My Steve Martin Moment

Umpteen years ago Steve Martin starred in movie called The Jerk. There was a scene in the movie where the new phone book arrived and Steve's character was "pee your pants" excited to see his name published. Now it's my turn. I'm published! The magazine arrived yesterday. Yeah! I have been making up kits to sell on Etsy. They are now listed in my shop. There is a full size pattern, freezer paper and my own hand dyed 100% wool felt. The instructions and reduced pattern are in the magazine. The kit has almost everything you'll need to make your crown. You'll need to supply embroidery floss, a needle, pen, scissors and an iron. Easy Peasy.

Romy

This is sweet Romy. Her name means Dew of the Sea in Latin. She is a 14" Moonchild doll.
I am really enjoying the wool yarn hair. Mohair is lovely for wig making and the effect is so natural but it sheds so much. Wool yarn feels good to the fingers, it is easy to finger comb and braiding it is a cinch.
Romy's clothing is made with Heather Ross's Mendocino fabric. Quite nice I believe.

"Truth in Packaging" or "High Hopes"

Recall the recent birthday of mine? Such a wonderful day for me. My 3 beautiful daughters really went all out. While I may have mentioned there was some present opening after our dinner off the island, I neglected to tell you what was in a few of those prettily wrapped packages. The two I'll mention here were clearly well thought out and heartfelt. First I opened this:


That's right. I got a Grow a New Husband. I've been a single mom for about 12 years now and I have always said that I would like to marry again someday. My daughters have taken the matter into their own hands and bought me a husband. They even got me a grow your own cake for the "wedding ceremony".
My new guy is wearing a tuxedo and and ready to be re hydrated. A bowl of water and 72 hours to a new husband. He will grow 600 times his original size according to his package. I'm thinking, "Now that is pretty decent".
So into the bowl he goes along with the cake. I check on him. He's clearly taking on water. He's growing. I check on him again. I'm getting a little concerned. 72 hours later he is topping out at about 5" tall.
Now, I don't have sky high standards but I do have some requirements for a husband to be. He outta at least be big enough to take out the trash.
It's been a week now and I take the groom and his cake out of the water. He has reached his full potential and it is pretty disappointing. 8". He doesn't even sound tall if he's measured in centimeters. 20cm.


I had to let him go. He's 8" tall. His packaging may say "He has no baggage" but there is no way that an 8" tall man isn't gonna have some kind of chip on his shoulder and have something to prove. I'm also just plain not attracted to him. The bad leg doesn't bother me so much but his skin condition would be a little hard to get used to.
So GANH (grow a new husband) and his cake were sent packin' today. Gotta love those girls for believing in romance though, don't you?

Where do you get your supplies?

This is a VERY common question. I would have been asking the same thing long ago when I began making dolls. I wasn't on the internet then so I had very limited access to the big world of doll making supplies. I've compiled a list of my main haunts (on the side bar a little ways down). Some may seem a little odd at first. MFasco is where I buy my tubular stockinette for the inner head. Dharma Trading is where I buy the dye for my yarn. J. Hittle is a good place for sewing needles and button craft thread. West Earl Woolen mills doesn't have a website but just 411.com them and you'll find their number. They are a dream to work with. I am buying my yarn for the hair from Henry's Attic and for small amounts, their yarns are available at Catnip Yarns. I love, love, love Bunte Fabrics (but then you already know that). Etsy is a great place to find fabric as well. The bulk of my sewing thread comes from Atlanta Thread and Supply. For tying the head, I use 3/2 Perle cotton and I buy it by the pound from Weaving Works
For most of the closures on the clothing I use Soft Velcro. It is narrower and softer than regular Velcro. I buy that from Joann's Crafts and Fabrics when I have a 40% off coupon.
I really appreciate my suppliers and most of them sell to the general public with out a wholesale account. If you find a new one here that works for you tell them Berrie sent you.

Those kids o' mine

I have had over 24 hours of birthday fun thanks to my 3 darling daughters. The biggie was a night here . It is a beautiful inn right on the water in Langley, WA. We live about 6 miles and a world away. While island life is quite peaceful anyway, being right on the water adds a welcome calming element. My dear friend Kelly came and joined me for some "sit on the deck and watch the sunset" time. Just perfect.

My little Boston Terrier, Luca, was part of the package as well. She was outfitted with a huge dog bed and snuggly blanket. They even put food and water bowls out. Langley is a very dog friendly community. Well behaved dogs are welcome in the library, banks and most stores. They all have treat containers and there are even "doggie bags" available for when, you know, that time comes.

After check out today, I came home to get ready for dinner out. My girls, their boyfriends and our guys, Kelly and John took the ferry to the Ivars at Mukilteo Landing. A delicious dinner and dessert some present opening and a ferry ride home. More presents and now I'm just plum tuckered. I'm 46, I can say plum tuckered now.

I'm a Cover Girl!

Okay well my crown is a "cover girl". Here is the cover to the Fall 08 Living Crafts Magazine. That darling crown on that darling boy....yup mine. The crown, not the boy. Inside the mag is my pattern for making 3 different crowns. Pick up your copy August 17th.

Dear Ivy

Here is my newest sweet girl. She is 18" tall and all dressed in pink. Ivy's kimono top is made with Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market fabric. Her pants are made of organic cotton and the fabric came form Bunte Fabrics . Ivy's cap is made of alpaca and the flower trim is hand dyed wool felt. Her little hair ties are made of twill tape and felt. For Ivy's top, I took my kimono pattern and altered it so it has a gathered skirt. Very girly and sweet I'd say. I'm quite pleased with the way Ivy turned out.

Just Babbling

46. That's how old I'll be in 5 days. My girls have been scampering about with a big secret that will be revealed on the 21st. I know there is a ferry ride and a dinner involved. Beyond that, not a clue. All three girls are gainfully employed and they are apparently pooling their loot to do something pretty special for me. I am getting in touch with those excited feelings of anticipation and wonder. Yea me! Double yea them!!
The Bayview Farmer's Market has been a huge success for me. Amidst all of the "hey you're back!" and the "where have you been?" questions, people are buying up my stuff. One of the things I love about selling at the farmer's market is my customer base is generally unaware of Waldorf dolls but they are wanting natural fiber items and handmade crafts. This provides a perfect time to explain about the dolls and the reason for simplicity. It is wonderful!
I have been very inspired by this doll maker. You can get a passable translation through Babelfish if you don't read in German. If you select "bildergalerie", you find her gallery of dolls. I get a little giddy just thinking about it. It is her use of fabrics and color that is inspiring me to use more European fabrics and change my palate to a softer, fresher look.
I have pounds and pounds of mohair on order. When it arrives I will be dyeing it to use on my dolls. I have decided not to buy ready dyed hair yarn for now. Not only will I be spending less money, but I will have complete control over the coloring process. With the cost of my fabrics increasing, it is nice to have the hair cost go down a bit.
Off to my sewing table! I get to play with dolls all day.

A few new girls and a whole lot of pink

Jade

Pearl

Ruby

Jade, Pearl and Ruby are the new kids on the block. As, dare I say it, we move towards the "holiday season", will be listing more and more in stock dolls. It is my plan to do fewer custom orders and provide dolls that are ready to mail of to their new homes. These 3 cuties are in my Etsy shop.

5 pretty dresses. Lots of pink. I tossed a bunch of my pink fabrics on the worktable and started cutting strips. I then sewed them into skirts and added bodices. A felt patch and red buttons and they were done. Too sweet!

Royal Crown? Flower Crown? Mushroom Crown?

Yeah! I am being published. The pattern and instructions to make my wool felt crowns will be in Living Crafts magazine. It hits the newsstands August 15 I believe. Kits made with hand dyed 100% wool felt will be available in my Etsy shop beginning the middle of August. A little birdie told me that my Royal Crown has even made it to the cover of the magazine.