Dollmaker’s Journey
CUSTOMER CONNECTION
February 2008 Issue 75
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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.

February 2008 Issue 75

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Copyright 2008 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 just finished teaching a class on writing journals and publishing family histories. In connection with this class, she had a wonderful idea. Why not write a doll journal to keep track of all those dolls you make and collect? You can also use this idea to catalog other treasures in your home. Here is how to begin:

Create a master sheet for each doll. Include the following:

1. PHOTOGRAPH of the doll (with the advent of digital cameras, this one is easy!): If you already gave the doll away and don't have a photograph, at least try to fill in the rest of the categories below.

2. NAME OF THE DOLL (if applicable or known)

3. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION of the doll: "Queen of Hearts holding a tray (made from OJ can lid) of tarts (made from Sculpey) with molded crown, appliquéd flowers on her skirt, etc." Be as detailed as you can.

4. TO WHOM THE ARTICLE BELONGED: "This doll belonged to my mother, June Andrew Babbel …."

5. DATE OF ARTICLE: "I made it in 1992 as a gift to my mother on her 50th wedding anniversary…."

6. BY WHOM THE ARTICLE WAS MADE (if applicable): If you used a pattern or mold, indicate who designed the pattern or mold you used. If you purchased the doll, indicate where you got it (e.g. Mexico) or what company made it (Madame Alexander Doll). "This doll was created by Bonnie B. Lewis from an original pattern 'Queen of Hearts' designed by Bonnie B. Lewis and Mary Ann Kaahanui, part of their Doll for All Seasons series."

7. VALUE (if known): This is important because if you die your children or grandchildren may not know something is valuable and will give it to Goodwill or sell it in a yard sale for $1.00. If they know it is worth something, it might at least get a viewing on E-Bay.

8. WHY IT IS A TREASURE TO ME: Here you can write what inspired you to buy/make the doll, or a little history of the doll, e.g. "…because it is one of the few possessions left from my mother's childhood."

9. WHERE IS IT NOW? Here you can say who bought it, who you gave it to as a gift, where in your home it is located (e.g. box, mantle, display cabinet, on bed, etc.) Even if you no longer have the doll, it will be of interest to your descendants that Grandma made this doll and sold/donated/gave it to ____________________. This is your legacy to other dollmakers who follow in your footsteps.

Keep a copy of the list in a notebook in plastic sheet protectors, or on a file on your computer. If you choose to use the computer, please have a back-up copy burned to a CD-ROM (use Read/Write one that you can update) or flash drive that you can take with you in case of fire for insurance purposes. Bonnie keeps her flash drive in her purse on a keychain.

Update the list as articles are received, made or purchased.

This MASTER LIST is important for several reasons:

It serves as an inventory for treasured articles within the home.

It identifies the articles as being special and would prevent them from being accidentally discarded by others. For example, Bonnie has a chest made by her great-great grandfather George Washington Bean for his wife in 1850. It is ugly, ungainly, large, and was almost destroyed several times before Bonnie received it. Her great-great grandmother was a milliner and kept silk flowers in the box. She gave it to her oldest son Victor Emanuel Bean whose wife filled it with flour for making bread. It went to Bonnie's grandmother Mary Ethel Bean (the oldest girl) who again filled it with flowers (she also made and decorated hats.) When she died her oldest daughter was going to throw it away, but Bonnie's mother rescued it and kept blankets and bedding in it. Before she died Bonnie requested the chest, and now it has become her photo studio and holds lights, backdrops, and doll supplies such as leather, fleece, and flowers once again.
It is our hope that some of you might try making a Master List as described above. Let us know if you have any other methods of organizing your dolls/treasures that works for you.

Mary Ann and Bonnie

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FEBRUARY SALE

For our FEBRUARY SALE we’re discounting everything in our extensive ANIMAL CATEGORY where you’ll find much more than just animals. Any doll that has an animal included in the pattern is in this category and 20% off! http://dollmakersjourney.com/

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SOFT DOLLS AND ANIMALS PATTERN CORRECTION

In the February/March 2008 issue there was an article and pattern by Judi Ward to make a Shirley Temple doll. However, the magazine failed to print several critical pattern pieces and did not have Shirley in the correct wardrobe. The Shirley Temple Parts can be found by going to http://judisdolls.com/shirley_doll.html
There is a link also at the top of Judi's main Welcome page. Just to Judi's site http://JudisDoll.com and click on ENTER HERE link and you will see some text and like to the missing parts. At the link above is the missing parts plus the correct picture. They will also appear in the next issue of Soft Dolls & Animals.

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JANUARY QUIZ WINNER

In February here in the United States we celebrate President's Day, to honor our first president George Washington and our 16th Abraham Lincoln. The questions we asked were:

1. Which president owned a pet alligator and kept it in the East Room of the White House? Answer: John Quincy Adams [1825-1829] He also kept silk worms.

2. Who was the only president to have a Ph.D.?
Answer: Woodrow Wilson had a PhD in Political Science from Johns Hopkins (1886) and taught at Princeton.

3. Which president's son was present for the assassination of three presidents?
Answer: Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was present at President Garfield's assassination at the Six Street Station, Washington, D.C. He was also present at McKinley's assassination at the Pan-Am Expo. He was at the bedside at his father's deathbed but not at the theatre. He had turned down the invitation to attend the play that evening. Later in life, when he was invited to attend events that had a Presidential appearance, he would decline. (Thank you so much, Sue Cordes, for this additional information.)

Other Odd Facts about our Presidents:

Theodore Roosevelt’s (1901–1912) mother and wife died on the same day.
Every U.S. president who had a beard was a Republican.
Gerald Ford (1974–77) was the only president who wasn’t elected as president or vice president. President William Henry Harrison was president for only 32 days before he passed away.

Congratulations to Carla Finley from Thomasville, Georgia. 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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FEBRUARY QUESTION

Question: If you truly want to see trulli, there's only one country where you can do so. What country is it? What is it?
Everyone who emails in the correct answers by March 10th 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 February Quiz in subject box. Please include your full name and where you live (state/country) in your email.

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CHARITY CORNER – FREE PATTERNS FOR CHARITY

Darlene Sperber from Citrus Springs, Florida, writes: Last Summer I downloaded Kate Erbach's Etta Mae doll (http://dollmakersjourney.com/ettamae.html) and made 47 of them to be given the homeless children in Citrus County, Florida. I have a wonderful photo of them at http://dollmakersjourney.com/charitydolls.jpg. Around each base she wrote: "I believe that friends are quiet angels that lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly"
Since that time I have made two other Etta Mae dolls to be used in our American Sewing Guild raffle to earn money to make more dolls to be used with our 'Giving Tree' Project this year. We have our goals set to make 100 Etta Mae dolls that will ultimately be given to the homeless children at Christmas time in Citrus County. This year is going to be easier as it is going to be a united effort of our chapter. Last year it was only me who did all the work. We are also making 100 the Giggle Bug doll (http://www.clothdollpatterns.com/id75.htm) for the same reason. I just want to thank you all for the free patterns and the wonderful web site. Please let Kate know how grateful we are for the cutest pattern in the net. Etta Mae has made many old ladies laugh and many more unfortunate children happy. We are going to make her our ASG chapter mascot.

A photo of the Giggle bug doll I taught the ladies of my ASG chapter at our winter retreat is here (http://dollmakersjourney.com/gigglebug.jpg). Now that they have learned how to make her we are making 100 of them for our Giving Tree in December and they also will be given to our local homeless children. By the time December arrives we hope to have 100 Giggle Bugs, 100 Etta Mae's and 100 Teddy bears. What a huge undertaking but what a huge amount of pleasure we will bring to our children. The hair we used for both dolls is the curly fun fleece sold at Joann's. It is so fun to play with but is getting harder to find in wild colors.

Here is a photo of one of two Etta Mae dolls I made for our local ASG Chapter to raffle off to raise money for the chapter. (http://dollmakersjourney.com/raffleettamae.jpg) We are brand new so are rather a poor chapter at this time. The doll raised almost $300 dollars and the money raised will be used for supplies to make 100 more Etta Mae and Giggle Bug Dolls to be use with our giving tree in December. The dolls will then be given to the homeless children for Christmas.

[We wish to congratulate Darlene for all the joy she is bringing to the children in her area. Please share any success stories your club may have in making dolls for charity.]

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NEEDLE SCULPTING TIP from Judi Ward

I personally find that less is best for needle sculpting...Again, practice, practice, practice! Mimi Winer has students make a stuffed "head ball" with noses on 4 sides to practice on? That is another great idea so you don't ruin faces......
Another thing that is often the problem with needle sculpture is that the piece is simply not stuffed well enough. If there is not a stuffing "bump" out where the mouth goes, the mouth will sink back behind the jaw, and make a homely smashed face. If there is not enough stuffing in the nose, it will crinkle, and the tip will empty. If there is no extra stuffing under the eyes, for cheekbones, the face will be flat. Plan the stuffing to arrive at a proper shape before sculpting. It makes the sculpting much easier.

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CHALLENGES/COMPETITIONS

The Storybook Challenge
Deadline: March 28, 2008
For more information: http://thedollnet.com/storybook_dolls/index.html

[The Material Girls] Becky Holloway Challenge!
Deadline: September 30, 2008
Rules:
1. Use the Becky Holloway pattern called "Garden Party" (available at http://dollmakersjourney.com/holloway.html)
2.You can change the pattern by upsizing or downsizing and adding bits and
pieces but it still needs to look like the Garden Party pattern somewhat
when you are finished.
3.You must finish and send the pictures to Lisa Risler (happyartist@gmail.com) by September 30th, 2008 with a NAME and a good DESCRIPTION of what all you did and how you did it...even a story is nice!
4. Voting will begin on October 5th with the url to be announced as soon as it is available online.
5. NO LATE entries can be accepted to be fair to everyone.
6. Please join the Yahoo Group "Hollowaypatterns" so we can kind of keep up with what is going on.
7. Do NOT show anyone your finished project until after the voting has been done. You must not tell anyone which entry is yours. You will be disqualified -- out of fairness to everyone else entering the contest.
Prizes will be awarded by Dollmaker's Journey, Cloth Doll Patterns, and Cloth Doll Supply.

Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge - Journey of the Gypsy
Kits available now for $20.00 US
For information on 2008 challenge contact: Pamela Armas
P. O. Box 748, Mountainair, New Mexico 87036, USA.
Email address: gypsytreasures@cs.com

2009 All Dolled Up: Beaded Art Doll Competition
Due date: August 31, 2009
Theme: Earthen Mother
Official rules posted here: http://www.landofodds.com/store/alldolledup.htm

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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

April 10-13, 2008 – Creations in Fiber
For more information go to www.uncommonfolk.org or
www.creationsinfiber.org

April 18-20, 2008 - Magic, Mischief, and Mayhem: Art Gone Wild, American Style
Richmond, Kentucky (near Lexington)
Visit http://www.AnnieDolls.com for all the specific information.
Any questions - email Annie Hesse at: anniedolls@roadrunner.com or call: 859-623-2455

April 24-27, 2008 – 9th Canadian Doll Artist Association (CDDA) Show and Sale
Hilton Garden Inn, 500 Beck Crescent, Ajax, Ontario, Canada
For more information go to http://www.dollartists.ca/ (Look for Conference in menu)

April 26, 2008 – Calgary Doll Club Doll, Teddy and Toy Sale
10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission $3.00
Acadia Recreation Center, 240 – 90 Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
For more information call Betty at (403) 243-3575 or
email Carolyn at cbtank@shaw.ca

April 26 – May 10, 2008 – Doll and Teddy Bear Tour in Germany
The tour begins in Frankfurt and travels down the German Toy Road to visit the International Doll Festival in Coburg and the Doll and Teddy Festival. Visit doll and teddy bear designers, manufacturers, museums, shoppes, a doll & teddy bear doctor, etc. German sights and sounds are included as well as a day spent in Salzburg, Austria on a “Sound of Music” tour. Return to Frankfurt up the German Romantic Road.
For more information contact Sharon Ellis at travelific@msn.com or call 763-241-8733

May 13-20, 2008 – WOW New York
New York
More information will be forthcoming

May 16-18, 2008 – Think Pink! Conference from the Doll Gatherers
Aurora, Ohio
For more information email Joan Stephens at DGdolling@aol.com

July 17-20, 2008 – Enchanted Doll Artist Conference (EDAC)
Embassy Suites, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Visit: www.enchanteddollartistsconference.org or contact Rae Sook edac@cox.net , 9827 N. 151st E. Ave., Owasso, OK 74055 for more information

July 26-30, 2008 – National Doll Festival (21st annual)
Tuscany Suites and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Same time and town as UFDC, ODACA and NIADA National Conventions
Contact information: National Doll Festival, P.O. Box 66823, Scotts Valley, CA 95067
E-mail: NatlDoll@aol.com or DollFestival@aol.com
(831) 438-5349 phone (831) 439-9142 fax number

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

Designer Patti LaValley had so many requests for her free Santa Claus ornament that she put it back on her website. She says, "I have added the pattern to my blog with the instructions for any who wish to have it. You can right click on the pattern and choose print target. However, it does increases the size slightly so you may want to reduce it by about 10 %. Enjoy!"
http://patti-lavalley-designs.blogspot.com
See more of Patti's designs at http://dollmakersjourney.com/lavalley.html

Fruitfull Hands has an early Easter present - a cute as can be Easter chick pattern, free for the asking. All you need to do is go to their website, http://fruitfullhands.com/
click on the picture & fill in the blanks. She will e-mail you the pattern, along with a picture of the doll. Enjoy!

Here is a free tutorial from Aparna for creating an artistic, easy doll stand from a ceiling rose. Check it out at http://artwhiz.blogspot.com/

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

We have three great new items from LESLIE MOLEN at Dollmakers Journey. You’ll love the CD version of her popular Needlesculpting Booklet that is filled with color photos and bonus face painting instructions. “Madonna” is a stump doll that personifies serenity and the darling “Lady Bug” will teach you about leg armature. Stop by and take a look! http://dollmakersjourney.com/molen.html

“The Doll as a Messenger the Body’s Language” is an extraordinary new CD from ELINOR PEACE BAILEY with 10 patterns that will help you explore new dimensions of expressive doll making. You’ve just got to check it out! http://dollmakersjourney.com/epb.html

That busy Dragon Charmer JENNIFER CARSON delights us with a marvelous double dragon pattern - “Mathair and Baby”, and a wonderful “Frog Prince.” http://dollmakersjourney.com/carson.html

St. Patrick ’s Day is just around the corner and you’ll be having lots of Good Luck with SHELLEY HAWKEY’S charming leprechaun “Dillon.” http://dollmakersjourney.com/hawkey.html

Australia’s SUZETTE RUGOLO has released another exquisite historical figure “The Little Minstrel” complete with mandolin. http://dollmakersjourney.com/rugolo.html

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WHAT TO DO NOW YOU CAN'T GET GRRRIP GLUE
By Gloria "Mimi" Winer

I was devastated when I learned that my favorite glue was all but extinct. No worries, Mary Ann at Dollmakersjourney.com has saved the day!!! Thanks so much Mary Ann, you saved my sanity as well!

She sent me a bottle of Crafter's Pick THE ULTIMATE! (that's the entire name of this glue), a non-toxic, water- based super glue. It works a treat for my purposes, and it is readily available at most craft shops and at dollmakersjourney.com

I use it on seams that I have to trim and snip very, very close around fingers and for male torsos. That's how I get those great looking abs and pects on my male figures.

I recently found another use for this glue. It works on both knit and muslin fabric.

I no longer have to put a separate sole or a heavy cardboard insert in the bottom of a foot. Here's what I do now:

Stitch completely around the foot, for a dancers pointed toe or a flat foot that needs to be cut out and stitched across the toes to form the foot. Leave a larger than normal quarter-inch seam allowance on the bottom of the foot, about 3/8 Inch (or ten cm) - not as much as a half-inch. Angle the ends of the seam allowance so that when you fold it up to the bottom the foot it
does not round the toe or the heel.

Now, slather this excellent glue over half (one side) of the seam allowance that will fit against the bottom of the foot. Slash the center of the seam allowance almost to the seam if the foot sole is to be rounded as for a dancer on pointe.

Press the glued half of the seam allowance against the side of the foot which will become the sole and make sure the seam is open and flat. Keep smoothing it with your fingers until it is.

Then when it seems to be sticking, slide something into the foot so the foot will not be glued together. I use either my flat plastic tool with one pointy end that I use for many things (have no idea what it is called) or the rounded end of my awl, anything will do that will fit into the foot all the way to hold the foot open while the glue is set, just for a couple of minutes.

When that side is stable, repeat for the other side.

When it is dry enough so that it won't stick to anything else but is still damp, it is okay to turn the foot and press it open with your fingers. Let it completely dry, a half-hour or so and it is ready to stuff. The foot will not round when stuffed and the seam is very, very strong.

To use it for fingers here are the directions. This works even to "heal" busted fingers that were so difficult to turn...

Trim around fingers very very closely, it is difficult to turn a tiny finger if there is too much seam allowance to pull through the finger...

Use a glue dispenser with a fine metal tip, available at dollmakersjourney.com... put a fine bead of glue around each finger, turn the hand over and do the same on the other side of each finger around the entire hand

Now, use your own fingers to wipe the glue off and away from the hand, this will prevent the glue from getting hard and stiff, it will protect the seam from fraying as you turn the finger. Wipe both sides of the hand. Set aside for a moment while you roll the glue off your own fingers.

Push a tool into each finger to keep it from gluing itself shut. A small hemostat works fine open it inside the finger a couple of times.

Use your favorite method of turning fingers, I add the wires while the glue is still damp so they stay in place more easily as I stuff the rest of the hand and add knuckles.

If you blow a finger you can save it by putting the pipe cleaner into the finger and adding more glue around the tear. Use a pin or needle to straighten the broken threads and pin the seam back together with a very fine pin. (I use IBC or Nifty Notions glass head pins they are thinner and
longer than silk pins.) You can remove the pin when the glue has dried. In most cases it is difficult to find the repair.

For those of you who live in very humid areas such as Cairns, Australia, those pipe cleaners will rust if they are not kept dry. I recommend aluminum wire instead. If you paint the hand or spill water on it use a hair dryer to dry it quickly before it can rust or you will not be happy...

You can find Gloria's patterns at http://dollmakersjourney.com/mimi.html
Also check out her website at http://www.mimidolls.com for more great ideas.

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SUPPLIES

Chenille Stems - Box of 100 Chenille Stems in both 3MM and 6MM thicknesses. Be sure to keep lots of stems on hand for any creative whim you may have. http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html

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PAINTING FACES TIP from Judi Ward

NOTHING can take the place of PRACTICE!!!!! For painting faces sealing the faces before and after will eliminate almost all chance of pen bleed, the messer-upper of many faces. Applying paint in tiny dots, with just the very tip of the paintbrush will correct smear. Most folks who start to paint faces, try to PAINT...Unless you are very good with a paintbrush, you will have better luck, especially along edges, if you "dot" and then with ever so slight pressure, connect the dots which should be side by side. Also paint from the inside to the edges. If you try to outline first, it will usually result in going outside the lines.
These tips help get over the hump of beginning to paint faces, then as one feels more confidant, actual painting strokes will start to come more and more easily.....Ein Tipp, as they say here in Germany...Paint with water on construction paper to get control of the brush. With water, if you press at all it will bleed all over the paper...But you can do it over and over and never ruin a face, until you get the feel of light pressure.

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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT

Bonnie spent several months collecting a lot of information on writing journals, publishing family histories, and alternative forms for keeping a family history. One of the more creative ones: she enlarged an old daguerreotype picture of her great-great grandparents on their wedding day and transferred the faces to fabric. She then made two dolls dressed in clothing similar to the picture. They were married January 6, 1853. Elizabeth's father was a master weaver and designed the fabric for her dress, which was silk brocade. Her husband George (see story of flower chest above) had his right arm blown off just below the elbow from a freak cannon accident when he was 19 while he was still single. Therefore, for the sake of verisimilitude, Bonnie created a detachable lower arm that snaps in place. It can easily be removed when she tells the story. (Her grandchildren love it!) She also created another ancestor, Elizabeth Tilley Howland, who came over on the Mayflower as a Pilgrim. You can find her pattern with our Doll for All Seasons series. (http://dollmakersjourney.com/dollforallseasons.html) Here again, she went to Plymouth Plantation and did a lot of research into what Pilgrims wore, their shoes, hair, undergarments, etc. before making this doll.

Mary Ann’s dear sister Barbara is losing her battle with brain cancer. She has been hospitalized after having a seizure last week. Due to her weakening physical condition she must now go a care facility. Mary Ann and Jim went up to New Jersey to visit her over the weekend. While there they collected the outlines of the hands of every member of the immediate family including six month old grandniece Erin. Mak’s going to transfer all of the hands to fabric and apply them to a soft fleece blanket. Each hand will have a heart in the center with the family member’s name so that Barb can be covered with profound love whenever she wants. Please remember Barb, her amazing husband Terry and their children Sean (22), Megan (19) and Kevin (17) in your prayers.

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WEBSITES:

Great ideas for organizing studios/workspaces/sewing/craft rooms:
http://www.younge.com/sewing%20rooms.htm
http://www.sewing.org/enthusiast/html/e_behindseams.html
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_g/g-412.html

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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!

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Copyright © 2008 Dollmaker’s Journey