all other hatmaking
classes offered by Dollmaker's Journey at Crafty College.
For more information go to:
http://craftycollege.com/academics/dollclasses.html
Our next class, "From the Inside Out - Creating
Hats with Structure", begins September 19th. This
class will teach classic millinery techniques of flat
pattern design through the construction of buckram and
wire forms for the desired hat shapes. Students will
create a pillbox, gaucho, fez, pilgrim, outback cowboy,
musketeer, elaborate ladies hats, top hats, summer satin
wedding hat, and much more. You can pre-register for
the class at http://craftycollege.com/academics/hats.html
Future classes we are working on include:
"Molded Hat Magic"
"Sensational Soft Hats"
"Bevy of Beautiful Bonnets"
We hope you all take advantage of this free offer,
and we will see you in class.
There is a new free online magazine for crazy quilters.
It is called CQMag Online. You can subscribe by going
to
http://www.cq/mag.com/
You are asked to register and supply a user id and password.
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TIP
When flying, don't lose your scissors to airport security.
Carry a dental floss container, which snips threads
and yarns beautifully. You call also put a spool of
Nymo thread inside for those beading projects. But don't
throw away the dental floss. It is perfect for jointing
doll arms and legs, and the wax enables you to tie very
tight knots that don't come loose over time. Melanie
Dix also suggested that you might carry a tiny pencil
sharpener (like you use for sharpening eye liners) and
that could also cut your thread.
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So You Want to Teach
By Bonnie B. Lewis
Recently I got a letter from one of our customers which
stated:
"Hi, I am not sure you can or will help me, but
I have learned it never hurts to ask. I have been making
dolls for about five years now, and I have recently
been asked to teach some beginner classes in a local
town, but I am not sure how to charge for this.....can
you help me on this?"
I thought some of the rest of you might be interested
in my reply.
Congratulations on being asked to teach. Several factors
must be taken into consideration before deciding how
much to ask.
1. What pattern will you use? Will it be part of the
class fee, or purchased separately? (Make sure you have
permission if using someone else's pattern.) Don't forget
you will have to make a sample doll for display at the
shop and photographs for advertising purposes.
2. What supplies will you provide? How much will they
cost you? What supplies will the student supply, or
the shop? Will there be a kit or kit fee in addition
to the class fee? Do you have any patterns/supplies/kits
you will sell on the side? If so, will the shop take
a percentage of your sales? How will the class be advertised?
3. How many hours/days will the class last? How many
students will be in the class, or how many students
will the classroom accommodate? What is the age of the
average student (are they children or adults)? I have
found children need more attention than adults, and
therefore I can teach a smaller number of children at
one time. Will the shop reimburse your travel time,
meals, or lodging if far from home, or do you need to
figure that into your class fee?
Quite often a shop will have a set teaching fee they
offer. Sometimes it is based on the number of students,
which can make the fee vary greatly depending on how
many sign up for the class. I like teachers who have
a set fee for the class. This way you can encourage
more people to take the class to lower the cost of the
class to the students. For example, if the teacher charges
$300 for a day class, you can get 10 students and the
class would be $30, or 15 students and the class would
only cost $20. Be sure you are getting at least $10-$20
an hour for your time, and include in that preparation
and travel time.
I would probably start with a fee of $100 or more per
day, and raise it as you gain experience, depending
on the factors listed above. Mary Ann Kaahanui and I
team-teach, and our fees are $200 for a half day (4
hours) and $350 for a full day (6-8 hours). We would
love to hear what formula works for you.
Good luck, and we wish you every success in your new
venture.
Hugs, Bonnie B. Lewis (EnchantedR@aol.com)
NOTE: The Customer Connection is your newsletter. Feel
free to let me know if there are things you would like
me to address. Future subjects I am considering include
Cloth Covered Sculpted Doll Faces, Rooting Hair on Vinyl,
Sculpey and Cloth Doll Head, Wings, Ultrasuede Ideas,
Paperclay Dos and Don'ts, Perfect Hands, Tips for Perfect
Shoes, and Stuffing Dolls.Information for "Designer
Doings" and "Customer Creativity" comes
from you, our designers and customers. If there is anything
you wish to share or would like included in our next
newsletter, please email me at EnchantedR@aol.com
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NEW PATTERNS
We're excited to bring you another stunning creation
by gifted designer CLAIRE-ELLEN. Her latest beauty is
"Savannah" in her exquisite 1830's riding
habit. We know you're going to drool over this extraordinary
doll. http://dollmakersjourney.com/claire.html
Learn more about Claire-Ellen below under Designer
Doings.The dragon queen MELINDA SMALL PATERSON has just
released her "Kells Wyvern", an amazing creature
made with trapunto techniques that you have to see to
believe.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/friends.html
From Down Under SUZETTE RUGOLO treats us to her "Chloe
and the Enchanted Mushrooms." A fabulous project
for learning advanced facial needle sculpting.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/rugolo.html
You're going to love the latest elfin creature from
ALLISON MARANO'S Faewyck Studios! Stop by and meet her
"Ghillie Gerkin", a delightful 10" stand-alone
fellow.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/marano.html
Favorite designer JUDY SKEEL has released her newest
pattern, "Wally Mama's", a dynamite 16"
wall dolls with several different fabulous costuming
options. We know you're going to love it! http://dollmakersjourney.com/skeel.html
Also, find out what happened to Judy recently under
Designer Doings.
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TIP
Recently I was cutting up an expired credit card and
happened to notice the VISA logo in the corner. I cut
out around it and voila! - an instant dolly credit card.
Another way to make one is to cut out a logo from all
those credit card offers that come in the mail. Some
flyers even come with credit card stickers, so you can
choose your favorite picture. Glue it to an index card.
On the back of the card draw the magnetic strip with
a marker, add a tiny signature and then laminate it.
Mary Ann Kaahanui
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DESIGNER DOINGS
Judy L. Skeel broke her collarbone and was too sore
to work on her dolls. Then she got the good news that
Airtex has her dolls up on their site for advertising!
You can see them at:
http://airtex.com/pages/judy.html
Also, check our her patterns on Dollmaker's Journey
at: http://dollmakersjourney.com/skeel.html
We are excited to promote a new and most talented designer,
Claire Ellen. You've probably already noticed her refreshing
creativity in the range of her patterns, from Savannah
(her latest), Moondoo, Madam Doo Berry, Leda and the
Swan, O'Doodle the Leprechaun, and Elf Dood. If you
haven't seen Claire-Ellen's patterns you simply must!
We can hardly keep them on the shelf! Check out her
creations on
http://dollmakersjourney.com/claire.html
Claire-ellen comes to us from a beautiful island in
the Pacific Northwest. (United States) From her cozy
home's windows she can see the Pacific Ocean and the
Olympic Mountains. Claire-ellen has been involved passionately
in a lifetime of creating art, crafts sculpting and
sewing and enjoys teaching and sharing her talents with
others. She has a background in theatrical productions,
and has even produced a Marionette show! She has raised
6 wonderful children, creating clothes for the entire
family. Currently she lives with a black and blonde
Scotties and a red parrot that won't stop talking. While
working on a life-sized sculpture, (still unfinished)
Claire-ellen discovered the thrill of soft doll making
and designing, turning her life into a new direction.
Please welcome Claire-ellen, she is a wonderful designer
of many talents.
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SUPPLY NEWS
We are pleased to announce that we are once again fully
stocked with our ethnic skin tone fabrics! Please know
how much we appreciate your patience while we waited
out the chlorine problems. http://dollmakersjourney.com/fabrics.html
Antoinette Cely's latest video, "Making Faces
and Wigs for Cloth Dolls" is now in pre-production.
Her first video was fantastic, and we are sure this
will be just as good. If you order it before August
26th you will get a special discount. See details at:
http://www.dollvideos.com
One of our customers, Linda Ostroff, creates custom
blended novelty yarns and fibers perfect for embellishing
and doll hair. Check out Custom Yarns at http://www.customyarns.com/
Phone: (856) 881-8062 Fax: (856) 881-4290
Another customer, Jay Hall, is selling some of his
stash of hand-dyed yarns and trims on eBay. Each bundle
contains 20 yards of various yarns and trims. Check
them out soon, for the sale ends Sunday, August 25th,
at midnight. If the listing has expired, you can email
him directly at pjayhall@hotmail.com To see red trims,
click on
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1759828990&rd=1
Click "View sellers other items" to see the
rest.
THREAD CUTTER PENDANT, $6.50.
http://beadcreative.com/beading_needles_silamide.htm
Styled after an elegant antique thread cutter, you can
wear this pendant through airport security and work
on projects on the plane.
BRASS THREAD CUTTER PENDANT (#148821) $5.60 plus
S&H. Available from JoAnn's Fabric & Crafts
or online at Clotilde's
(http://www.clotilde.com/).
Rhinestones - flat backed, many sizes http://www.riogrande.com
Renaissance Buttons
http://www.renaissancebuttons.com/index.html
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TIP
When creating a waistband casing with several seams
(like on a pair of pants), iron all seams in one direction
before sewing. This makes it easy to insert elastic.
Use a pencil to mark elastic the length you need. Insert
elastic, secure both ends, and then cut off excess elastic.
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CUSTOMER CREATIVITY
Customer Cindy Cutri made dollhouse dolls depicting
each of her five children on a specific date when they
ranged in age from 2 - 12. She dressed them in their
holiday pajamas to set out with the Christmas decorations.
Check out Barbara Graff's "Dollhouse Dolls"
pattern at http://dollmakersjourney.com/graff.html
and make a special gift for your family this year.
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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
Every once in a while the Lord decides to upset the
apple cart and your life goes in a whole new direction.
Saturday Bonnie's daughter Juventa and her family found
a home in West Virginia. They will move in 45 days.
Meanwhile, Bonnie's son (who is almost 30, divorced,
and has been living in her home with his 3-year-old
daughter for the past three years) has decided to buy
Juventa's home here in Virginia, and they will also
move in 45 days. Her household will be reduced to one
husband, two ferrets, and one child at home (age 16,
and a senior in High School). It will be a new experience
to just cook for three people. However, there is no
rest for the busy. Another daughter in Maryland is expecting
a baby in September, and of course, We Folk is just
around the corner.
From time to time a non-dollmaking customer (usually
of the male species) will order a pattern thinking that
he is actually purchasing a doll. Mary Ann has to explain
that cloth doll making requires a great deal of artistic
expertise and depending on the doll can be quite costly
to have made. This is how she often picks up commissions
for custom-made dolls! The latest project was making
Marilyn Halcomb's incredible "Jack the Jovial Jester"
for a customer who just had to have it for his girlfriend.
This pattern has the greatest hands - with squared-off
fingertips (look at your own fingers and you'll see
that they are really rectangular) and super directions
for needle sculpting them. It was a great project and
we'll get a photo up in the near future.
http://dollmakersjourney.com/halcomb.html
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OTHER SITES TO SEE
For anyone who is going on the Shopping Trip to Philadelphia
during We Folk of Cloth in October, here is a website
for "Fabric Row" http://www.fabricrow.com/
They have a nice map of the area with a list of stores
and what they sell. You can sign up for their email
list and receive updates.
For dollmakers who have problems creating perfect fitting
clothes, check out this pattern software program for
dolls. It is expensive, but it enables you to create
lots of clothes to fit your doll's measurements, and
also helps you design original outfits. Click on http://www.livingsoft.com/demo.asp
and go to "doll shop".
Do you have something you want to find, swap, or sell?
Check our the Dollmaker's Exchange at http://dollmakersexchange.com/
Save 50-90% on books at Book Closeouts. Check out their
doll, quilt, craft, embroidery, sewing, etc. books.
Great source for gifts. http://www.bookcloseouts.com/
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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.
You can also read all the past issues online at:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/archives.html
Included is an index to all the past issues.
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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To subscribe to Dollmaker's Journey Customer Connection,
go to:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/subscribe.html
To unsubscribe, go to:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/unsubscribe.html
To change your address, subscribe the new address and
unsubscribe the old address.
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Copyright 2002 Dollmaker's Journey
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