tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20781065694960567762024-03-13T08:47:44.549-04:00Cindy SowersRamblings about my creative work and life as a doll maker and miniature costume designerCindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-5236670775212358192017-08-12T13:15:00.000-04:002017-08-12T13:15:16.539-04:00The Rabbits, Rats, Dresses for Blythe, the Latest, I Am Behind UpdateI am so remiss in this updating the blog stuff. For anyone who reads, sorry! Been so danged busy. Mostly sewing, sometimes helping my lovely he-man take footage for videos he is working on. If you haven't seen it, going to plug him here with his Charleston duo gig, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rustedrev">Rusted Revolution</a>. Hopefully will have a link to his solo project he is doing as well pretty soon. He is working on a video for that now, but not quite finished editing. So, with nothing much to talk about in my own work, other than just been busy putting it out, I am going to post some photos of things I have completed since the last post. It's a lotta! Hope your summer has been progressing nicely and you are getting all the creative stuff done you wanted! XOXO - Cindy<br />
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-1638736474521088392017-07-19T14:58:00.001-04:002017-07-19T14:58:28.602-04:00Mouse Color<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><br />
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</b></span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>"I had mice that I kept as pets when I was very young, and I've always liked the way they look. Even rats. I'm not scared of them."</b></span></span><br />
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</b></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><b> <i>Catherine Deneuve</i></b></span><br />
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</i></span> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The girls are getting fancier! I am having such a fun time with the little mice. This week I made 3 mouse girls and a very fancy guinea pig, all in bright colors. </span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>"All this is only for the mice and myself to admire!"</b></span></span><br />
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</b></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><b> Catherine the Great</b></i></span><br />
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</b></i></span> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Not really - you can get a mouse, too, if you know where to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cindysowers?ref=seller-platform-mcnav&section_id=14242263">shop</a> :)</span></span>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-53267111138656233442017-07-06T15:23:00.000-04:002017-07-07T08:12:19.519-04:00Ladies and Gents in Waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I finished up a batch of ratties over the weekend, inspired by the ladies and gents of the 18th Century. That is really the era that I take most inspiration from. I love Victorian garb, but honestly, there is nothing like the fashion of Marie Antoinette or the Duchess of Devonshire. The flounces and the frills! How I love them. My rats are not an exact representation, obviously, as I am a whimsical sort, after all, but let's say loosely based. The rats - I really love them! They make me laugh. I don't know. I guess I am just plain goofy. I am a grownup person, and this is what I do! Not even just as a hobby, I actually charge and rely on sales for this craziness :) Let us say that my ratty dress shop, House of Rodentia, is up and running :)<br />
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I sometimes feel like I have the weirdest of things that I do during a regular day. Whenever anyone asks me what I do, I start with the usual, "I'm an artist." No one ever leaves it at that, though I feel like it would be so much easier if they did! Once they hear, "Artist," they want to know what that entails. They always ask, "What kind of things do you do?" I think they are imagining I am a painter or perhaps a potter, if my hands are any indication. I generally shuffle a bit, sizing up the person who is asking to see how much information to give. I don't want to overwhelm or frighten anyone, after all! After years of just answering, "Doll artist," which no one seems to have a clue about, I still haven't come up with a good response.<br />
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Sometimes I say I design costumes in miniature, which then causes the questioner to ask what I mean by that. If I had said, "I make miniature mice and rats and costume them," I am pretty sure they would be a bit alarmed! If I had said that I make dresses for big headed plastic dolls, I think what I actually make isn't what they would be picturing. Despite the fact that the Blythe dolls and ball jointed dolls are super popular around the world, people usually don't have a good grasp on the idea of dolls for grownups. It's too out of the ordinary for most people to comprehend. People who work in miniature are kind of their own odd lot, I think. <br />
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Well, then, all that being said, I love what I do. I have been making little dolls and dresses and things since forever. The rats are my favorite. The Blythe dolls I am grateful for that - it really got me into a much better groove with dressmaking in miniature. If I hadn't spent so much time on the 1/6 scale dresses, it would have been really difficult for me to get a handle on 1/12 scale with the level of detail I like. For now I do both - the dresses for Blythe dolls, the rats and other tinies for myself and anyone I can cajole into getting hooked :) I think the ratties may be starting to catch on, though. Time will tell.<br />
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It's about 95 degrees here today. Whew! I am decidedly NOT dressed in 18th Century garb. I am wearing shorts and flip flops and the lightest weight tee-shirt I can get away with. It really does get pretty warm in Charleston. Not complaining, just saying :) Enjoy whatever season you are in! Hugs - Cindy<br />
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-31904302836915078442017-07-01T14:48:00.000-04:002017-07-01T14:48:37.311-04:00House of Rodentia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't really know how many folks these days take inspiration from Beatrix Potter. A lot maybe, but have never really bothered to query anyone. I have always been a huge fan of small animals in human clothes. Probably something weird about my brain, to be honest. The story of the Tailor of Gloucester is a favorite. I especially like the opening paragraph that reads: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">In the time of swords and periwigs and full-skirted coats with flowered lappets - when gentlemen wore ruffles, and gold-laced waistcoats of paduasoy and taffeta - there lived a tailor in </span></div>
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</span> <span 14px="" color:="" font-size:=""><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It turns out that the story was based on an actual tailor, one John Pritchard. Apparently he had a similar situation to the tale (he had been given the task of making a coat for the mayor, but then, unfortunately, took ill. Upon his return from his sick bed, the tailor found that his assistants had made up the coat for him in his absence). He supposedly spread the story that fairies had done it, but Beatrix Potter liked the idea of mice assistants and so her version of the tale reads that way. The opening words Potter used in her story, "periwigs," "lappets," and "paduasoy," hark back to the 18th Century, which is the style and era I like best to borrow from in my own miniature dressmaking work.</span></span><br />
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When I was a child, my parents took me to see Disney's Cinderella, or at least that's how I remember it. I was pretty young on my first viewing of the movie. What I most remember is the dressmaking assistants. The mice! I have kept that in my mind over the years, as well as the mice from the Tailor of Gloucester and always imagined that my own little dress shop should have mice and rats to do the assisting. </span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span 14px="" font-size:=""><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been making rats and mice as miniature dolls since about 2015. I have sold quite a bundle of them. Over time I have tweaked the ears and shape of the head over and over and over, and finally feel pretty satisfied. The newest version has wired legs and arms, so a bit more posable. I have gone to a jewel nose, stuck with the German glass eyes and jointed limbs and head. I have continued with the painted feet and quilting fabric arms and legs. All in all, I feel good about them as they are today.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span 14px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" quot="" sans-serif="">I have been designing miniature fashions now, well, since childhood. I imagine my assistants as small mice and rats I have designed from mohair and cloth. There are no actual rodents on the premises. I have 2 trustworthy cats, after all. The imaginary mice and rats are inspiration for miniature clothing that I like to make for small cloth animal dolls designed by me (rats, mice, bears, bunnies and sometimes others if I am in the mood) and the larger plastic Blythe dolls that I have had in my house since 2009. I have recently given my miniature dress shop the name House of Rodentia. I think it has a certain ring to it, though perhaps a bit crazy. But, well...</span><br />
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</span></span> <span 14px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" quot="" sans-serif="">In my dressmaking, I often switch around, alter, or resize pattern pieces I designed for one thing, to go with things they weren't originally meant for. Which leads me to the serendipitous discovery I made this morning. The 18th century dresses, coats and waistcoats I have been designing this month for my newest mouse and rat dolls fit (although in a far shortened version) perfectly the Blythe dolls, the giant Alice girls that seem to have slid down the rat hole. A girl's gotta have decent dresses if she finds herself in an alternate world, for goodness sake! This may sound silly to you, but to me, it is a boon. Because it means that the clothing can be switched, and if someone gets one of these newer mouse dolls, they will also have a dress that their Blythe dolls (and probably other dolls as well) can share. How's that for economy? Always trying to be helpful :)</span><br />
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</span></span> <span 14px="" arial="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" quot="" sans-serif="">I hope your creative time is keeping you busy, happy and healthy. It's summer here. I am loving the heat!</span><br />
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</span>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-47427560748492587592016-03-06T11:37:00.000-05:002016-03-06T11:37:29.866-05:00Scrappy the Dog<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa7bTjQvAP0/Vtxb7WmlazI/AAAAAAACL9k/GrSBc8KiftU/s1600/scrappydog%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa7bTjQvAP0/Vtxb7WmlazI/AAAAAAACL9k/GrSBc8KiftU/s400/scrappydog%2B001.jpg" width="380" /></a><br />
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I was wanting to use up a tiny scrap of mohair fabric (from bearmaking) that I had left over, so came up with this pattern for Scrappy the Dog. His head and part of his ears are mohair. The rest is cotton quilting fabric. He is pretty cute at 4" tall.<br />
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I am including his pattern for free in my newsletter tonight. People already signed up, or who sign up by 8:00 pm ET, will get it for free. After that, it's gone. If you haven't signed up and want to, here is the <a href="http://eepurl.com/bQMKKL">newsletter link</a>. CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-78623737654133638652016-02-28T14:47:00.000-05:002016-02-28T14:47:34.340-05:00O'Malley the Bear<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_ObJi16Ha0/VtNMhIYBUjI/AAAAAAACL84/vKU7ACGt2sQ/s1600/2-5c%2B001.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_ObJi16Ha0/VtNMhIYBUjI/AAAAAAACL84/vKU7ACGt2sQ/s400/2-5c%2B001.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I am marching forward on March 1 with my launch of patterns and tutorials, hoping to get some of you sewing! First up will be 4 patterns/tutorials all focused around the little bears you see above. The main pattern/tutorial is called "O'Malley the Bear" - a cute little 5-6" tall bear you can make from mohair or viscose, woolens or velvets. Every pattern/tutorial is a downloadable PDF (no waiting time - just purchase and download) that contains a list of supplies, tools,clear, detailed step by step instructions loaded with photos so you can follow along easily, <br />
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I am starting with the bear, offering 2 different 3-piece clothing set patterns, one for boys, one for girls, and a cute little aviator helmet I designed especially to fit the bears you make. These clothing patterns will also work for any 5-6" animal you have purchased in my store previously, including the little rats. Tutorials are extensive, so you will feel like you are following right along with me while I sew. <br />
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I will also have some hand-dyed mohair in pastel shades kits available for $20 that will include enough mohair for the bear, the glass eyes, the cotter pin/disk joint set, the floss for the nose and 4 buttons for attaching the limbs. Please stop by <a href="http://cindysowers.etsy.com/">my etsy store</a> on Tuesday, 3/1/16, and get your creative juices flowing. You can stay posted on upcoming patterns and tutorials (Blythe doll clothing patterns coming!) on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CindySowersArt/">new FB page</a> of by joining <a href="http://eepurl.com/bQMKKL">my newsletter</a> - and as a special thanks for signing up, you will receive a link in the confirmation email to download a free O'Reilly the Rat pattern.CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-80410409961447237202016-02-17T11:30:00.000-05:002016-02-17T12:14:05.233-05:00O'Reilly The Rat<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sLi7sdH9w0E/VsSVcs0tn2I/AAAAAAACL7o/HYAJ9AhJQf0/s1600/oreillytherat%2B005-2-17a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sLi7sdH9w0E/VsSVcs0tn2I/AAAAAAACL7o/HYAJ9AhJQf0/s400/oreillytherat%2B005-2-17a.jpg" width="300" /></a><br />
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I have a little news! I am working on something new. I have been sewing, designing and doing various arty things pretty much my entire life. I am at the point that I want to get others into the game. I want you to do a little sewing with me, so I am in the process of making patterns and tutorials. I have 4 done at the moment, 1 of which I am going to give away to you for doing me a favor. The other 3, I will have in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cindysowers?ref=hdr_shop_menu">etsy shop</a> at the beginning of March, hopefully 3/1, along with a few supplies you might need for the projects.<br />
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My first patterns and tutorials are going to be for making little mohair animals and some clothing that you might like to make for them. The pattern and tutorial for this little guy, O'Reilly the Rat, I am going to give away for free for signing up for my newsletter, which I will tell you about in a minute. I am also going to give away the actual rat as a random giveaway to the people who will like my new artist page on FB, which I will tell you about in a minute as well. <br />
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What I am hoping to do is have a little community of people who like to sew, who are interested in making some things that they might keep for themselves, give away as gifts, or even sell if they were so inclined. My first patterns that will be available after giving away the one for O'Reilly the Rat, will be a little 5-1/2" bear and 2 different outfit sets of 3 pieces, one for girl bears, one for boy bears. The girl bear set actually can be made to fit a Blythe or Sad Eyed Susie doll, which is convenient for people just jumping in with sewing for those dolls. I am starting out basic with what I do. Little animals that will be able to wear clothes, at first pretty easy clothing, and hopefully adding in some more challenging stuff later. I am hoping to design different animals for you to choose from and many different outfits for them in the coming months.<br />
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The O'Reilly the Rat pattern freebie will give you an idea of what my tutorials are like. I a pretty thorough. This little guy is tiny, only 3-1/2" tall, but pretty easy to make. I added a tail to this rat, but did not discuss a tail in my tutorial. It is simply a crochet-looped piece of embroidery floss that I tied in a know at one end and sewed to his butt :) I don't think that needs too much explaining and you could use whatever you like for a tail, if you think he needs one.<br />
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Okay, so you got this far through the reading. I'll get to the good stuff. If you sign up for <a href="http://eepurl.com/bQMKKL">my free newsletter</a> (which will just alert you now and then that I have new patterns, new things related in my store, and maybe some free things and tips from time to time), you will get an email somewhere in the process with a link to download the O'Reilly the Rat pattern. If you go to my new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CindySowersArt/">artist FB page</a> and like it, I will enter you in a chance to win the little O'Reilly the Rat you see here in this blog post. He is 3-1/2" tall, made from a natural white German mohair and has Swarovski crystal beads for his nose and eyes. he is wearing a silk ribbon on his neck . He needs a bit of propping to sit or stand. His limbs are jointed, but his head is not. It is sewn to the neck, which is what I teach in the tutorial. If you are skilled at cotter pin and disk joints, you could make a rat with a jointed head quite easily. The drawing for the rat give-away will be St. Patrick's Day, 3/17. I will randomly choose a name from the people who have liked my new artist FB page and contact them through FB. That's it! Hope you like this little guy. Hope you will want to come sew with me!CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-73454414319848776242016-02-05T16:06:00.000-05:002016-02-05T16:06:08.871-05:00Bear Tutorials Coming in March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, I am a really bad blogger girl. I can't believe it has been over a year since I last put something down on this page! I have been busy. I am blogging today because I am trying something new. I have made a kamillion tiny things over the years, so many it's impossible to count. Dolls, doll dresses, ornaments, tiny animals, clothes for the tiny animals, etc. I am feeling at this stage of the game that I want to bring other people into my world - to get them inspired to create something fun via sewing. I have been sewing since I was 11. That's a very long time indeed! Starting 3/1/2016, I am going to be putting in my etsy store tutorials for things I make. I am going to start with the tiny critters, bears first. I will have patterns and tutorials for them and their clothing, hopefully growing quite a catalog. I hope to expand into animals other than bears, and maybe some doll things as well. I want people to have fun, to enjoy sewing, to make something cool, and for it to be challenging enough, but not so difficult they get frustrated right off the bat and throw their hands up. So that means, I will be doing things with a lot of detail. Photos! Lots of photos. I hope to offer things you might need to complete your projects as well. So, stay tuned. Join me if you want, and let's see what you can do! </div>
<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-86721810251997839432015-02-19T11:31:00.002-05:002015-02-19T11:31:30.422-05:00Serena and Desiree'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CVpeImkt0ls/VOYMJTWDlYI/AAAAAAACLbI/bYzrLFoQM-g/s1600/serena-desiree-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CVpeImkt0ls/VOYMJTWDlYI/AAAAAAACLbI/bYzrLFoQM-g/s400/serena-desiree-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I haven't posted in this blog for over a month! And I was doing so well, too. To be honest, I haven't made many little animals this past month. I haven't had the chance to actually sit down and think about what little tinies I have wanted to see come to life. I have mostly been making ballet styled dresses for Blythe dolls. I have a sale going on in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cindysowers">Etsy shop</a>, trying to get things out and start fresh, and it reminded me that I needed some new tinies. Which got me thinking the opposite - elephants! Mine are tiny, but still. <br />
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These 2 are Serena (in pink) and Desiree' her sister. When I was 10, I had a friend called Serena. She had a sister Desiree'. I always loved those names. I wished I had been given a name like that! These 2 elephant girls are a lovely nut brown mohair. I gave them both stripes, one in pastels, one in tea-stained reds. I wanted them to be the same, yet different.<br />
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Desiree' is the bolder sister. She is a little more dramatic perhaps. Red suits her.<br />
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Serena is a bit sweeter. She looks good in pink and pale green. Her ears and limbs are a much more vibrant green and yellow plaid, but she prefers clothing on the pastel side.<br />
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It's been awhile since I have scouted out new furniture for my tinies and their room box. I am not sure at the moment what else I need. I think I would like some circus themed things, but not sure where I would find that. Anyone know of dollhouse circus themed things?<br />
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It is colder than I can convey here in Vermont this month and last. I have not known a February this frigid. Temperatures have been below zero more often than not. I can hardly wait until spring! Maybe the circus will come to town. I would love that right about now. Have a lovely weekend and stay warm!<br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-92131183300324109532015-01-13T15:47:00.000-05:002015-01-13T15:47:51.703-05:00The Antoinettes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQ5XTWGPxYw/VLV9iP-SFYI/AAAAAAACLag/azatbDMwyt0/s1600/celeste-celine-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hQ5XTWGPxYw/VLV9iP-SFYI/AAAAAAACLag/azatbDMwyt0/s400/celeste-celine-3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I have been chitchatting back and forth with a good friend, who is also a doll and Marie Antoinette afficionado, like me. He has more knowledge of the era than I do, and I was wanting some costume ideas for the rats. I have had a good time making the big haired girls, and wanted to make some with a slightly different dress, maybe a bit more full, but the proportions are difficult. The rats are only 5-1/2 inches tall, and getting all that dress on those little sausage bodies, which lack either hips or bust, is a bit of a challenge, to say the least.<br />
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In any case, I worked on it for a few days. It's not exactly what you would see in that era, but it is coming closer. The problem with this scale is, adding fabric adds bulk. Then you get something that looks unnatural in terms of drape and just how it all sits.<br />
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I made 2 ratty girls, Celeste and Celine. They both are made of the loveliest Schulte mohair that came to me already a pale pink, so I didn't have to fuss with coloring it.<br />
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I gave them both high headed up-do's, made from a really soft artist yarn. The yarn itself has interwoven beads and lace. I dyed the hair for Celine a pale pink and left the hair for Celeste white. Doing the hair is a bit of work, because it requires making a base for the hair to wrap around. I used soft wool and felted it.<br />
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The dresses are both made of hand-dyed silk charmeuse, that has been laundered, so it is soft and has a muted sheen. There are loads and loads of ruffles.<br />
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The sleeves are off the shoulders and the neckline is quite square. That was a new thing for me to try, as I wasn't exactly sure how to attach the sleeves, but I got it worked out.<br />
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I gave a final underlayer of white tulle. I wanted the dresses to be poofy. I think that made them enough so, without making the dolls tip over.<br />
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All in all, this little project took me a ton of work. I am pleased with the results, and I think it was worth it, but was surprised how much time I could spend figuring out each little thing. I hope everyone is staying warm! It is below zero (F) here today, and I will not even step a toe outside. Brrr! Have a great week and stay creative!<br />
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XOXOX - Cindy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1lK6mcixhY/VLV9iTtrSbI/AAAAAAACLak/nHeVAemKwqI/s1600/celeste-celine-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A1lK6mcixhY/VLV9iTtrSbI/AAAAAAACLak/nHeVAemKwqI/s400/celeste-celine-2.jpg" /></a></div>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-17348777013240444142014-12-30T10:16:00.002-05:002014-12-30T10:16:15.681-05:00What To Do About Elephants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9l6Vqol3vpM/VKK97JHT9YI/AAAAAAACLSE/eI2ZNLPbfdU/s1600/teena-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9l6Vqol3vpM/VKK97JHT9YI/AAAAAAACLSE/eI2ZNLPbfdU/s400/teena-1a.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A client asked me recently if I made elephants. I have been busy making little animal dolls as part of my own line of tiny stuffed dolls since November. Rats are my true love, stuffed animal-wise. I really am that odd :) But, actually I have come up with quite a menagerie. I have also made a pair of foxes, a cat, some bears and mice. <br />
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Can I make elephants? I wasn't really sure. I started one over the week of Christmas, but didn't like how the trunk came out. Obviously, on an elephant, the trunk is pretty important.<br />
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I did a switcheroo with the trunk I had made, and well, that was really all that was necessary. I liked what I had made. That's always a good thing. This little girl is called Teena. She is the same size, body-wise, as the other tinies, so will wear the same clothes.<br />
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Since those bodies are not super fat, I gave her kind of a circus dress and bloomers to fill out her look a bit. She has a blue and white striped neck ruff to fill her out even further.<br />
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She is made from a lovely cream distressed German mohair. Her limbs and inner ears are a cream and Christmas red polka dot print. Very holiday-esque, but also keeping with the circus type thing that I think of when I think of stuffed elephants.<br />
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Okay, so now I make elephants, too :) I really like her. The rats are not overwhelmed by her, because other than her trunk and inner ears, she is just their size. By the way, the bigger elephant and some of the pillows in the photos are from Paula of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetredcottage?ref=l2-shopheader-name">SweetRedCottage</a>. She makes charming stuffies in a larger size, perfect for cuddling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0IDQ6UdBqm4/VKK9_XwkrVI/AAAAAAACLS4/vFpArkRFnzM/s1600/teena-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0IDQ6UdBqm4/VKK9_XwkrVI/AAAAAAACLS4/vFpArkRFnzM/s400/teena-8.jpg" /></a></div>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-17983793875029365062014-12-21T15:45:00.002-05:002014-12-21T15:45:20.013-05:00Marie Antoinette and Rose Bertin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgR9BTcuu9M/VJcsJ3WzS1I/AAAAAAACLGk/gxj8XPUabhU/s1600/roseandmarie-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zgR9BTcuu9M/VJcsJ3WzS1I/AAAAAAACLGk/gxj8XPUabhU/s1600/roseandmarie-1a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Over the weekend I have been chit chatting back and forth with a longtime friend. One of my first doll friends, actually. He has a love of Marie Antoinette and all things late 18th C, probably more than I even. He has recently put together a lovely shabby 18th Century doll box and needed some rats. I had a few in mind. Why not Marie Antoinette and her dressmaker/milliner Rose Bertin? I have been on a Marie Antoinette tear lately, which surfaces every once in awhile. I haven't made her as a rat yet. My friend likes symmetry. 2 is better than 1. I decided to make the Queen and her friend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CbSJtWA3Eg/VJcs24e2faI/AAAAAAACLGs/gNYaAwY9EhY/s1600/marieantoinette-5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1CbSJtWA3Eg/VJcs24e2faI/AAAAAAACLGs/gNYaAwY9EhY/s1600/marieantoinette-5a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> For Marie I used the very nicest off-white Schulte mohair. It is soft like a bunny and just lovely. I figured Marie would be the less shabby of the 2 rat girls. For her hair, I had some really lush yarn. I think it is silk. It is a bit puffy, spun-like, and has pearls and lace and ribbons woven in. I gave her a fantastic up-do. A bit of a rat's nest, but, well, that seems a good choice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYMTxa595So/VJctUiW9_eI/AAAAAAACLG0/S0Hjn2LEJ3k/s1600/marieantoinette-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SYMTxa595So/VJctUiW9_eI/AAAAAAACLG0/S0Hjn2LEJ3k/s1600/marieantoinette-2a.jpg" height="400" width="327" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Her dress is a lovely silk/rayon satin that I dyed and laundered to give it a very soft, pale blue, ethereal feel. I had done a cloth doll Marie for this same friend years ago. Her dress was a light blue as well, though I think slightly icier. This color is nice. It has a bit of chiffon trim and decorative thread edgings. With her white fur and hair, I think she looks lovely. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IPp5ifwVXI/VJctwF4lRyI/AAAAAAACLHA/UzSOOWFoA-8/s1600/marieandrose-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IPp5ifwVXI/VJctwF4lRyI/AAAAAAACLHA/UzSOOWFoA-8/s1600/marieandrose-2a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I wanted Rose Bertin to be a fine lady, but not quite as pristine as Marie. I used the same yarn for her hair, but dyed it up a shabbier tone. It is more gray-blue-beige. Her fur is a Schulte distressed natural cream mohair. It is a bit shabbier, not as lush, but still very lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfRCozjLPAY/VJcuS2GGkxI/AAAAAAACLHI/6MXuxMWEQrY/s1600/rosebertin-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TfRCozjLPAY/VJcuS2GGkxI/AAAAAAACLHI/6MXuxMWEQrY/s1600/rosebertin-2a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Her dress is 4 different silk fabrics, all in sort of a fawn shade. The rats are funny, because they are very short, and all that skirt makes them seem even shorter. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAuU5wtekTk/VJcubt13hcI/AAAAAAACLHQ/HBvd_Xx3QTc/s1600/rosebertin-3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YAuU5wtekTk/VJcubt13hcI/AAAAAAACLHQ/HBvd_Xx3QTc/s1600/rosebertin-3a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Trying to translate the big gowns of that time into such a small scale, and on rats no less, is a bit of a challenge, but I like how they turned out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PhSBvXhnAE/VJcvnjOppTI/AAAAAAACLHc/La0nRMx1pdk/s1600/rosebertin-4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PhSBvXhnAE/VJcvnjOppTI/AAAAAAACLHc/La0nRMx1pdk/s1600/rosebertin-4a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Not sure which girl I love better. I am super pleased with them both. Sometimes when I am in a crazy mood, I just have to do something different. The hair is a new thing. I like it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdlduTLyXf4/VJcv8RjzlsI/AAAAAAACLHk/y3LWG6kefeQ/s1600/roseandmarie-4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdlduTLyXf4/VJcv8RjzlsI/AAAAAAACLHk/y3LWG6kefeQ/s1600/roseandmarie-4a.jpg" height="400" width="357" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Even the back of the heads looks good. I am so, so glad we don't have to wear our hair in these sort of rat's nest these days. I tend a woodstove all day. I would be up in smoke in a second. But, I like the romance of it. Hope you are having a lovely, creative, fun-filled holiday season. XOXO Cindy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-25936704158275601712014-12-17T11:24:00.000-05:002014-12-21T15:21:48.594-05:00The Rockford Sisters<br />
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This week I was thinking about 3 bears. Not the Mama, Papa and Baby Bear of Goldilocks tradition. 3 sister bears. I wanted something a bit primitive. I like primitive bears better than modern bears. They look more like people to me. With personalities, maybe a little grumpy. I gave them the last name Rockford and named them all after rocks.</div>
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I had some Blythe dresses laying around that I have always loved and had been saving out for something. The bears spoke up first, and they got them. Happily, they fit into some of the Blythe clothes. First bear here is Pearl. She is wearing pink. She is the oldest sister, since I made her first. She looks oldest anyway. She has quite a bit of concern in her face. Less carefree than the other girls.</div>
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I gave her the pink dress because she is oldest and she got to choose first. These bears are made from a luscious Schulte rayon that I have been using for bears and mice. It is hugely expensive, but so nice. Just very soft. It is distressed, so not perfect, but rather perfect for primitive styled bears.</div>
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I think Pearl might be my favorite. Being the oldest sister to 2 other bear girls has got to be a challenge. What do they do when they fight, after all?</div>
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Next is Opal. Her dress is a little different than the other 2 girls. It has a ruffle at the neck rather than lace. It is very, very full, and a lovely shade of turquoise blue. The rayon on these dresses has been distressed and laundered a bunch, so has a very vintage feel. The colors are very nice as well. </div>
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Opal is the middle sister. Middle sisters sometimes get hand-me-downs. Not Opal. She gets a fancy blue dress. She is quite proud.</div>
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She gets along well with her sisters, for the most part. It hard for her to choose which is her favorite.</div>
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Third sister is Ruby. She is the sweetest of the 3 bears. She is the youngest. The big sisters treat her well. She gets a pretty dress that is like Pearl's, except yellow. It gives her a fresh, youthful look.</div>
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Like the other girls, Ruby is more of an inside girl than an outside girl. Once they discovered the bedroom furniture, the bears could not be pushed out. The rats are going to have to share.</div>
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-78413430086568627552014-12-12T20:50:00.000-05:002014-12-12T20:50:33.020-05:00Slumber Party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbo7F0Ira7c/VIuUoiK4mYI/AAAAAAACKPE/cv1V124VtCM/s1600/12-12-slumberparty-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pbo7F0Ira7c/VIuUoiK4mYI/AAAAAAACKPE/cv1V124VtCM/s1600/12-12-slumberparty-1a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The rats are having a slumber party! We have been without power off and on all week, and no one has really gotten out of their pajamas, except to get outside to shovel snow (a lot of snow, I am telling you!) We had an ice storm, followed by a snow storm, and several days with power off and on, a couple of days for the entire day and some of the night. I was thinking about pajamas all week. When the power was actually on, I made 4 little rats in lovely pastel shades of pistachio pink and an English rose. They are all wearing pajamas.<br />
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This little girl is called Libby. She is a lovely pistachio green mohair girl with her own unique style of pajama-wear.<br />
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And of course, her pal, Clarice. Clarice is a lovely shade of English Rose pink. She, too has her own unique pajama style.<br />
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Next up, Pearle. She is Libby's sister. <br />
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And finally, we have Patrice, rhymes with Clarice. They are sisters.<br />
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I got a new wooden dollhouse bed that I painted pale pink and made a silk shabby comforter to go with, which turned out pretty well. Paula of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetredcottage?ref=l2-shopheader-namettp://">sweetredcottage</a> had given me some little pillows as a gift, and those worked in perfectly.<br />
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The slumber party girls fit nicely into the scene. <br />
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They are lovely lounging about. They don't care if we have power or not. <br />
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At the last minute, one of the Blythe girls joined in on the party. <br />
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She is maybe a little too large for the furniture, but it doesn't really matter.<br />
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It's all in fun anyway, and the good news is, I was able to take photos even when we had no power, as my trusty camera is battery operated and always ready to snap a shot or 2. Crossing fingers power stays on for the weekend. Hope you all are finding the weather where you are to your liking!<br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-65246045380148426042014-12-09T12:51:00.000-05:002014-12-09T13:30:39.408-05:00La Reine Fantome<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I was lucky enough to have been asked by <a href="http://www.augusteclown.com/upcoming.html">Auguste Clown Gallery</a> in Melbourne, Australia to participate in their February 2015 International Group Showing, "Once Upon A Blythe." I am so honored to have been asked. <br />
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You might not know, or maybe you do, that I have a bit of a fascination with Marie Antoinette. Lots of doll and dressmakers seem to. She is really part of the inspiration for my making the little rats. I was thinking about little mice living in the walls of a French castle. What better one than Versailles? Since the topic of the gallery show seems to be just right for fairy tales, I wrote one around the ghost of Marie Antoinette and a little rat friend called Rosie. That was the starting point for my doll.<br />
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Here is the tale in its entirety:<br />
La Reine Fantome/Mangeons Gateau<br />
Copyright 2014 Cindy Sowers<br />
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Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl whose mother was a very powerful Empress of all that could be seen near or far. When she was still very young, it was foretold that the girl would find her prince in a land far from her home, in the great country of France. <br />
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As was the custom, when the time came, she left her home, her mother, and her friends and family to be with the prince in his castle far away. She took with her 57 carriages, 117 footman and 376 horses, for she had many lovely things and did not want to be without. She was a spring bride and so very, very beautiful. Her wedding gown was the most lavish of all, spun from silver and laced with diamonds. <br />
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No expense was spared. She was very excited to be the new bride of a prince, and yet her eagerness was not rewarded. The young prince did not take easily to her, as he had his mind cast upon other things. Within a few short years, the Old King died, leaving the young prince and princess to become the new king and queen of France. As was tradition, it was expected that the beautiful queen would produce an heir to the throne. It was not that she was unwilling, but much time passed and no sons were produced. <br />
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To pass her time and amuse herself, the young queen had a lovely pastoral retreat designed and built for herself and her closest friends, in which to pass their leisure. It was there that she became friends with the animals, especially the rabbits and the little rodents that scurried about the place, eating bits of cake out of the Queen's outstretched fingers. The little cottage world she maintained became a way for her to shut out the outside world. <br />
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Her countrymen came to despise the lovely queen. Gossip spread like wildfire, accusing the beautiful queen of all manner of frivoloties. They believed she was living without care for the plight of her fellow countryman in a silly fantasy world of her own making. As the outside world grew restless, the queen retreated further and further into her perfect little dream-like world and saw herself as an outsider, unloved and unappreciated by her kingdom. <br />
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As is often the case, the ill-loved will bond together. The little rats of the queen's retreat, the most despised creatures in the animal kingdom, brefriended the queen. Rats, it seems, have quite a fashion sense. French rats, even more special than all the other rats of the world, were especially well suited as fashion advisors, dictators of style and good taste. <br />
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Within the boudoir of the queen's private cottage there existed a small hole in the side wall. It served as an easy entrance for the little rats who lived in the walls and in the garden. One particular rat, Rosie de la Reine, had arrived as a stowaway in the traveling bags of the queen's personal milliner and dressmaker. Rosie possessed considerable knowledge of the fashions of the times, as well as the how-to and what-for. She was the queen's favorite by far and Rosie was welcome within the Queen's little cottage, as long as she picked up after herself.<br />
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Time passed and the people of France became more and more dissatisfied with their economic conditions. They blamed the lovely Queen and her frivolous lifestyle for their troubles. They were no longer content to look the other way as the Queen supped on cakes and other sweets, while they themselves were without even a loaf of bread. First the King and then the Queen met their horrid demise at the hands of their countrymen. "Off with their heads!" the crowd exclaimed. <br />
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Rosie the Rat was so very loyal to her queen and beloved friend. She had slipped inside the pocket of the Queen's cloak on that fateful Queen's Last March, and had gone to the guillotine as well. Poor Rosie! Poor Beautiful Queen of France! Their only consolation was the knowledge that they had changed style and fashion in France forever.<br />
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The tragic nature of their deaths caused such terrible confusion in the newly departed souls of the beheaded queen and her lovely rat companion. To this day they are ghosts, living within the walls of the Queen's boudoir, unseen and unheard, as they go about their business of reminiscing about the good old days of high fashion and mile high cakes. "Let Us Eat Cake!" is their daily mantra.<br />
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The customization, little book, Marie's dress and underthings (pannier, bloomers and petticoat), plus Rosie the rat, were all done by me. <a href="http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/">Jean BaldridgeYates</a> made the beautiful pullcharms and earrings. She has been graciously making jewelry and pullcharms for me for years, as well as collaborating with me on other things, including a book. She is a great artist and often has things available for sale in her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jeanbaldridgeyates">Etsy shop</a>. Thank you, Jean! If you will be in Melbourne in February, be sure to stop by and see what I know will be at least 30 amazing Blythe dolls. The gallery has a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/augusteclowngallery?ref=ts&fref=ts">Facebook page</a> where they update their goings on pretty regularly. Thank you Auguste Clown Gallery! I am very excited to be sending this doll and her rat companion, as well as the little book, off to Australia, hopefully by the coming weekend.<br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-49555287829926444822014-12-08T19:32:00.000-05:002014-12-08T19:32:05.792-05:00Mixing it Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNysQXZOe9Q/VIXc4A9MicI/AAAAAAACHVc/XtlXk4Ys9S4/s1600/reginald-oscar-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNysQXZOe9Q/VIXc4A9MicI/AAAAAAACHVc/XtlXk4Ys9S4/s400/reginald-oscar-1a.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Over the weekend, I decided to try some little animals other than rats, rabbits and mice. I still remain loyal to the rodents, but in the meanwhile, I had fun thinking up what to make.<br />
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This is Oscar. He is a brown bear. He is made from a lovely Schulte German rayon. I think some people call it viscose. I like the word rayon, because I am a big fan of the fiber in clothing. I gave Oscar a black silk tuxedo. He is looking quite elegant.<br />
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He and Bonnie make a good pair.<br />
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Bonnie is friends with Dierdre. <br />
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Dierdre is a fox I made from creamy white Schulte German mohair. I dyed it over the body and at the face to give her a foxy look. There is something very sweet about her.<br />
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Dierdre is in love with Reginald. <br />
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Reginald is playing hard to get. He doesn't think he is the marrying type. He likes to dress in bright clothing and strut his stuff.<br />
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Reginald is friends with Felix. <br />
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Felix is a cat. A black cat. He is rather debonair. He is wearing a suit even wilder than Reginald.<br />
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I am not sure which of the motley crew I like best. I think I remain the hugest fan of the rat girls, but it's nice to mix it up sometimes, to give perspective. All of the animals fit nicely into the 1/12 scale. Having a few different options gives me more room to play, which is what I like to do best. Have a great week, everyone. Stay creative. It's nearly the end of the year. I hope you have a mind to look back on the year fondly. <br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-182734944780548172014-12-05T11:21:00.000-05:002014-12-05T11:21:33.861-05:00Phinnea and Rosalinda<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-806SKIevVAI/VIHXvWb7GRI/AAAAAAACHSQ/JRK0xkmJPyQ/s1600/phinnea-rosalinda-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-806SKIevVAI/VIHXvWb7GRI/AAAAAAACHSQ/JRK0xkmJPyQ/s400/phinnea-rosalinda-2a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Cotton candy pink. It's what I was thinking about. Phinnea and Rosalinda volunteered for the job.<br />
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These 2 sweet girls are pretty much done all over in various shades of pink. Phinnea is a rabbit. Rosalinda is a rat.<br />
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Something about pink brings out the sweetness in things. Even rats.<br />
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These 2 girls are hanging out at the mouse house today. They will be in my shop momentarily. I hope you can find the sweetness of pink in your week's ending.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iiEJhqnULc/VIHaduq3ozI/AAAAAAACHTA/ozGLDVYBC24/s1600/phinnea-rosalinda-1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9iiEJhqnULc/VIHaduq3ozI/AAAAAAACHTA/ozGLDVYBC24/s400/phinnea-rosalinda-1a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-88937730288161688982014-12-03T11:31:00.000-05:002014-12-03T11:31:19.280-05:00Nutmeg and Anise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkiSLlAYNvs/VH82WB09voI/AAAAAAACHRQ/d0QzVu4cBTg/s1600/anise-nutmeg-3a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LkiSLlAYNvs/VH82WB09voI/AAAAAAACHRQ/d0QzVu4cBTg/s1600/anise-nutmeg-3a.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Meet 2 more of the Spice Girls. This is Nutmeg and Anise. Some of the little brown rayon rat girls, I have called Spice Girls, because I like the names of spices. The last 2 were Cinnamon and Spice. <br />
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These girls are dressed in shabby lacy dresses. They are sisters and both have pinkish purple plaid flannel limbs. Their heads and torsos are made from the nicest German rayon I have found yet. It is Schulte. It costs a bundle. It is soft and just a lovely cinnamon brown.<br />
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Nutmeg's dress has a bit of pink staining throughout. She is quite a shabby girl, but likes to stay a bit fancy when she can. Both girls have brown painted short boots.<br />
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Anise wears a peachier dress, with a bit of creamy beige worked in. Both girls have lacy overskirts, which is very feminine.<br />
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I can't tell you how much I am enjoying these little ratty critters. I love them all. I am having a lot of fun putting them in the little room box for their photo sessions. I don't even have to try very hard. To my eye, it all just looks right. I have never been one who likes strictly beautiful things. I like beauty mixed with a bit of comedy. Always. Rats in finery. I just love it. Hard to explain what jazzes me up about them, but they feel like everything I love about art dolls. So, I persist. Maybe it's a call to see beauty in what isn't obvious. Hope you can see beauty today, somewhere where you didn't expect it.<br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-15755406691802028282014-12-01T13:36:00.000-05:002014-12-01T13:36:11.387-05:00Piano Jam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ellis and Brigitte are the only ones hanging out at the mouse house at the moment. It was a quiet evening last night and they decided a piano jam was in order. <br />
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This is Brigitte. She is a lovely cream rabbit girl. She is wearing a fancy boysenberry silk dress with lace and tulle layers, with a vintage lace neck wrap. She is quite fond of her friend, Ellis. Ellis is a mouse. <br />
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He is a very cute, obviously dapper, cream mouse wearing a very striking 3-piece silk suit in autumn colors. He is a man of good taste. He would like to impress Brigitte with his piano playing skills, so he asks her to sit down while he plays a tune for her. <br />
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She leans back on her seat and gets comfortable. She just knows she will love his selection. He is, after all, a man of good taste.<br />
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He takes his jacket off so that he has better movement. He is quite confident and at the ready, as you can tell. Brigitte loves the tune Ellis plays for her. She is quite impressed. She is very pleased and would like to play him a tune as well. She asks him to sit down.<br />
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Of course he does. He is quite a gentleman.<br />
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He sits back to enjoy a relaxing piano moment.<br />
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Brigitte takes her seat at the piano and plays a lively march tune. Ellis is surprised by the tempo, but quite pleased.<br />
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She has him. She can tell. She sits back down and watches as he leaves the room. Most likely he is going to brag to some of his friends about his good taste in ladies. <br />
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I hope you are having a good start to your week. I have cleaned up this blog a bit. I noticed that it has been so long since I last edited the list of blogs I follow, that some of them had since turned to pornography sites. No kidding. Eeep. Hopefully I have that under control and those sites deleted. :)<br />
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-15022590889846724582014-11-26T11:57:00.000-05:002014-11-26T11:58:02.396-05:00The Ladies Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7MB4CK4V58/VHYDHIrYqJI/AAAAAAACG2U/shEbJs5EGiE/s1600/bejamin-peter-1a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K7MB4CK4V58/VHYDHIrYqJI/AAAAAAACG2U/shEbJs5EGiE/s400/bejamin-peter-1a1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There are a couple of boys in town this week. Actually, there were 3, but one moved to Australia rather quickly, on short notice. That leaves 2. We have Benjamin the little brown mouse. Very dapper. Very manly, as you can see. We also have Peter the Rabbit (how original, right?), also very dapper, very manly. The deal here is, they are ladies men. Truly. Look at how they are dressed. What else could they be for heaven's sake? There are a couple of ladies still around the mouse house and the boys want to do some dancing. They have been discussing the proper way to get a lady to dance prior to the girls' arrival.<br />
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Here come the ladies.<br />
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First we have Lucille. She walks in and sits down, pretending not to notice the boys in the corner. She is a lovely little blonde mousie girl. She is quite shy and a bit demure. Benjamin will go first.<br />
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"Well, Miss Mousie, would you like to dance?" She turns her head the other way. Benjamin is quite bold. He moves out in front to get her at eye level.<br />
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Well, all right. She will dance. Why not? That's what she came for after all.<br />
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You'd think she thought of it herself! She is quite smug about the whole thing. After a bit of dancing, Benjamin spots Bernadette. Now it is clear, she is an actress. She is very dramatic seeming and maybe a bit out of his reach. But, it's a dance. He intends to dance with all the ladies.<br />
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On the approach, it does seem she has her nose a bit in the air. Not a problem. Benjamin is brave. He will try some sweet talking first. "You are quite lovely, Miss. Care to dance?"<br />
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At least she turns towards him. She is considering it. Well, all right. It's a dance. She came to dance. No use trying to play too hard to get. She agrees.<br />
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She is not going to take her nose out of the air, though. She has her pride after all. <br />
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In the meanwhile, Peter sees Lucille is without partner. It seems that Lucille will be a better candidate anyway. She doesn't seem quite so snooty.<br />
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Well, that wasn't too bad. She agreed quite quickly. Peter still has it. He is a ladies man, after all.<br />
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Hope everyone has a lovely Thanksgiving. Do some dancing. it will keep you young!<br />
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CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-41670690250856679082014-11-21T12:37:00.000-05:002014-11-21T12:37:27.832-05:00Evany, Bevany and Lucille<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IJhS5WTUZw/VG91_QKnFxI/AAAAAAACGyQ/OqUEvUcoLpU/s1600/bevany-5a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5IJhS5WTUZw/VG91_QKnFxI/AAAAAAACGyQ/OqUEvUcoLpU/s400/bevany-5a1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
There are 3 new girls in the house today. Cousins Evany (dressed in teal), Bevany (dressed in pink), and their little mouse friend, Lucille (in peachy pink). <br />
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These girls are all quite lovely in their fine dresses and crazy matching headwraps.<br />
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I spent yesterday and the couple days before fixing up some more furniture to go with them, and have decided I can easily change out the wall paper of their room box when I grow tired of it. So life at the mouse house is good.<br />
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I think people are liking these little tinies, because they all seem to be going to live in other towns, in other states, even in other countries. Very pleased about that. I love them, I do. But, I am a country dollmaker. I have to expect that some of the dolls will want to move to the city. Country mouse, city mouse. Hard to decide sometimes.<br />
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Hope you are having a lovely end of the week and that the weekend brings many fun things. Stay warm. Stay creative. Always have fun!<br />
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XOXO Cindy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL9JR5eIwTQ/VG92Do6DuwI/AAAAAAACGy0/DmjtxaCijrI/s1600/lucille-5a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aL9JR5eIwTQ/VG92Do6DuwI/AAAAAAACGy0/DmjtxaCijrI/s400/lucille-5a1.jpg" /></a></div>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-60984412366720603652014-11-19T13:01:00.001-05:002014-11-19T13:02:18.548-05:00Spanish Dancing Rats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YVCPumWE0tc/VGzXjJa9l9I/AAAAAAACGxg/vY-1hnhSLzo/s1600/11-19-group-3a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YVCPumWE0tc/VGzXjJa9l9I/AAAAAAACGxg/vY-1hnhSLzo/s1600/11-19-group-3a1.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I have a bit of an imagination, if you didn't already know. So, I was thinking about spanish dancers. Well, dancers of any kind. But, I wanted some fancy dresses for the rat girls, and, that was the image that came to my mind. <br />
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I made 4 Spanish dancing rats for my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cindysowers?section_id=14242263&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2">etsy listing</a> this week.<br />
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Their names all rhyme, because of course they must. I have Sabrina, Josephina, Katina and Irena.<br />
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I gave them hand-dyed silk charmeuse dresses. Some with lace, all a little different. I love the shades of salmon pink, lavender, aqua and cerulean blue. So pretty.<br />
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I really am having too much fun. I got some new chests of drawers in dollhouse scale in the mail this week. I want to spend some of the weekend re-finishing them. Haven't decided how I want them yet. They are kind of old and ratty (well, of course!), but have nice lines. We will see if I do and what I come up with. I also want to make another room box, but this time out of art board. Not sure how that will come out. I will let you know. Hope your week is wonderful and you are staying warm and staying creative. XOXO Cindy<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ_UK1WO5Tg/VGzXi_T3mII/AAAAAAACGxY/Vw98vqEJWj8/s1600/11-19-group-1a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQ_UK1WO5Tg/VGzXi_T3mII/AAAAAAACGxY/Vw98vqEJWj8/s1600/11-19-group-1a1.jpg" height="293" width="400" /></a></div>CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-67594572052018149382014-11-16T09:06:00.000-05:002014-11-16T09:07:20.835-05:00Who's A Pretty Princess?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am trying something new this month. I made this OOAK princess dress a week ago. It is a little more special. I don't want to put it in my etsy store, because honestly, I don't know how to price it. It's got a really nice bodice, with some silver-tone beads down the front, and layering, and well, I really like it. </div>
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I am working on a doll at the moment to go to a show I was invited to participate in in Melbourne, Australia. The coolest gallery I have ever seen contacted me to participate. If you haven't been to the website of <a href="http://www.augusteclown.com/">Auguste Clown</a>, do check it out. The artists they represent are amazing. I can't even express how honored I am that, one, they even know who I am, and two, they asked me to participate in a future show. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rer2w0pFRCI/VGiq__BEFyI/AAAAAAACGvA/ZppZZJ35re8/s1600/11-11-princess-4a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rer2w0pFRCI/VGiq__BEFyI/AAAAAAACGvA/ZppZZJ35re8/s1600/11-11-princess-4a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div>
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For that doll, I have a theme and story going, and it relates to queens and princesses and things, which is something I am partial to. Thinking about princesses has led me to think about princess dresses. The one for the gallery doll is different from the one seen here, and I will be showing sneak peeks here eventually, but that is my inspiration for thinking about princess dresses in the first place.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fnNbiFR6Zmg/VGirBN74KMI/AAAAAAACGvM/kinu3U7MC1k/s1600/11-11-princess-5a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fnNbiFR6Zmg/VGirBN74KMI/AAAAAAACGvM/kinu3U7MC1k/s1600/11-11-princess-5a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /> </a></div>
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Which leads me to this dress here. I found some really fun unicorn print fabric at the quilt store a few weeks back and wasn't sure what I would do with it. "Princess dress" was screaming out in my head, and so, I worked on a suitable bodice for a few days. This is what I ended up with, and the skirting and overskirting and sleeves and all of that came together, and voila' this fun dress. I've got is listed on <a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/191413181235?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649">Ebay</a> for 5 days, and so far, at least a few people want it, so I feel like I am on the right track. There may be other princess dresses in the future, but this OOAK number with the unicorns, well, like unicorns, you won't see it again after it's gone. Hope you are having a lovely creative week!</div>
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-17470430932988262712014-11-07T11:40:00.004-05:002014-11-07T11:40:59.804-05:00Friday is For Relaxing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_SXx_AENjg/VFzwHlUGAoI/AAAAAAACGqw/U7Uha54cGAk/s1600/11-7-group-1a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></div>
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It's Friday today and I was planning on taking the day off and relaxing a bit, since I usually work through the weekend anyway. It's a rainy day and seems like the thing to do. It's almost noon, though, and I still have to go through photos and list my rat girls on Etsy, so perhaps the sitting back and being chill is going to have to happen later. Ah well, the life of a country doll maker :)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z933feTvWY/VFzwMZcbYoI/AAAAAAACGrM/KfyGICrjWE4/s1600/11-7-group-8a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Z933feTvWY/VFzwMZcbYoI/AAAAAAACGrM/KfyGICrjWE4/s1600/11-7-group-8a1.jpg" height="362" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have 5 new rats done for the week. It actually takes a lot longer to make each one than I imagined would be the case, but I am still having fun, so it's my little labor of love. I have continued to find little furniture pieces for them, and can now switch things in and out and change it up a bit. At least the rats can relax, as they have some furniture that fits them, a room to sit in, and they haven't much to do for the day other than look pretty and sit.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bpk6IN9mjlY/VFzwI-zMxeI/AAAAAAACGrA/VZEnzVl0EBo/s1600/11-7-group-2a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bpk6IN9mjlY/VFzwI-zMxeI/AAAAAAACGrA/VZEnzVl0EBo/s1600/11-7-group-2a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I seem to have gone a little miniature crazy. Besides a few more pieces of furniture, I have gone onto Amazon (usually a big mistake) and found some books on miniatures. I almost can't resist. Everything is just so darned cute! I hope I can find others who are interested in doing little 1/12 scale things. It's really quite fun. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_qQqtV-DHU/VFzuXAEOiEI/AAAAAAACGoo/DHjJDSLnCfU/s1600/marybeth-5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_qQqtV-DHU/VFzuXAEOiEI/AAAAAAACGoo/DHjJDSLnCfU/s1600/marybeth-5a.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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If you don't require umpteen million books to satisfy your curiosity, a lot of the stuff can be had for cheap. There are little furniture kits and also used furniture available out there for in the $10 range, so that as a weekend project you could paint a little chair and have something to add to your scene without feeling like you spent all your hard earned money.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFKXiQEbOZA/VFzuVcce6mI/AAAAAAACGoY/xDeK4e_zWec/s1600/gracie-3a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YFKXiQEbOZA/VFzuVcce6mI/AAAAAAACGoY/xDeK4e_zWec/s1600/gracie-3a1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
Hopefully you will find a bit of charm in my rats and rabbits and other tinies and see potential for your own scenes and room settings. The stuffed things also go nicely in Blythe scenes if you aren't for the teeny tiny miniature stuff. <br />
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My plan for the weekend is to make a few dresses for the rat girls and maybe look into some things for the walls of my little room box. I haven't worked on putting together any faux paintings yet, and I think that might be fun. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H0L-OUlC1w/VFzuY-QW2nI/AAAAAAACGow/0J6ZMpOlW5U/s1600/melena-7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_1335265605"></span><span id="goog_1335265606"></span><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0H0L-OUlC1w/VFzuY-QW2nI/AAAAAAACGow/0J6ZMpOlW5U/s1600/melena-7a.jpg" height="400" width="392" /></a></div>
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I am inspired a little by the old-timey children's books with their illustrations of animals in little jackets and trousers. I want my little rat girls to be a little less countrified, and more city fancy, but the works of Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor certainly come to mind. <br />
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We are running into a cold snap here for the week, so staying inside seems again the thing to do. It won't be long before winter hits here, and even this morning we had a tiny dusting of snow, and still there are little flakes flitting around outside my window. Nothing sticking yet, but it won't be long. I hope this is a good weekend for you. Stay warm. Stay creative and always find time to play. <br />
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2078106569496056776.post-74367863782489054072014-11-03T10:48:00.001-05:002014-11-03T10:48:39.492-05:00The Hare Sisters are Dining Out<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9QtUaxm_W0/VFed1G3_4zI/AAAAAAACFlo/IbYbAP8shrM/s1600/11-3-hares-4a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x9QtUaxm_W0/VFed1G3_4zI/AAAAAAACFlo/IbYbAP8shrM/s1600/11-3-hares-4a1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I have set up my little rat dressmaker's shop now and it's time to
have some clients. The 3 hare sisters came in over the weekend and
wanted similar dresses in different colors, as they will be dining out,
and love to look the same, but prefer different colors. The hares are a
lovely shade of nut brown and they have long ears, making them a bit
more stately than the rats. They fit the same dresses and can sit in
the same chairs, but their ears take up more space than the little mouse
ears.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bsv735EEr8/VFedO3C11QI/AAAAAAACFlg/jhQk1UHL_Ek/s1600/hares-11-3-6a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bsv735EEr8/VFedO3C11QI/AAAAAAACFlg/jhQk1UHL_Ek/s1600/hares-11-3-6a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The 3 hare sisters, Rita Mae, Claudine and
Katrine have decided that they will choose cream, blue and pink as their
dress colors. The rats worked hard and gave each girl a lovely elegant
dining out dress, made from a satin devore of rayon and silk. The
bodice of the dresses have a layer of cream colored cotton lace and a bit of white silk
gauze at the neck, for a bit of fluffy frou-frou. The dresses have an underlayer
of the same silk gauze as a bit of petticoat.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OyztGyyyJHo/VFeiURc_6PI/AAAAAAACFmY/_R_v6BVPnoo/s1600/bluehare-11-3-5a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OyztGyyyJHo/VFeiURc_6PI/AAAAAAACFmY/_R_v6BVPnoo/s1600/bluehare-11-3-5a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Each girl was
given a head wrap to complement their lovely ears. No good French hare
would like to be out on the town without one. Keeps the breeze out of
the ears, and adds a lovely festive element.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyYGJTT6kik/VFeicLWlFaI/AAAAAAACFmg/0DOVScT7y98/s1600/creamhare-11-3-4a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyYGJTT6kik/VFeicLWlFaI/AAAAAAACFmg/0DOVScT7y98/s1600/creamhare-11-3-4a1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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The hare
sisters seem happy with their dresses. They are ready to go. The rats
had a busy day and the shop can be swept and the lights dimmed.<br />
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I trust you are finding creative things to do as well!<br />
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XOXO<br />
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Cindy<br />
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<br />CindySowershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02927110038762432342noreply@blogger.com2