Dear Jane and other musings...

Hi All,

Yes, it's been a while but it hasn't been because I haven't had anything to write, on the contrary I have been super busy!  We had a garage sale, hubby was offered a job and almost took it which would have landed us on the east coast.  We do want to go there but the job made us realize just how ready we were not.  Too much stuff to go through, the house is half painted on the inside, the list goes on.  So we need to start getting ready.  

I have been working on various projects including make an adorable nightgown for my Disney dolls.  I used the flannel I showed you last time and it is really nice stuff.  This also has started me on another avenue of learning, how to take good pictures.  Hopefully as time goes by you will see an improvement as I learn more and more.

One of the things I have been working on quilting wise is Dear Jane.  To date I have a little over 40 blocks done and 7 of the triangles done.  Unlike a lot of ladies I did not want to wait until the end to do all those triangles.  It seems that they either don't do them or it brings the quilt to a grinding halt because they are a lot different than doing those little squares.  Here is Left Side 12th, A-8 and Right Side 8th.

 

I am not using Civil War fabrics, but I did pick a palette of blue, green, red, gold, purple, turquoise, black and brown.  My other requirement was that the fabric have a little bling, or metallic gold in it.  I love bling in my fabric.  I may have to change this though because I am having a difficult time finding a lot of different purple and turquoise with gold metallic.  I will post pictures from time to time of my blocks.  I am not going to do tutorials, there are lots of places that are doing those already.

Have a great day, and do something you love!

Susan

Fabric and Wigs and Laces..Oh My!!

Hi All,

Well it's been over a week since I have posted because, well, I haven't created very much.  But I did want to share with you some goodies I have gotten since we last met.

First, my daughter and I went to the Swap Meet here in Ogden, it's small but sometimes we can still find nice stuff, walk around in the sun and take in the world.  So I bought a nice stack of flannel from Lanz of Salzburg, the company that makes the yummy nightgowns.  I just love the colors and cannot wait to put some of my dolls in their new nightgowns (After I make them, of course).

 My Second purchase is off of Ebay.  I know Ebay has their issues but overall I like buying off them and my daughter and I do sell off them too. Don't worry this is not a buy my stuff blog nor will it turn into one but we do sell under the same name - RecycleBliss. (My shameful plugging for the day)  I bought a group of wigs from "hepme101".  Very nice person and has great prices on wigs.  Here's my BFC ink doll rewigged.

Don't you just love her?  And darn if that isn't a good photo too...

My last purchase showed up yesterday and I bought it off Facebook.  I just discovered that Facebook has a HUGE amount of groups selling stuff.  Go check it out, several fabric groups, crazy quilting supplies, Victoria's Secret stuff, etc.  Now they are not secure like Ebay so you purchase at your own risk, however, if you use PayPal you at least can get your money back if the transaction goes bad.
So here's just a small sampling of the laces I bought.  I went a little crazy with these as you can see from the pictures.  I was just so sick of going to the big fabric stores and seeing the same old stuff.  So I bought these off of Jerry Foster(Fabric Jerry) and can vouch for him as a good seller/person.  Over 110 laces - 3 yards each $100, which included shipping.  Now these are nice laces!  I played with them and organized most, all day yesterday.  So pretty!  They go from 6" down to 1/4".  Here's just an example:
 

 These are all the ones in a big tub and the ones left that I haven't done.  All of them are quality laces.  He also sells them individually by the yard.

 Now, I am not getting a thing for telling you about these sellers.  I just like to pass along good (or bad) experiences with sellers, companies etc.  Knowledge is power!

See you again soon,

Susan

Rapunzel Revisited.....

Hi All,
Well I am learning about all this, blogging, picture taking, etc.  And after I thought about, ok, obsessed about, the pictures from my last post I decided to retake them.  My original decision was that the blue background would bring out the black and white dress and show off Rapunzel's wig.  Instead she had an oily looking face.  So I retook and added a prop for interest.  I didn't think it would make that much difference but wow:

She looks so much better!  I used a different background fabric and grabbed a candle holder that I bought my mom (thanks mom) a few years ago for Mother's Day.

 I also wanted to show you one of my Cinderella's with her eye paint mostly removed.  Boy, was that a job.  It comes off nothing like Barbie's eye paint.  The wig, well, that's not staying on but I just wanted to show you that too, it's for an Asian Disney doll that I have not found yet.  So if anyone want to donate to me a Jasmine, Mulan or Pocahontas I can start right away.  Just imagine the wig with no little white bows and some bling in her hair, a kimono, proper shoe attire, etc...

  

And here's my baby when she wants attention, subtle isn't she?

Thanks for letting me share, see you soon..

Susan

Unveiling of Rapunzel...

Hi,

I hope your Memorial Weekend was everything you wanted it to be.  Me, I opt for quiet.  So aside from fighting the masses at Savers on Sunday, I got my quiet.  Savers had their big Memorial Day Sale on Monday but if you joined Savers rewards or club or whatever they are calling it, you can shop on Sunday and still get the discount.  So my sweetheart of a daughter and I went to 4 Savers between here and Salt Lake City.  The last one was really a stretch for me, I am not the mad shopper I used to be.

Anyway, a while back I promised to show you my Disney Animator Rapunzel doll.

There was a Rapunzel doll that I found on Pinterest and just loved the Black and White dress on her, so I used that to inspire me.  I wanted to finish the white stockings and shoes before I showed her off but I need to get those a bit more perfected.  

I am so happy with this doll.  I did not have a pattern so I made it all up as I went along. I have masters now for all the dress pieces and since I have a ton of ideas in my head I want to make patterns so I can mix and match as I go.  All of the lace was hand sewn and those little black dots are black flowers with a bead center.

I should have taken a picture of this poor doll before.  She was a mess and no amount of Downy helped her hair so she has a wig.  Now I understand why the 1st edition Rapunzel is so much money.  The tinsel Disney put in her hair is horrible!  
I have not found another Rapunzel but I have found another Cinderella and just removed her eye paint today so I can practice painting eyes.

See you again soon!

Susan

My Bargello Quilt...

Hi All!

How's everyone's pre-Memorial Day weekend going?  It's been pretty rainy here.  I know we need it but 3 days in a row?  Gimme a break.  So I did not get finished with my next Disney Doll but I did want to share my Ormen de lange quilt.  The pattern is by Kameleon Quilts from Norway.  I have had the pattern for several years but never took the plunge.  I am so happy with the way it turned out!

Hubby is doing the honors because it is a monster of a quilt. 

See you again soon.

Those Darn Disney Dolls...Gotta Love Them

Hello All,

Hoping your 2015 is going well.  I have been so busy but I wanted to share my newest obsession, Disney Animator Dolls!  These dolls are just too cute.  They came out a few years ago and I am just jumping on the bandwagon but better late than never.  I currently have 7 of the dolls.
 

I don't want them all but I still want to add a few more.  The exciting part is that they have started showing up at the thrift shops.
This one is Cinderella but her hair was so trashed I had to shave her head.  I have done re-roots in the past, but was not ready to attempt this now and the head of these Disney dolls are larger than ones I have done in the past.  So I wigged her!

This is a Monique Wig style called Jeannie.  It is size 12/13.  I feel like this makes her little face shine so much.  Now that she has this super hairdo she just needs an equally superb outfit.  I have a different thrift store Disney doll to show you in a few days, I just need to add some finishing touches.


Hope you are having a great day!

aroseplanter, if you email me at saam109@yahoo.com, we can talk about wigs.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Hi All,

Well, Easter is upon us and well our family is kind of all over the place right now.  Not that that is bad but I miss the traditional Easter weekends we used to have.  Life is ever changing and some things you must go with, it's up to you to decide...

With this crazy weather we are still having I thought I needed a little spring, so I dug deep to find my bunny wallhanging and I guess he is still hibernating because I could not find him.  So I  found one of my favorites and hung it up and I do feel a little spring in my heart every time I see it:

It looks a little off in the picture but it hangs straight on the wall.  I sewed this a while ago from a pattern out of a magazine.  I had done this other wall hanging and got carried away collecting greens for it, you have never done that I imagine, LOL.  So I pieced this trying to use up some of those greens.   The background is 1" finished squares and the flowers are fusible applique and blanket stitched.

DD and I are going to go to the flea market and to garage sales this weekend and if I find a treasure I will be sure to share it with you.  Maybe I can get DD to post some of her fantastic purse finds too.

Talk to you soon and be sure to do something you LOVE today.

Susan