Fripon, or a dog for Bleuette

Wow, I made this adorable little dog this morning for my Francoise. Someone on one of my online doll groups posted a link to the pattern for the perfect sized wire-haired terrier. The creator of the pattern gave permission to use the pattern as anyone wanted. I was so smitten I had to make one for my bleuette. I printed out the pattern and headed to my sewing room. I had all the colors of the felt in my stash! woohoooo! gotta love a good stash! I set to work and in no time at all had one very, very cute little doggie. All I have left to do is put a collar and leash on her. Isn't she cute? I put up this pic of Fripon next to Francoise to show that she is really perfectly sized for the doll. Ahhhhh, another satisfying project........

A new Bleu

Ooooh, I just love making this little doll. I'm swapping one of my cloth Bleuette with a lovely lady that makes porcelain Bleuettes. I've just finished her doll and now I'm making clothes for her. She wanted red hair and blue eyes. I tried on different wigs but none seemed to look right. then I tried on the curls and voila!! just what she wanted. 'Tres bon Tante' she declared! Je t'aime. well, now I have to see if her new Mamman likes her hair. We may be trying on something else just to see. hmmmmmm.....everyone has different taste.

The construction of this doll is so different. It's learned in Judi Ward's Cloth Bleuette class at Crafty College online. She uses wooden beads and grapes to created the joints. very different but the effect is wonderful. It makes the doll looks so real like the authentic Bleuette. I won't lie and say it's an easy technique. It's not. but it sure is worth all the effort. I guess that's why I have 4 more dolls in stages of construction. If I get too stressed with the part I'm working on, I pick up another doll and work on that one. Time to go make her a new dress......

Bleuette Manikin cutie

WOW, I just love a fabulous pattern! So, here's the little manikin I made last night from the pattern posted by the fantastic doll designer Judi Ward. It's her free Bleuette Manikin. A wonderfully designed little doll that goes together perfectly. Judi gives two hand options -mitt and fingers. I did the tiny little fingers. It makes a perfect little delicate hand and posable even! I definately have to make more of these to display all the bleuette clothes I'm making. She's the perfect size for a little girl to play with even. She has a really cute shape and I sculpted a belly button and cute little bum on her to complete the doll. I love the shoulder plate design. She looks like a little porcelain doll. Judi has the pattern available on her website. Judi's Dolls Isn't this the cutest little bum? This is another quality pattern from Judi and a freebee at that! What a generous gift to the doll world!

Philomene's new dresses.

Well, I finished Philomene's new dresses and here they are. I just love reproducing these old LSDS (Le Semaine de Suzette) patterns for Bleuette. They can be a bit of a challenge because so many times now the picture and the pattern don't match. I guess the artist and the pattern maker were two different people and they didn't compare their ideas. LOL. Sizes aren't always right either but they're darn close to fitting this cloth Bleuette. Usually there isn't an appropriate allowance for hems and closures. And, my french is awful especially this really old French but I muddle through. Did I mention the patterns are all in French. oops. The darling pale blue dress is #24 from 1908 Robe D'ete'. It's quite a charming little dress and looks so darling on her. The sleeves in the picture were short puffed sleeves, but when I finished with the pattern as it was drawn, they ended up long. I still like it though. The adorable white w/pink polka dots is Robe habillee #44 from 1949. it is really so sweet and delicate. I just loved the pleated front. Philomene is quite pleased with these new additions to her wardrobe. I think I'm going to make her a Girl Scout Uniform next.

Trunk Doll Challenge finished

Here is the picture of my finished Trunk Doll Challenge at the Vintageclothdollmaking online yahoo group. It will never be actually finished as I plan on making her a never ending wardrobe but this is the picture I am submitting for the challenge. I am very pleased with the way it turned out. She has two dresses. A toy top to play with. Her Hunting outfit complete with jacket, vest, jodhpurs, hat, gaiters, hobby horse, elephant, bird in a cage and a bug house for catching odd specimens. A nightgown, robe and sleeping cap. An Alice in Wonderland costume. A swimming outfit-swimsuit, hat, towel and swim shoes. A lovely Witches costume complete with dress, collar, hat, pumpkin and a pet raven and a lovely curved top trunk to keep it all in. I tried to keep the entire ensemble between 1907 and 1911 but a couple of the things are later historically. oh well, I'm happy with it.

A day at Lake Erie

1909 Swim Ensemble

Bleu grabs her towel and is ready to take on the cool waters of Lake Erie in this charming 1909 Swimming Ensemble. She wears matching proper swim-dress, swim-cap(to protect those darling curls) long stockings and swim shoes. Mother is so proud that she exposes only the minimal skin so as not to excite those leacherous boys!

This is Bleu's newest outfit for her trunk. She had to have some way to keep cool during these long hot late summer days. It sure is amazing how bathing suits have changed. This was a proper bathing suit but I sure don't see how it could have allowed anyone to cool off. You had to have almost all your skin covered. Most ladies wore a long ankle-length dressing gown over their swim suit which they would shed before entering the water. ohheavenforbid should a man (GASP) see some skin.....drop one of those women into todays fashions and she would have a heart attack at just the thought of wearing two bandaids and some string and calling that a swim suit. teeheeeheeheeeheeeeeeeeee.