Keeping up the challenges.....

As I mentioned last weekend, I've set myself a challenge to sew something using patterns that I've not used before.  Well I've really been busy this week and although some of my 'challenges' have not exactly involved new patterns, they have involved modifications to those patterns.  For example, I made a sleeveless gillet for Dee's Elfine (The Sasha Village blog) and where the pattern calls for the gillet to be made unlined in knit fabric, I decided to fully line mine in lilac and white gingham and make the gillet itself in deep lilac corderoy.   I had to do quite a bit of it by hand but am very happy with the finished result, and so I believe is Elfine, so that's the main thing! :)  Here is the gillet being modelled by Hope, my Kaye Wiggs girl. 

And here are the details of the jeans....because I know it wouldn't be 'fitting' to ask HRH Princess Elfine to show us her bum ;)....they have 5 working pockets, opening front fly, leather tag on the waistband and red tag on the pockets, as well as tiny metal 'rivets' like real jeans have.  I don't generally add belt loops as they add too much bulk at the waist.  And please ignore the printing on the leather tag...not good...but once I'd put it on, there was no getting it off again. :(

Another challenge this weekend was to make a pair of boots for my Kidz n Cats dolls.  This pattern is designed for the American Girl dolls so is a little bit wide in the leg for the Kidz, however, I think with thick socks or boot toppers, they work very well.  I used red faux suede for these.

Sian (2014 Grace) gets to wear them first as she doesn't have any other footwear that remotely matches her outfit....

Earlier in the week I also finished a couple of outfits for another friend in the UK, these are for the Little Darlings and the ski pants are another pattern that I'd not used before but adapted from a different pattern.  Finn is modelling them beautifully for me.....(you'll also notice that she's trying a couple of different wigs....what do you think?)

Sewing aside, I also did a bit more work on the eye sockets of my other Kidz n Cats girl, Elise from 2013.  I wanted her to have these eyes but they are oval, flat backed, glass and wouldn't sit right in the sockets, I have now got them to fit perfectly, so I'm very happy with that as I think these glass eyes are much nicer and more natural looking than those I'd previously used.

And finally some photos of both Kidz girls together, Elise on the left with Sian.....they are the best of friends :)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you all have a lovely week :)  

Please welcome Kidz n Cats Grace!

Well it was only a matter of time before I brought a Kidz n Cats doll to live at my house, thank you to Dee, Jenni and Jessica for enabling me!!! :)

So on Thursday, Grace arrived from My Doll Best Friend in the UK, she got here really quickly because I only ordered her on Sunday!  I could see straight away that she had potential and thought I'd just change her wig, maybe I'd tone down her lips a little as they were quite pink!  However, never content to just do the bare minimum, I ended up giving her a full makeover.

Firstly I removed her wig, it wasn't a bad wig but it was a little bit shiny and 'synthetic' for my liking, so it had to go.  I already had this Monique Gold Roxie in mind for her, the colour is Nearly Black and the size is 8/9 inches.   Then I decided to tone down her lips.....but I thought I might as well add some blush....OK, maybe I'd remove the whole faceup and start over!!!  So off came the original paint, leaving the tiniest trace of her eyebrows so that I could redo them in just the right place! 

Next I thought "maybe it would be nice if she had glass eyes!"   So I cut through the 'pate' on the top of her head, removed her head from her body,  and cut into the little 'pockets' that hold the original acrylic eyes in place.  I removed those 'pockets' altogether, just leaving enough for the eyes to 'sit' on.  The eyelashes came off with the removal of the acrylic eyes.  Once the eyes and lashes were removed, along with all the original makeup, I sprayed  her face with a coat of Mr Super Clear Flat, this gives a nice base surface to work on and to build up the colour.  And that was it, I gave her a new look using artist quality chalk pastels and watercolour pencils and I sprayed MSC between stages as it helps the pastels to adhere to the vinyl.   Now all she needs are clothes of her own!

I hope you like her....I think her name might be Sian, but not entirely sure yet!