Elenora's sister

Elenora's sister is almost complete. Her dress and hat are made from recycled brown paper envelopes.

Merry Christmas

Just would like to wish you all a lovely Christmas.

Hope Santa is good to you.

Button dolls

Button Doll Instructions

1. Made pattern, I made a triangle, base 2" wide, 2.5" high, then drew round a £1 coin for the head, the coin is about 1" across. Total height including head 3.25"

2. Draw round pattern on 2 layers of fabric, I've used calico, could use patterned.

3. Machine stitch around line.

4. Cut out and snip around head, making sure you don't snip into stitching.

5. Turn inside out.

6. Stuff.

7. Turn small hem under and ladder stitch across.

8. I have painted the body with acrylic paint, if you don't want a painted body add a little dress. ( A piece of fabric 8" x 2.5", stitch up side seam. Do running stitch along the top, gather until it fits the doll's body just under where the arms will be, stitch onto body. Don't make the dress too long as you want to see the leg buttons)

9. Arms. Using a stronger thread like linen, attach thread to top of shoulder, add 3 buttons, 1 bead for the elbow, 3 buttons, smaller bead for hand. star bead, hand bead, 3 buttons, elbow bead, 3 buttons, stitch to other shoulder, then take needle through the body to the 1s shoulder, thread back through all the buttons and beads using the opposite holes, ( Bead use the same hole, 2hole button use opposite button, 4 hole button, use hole diagonally opposite the one first used.)

See diagram 10.

11. Attach thread to base of body, add 5 Buttons, 1 knee bead, 5 buttons, 1 larger button for foot, go back through other hole of foot button and back up buttons and bead to body. Leave a space of thread only at the top of about 0.5" as to allow the doll to sit down, fasten off and repeat for other leg.

12. Add hair, if you want to hang it up, add a loop of ribbon. If you want it to be a fairy add wings. Mine were made from a piece of lace iI bought for another project. These could be stitched or glued on.

Hope you can follow these instructions, if not, let me know as this is I first time I have written instructions and no doubt I have left some thing out.

Size of buttons I used for arms and lower legs are 1cm, thighs 1.2cm, foot 1.5cm,

elbow and knees beads 0.6cm.

This is only a guide as you can use more buttons to make longer arms and legs, you can make wings from feathers or free machine them on soluble fabric.

Have Fun.

Button dolls

Dotee Swap

Just had toshow you this. This beautifully beaded dotee was made by Hazel, in a swap from Art4Mail.
This is her first attempt at beadwork. Hazel its absolutely brilliant.

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Visit Cloth Doll Artistry
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Visit Cloth Doll Artistry
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Beheaded

Box of spare parts

Tin Doll

This cute doll was made by Constance, it was a swap and we had to make a doll from a mint tin

Elenora, at last completed

Elenora

Hi meet Elenora, she is almost complete and will be exhibited at the People's Theatre at Newcastle, along with other stunning mixed media textiles from Stitch-in-9 textile Artists of which I am a member. Elenora will be joined by 2 of her friends, Nora and Dora. Pattern bt Jill Maas,

Rhianna, plastic bag fairy cloth doll

Wasn,t going to start this, but couldn't resist.It was a lovely doll to make and you can stuff all your plastic carry bags in the skirt. Pattern by Sherry Goshon.

Poppies

Anne Kinnement's Workshop

This was another excellent workshop, all that is needed to complete mine above is a frame.

White Work

This is work in progress, I love working in these neutral colours and doing hand stitching

Daisy loom

Blue double daisy brooch

workshop with Barbara Willis

This was a great workshop with Barbara Willis on how to sculpture a dolls face. Unfortunately it was only for an hour and time wissed by, so completed face at home. At one stage it looked like Desperate Dan out of the Beano comic. I need to practise a lot more, but had lots of laughs doing it.

Dolls by Barbara Willis

Amethyst Choker

At last I've finished this lovely necklace. It has given me hours of enjoyment to make. The design comes from a book called "Spellbinding" by Julie and Christine Ashford.

Double Daisy Brooch

Coventry Canals

Just got back from spending a few days on a boat on Coventry Canals and in them. It was very peaceful, no phones, no tele, no computer and no boys.

The boat had a mind of its own, zig-zagging from one side to the other, the engine kept packing in, we hit a few obstacles, fortunately not any of the barges. Hubby fell into the canal on the first day, I thought I had nailed it, but no, I went in a few minutes before we berthed the boat on the last day before coming home.

Copper Brooch

Woven copper sheet with copper wire and beads. Size 4x3cm.

Button Fairy

This was supposed to be a scary button fairy,maybe if I had put a photo of my face on, it would have been more scary.

How long is the piece of string?

Here is my latest piece. It is a length of string machined wrapped, then couched down.

Another one to join the parade

Meet Dilly, she is going to join Dolly in the Peg Parade.

Master Class

I've done it at last, completed my last module of the Master class on stitched textiles and have been given the big tick. Hooray. The master class was run by Stitchbusiness which is situated in Durham. A big thank you to Julia and Tracy.

Dolls Parade

This takes me back to my childhood, making a peg doll.

I am a member of Stitch-in-9, and we are having an exhibition at the People's Theatre in Newcastle called 'Dressing Up' and we decide to do a parade with peg

dolls.

Julia on 4th plinth, Trafalgar Square, London

Julia Triston is a practising textile artist/designer & lecturer in stitch, design and surface decoration. Julia is renowned for her use of colour.
Julia has a spot on the 4th plinth, Trafalgar Square, London on 09.09.09. between 6-7pm. Julia will be wearing her 4th Bra-ra Dress which she has designed, made with pink bras donated by celebrities and friends. The dress will be raffled in aid of Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
If you can't be there, go on the website One & Other, you will be able to see her via the live webcam.
http:/www.juliatriston.com

Enjoyed making this fabric postcard, and I'm pleased with the finished item.

Would like to keep it but its for a swap.

Wired Beadwork

Attended a brilliant workshop yesterday, the tutor was Germaine Fisher who originally comes from Australia. For a change I took 2 completed bracelets home with me, instead of a half finished item. Germaine is a very talented lady and was eager to share her experience and knowledge with us.

Hooray, I've manage to get the hat completed today