AG bed set

This is our version of Felicity's four poster bed. We started with a wooden canopy bed from a really nice Maine craftsman (bought online through ebay) then proceeded to stain, varnish and cover it with fabrics.

My mom knitted this clever little rug out of ribbon yarn -- 2 skeins for which I really had no other plans -- and a center out afghan pattern. She stopped when she ran out of material and I think it's a perfect bed side rug for the dolls.

Ribbons, lace, more lace and pink roses. I think we're ready.

See you on the other side!

slapped back down to Les Cheries Land

A few days ago, Miss Loodyloo came up to me and asked if her Les Cheries Corolle doll could have some new clothes for christmas. Camille, aka Angel to the Loo, came to us woefully under dressed for winter in a pink and white ballet costume and while my mom had quickly knitted a few things for her, poor cold little Angel really needed a few more basics.
Of course, this Corolle was a French doll and there are very few places in the States that sell accessories for her here. I told the Loo to put it on her wish list and I'd see what I could do.



The first attempt was a polka dot red dress and it looks a little too Mrs. Beezus for me. I tried cutting it down for a cute tunic look but the Loo loved the dress and wouldn't hear of it. To salvage what I could, I tied on a ribbon sash and then went back to my doll workshop to reconfigure my working pattern.

In my second attempt, I reduced the width and used a scrap of interlock knit so it would stretch over her head (and I wouldn't have to bother with a back closure). The pants were a rough sketch but I found a bit of woven linen rescued from an old pair of my own pants. Not bad, I thought, and then I found my Smartwool scraps.

These were all made with socks that had lost a mate or had an irrepairable hole. Socks, I found, are PERFECT for 13 inch doll clothes -- they are wool and feel nice, the scale of the print works on tiny bodies, and the fabric stretches, both ways, for a close fit. Brilliant. I'm going to wear out more socks without feeling the least bit guilty, now that I know what I can do with them later.

And yeah, I totally made these faux suede boots. Pretty cool, don't ya think?

I can't wait for the Loo to open these in her stocking on christmas eve!

my colonial accessories

The AG Felicity doll has an optional accessories kit so I figured my dress should have one too. Included in my kit is an all purpose cotton mob cap with a rose colored ribbon to match her dress. I used elastic in the casing instead of traditional ribbon as I'm not going to spend most mornings tying up my kid's hat again and again.

Also included is a velvet drawstring bag. Those dresses didn't have pockets and my dress pattern isn't so authentic as to have pocket slits for a tied on pocket bag, so a little handbag it is. Fortunately, it matches her cape and bonnet too.

For those hot Virginia summers (and Vermont ones too like last year), we picked up a cedar wood fan from a sutler at the Ethan Allen Colonial Days Fair. It's delicate but hardly priceless and it smells heavenly when wafted through the air. The Loo will LOVE this.

The next item in the kit is a wooden cup and ball game, something a young colonial girl might have carried with her to pass the time. It's a physical challenge and should help with the beginnings of hand eye coordination. If she doesn't use it to bean the cat, that is.
Our game came from the Maine State Prison Store. Yep, you read that correctly. We stop by the Prison Store every time we're in the Mid Coast area. My husband has been trying to buy a certain boat kit for years now but they are always out of stock and they don't ship across state lines.

The AG kit has a lace handkerchief and, while I could have made one, we just called Gremma Loo for a vintage loaner. She came up with a gorgeous lace and linen square that beats the pants off Felicity's handkin and a few spares just in case they, ahem, get used.

Just a few more 18th century things to go and we'll be ready for the big day. How's everybody else doing this season?

AG horse stuff

One of Meme's gifts to the Loo is Penny, Felicity's horse. She came with a saddle and saddle blanket but we decided to skip the $60 cardboard stable set. Instead, I made Penny a horse blanket out of plaid and wool scraps.

Essentially, I draped the fabric over the horse and marked where I wanted it to fall, then cut it into a vague butterfly shape so that it would round nicely over the front and back.

The raspberry wool is left over from the Loo's O+S jumper and the plaid seemed appropriately horsey and christmasy. I sewed the silver button at the edge so that it, too, is reversible, with an elastic loop to make it easy to use.

The grain sacks are burlap scraps, hemp cord and wool stuffing.

Quick and simple but I think it dresses up the gift.

Any one know where to find a curry comb and brush in this size??

Loody's Paper Dolls sweater

We interrupt our regularly scheduled christmas crafting to bring you snaps of the adorable sweater my mom has just finished for Miss Loodyloo (coz, y'know, she's done with her gift knitting already, pbfttttttttttt!)

Yes, it sure is bright. Has it seared your retinas yet? The Loo is thrilled to bits with it.

I picked up the yarn, a fingering weight wool 2 ply, at Stonehedge Fiber Mill this summer in Michigan. It must be woolen spun as it's ethereal and light. Lovely stuff. I picked up some of their roving in hot pink too and it's slippery stuff to spin. I'd recommend just springing for the yarn.

The pattern is called 'Paper Dolls' by Kate Davies 'and ... um... mom didn't like it. Something about yoke decreases not being very well done. Ah well, it still is cute. Details on mom's Rav page...

AG little knits

Meme, of course, started early. First, there was a tiny shawl made from sock yarn scraps. The pattern is called 'American Girl Triangular Shawl with Eyelet'. Bang on, and free!

And next came the capes. These were the first Felicity clothes to sell out but we already had these made up anyway. The green is from an errant ball of chenille I had tucked away for the better part of 20 years and the christmas red is the leftover of Miss Loodyloo's Princess Sweater (which I've yet to show here). The pattern is 'Kit's Christmas Cape' and it is also free.

For those of you in the know, why yes, that is a Kirsten doll. The trouble with ebay is that it will get you into trouble if you spend too much time trawling for stuff. We now have the Loo's birthday presents all sorted, six months early. At least that gives me time to sew.

Felicity dress up

Full sized, full on, fancy dress-up dress for Miss Loodyloo's wish list.

Yes, I am that crazy.

I used McCall's 6139 and gritted my teeth through the nonsensical parts. Really? Sew the size 4 sleeve into a tiny tube and then sew an enormous tightly gathered ruffle on the end of it?? Surely, it would be easier to reverse those steps, I thought, and yes, ahem, it was...

It took most of the three yards of heavy weight cotton fabric and about another half yard for the fully lined bodice. That skirt is very full -- I could wrap it around me. Twice! That's... um.... a great deal of fabric.
I did get a great deal on it too as I paid less than $20 for all my materials, ribbon and lace included.
See, not so crazy...

I basted the hem at what I think is the right length and it's turned 3 times so we should get a few years of play from this project. My biggest fear is that the bodice will be too wide at the shoulders. She's a narrow kid. I'll keep a few safety pins on hand christmas morning, just in case.

Oh dear.... oh my.... I hope it fits....