Julie Designs

• New Design Madness

  2008 Apr 27

  So I joined Swap-bot.com ( www.swap-bot.com) and began anew and exciting foray into Swaps. if you have never swapped before, its fun! packages to give and get. Its teh ultimate christmas/Chanukah all year long!
  
  anyway I never made a Dotee doll. I had heard of them but never made one.
  So it took a woman and her doll she sent me to help me make mine. But mine are a bit different.
  I make mine with a lining, sometime fragrance fill and my face is not typical dotee on my dolls. As you can see by the picture on the front cover.
  Making a Dotee is really easy and lots of fun. Its a perfect doll to use with girl scouts, even make a Brownie or Girl scout dotee!
  
  Dotees make great tree ornaments, gift tags and car buddies.....
  You dont nend much fabric usually a 4"X6" piece of any type of cotton, blend fun fur, polar fleece is all thats needed........... from there its up to you!
  julie
  

• 2008 Feb 27

  Its anew month and boy have I been busy. here you have a chance to take a sneek peek at a forthcoming book on " whittling the doll".
  The book is a a work in progress. But here is a finished image of her!
  the doll began as an experiment in trying my hand at carving to enter into the local fair. It turned out to be a finger busier like no other.
  
  Hand whittled Dolls
  Finished ready to dress with pattern or blanks that you stain paint and finish!
  These dolls are unique as they combine Grodernthal, Penny wooden and Queen Anne elements with pure Appalachian whittling!
  
  There are 2 different styles to choose from:
  Full doll
  ½ doll
  
  The full doll is complete as shown here in the unfinished kit. Body, arms, legs, sand paper sheet, sanding boards, Copper wire, basic undergarment, apron and mob cap pattern and 1 yard muslin for undergarments.
  You will need to supply polymer or wig for hair, stain oil for body, varnish, needle nose pliers and paint. You make the doll as you like, I provide the basics.
  
  ½ doll is the shorter one is like the old china head dolls. You get shoulder plate head, arms, legs, body pattern, copper metallic thread (to simulate copper wire on the body!)
  You will need to supply, polyfill, paints, stain, thread and polymer or wig. You can read more about them on etsy.
  prices have yet to be set. so stay tuned to this area for more information on purcahse and classes!
  
  

• 2008 Feb 19

  This doll was started because it was an itch. My father had some balsa for a Stinson Reliant, but that never got built, and before the mice at up all the wood, I snagged the balsa strip (which was 1 inch by 1 inch by 36 inches)
  What got me started was my hubby and daughter had watched a Heartland series episode on Polly the Dollmaker and I have some Foxfire books that have sections on whittling. While I had often attempted it before, this was the first time I actually relaxed and succeeded. When they told me how she did it while she was talking, it finally dawned on me that you just chip away a little at a time, and not carve it out. Well.. that was easy.
  So I finished the first one, working her hair to Jane Austen pride and Prejudice. So her hair evokes that time. Her dress will also be of that time period.
  This doll and her manuscript are currently be shopped to magazines. And the book will be finished soon, and will combine both the Queen Anne/Charlotte and Wood work. There is a foam and cloth larger version that I am working on but that will be another book
  
  

• New ideas

  2008 Jan 21

  So.. I got for the holidays what I had been looking at for years. Hubby bought for me two knit looms.
  So what do you do with knit looms? Knit. And its a whole lot easier than knitting with sticks, though I have to admit the gauge is a bit wider than with needles. But thats of no concern, since we have made our own fine knit looms. Project coming soon.
  
  I am working on some mummies, bunnies, bears and dolls on the loom, which is a unique perspective. I am even experimenting with puppets!
  
  And speaking of puppets, Larger is better and hopefully I will have a foam instructional and doll instructional right here at the blog to give you a treat.
  anyway I have some other things ot work on.. just thought Id give you all a heads up on whats up and coming!
  check in frequently as the patterns will expand!
  
  
  The BIG BOOK OF STUFF TO MAKE is on it's way!
  

• New ideas

  2008 Jan 21

  So.. I got for the holidays what I had been looking at for years. Hubby bought for me two knit looms.
  So what do you do with knit looms? Knit. And its a whole lot easier than knitting with sticks, though I have to admit the gauge is a bit wider than with needles. But thats of no concern, since we have made our own fine knit looms. Project coming soon.
  
  I am working on some mummies, bunnies, bears and dolls on the loom, which is a unique perspective. I am even experimenting with puppets!
  
  And speaking of puppets, Larger is better and hopefully I will have a foam instructional and doll instructional right here at the blog to give you a treat.
  anyway I have some other things ot work on.. just thought Id give you all a heads up on whats up and coming!
  check in frequently as the patterns will expand!
  
  
  The BIG BOOK OF STUFF TO MAKE is on it's way!
  

• 2008 Sneek Peek

  2008 Jan 06

  So whats this with us being 26.. its true. Back in 1981 it began with writing for Doll World by House of White Birches. Without the staff and editors there I don't think I would have ever done as well as I have.
  So I am launching the doll that started my entire venture into the doll realm. The TVA Good Luck doll. It's not spectacular, it's not elaborate. It's a rag cloth doll that you can do anything with!
  She is simple and lovable. You can make her mini or very maxi!
  So heres a list of what upcoming this year.
  
  I love model magic, and for over a year I have been working on Queen Anne doll made from this compound, completely jointed. she awaits painting and a wig. While the book was written, I wanted to proof before I actually sold it. It accompanies a class that has been anticipated for over a year.
  
  TVA good luck doll.......... Available for St. Patrick's Day! This will be just a few pages of pattern and written instructions. NO elaborate images.. yet.
  Hardware store dolls. The name says it all.. coming in June
  Ancient dolls.... this is a massive work.. available in all formats
  
  I am expanding into general crafts as well. You cant live on dolls alone. With all of my ribbon winning apron, bonnet and potholder and other crafts, i thought why not begin writing these up as well.
  So as you can see and anticipate its going to be a banner year. And to top it all off CDDM will be going into print! you can order it from here and have it in hard copy in your hands.
  

• Its time to think about the Fair!

  2007 Dec 09

  So here it is December and I am already thinking about entering the local and state fairs.
  Many people don’t know that they can actually participate in what is considered agriculture fairs or state and their county fairs. Many didn’t even know they exist.
  There is an entire Database devoted to these fairs.
  http://www.breedersworld.com/fairs.html
  http://www.expocentral.com/agriculture/us_fairs/US_Fairs.html
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:State_fairs
  these will give you an idea of what is out there.
  
  What many people don’t know is that they can PARTICIPATE, win ribbons and in some cases cash!
  These events are called exhibitions. They are usually home centered and involve arts and crafts, cooking, metalsmith and anything that can be handmade. Just google your county and your own state fair to find the ones that are coming up!
  
  Can you imagine growing something and winning a ribbon for your effort? Bragging rights ladies and gentlemen, ribbons in a shadow box displayed proudly on your wall
  
  
  
  
  
  
  When we began 7 years ago, we never thought it would be so fulfilling! Last year we came home with 75 ribbons! And made about 250 dollars.
  This year g however I am starting NOW. I have a list of items I want to make and enter and have time to make backups if anything happens.
  This year I am entering over 100 items in three fairs. 70 of which are in one fair alone.
  Of course if you schedule your entries just right the same entries can go into numerous fairs!
  
  So while you are looking about. Consider trying your hand at something like this for a fair entry….. If it's your first attempt don’t be afraid.. I know many of these designs already won ribbons, cause I designed entered and won the ribbons for them!
  
  
  
  

• Drowsy is 43

  2007 Dec 09

  Every culture in the world has dolls.
  And the older the dolls that have survived the more I see nothing has changed.
  Everyone at one time or another in their life has had a doll of some sort. A plain rag doll, realistic style doll. Teddy bear, bunny, puppy etc, Everyone.
  
  I have one that just celebrate her birthday on October 11. I got her in 1964, an original Drowsy. Since I am 47, that makes her 43. She has never been away from me at all. She has visited beaches, mountains, went skiing, slept with me in hospital, traveled on airplanes etc.
  Sure she has gone through a multitude of bodies but each one is just the s1ame as the original, just different fabrics.
  So it began back in 1981. My journey into designing dolls. My father, of blessed memory, was the catalyst. Bringing home a copy of Doll World with Pinochhio on the cover and I literally read every world off of the page.
  Then he brought home another issue, to which I asked my mom at the time if she knew how to make a doll. She was straight forward and the only doll she ever made was Drowsy's body. So off I went to experiment and learn on my own.
  
  I now have a complete cloth drowsy! She is so cute.
  My mind though has wandered into other areas. While searching the net I found some dolls that I just have to duplicate or replicate. They are in museums so I will never see them. And its like potatoe chips. Once you begin you can't stop!
  
  
  
  

• 18th Century felt doll. Model Magic doll and Faux Wood doll

  2006 Oct 16

  
  
  I simply fell in love with 18th century clothes, thanks to a site called costumers manifesto. I was taking a calss wehn we got to teh 18th century Robe La Francaise and i just forgot about the class and designed a few dolls.
  
  These dolls have a class I am developing.
  I decided to make the same doll in a number of materials because she is just so adorable and detailed.Felt, Model Magic and Faux wood give and design an ability to grow.
  I started with doing research that became the base of the dolls.
  The dolls eventually will be about 25 inches tall, regardless of which materials.
  What makesthese designs so unique is materials for teh dress. So the doll may be plain, teh ress will be enrustedon some, quilte don others and full of lace yet on another.
  A problem that I had was with the polymer getting fragile at the joints. But carving and reinforceing the holes has helped teh design eb more durable. I am experimenting with a better joint thats more stable and useable.
  
  The book will ahve all three projects and teh class will also feature a step by step graduating approach. begining with the felt and working towards faux wood.The one textbook will cover all three classes.