Summer Nights Sweater

A quick post about what I have been crafting the past month or so - doll sweaters!

I found an 18" doll sweater pattern on line and using different yarn thicknesses and different hook sizes, I have turned out sweaters that fit 18" dolls, Wellie Wisher/GlitterGirlz size dolls,  Little Darling dolls, and finally a size that fits InMotion Girl Lia by Ruby Red Galleria.

The secret to adapt the pattern down was to find a Superfine/#1 size yarn and to use a 2mm hook. This sweater is done in Summer Nights - Treasure Island. Such a pretty yarn. It even has metallic sparkle in it. I should look for a mermaid tail pattern, it would look awesome with this yarn.

I will post photos of the other sweaters soon.

Easter Decorations 2021

 I have started decorating for Easter. This year, I decided to incorporate some new dolls I have acquired over the past couple of months.

Look at that clown! He is a cloth doll made by Priscilla Arkoin, an artist and former member of Dollology who passed away March 2020. He is really something else. I fell in love when I first saw him. And then I was lucky enough to win him in a doll club raffle.

Standing next to him is an Annalee bunny ballerina, a Mid-Eastern doll (I think), and an Eastern European doll (most likely). These three dolls were part of the raffle lot that the clown was in.

I am at a loss at what country this little doll represents. I am guessing that it is some where like Greenland or another cold climate country.

The African doll is also from the same lot as the other dolls. The china doll is another story. She was given to me by a work friend. The friend's mother, who died about 9 years ago, made the doll in the 1970s. I have decide to name the doll Jennie, in honor of the friend.

This past year has been so stressful, that I have not been posting much recently. Hopefully I will get back in the posting groove soon.

Harriet Tubman

In honor of African-American History Month, I decided to open and set up my Harriet Tubman Child Light Play Set.

I won the play set as part of a silent auction group of items from Dorchester County at a Maryland Library Association Conference years ago.

Harriet Tubman was born, a slave, in Dorchester County, Maryland, around March, 1822.

In 1849, she escaped to Philadelphia, PA. Soon after, she returned to Maryland to help others escape slavery. She continued to lead slaves to freedom and then served the Union Army during the Civil War, and in the process aided in freeing more slaves. 

Below, you can see everything that came in the play set.

A slave quarters - based on an actual slave quarters on the Hermitage Plantation in Chatham County, Georgia. It is made out of cardboard and should probably be left put together, so that the connecting tabs do not rip or bend.

A figure of a woman carrying a child. In the above photo, she is at the slave quarters, still in slavery. Below, she is being spirited away to freedom by Harriet Tubman in a donkey drawn cart.

A roadside shelter and fire-pit is included, as is a dog.

Here, our fugitives are taking a much needed rest break, before continuing on the road to freedom.

The final items the set contains are a Freedom Quilt, and a small book, The Story of Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman, born a slave, liberator of slaves, spy and soldier of the Union Army, suffragist, and philanthropist, died in 1913, when she was 93 years old.

 

Bebe of the Lollipop Girls

I received a really cool Christmas gift from a friend -Bebe, a Lollipop Girls doll by Jan McLean.

She is totally rocks with her bright green hair and matching boots.

The doll is manufactured by Unimax and is from 2012.

As you can see, she needs a little help with her hair to get it to match her promotional picture. Over the years, the glue on the side of her head has given up, so she has white marks where the hair used to be glued down.

Plus, her hair needs to be spiked up. But I totally love her. Her face is so lovely and she is just too much fun.

Happy Holidays 2020

 Happy Holidays!

Be like Evi, and enjoy a sedate, socially distanced holiday season. (Alcohol optional.)

Thanksgiving 2020

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours.

I am thankful for a loving family.

I am thankful for a family of friends.

I am thankful for the joy that cats bring to my life.

I am thankful that dolls can bring so many different people together.

And I am thankful that my loved ones have stayed healthy during this difficult time.

Stay safe, and enjoy the holiday.

Miss Unity Paper Doll

A couple of years ago, I received this paper doll set as a door prize.

It is a Miss Unity paper doll, originally from 1989 (the 40th anniversary of UFDC), that was re-released in 1999 for the 50th anniversary of UFDC.

She is by Peggy Jo Rosamund.

She has two outfits - the Miss Unity outfit, in white.

And a green dress under a tan coat and hat.

Not being a paper doll collector, I would like to pass her on to someone who would appreciate her before I add any more wrinkles to the doll or outfits.

If would like to sell her for $15.00 - including shipping (U.S. only).

If you are interested, please let me know in the comments.