As it closes...

Well, it's been a long time since I last posted - my apologies. This past year has been a struggle & keeping up a blog has been low on my priorities. Hopefully the coming months will see a change in that.

Gran's passing over back in January has cast a shadow over these past few months & I've been under a cloud of mild depression. What with the time I've had to take off from working, I've been feeling under an immense amount of pressure to keep on top of everything & make ends meet, which has compounded my bluesy feelings.

I've been feeling in a reflective mood the last couple of days, taking stock of where I've been & looking at where I want to go. Not totally surprising, as if one were to follow the pagan calendar, Hallowe'en/Samhain marks the end of one year & the beginnging of the next. Me personal spiritual beliefs are a mish-mash - I'm one of those who can see the truths in all the beiefs & religions, though none seem quite the right fit for me, so I do my own personal thing which keeps me in tune as best I can with the universe.

I feel like I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with work...I'm almost caught up with commissions & will be fully so by the time it comes to leave for my Christmas hols. It's a really good feeling, and a huge weight off my shoulders. The weight lifting is allowing me to look towards the future, too, to new styles of dolls & new techniques to learn.

For some reason, I've become completely entranced by the Japanese kimono & the looks of the geisha/maiko/oiran & have been spending hours researching construction, patterns, fabrics, history of kimono, haistyling & kansashi, the hair ornaments. The biggest obstacle is finding things in the right sort of scale & if one cannot, then one has to figure out how to make the things. Thank goodness for sites such as youtube that have videos on tsunami kansashi, the folding of fabric into flower shapes for the hair ornaments. I'm not aiming for perfect historical renditions, as that's not my thing...it will be my take on it all, but to imitate, one should have as thorough as possible an understanding of that which one is imitating.

Making It Work

The idea for this latest creation came to me a couple of weeks ago, when I was in my local fabric store looking at trims, specifically one that consisted of tiny rag pieces of black, white & grey tulle. I designed the whole look around this trim and was really excited about it. Of course when I went back to the store, it was gone. So, to quote Mr. Gunn, I had to "make it work".

The closest thing I could find was some ostrich feather trims - a black one, a white one and a white with black stripes. I made a small, yoked petticoat with tulle, then attached the feather trim to the yoke. The feathers were too long to be left as was, so I went through and curled them all (the same way one curls ribbon), as you can see in the pics above. I'm not sure quite yet if I want to take them shorter or leave them as is, but that can be decided upon later.

I've decided that the collar is too big - quoting Mr. Gunn again it's a "lot of look" - so that will be redone into something thinner. One of the main obtacles with the jacket was figuring out how it could be removable yet be worn by a "hand-on-hip" Silkstone...I really wanted that particular body pose as it exudes to much 'tude, but the thumb sticks out so much, regular sleeves won't fit over, unless they opening is left very large, which wouldn't have worked at all. So I came up with the solution of not hemming the sides below the elbow, instead lining and sewing the side seams of the lining & fabric together - they will be secured by loops and buttons - I have some tiny black freshwater pearls to use for that. The pouffiness of the upper sleeve also worked for the thumb issue - I'm really pleased how that turned out...my first time doing that. If you're not sure how it's done, all you do is take your regular sleeve pattern piece, cut it in to strips of equal size, lay them down on whatever you use to make patterns, space the pieces apart equally, then draft the new pattern from that outline. Easy :)

I'm painting later tonight, so no more sewing for today, so the collar will be fixed tomorrow, hopefully have her all finished by the end of the week, if the Swarovski crystals I ordered arrive in time...

More 'Hello Dolly' patterns

I used the #126 pattern again, this time in a gold silk/lurex blend...I learnt from the first version and am a little more pleased with the gold version. I'm not sure that it's one I'll use a lot, though. The gown in the foreground is another 'Hello Dolly' pattern which needed a fair bit of tweeking...the first version had the bodice turn out too wide at the sides and not long enough, whilst the skirt part was also not long enough. The cummerbund was also not long enough, so what you see is the second draft, after I tweeked the pattern pieces. Me gusta mucho.

Helly Dolly Boutique pattern #126

My first attempt at a 'Hello Dolly Boutique' pattern. I'm pleased with the result and don't regret the investment. This is the "Side Draped Halter Cocktail Dress", though you can't see much of the side draping due to the panel, but that's not a great loss as the side draping effect gets rather lost on a 1/6 scale...I believe the woman who makes the patterns takes vintage patterns for human clothes and scales them down.

In Memoriam: Audrey Mabel Dunford

For those of you who heard about my Grandmother's passing in January, I wanted to share a picture of her and I, along with the tribute I read at her funeral service.


"I’ve hawed and hummed and hummed and hawed over how best to pay tribute to Gran. It’s been a daunting task, trying to encapsulate 97 years of a life well lived in such a short space of time. I’ve come to the conclusion that instead of struggling, I’m better off reaching our for a bit of help, so I’ll be reading some words from others who have gone before me, starting with the lady herself. The first excerpt is from her diary, dated January 5th, 1980

“How ridiculous it all seems, as I very much doubt if this will ever be read – we seem to be on the brink of nuclear war, but who knows? I feel so concerned for my lovely family with such a future. We (I’m guessing Granny & Grandpa) have both had a good life, considering everything, especially the horror of the Second World War. I never asked God to spare me, after all, who am I to be let off from suffering, but to give me the courage to bear suffering.”

The next passage is from a scarp of paper in her diary - I’m not exactly sure when it was written, but I’d guess sometime shortly after she moved to Needham.

“Things I am still able to do: Write letters, play Patience, keep myself clean and well fed, clean my flat, do a little gardening, clean windows, except those damn silly kitchen windows, needlework, enjoy reading and television, cook, swear and fight with my tongue, flirt, smile and enjoy life and my sense of humour keeps me alive, so perhaps I should stop laughing. Keep adding my monies up, love shopping, but not very often, make a very nice marmalade, be compassionate. One thing I miss very much is to sit in front of a real fire, such company when on your own & some poor souls haven’t a bed or roof over their heads.”

In some ways, I think that captures, in a nutshell, how I see Gran. At times, it’s easy for me to forget that she was human, with human strengths and weaknesses. At times, she borders on a mythical, mystical being, something so much larger than a human presence, but I guess that’s due to the love I felt emanating from her, something that can cross oceans, space, time and death. Thinking of and being with Gran always did, and still does, make me feel safe and secure, that all was well in the world and I could forget all my troubles. I feel that’s one of the greatest gifts a human can give another. I’ll quote Gran’s favourite author Dickens, from the ‘Pickwick Papers’,

“The consciousness that we possess the sympathy and affection of one being when all others have deserted us--is a hold, a stay, a comfort, in the deepest affliction, which no wealth could purchase, or power bestow.”

Gran has left us all a cornucopia of other gifts, with which to remember her and with which to honour her memory. Number one, I think, would have to be her wonderful, slightly twisted and perverse sense of humour, which I’d attribute to her Irish father and the difficult, troubled upbringing she had. I know it’s something we all share, and most other folks I know don’t quite get it. I always relish the thought of getting together with my family and then cherish those happy hours for months and years thereafter.

The other major gift she has bequeathed us, I think, would have to be her love of creating – both needlecrafts and cooking. Gran’s own maternal Grandmother was a Court Dressmaker and in turn, Gran was a whizz with needlecrafts. She made her own clothes, teddy bears (including knitting and sewing clothing for them), musical dolls, fairies for Christmas trees and much more. I’ll always remember Gran’s grapefruit marmalade and her millionaire’s shortbread, above all else…I guess I’ve inherited Gran’s sweet-tooth too. So to honor her memory, next time you create something beautiful or cook something sinfully delicious, think of her and thank her.

I won’t ramble on any longer, but I’d like to finish by reading a poem, a line of which I read in Gran’s diary, amongst some of her favourite quote and sayings.

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way, which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner.
All is well."



I love you, Gran.

Mademoiselle Edith

Welcome to my first OOAK offerings of 2008! I've been very busy with reroot commissions, in addition to everything else that happened, but it's good to be back in the swing of things. I'm thrilled with how these girls turned out...definitely some of my favorites.

She has received a full reroot with KatSilk saran hair in a blend called 'Burnt Orange'. She has also received a full repaint, using artist-quality acrylics which have been sealed for protection. Her orange tulle veil is also removable, should you wish to display her without it. The suit is constructed from 100% silk Thai brocade, fully lined with an irridescent silk shantung and was fully handsewn with silk thread. Fully removable - fastenings are hook & silk thread eyes. Silk & organza ribbon detailing.

Her purse is made from Japanese delica beads woven off-loom...the purse alone took several hours to make. The chain is 14k gold. Her stunning necklace is made from 14k gold chain, 14k gold-filled headpins, Sterling Silver jump rings & genuine Swarovski crystals. There are approximately 85 crystals in a multitude of colors - the list of shades is as follows: Silk, Light Colorado Topaz, Light Topaz, Sun, Red Topaz, Fire Opal, Indian Red, Aurum, Smoked Topaz, Smoky Quartz, Dorado, Tabac, Olivine AB, Turquoise, Turquoise AB2X. The materials alone cost over $30! To finish her look, she wears Golden, glittery open-toe mules by Dressmaker Details.

La Fille Jolie

Here's another new Silkstone OOAK who's now available for purchasing. She has been fully rerooted with a shade of KatSilk saran hair called 'Coco'. She has also received a full repaint. Her dress is a silk/lurex blend shantung and is sewn with silk thread, fastening in the back with snaps. Underneath she has a pink tulle petticoat. Her chapeau is made from wire mesh, silk, ostrich feathers & Swarovski flatback AB crystals. Jewelry is made from Sterling Silver findings & Swarovski crystals and her purse is made from Japanese delica beads, woven off-loom. Finally, she sports clear shoes with silver glitter, from Dressmaker Details. Now on eBay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220207978263

Hello & Welcome to what may be a temporary home, or may end up incorporated in to my website overhaul. Right now, I'm finishing up some new creations, playing around with this blog, as well as working on the new & improved 'Wide Eyed Girls' website, which will involve a move to a new server, hopefully a new & improved Rerooting guide, with videos & sound, instead of still pictures, simpler navigation & pared down galleries. In addition, there will be a new "feel" to the site, of which you can get a taste by checking out the new banner at the top of this page. I will leave you with a sneak peek at the new OOAKs who should be available tomorrow...as of now, they're still a work in progress, so subject to minor changes. The finished versions will be posted here on the blog  - you'll get an email from me if you're on my first-to-know site letting you know when they're up. As I am unable to edit my website at the moment, it's doubtful they'll make it to the salesroom proper, but they will be available for purchase nonetheless.