Featured in 'Knits for Kids' - The Daily #Etsy

This was a nice surprise this afternoon after a day in conflict with faux leather - My Gothic Doll was featured as a Top Story by Knits for Kids (Etsy) (Twitter) in their article 'The Daily #Etsy #Doll' - Thank you, Knits for Kids.

So I thought I would take this opportunity to  talk about my Gothic Doll, by far the most popular doll that is available to you good folk.

An example of a Binky Roo Gothic Doll

The pictured Gothic Doll has a Black and Purple colour scheme and the theme is Black Widow. She has web detail on the eyes and a web detail on her upper right part of her body. The body web is also detailed with small beads. To compliment the web on her body there is also a black widow spider embroidered with red seed beads on its back. The body is using a lovely Victorian pattern fabric with black flock. Her skirt is made from purple satin and purple shimmer organza. The bow in her hair is using matching fabric to her body. This doll is more expensive than the others due to the extent of the hand embroidered detail but certainly is beautiful and worth it for a one of a kind doll.

Something a little dark to match the gothic aesthetic, the dolls are all named after gothic icons (some in the murderous sense, Ooooo, Spooky!)

FUTURE GOTH DOLLS:

I have recently purchased some new satin and shimmer organza for the skirts of my goth dolls. I tried not to get too caught up at the fabric shop. I wanted more! I do have to restrain myself! 

What to expect:

Black and Gold - Cross motif (including some lovely Designer, Michael Miller Fabric)

Black and Red - Black Widow and Web

Black and Blue - Vampire Bat

But you don't have to wait until these dolls are made to purchase. Nor do you have to order these specific colours. You choose the colour scheme and if you have a different motif (theme) then feel free to Request a Custom Item from my Etsy store, about half way down on the left side of the page.

Otherwise you can ORDER YOUR GOTHIC DOLL HERE

Every girl needs at least one Gothic Doll in her life. Every Gothic Girl needs more than one!

UPDATE: DIFFERENT FACES

This is the face for the 'Cross Goth Doll'

Here is another example of one of the Gothic Faces available. I am very flexible. If you have an idea of how you want her to look, contact me and we can make your perfect Goth Doll.

Softies - The Owl and The Monkey

I know there was the owl and the pussycat but I never have liked the ordinary, so I choose the owl and the monkey.

You can now order your very own custom owl and/or custom monkey. These are examples of what you can expect. 18" of lovely plushness. Visit my Etsy store!

Handmade Monkey 18" of cuddliness

Handmade 18" Owl using designer fabric

Charity Auction - Why and What?

Most of us are a compassionate lot but we are not necessarily able to donate hundreds of pounds or volunteer time for charity. The double dip recession has hit most of us, and with a 19 month old son, I couldn't give as much as I'd like. But I can give something and I am a firm believer that if everybody gave something then the charities wouldn't suffer to harshly in these horrible economical times.

CHARITIES

If I had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth I wouldn't be a socialite spending Daddy's money on parties and the likes, I'd be helping charities. In my time as an Independence adult I have helped a few charities including Abaana and The Monkey Sanctuary. In 2006 I went to Looe and visited The Monkey Sanctuary where I had adopted a capuchin monkey called Mickey. It was the most wonderful place. The staff were so polite, fun, and informative, and the monkeys were entertaining and fascinating to watch. And on this particular day it rained and that could not have spoiled the day.

Mickey the Capuchin - © Copyright Wild Futures

The Monkey Sanctuary / Wild Futures left an incredible impression on me. Dreams of working with primates still sit inside. Maybe one day. Since that day I adopted Pepper, a baby capuchin. Unfortunately, baby Pepper passed away at the end of last year during the cold snap (2012), I was besides myself. I wanted to do something in his memory. Then the storms came and destruction hit the Sanctuary leaving it with a lot of damage. Thankfully no harm came to the monkeys. Now it became imperative to help raise funds.

Pepper the Baby Capuchin -  © Copyright Wild Futures

I decided to use my skills. I love sewing and crafts, so my initial plan was to make two monkey plushes and auction them to raise some money. But that is not enough and so I have decided ever Monkey plush I sell I will donate 15% to The Monkey Sanctuary / Wild Futures. 

Amy the Capuchin - © Copyright Wild Futures

After Pepper passed away I adopted his sister, Amy. I hope to go and visit this year, to see the lovely staff and the wonderful primates...

CHARITY AUCTION

Available will be one 16" monkey plush in memory of Pepper. Brown mottled cotton fabric and the body is a blue fabric with a monkey on a cloud motif. Apt for little Pepper.

Charity Auction Preview of Pepper (16")

The second plush will be 18" called Marlene (after Marlene Dietrich). A brown linen effect cotton with a pink cotton fabric that has diva monkey motifs.

Marlene Dietrich

 As I mention above, any order for a monkey plush (18"), 15% will go to The Monkey Sanctuary / Wild Futures.

*keep checking my facebook page and twitter for more information as to where and when the auction will be.

UPDATE (Feb 25, 2013):

Marlene and Pepper ready for the Charity Auction

ETSY - Shop Opening

Howdy!

After umming and ahhing whether to open an Etsy store I decided why the hell not?  There are a few things adding already and the photos are just examples of what you could order. The beauty of my handmade items is that you can choose your own colour scheme and theme so no matter what you order it will match the occasion or decor, ooo-err!

So for this weekend only! A 10% off coupon is available for my Etsy store.

Use this code to get your 10% Off

So take advantage and order something special today!

Home Storage - Designer Plastic Carrier Bag Dispenser

The finished designer carrier bag dispenser

This is something I've been intending to make for quite some time. EVERYBODY needs a plastic carrier bag dispenser. For this to look stylish it was important to purchase the right fabric. I didn't do cheap, I went designer!

Three beautiful designer fabrics for the dispenser

The colours compliment each other beautifully. I had originally wanted to make a blue and black one but the red fabric kept leaping out at me when I was in the fabric store.

The top and body ready to be constructed

 There is an opening at the top to put the carrier bags and then it's as simple as pulling one out from the bottom as and when you need one.

The body of the dispenser complete

The top and the body attached together

The detail gets even better with a contrasting colour thread running across the edge of the black/grey fabric, in this case red. The designer of the pattern, Alicia Thommas (s4h), has done a wonderful job.

Want your own designer carrier bag dispenser? For £ 1 9 . 9 9 it could be yours. Contact me with colour/pattern scheme. 

Handmade Bag - Designer Tote - Michael Miller (Nevermore)

This is, to date, my *star* bag. I LOVE it! Michael Miller Fabrics are sooo very beautiful. Many designs, contemporary and traditional. The external fabric used on this bag is from the Nevermore collection, and the lining is called 'script', often associated with the Nevermore collection. As these as light/medium fabrics I also added some padding just to give it a sturdy existence as I like my bags to have substance.

Designer, Michael Miller, Tote bag.

So, unlike the retro tote I posted earlier, this one is made with entirely designer fabric, and the straps are attached by button holes as was originally intended by the original designers, Alicia Thommas and Liz Johnson, thanks to my new sewing machine - so in love (watch this space for a review). The fussy cutting on this was very difficult and the added frill on the original designed external pocket, I decided it was best without.

[caption id="attachment_180" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Designer Fabric, Michael Miller[/caption]

Below you will see a detailed picture timeline for this lovely bag, a little treat for you as to the construction of my bags.

[caption id="attachment_181" align="aligncenter" width="576"] As I would say to my son, 'are you ready, steady, teddy?'[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_182" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Fusible fabric on the back of the lining fabric of the external pocket.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_183" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The external pocket inside out[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_184" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The external pocket the right way round[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_185" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Lining the fussy cut external pocket with the front panel of the tote[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_186" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Preparing the bag for squaring the corners[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_188" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The front of the bag (now attached to the back panel)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_189" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The back panel (now attached to the front panel)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_190" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Preparing the lining for the designer bag[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_192" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Lining up the internal pocket of the bag.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_194" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The magnetic fastener is in place and nearly ready to attach to the outer part of the bag[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_195" align="aligncenter" width="575"] One of the two straps for the bag[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_196" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Lining up the buttons to where the button holes are going to be[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_197" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Side one complete[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_198" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Stitching the button holes using a 1-step button hole stitch[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_199" align="aligncenter" width="575"] Cutting the hole for the button to squeeze[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_202" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The finished bag with the lining attached[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_204" align="aligncenter" width="576"] From the side, look at how those button compliment the bag[/caption]

Custom Softie - Darla the Lamb

Awwwww! now this was pretty special to make. Tilly's little lamb.

[caption id="attachment_175" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Darla the lamb with bells[/caption]

Made from designer cotton fabric, Tilly's newborn babygro, felt, with hand stitched detail. This was such a pleasure to make. This was making an already beautiful pattern by Dolls and Daydreams into something so unique and special. Tilly's mum even chose the designer fabric. Who said owls and sheep don't go together?

[caption id="attachment_176" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Darla in all her glory, made from designer cotton fabric and Tily's newborn babygro[/caption]

This was a bit of a challenge because of using the babygro (a very stretchy fabric). The babygro was used for the inner ear, paws, and front of the body.

[caption id="attachment_174" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Darla's little bottom, Tilly's name hand embroidered[/caption]

This is Darla. A little bell around her neck with a series put inside with the stuffing. Tilly's name embroidered on the back with her date of birth, making it just that little bit extra special. This was one of the creations that I have made that I really didn't want to give away, but it is a very lovely new home.

Custom Dolly - Maggie the Flower Girl

After doing two gothic dolls, Betty Lou and Nancy, and a Christmas Doll, Sweet Angie, it was soooooo lovely to make a girly doll - pink and flowers and all. This little lady is adapted from lovely Sarah's pattern from Dolls and Daydreams. Using cotton, felt, ribbon and hand embroidered details. I love Maggie with her blonde pigtails and pink floral outfit, even her tutu has little sequins on.



I knew that this little dolly had to be pink with blonde hair and little pink cheeks, just like the little girl she was made for. What made Maggie different from the gothic dolls I have previously posted, apart from the little pink cheeks, is that her hair also had matching ribbon weaved through.

[caption id="attachment_169" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Little pink cheeks and ribbon in her hair[/caption]

 

Handmade Bag - Retro Green Tote

I have recently been pouring over crafting/sewing website looking for new ideas and inspirations. For 2013 I want to expand and have a nice flow of handmade bags to join the dolls and softies. This tote bag was the first bag I made.

[caption id="attachment_159" align="aligncenter" width="576"] The beginnings. Look how the grey/silver taffeta compliments the grey of the fabric on the right.[/caption]

The fabric I used for this was a medium/heavy upholstery weight fabric with a taffeta lining. The buttons on the side were lovely vintage buttons from my late mother-in-law's tin.

[caption id="attachment_160" align="aligncenter" width="583"] The search for the right lining was a long task. I have mixed feelings about taffeta but this just lends itself so well to the design.[/caption]

The original design for this bag is by Alicia Thommas and Liz Johnson (s4h) and was designed to be carried by straps held on by buttons/button holes. Since the sewing machine I used for this was a four stitch machine (so no button hole ability), I stitched the straps on.

[caption id="attachment_162" align="aligncenter" width="608"] Vintage buttons really sells this retro tote bag[/caption]

Upon finishing this bag I have to admit, I was impressed. This bag has to go into the Binky Roo collection. This design is retro and stylish with a double pocket inside and out - the inner pocket stitched to hold a mobile phone and a small notebook/diary.

This is the first of two bags of this design I will be uploading on here. Keep an eye peeled for a detailed post for a designer tote - Nevermore - Michael Miller Fabrics. It's goth, it's lush, it's unique...

[caption id="attachment_163" align="aligncenter" width="583"] The final bag showing the fussy cut detail of the external pocket with handmade frill[/caption]