Doll-worthy Reading

[I apologize for a duplicate post, if you also follow the Fashion Doll Review, but it's really good reading, and I think you should visit this site!]

If you love sewing for your dolls of all sizes (including BJDs!), be sure to check out Lori's blog, Sew Many Doll Clothes. She has great articles and fantastic photos, and her sewing is really cute! 

Her latest post includes photos of Berdine's Creedy new ballet cutie, Pepper-Mint. Pepper-Mint includes a ballerina costume, but Lori actually made her a real tutu with tights. She's just adorable. So go find her post and follow her blog!

Challenge seven - Mad WoMEN - Couture Doll

The contest entries for the second-to-last challenge, Mad Women, are up on the Couture Doll website. Again, bravo, designers! (I've really enjoyed watching each of the designers improve with each new challenge, as well.) There are 18 gorgeous entries, and here is this design's challenge:

Your challenge this week will be to design the perfect cocktail fashion for your model, who by the way will be wearing your design as she guest stars in an episode of the wildly popular TV series Mad Men, entitled, The Cocktail Party.

The guest judge is Steven Fraser from Dressmaker Details. Scores are usually posted within a week. The final challenge, Around the World in One Fashion, guest judge Rudi Teruel, has also been posted, and is due January 3, 2010:

Like Susie by R&D Fashion dolls, your model is a world traveler. On her arrival at her destination, it appears that her luggage went to Hoboken instead of with her. Now she must use what she is wearing to make a transition from day to night, but she needs that transition to reflect the city she is visiting. Please choose your city and don't forget to tell us in your description what city it is. You should also give the judges a good description of how your style fits your city. As this is the last challenge this is your time to really show us YOUR style.

Challenge six - The Scorecard!

The scores are in for the Audrey Hepburn challenge for the Couture Doll design challenge, and I'm thrilled to announce that my friend Jen Eugley placed in the top four for this week! I have to say, I loved her outfit, it really fit the theme, and it was exceptionally cute, as well.

Congratulations, Jen!

Now on to challenge seven -- Mad Men.

Couture Doll Challenge 6 photos are posted!

And I think Audrey Hepburn would be proud. Week six's challenge was called Inspired by Audrey: the designers were challenged to take inspiration from the classic dresser and actress Audrey Hepburn. The challenge wasn't to recreate one of Audrey's outfits, but instead to create something she would have loved to wear.

This week's guest judge is Randall Craig, who uses Audrey as a muse himself. You can check out the amazing results at Couture Doll's website. Great job this week, designers!

Couture Doll Challenge 5 photos are posted

The Couture Doll Challenge 5 photos are posted on the website. This challenge's theme was On the Red Carpet, and the guest judge is Jim Farone. As of this morning, no scores have yet been given, but I do see quite a few lovely entries! Swing by and check out the competition for some really wonderful and unique outfits. Wonderful job, designers!

Hand-sewn Barbie dresses

For my first post, I thought I'd share two dresses that my daughters made last week. Lauren, who is five, designed the one modeled by Birthstone Barbie Amethyst. She used fabric from my quilting stash, 100% cotton, in a tiny checkerboard print. My friend and designer/seamstress Jen Eugley, a fashion student, was visiting for the day, and she helped Lauren make a sketch first, then also made the gown from scratch--without a pattern.

Kate, my eight year-old, chose to do a Princess Peach-inspired look. She drew her own sketch and chose the fabrics, also from my quilting stash. Jen helped modify the design, assisted with cutting out the dress (also without a pattern), and then helped Kate with sewing and finishing. The model is a June Birthstone Barbie, Pearl, with a gorgeous new hairdo by Elizabeth. (Kate's original model for Princess Peach was actually March, who is blonde and blue-eyed, but I couldn't find her for this photo shoot.)

I was quite impressed to see both dolls dressed in an afternoon. I don't think an iron was ever turned on, and the majority of the work was done by machine. Most of the work the girls could do by themselves--or at least, Jen was gracious enough to let them think they did it themselves. It was very sweet, and the outfits came out very cute. The girls are so proud of themselves!