Andrea

Visit to USA June 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:02:00 +0000

The video for my travels is here...
http://www.the-doll-works.com/media/Video_revised.wmv
It may or may not load for you. It is huge so you will probably have to wait a while for it to load.

If it loads I hope you enjoy it, if it doesn't I am sorry, but I have updated my blog with pictures for you too so everyone can have a look.....

Los Angeles!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:22:00 +0000

6:00AM I set off for the airport. Check in was really easy everything going to plan. The flight left at 10:15 and arrived in JFK New York 8 hours later.
I had a brief 40 minute stop where I managed to glimpse the New York skyline in the distance - very exciting!
However it is somewhat soul destroying having to get back on board for another 6 hour flight when all I wanted to do was “be there”!!
I arrived after a 20 hour journey, at the hotel in Los Angeles, faced with some bright and cheery receptionist who seemed to think it was mid afternoon, when I knew very well it was actually the dead of night!

I flew out with my daughter and her friend, they would be spending their birthdays (12th &13th June) out here in Los Angeles and we decided we wanted to see as much as we could of Los Angeles today, as it would be the only full day I would spend with the girls, so we took a bus tour of all the places to see. I would highly recommend doing this as it gives you a great intro to LA.

We stopped first at Venice Beach - or Baywatch Beach if you like. The sea was too inviting to resist and yes, the water was warm!

We did actually consider swimming out to sea to see if the lifeguards actually worked, but there was a bus waiting!

Toured Venice (not QUITE as good as the REAL Venice but still very pretty!)

Then we went on to Rodeo Drive - how impressive is that??

This was Stella McCartneys shop, for all us Brits who were wondering where she has gone!

Of course we did the “Walk of Fame”!!

…and the Chinese Theatre.

Then we went up to the Griffiths Observatory for a better look.

Very hot up here!

I would have to say that as we stood looking over Los Angeles, the thing that struck us the most was that as far as you could see in any direction was…Los Angeles! …and I am talking miles and miles and miles!

Then on to the Walt Disney Concert Hall...

The tour took in many more places but I have far too many pictures that would bore you to death. However on the evening of the 15th we took a trip to the City Walk at Universal Studios. We booked cars to take us and collect us later.

Every shop front screams out for attention with neon lights everywhere and huge signs. This restaurant had a full size wagon and horses galloping across the front!

This water feature was great fun, you could sit here for hours and watch. The water squirted up from between the flagstones in dancing sequences but the whole thing only comes to life when the kids play in it - I am yet to be convinced that there isn't someone somewhere controlling this to torment the kids!

At night the place comes to life - more life! There is a really relaxed family atmosphere here, I would definitely recommend a visit!

Bubba Gump's Shrimp shop is fun!

This is the Hard Rock Cafe, full of memorabilia as you can imagine.

With a 78 foot neon Fender Stratocaster guitar at the entrance - just so you don't to miss it!

When it came time to leave, there had been a mix up with the cars and the only available car came to collect us. It was a HUGE black stretch limousine. Blimey, there we were with our shopping wearing jeans and sandals in a car like that - you should have seen the looks we got!

Red Carpet Glamour Event - Ontario California

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:53:00 +0000

Time to leave Los Angeles for now and travel to Ontario California for Doris Mixon's Red Carpet Glamour Event held in the Marriott Hotel, a lovely place and a perfect setting.

I didn't take pictures during the weekend so the following are courtesy of Cherylette - Thank you very much!!
The event started off with a buffet lunch, we all had to make and wear hats for the lunch which made an hilarious ice breaker. Brian, Cheryl and I soon became firm friends as we shared out hat making adventures!

Doris gave a presentation...

...and introduced guest speakers including a representative from Tonner who updated us with all the latest news from the company.

We had several workshops throughout the weekend, painting, re rooting and dressing the Christina dolls.

There was plenty of advice to be had from the many talented artists in attendance and VIP guests.

Great to meet up with Kimberley Hartvigsen also from Project Dollway. Finally we got to share our experiences and heartaches.

All our meals were provided and plenty of gifts and fun during every meal.
Doris was a fabulous host at the event and incredibly generous, everyone walked away with armfuls of dolls outfits and accessories as well as many new friends and memories of a really fun weekend.

Doris had her dolls out on display throughout the event - here they are dressed to kill for the Friday 13th Goth Night party!

Everyone wore their best Goth outfits for the night!

The Red Carpet Glamour banquet dinner was held on the Saturday night with more guest speakers including Doug James who gave a talk on the CED dolls. We had a live auction which was hilarious as the bidding became heated and the purses emptied!

Sunday we said our farewells over breakfast and then headed home, or in my case back to Los Angeles.

Happily Ever After in Philadelphia

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:01:00 +0000

This is the FABULOUS shop Happily Ever After and is owned by Ed and Glenn. If you haven't been yet, you have got to go! ...and if you can't go visit them on line!! http://www.happily.com/
This is the ultimate toy shop for me, LOADS of dolls! Also most of them I have never seen in the flesh - not having access to shops like this in the UK!

We visited Philly on a beautiful sunny day. Ed treated Ted and I to lunch in a lovely little restaurant - as usual the menu had to be translated, the food is similar to the English fare but so very different, as anyone who has visited form the UK will know!

Ed and Glenn had arranged for us to do a Project Dollway presentation for the Philadelphia Centre City Doll Club.

From the left we have Micheal, Ted, Me and Bryan. Micheal and Bryan are from Metro Dolls.

And here we are again with Centre City Doll Club President Robbin Atwell.

Our dolls on display...

We had a really great evening, it was really nice to meet everyone and share our experiences on Dollway. The Centre City Doll Club is a really nice crowd and when I sell up and move to Philadelphia my membership will be in the post to them.

Philadelphia is beautiful, I am so impressed - I NEED to buy one of these houses and live here!

The Railway station is awesome! It is huge, vast and beautiful!

The station houses the Pennsylvania Railroad War Memorial which is a statue of the archangel Michael lifting the body of a dead soldier out of the flames of war, and was sculpted by Walker Hancock in 1950.

You may recognise it as it has been featured in many films including Blow Out, Trading Places, Witness and Unbreakable.

New York!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:30:00 +0000

I arrived in New York during stormy weather, the flights were all expected to be delayed by at least 3 hours. Fortunately my flight was only half an hour late and when I arrived at the hotel I was told I had a complimentary upgrade!! So I wouldn't be staying in a little room in the basement - I now had a suite all to myself!!

My hotel (The Tudor) was on 42nd street and loomed over by the Chrysler Building...

This is Ted's (Producer of Project Dollway) place, hardly a cottage in the country!LOL!

...and his rather grand gardens, with one heck of a view!!

Looking out over Tudor City. This was the brain child of H. Douglas Ives and was built by Fred F French. Building started in 1925 and was completed in 1928. For those of us who are more used to seeing REAL historic buildings, this does look rather odd, in England we like our stately homes to be on the ground!

Ted has a great view of the Chrysler building...

...and the Empire State Building.

So, on to the shopping!! Ted and I had many days of shopping trips. The shops here are out of this world. Fabric shops where the rolls of fabric just go on and on and on. I have no idea how you could ever choose fabric in them. You would have to go in knowing EXACTLY what you want and keep your eyes closed at all times!!

Then there are shops that just sell buttons - millions of them! Shops that just do ribbon - in every possible way you can imagine!

I may never be the same again!

As for toy shops!! I love the action figure shops and there were plenty to keep me happy but I just HAD to see this one!!

...and inside!

Then there is 5th Avenue and all it has to offer...

This was Tiffany's after I had stood looking at it, then got into a taxi. At which point I remembered my camera!!

Then!!! Parsons, home of Project Runway!

Look at this, this is the Fashion District information office. They say everything is bigger in the States and it is not always a good thing - look at the size of the sewing needles!...and who's going to need a button that big??

Then there are the streets of New York, they take some getting used to!

Some of the vehicles are enormous! Strange but I never saw one single Smart car! Petrol prices will soon change that!

Marcia Friend's BBQ in New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:11:00 +0000

Marcia Friend very kindly invited Ted and I to her annual BBQ, we took the train out to Matawan, New Jersey. No ordinary train either - a double-decker would you believe! We could never have anything like it in the UK, our bridges are too small and British Rail would never get enough passengers wanting to use the train!!
Anyway, Marcia opened her home to the crowds of marauding doll lovers, her collections are awesome and I am so proud to say my Peacock Blue Erte is now part of that collection!
The following photographs are all Marcia's - Thank you Marcia for letting me use them.

Marcia set up sales areas in the basement, lots of lovely things to buy!

Here's Ed and Glenn of Happily Ever After http://www.happily.com/

and Micheal of Metro Dolls http://www.metrodolls.com/

All great guys, and all of whom I am now working for!

Then the mad dash for the free tables. Everything here is free for the taking...if you are brave enough! I found watching from the sidelines vastly entertaining!

Here are some of the repaints on display in Marcia's dining room...

...and various guests out on the patio...

...and in the living room.

Then it was time to get back on the train and head back into New York, tired, HOT and happy!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:06:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:05:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:03:00 +0000

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 1

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:18:00 +0000

Challenge 10 - The Final

How did this happen? One minute I’m making up the numbers and doing a cracking job of looking like cannon fodder, just waiting for my elimination day, the next here I am in the final!!
Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought to get so far. Safina posted her farewell message on the blog, it was heartbreaking to see my fellow Brit be eliminated, that just leaves me now, alone, battling for England!

For this challenge, Doris sent all three finalists a vinyl Sam body for us to use for fittings for the final.
My first few days with the doll were spent in a panic, cutting patterns and trying to get the fit just perfect. She has larger hips than a Tonner and an Ellowyne, and one or two other measurements are not quite the same, also she has no head!

I have learned, the hard way, through the challenges on Dollway, that the best way to tackle things is to enjoy it - to let go of all the worries and the panic and live in the moment.

This is SO much easier said than done!! The pressures on Dollway are immense and being in the final is just unbelievable!
If you have ever watched a baby bird fledge, you will understand what I have gone through! The bird sits on the edge of the nest, franticly flapping away, longing to go off and fly but just daren’t let go. But when he does let go, he may have a little dive to start with but then he is off, flying and having the time of his life, before he knows it he is doing acrobatics!

Well, I’ve got to let go and I hope I will fly and not crash and burn!
So I crank up the music in the workshop and start sewing!
My inspirations have to follow on from the Gabby challenge, so the basic key elements are already there, London, England, Music, Military, Youth, Fun, etc etc…
I have planned out what I am going to do for each of the twelve outfits, I have a list of items that I need for each one, so that I can see at a glance what needs to be made.
There is no easy way to do any of this and writing the blog is yet another challenging stumbling block! So I think it may be best to just take you through each garment, one at a time and leave most of the heartache on the floor with this pile of threads and fabric scraps!
One thing you have to bear in mind is that the Sam doll is a different shape to the Tonner and the Ellowyne dolls, therefore the fit shown on my dolls is not too good.

Outfit One
My collection begins with an all time classic fashion item of clothing, under-rated but always there, well, for the last 60 years or so anyway!

The black leather jacket!
So iconic, for so many era’s!

is often overlooked, not exactly feminine or the height of fashion. However, it is a very powerful and meaningful garment…to many people. Also it is very “London - England!” A bit of a challenge to start with, but here goes.
This is the outfit…

The jacket couldn’t possibly be made in leather for something as small as this, so I have used silk dupion, which strangely, does look like leather. The jacket has all the bits and pieces you would expect, epaulettes, zips, studs, wrist straps and of course a red tartan lining!

Placing the zip worked much better than I had anticipated, it is really not an easy thing to do, as the seam I inserted it into is curved, so I never expected it to fasten and fit as well as it did.

Underneath she has a fairly simple dress, it is fitted and has used the tartan on the bias for the front panel. It is fully lined and zips up the back.

To tie the theme of the jacket into the dress I have made her a wide curved belt, this fastens with a tiny silver buckle. The belt sits very low on her hips so that it doesn’t become one with the jacket.

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 2

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Outfit No2

Continuing with the jacket and the zip detail, this jacket is sleeveless and worn over a shirt and skirt. The jacket is made in a deep inky blue taffeta fabric but now we have much more going on underneath. It is lined with a lovely blue tartan fabric which I have used to make the blouse. This fastens down the back with little silver bead “buttons”, It has a high neckline and long sleeves, the cuffs on the sleeves fasten with press studs that, and the front of the collar, are also trimmed with the silver buttons.

The skirt has a distinct corset look to it, it has top stitched seams, a zip up the back and is fully lined. The front of the skirt is shaped upwards, just another reflection of the corset theme.
Her boots are made to match her outfit using the same blue fabric and have the blue tartan piping up the sides.

Oh, and just to show things don’t always go right!! I had initially done this outfit with a dress, the skirt was very full as I had concerns about the doll having bigger hips. I thought a full skirted dress might flatter the hip line and it wouldn’t really matter how big her hips were. Hmm….

…now that is just bad! It changes the whole look of the outfit! I am so glad I changed my mind!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 3

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:47:00 +0000

Outfit No3

Right then moving along, the skirt is taken from the previous outfit and modified a little.

The basic style of the skirt is similar but I have made it a longer length this time. It has top stitching done in a contrasting red with tiny red buttons trimming the waist at the top. Again, it is fully lined and zips up the back.

This style of coat is very fashionable over here in England, and just HAD to be done in the red tartan. This gave me the opportunity to use the tartan going in different directions. Tartan can be fun to work with, just by using it in different ways.

This coat is very difficult to find something to wear with it, due to the short length. But, it is supposed to be like that and the high waisted skirt breached the gap so to speak! I like the way this outfit gives the doll lots of length and height.

The hood was a little risky to do, as the doll we were sent had no head. I had to assume she had a normal sized head and just go for it! But it looks good either up or down, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

Underneath her coat she has a little sleeveless top. I have made it a polo neck so that it can be seen when the coat is fastened and it gives a tidier look to the neck.

I didn’t want sleeves, as we all know, sleeves are just a headache when you are trying to get a coat on a doll. I also didn’t want too much bulk on the shoulders as the jacket is quite boxy, the last thing she would need is bulky shoulders! So I have taken the shoulders back almost to the collar line.
To finish off the outfit she has these great boots, they are Joe Tai boots and are superb. They just finish off this outfit nicely!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 4

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:21:00 +0000

Outfit No4

The skirt carries on into this outfit, with of course, a few changes. This time I have done a tartan skirt, the lower half is pleated all around. The upper is again top stitched and has “belts” and buckles sewn across the front panel. Again it is lined and has a zip in the back.

Now I want to take the blouses a little further and go down that road for a while. This blouse I wanted to be like a traditional shirt, BUT, I wanted it to look like the collar had melted down onto the shoulders. The collar wraps around the shoulders and fastens at the front. The front of the collar is trimmed with tiny red buttons.

To give it a very soft romantic look I used silk lining fabric, there is literally nothing to this fabric and it drapes beautifully for dolls clothing.

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 5

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Outfit No 5

Now we develop the blouse a little further, the collar is gone, the fabric is still silk, but black this time. I have replaced the collar with black Nottingham lace, this gives the neckline a little more interest whilst still keeping it off the shoulders.

The blouse fastens down the front and is trimmed with tiny black buttons. I have taken away the formality of the cuffs and elasticated the wrists and trimmed them with the lace.

I wanted to make this skirt more shapely. I was very tempted to make a waistcoat for this one, but wanted something a little in between. The top of this skirt is shaped up into curvy straps to show off the figure. Working the curves into this was quite difficult but I wanted to get away from the harsh straight lines of straps. The dress is made in Silk Dupion.

Her hat is taken from the Gabby challenge but worked in different colours to match this outfit.

To finish off she has black plain boots which just keeps all the lines flowing and balances the black colour of the blouse.

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 6

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:47:00 +0000

Outfit No 6

And so to number 6! Now for this one I really wanted to go down the waistcoat road, which developed from the last outfit. I also took the blouse again, but in white this time, trimmed with cotton lace. Whilst I was making this outfit, the song “Any Old Iron” kept going through my head, it had a lot to do with the thought of nobody giving me tuppence for my old watch chain! LOL!
Well, you can’t have a waistcoat without a watch chain! Watch chains are very underrated!
I have attached the watch chain to the trousers here, well, who wants convention?

The trousers were a very risky thing to do for this challenge, as the fit could not be guaranteed. The doll we were given had larger hips than Ellowyne, so I wasn’t sure the end result would look good on the Runway. However, I went ahead. They are made in Silk Dupion and have piped edging running down the legs. They fasten at the back with a press stud.

The waistcoat has a little collar in tartan, to keep that theme flowing and fastens at the back with eyelets and laces. This just gives it a little more interest. The front fastens with press studs and is trimmed with tiny red buttons.

To accessorise this outfit, I made her a bag too. I made it in the red Silk fabric of the other outfits to contrast with the black of this outfit but used the red tartan to keep everything together. It has chain handles to keep the watch chain theme, and a tiny mock zipped pocket on the front. The bag is lined inside, it closes with a press stud and it has colour co-ordinated eyelets for the chains to run through.
Her boots match her outfit perfectly and finish it off to a T!!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 7

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Outfit No 7

Now the waistcoat goes on another step and becomes a blouse. Her watch chain has become more conventional, well, convention isn’t always bad! The blouse here is quite a complicated affair. It is made all in one piece, so the top part of the blouse is sewn between the outer and the lining of the waistcoat.

I have tried to show you it in the pictures above, rather than try to explain, which would probably take all day! LOL!
The lower edge of the blouse is shaped in a traditional waistcoat way. The front has of course, the watch chain. It also had silver buttons and tiny pockets done in the blue tartan. The shirt section is done in white silk, it also has proper fastening cuffs.

For her skirt I have gone for an almost traditional kilt style. The skirt has a pleated panel down the left side and is finished on the front with a tiny blue “Kilt Pin”. The skirt is lined and fastens at the back with press studs.

To finish this outfit off, I have done a peaked cap in the matching blue fabric and trimmed it with silver chain to keep the watch chain theme. This has been trimmed on the ends with beads. It gives the outfit a slight military feel, something I wanted to get across in the Gabby challenge and something I am going to have a play with next!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 8

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:28:00 +0000

Outfit No 8
Now this time I am going all out Military, I think it is a great look that appeared on the Runway this season, and I have every justification for using it as anyone who really knows me knows! LOL!

This outfit is actually pretty simple, it is a coat dress, very short, showing off lots of leg. It has a stand up collar piped in blue tartan. It is fitted and all the seams are top stitched. The sleeves are trimmed with silver bead buttons.

The epaulettes are sewn into the neck at the collar and then pass through loops that were sewn into the sleeve seam.

The end has been extended out over the shoulder and down the arm to encompass the “sergeant’s stripes” worked in beading. There is plenty of beading on the shoulders and down the front of the dress to give it a thoroughly, no holds barred military touch!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 9

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Outfit No 9

Well, staying on the Military theme, where do we go now?? How about some military honours?
I saw a dress very similar to this on the Runway recently and was just stunned by it’s simplicity. The medal that comes over the shoulder, whilst it looked great on the real sized version, was not so easy to do on this small scale.

Beads just looked like beads and sequins just looked like sequins! I added the black ribbon and the little gilt buckle and this made it look much better. But the dress, by itself, looked very basic and just wasn’t…enough!
So I added a tiny bag and made the ribbon medal into the strap, this actually worked really well as the strap sits very nicely over the dolls arm and you still get the full medal effect!

But even so, there was still something missing. I added the medals to her shoes too, this makes the outfit look a little more complete.

Nope, still not enough! …It just wasn’t looking grand enough, if you see what I mean. She needed something. A coat or a cape would have hidden the shoulder strap detail, a wrap would have just been wrong, a feather stole wouldn’t look right. She needed something lightweight, something to give the outfit what it needed without over powering it!

That’s where the tulle came in! This is just a strip of tulle with elasticated thread running down the middle, so easy and just so right! She can wear it any which way or even not at all!

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 10

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:49:00 +0000

Outfit No 10

Ok, well, I think I have got that out of my system, time to play with that silhouette and the one shoulder strap theme! I love the colour combination of this blue tartan and the blue taffeta, so I wanted to get them together in a cocktail dress. The left side panels of this fitted dress were done in tartan and the rest blue, the dress is lined and zips up the back. I took the shoulder strap to the absolute extreme and extended it right down the front and the back.

The strap is made in the black Nottingham lace that I have used previously. I ran two strips over the shoulder and intended to sew them together over the shoulder, but I got messing about with it, as you do (!), and couldn’t decide whether to have the two straps up, down, together or separate!

So, I left them separate, I don’t want to deprive you of your play! LOL!
The dress wasn’t glitzy enough as it was so I sewed some micro sized, petrol coloured sequins over the lace just for some added sparkle.

Now on to the shoes. Blue shoes are not the easiest thing in the word to find, especially when I want MY blue! So time to make my own! The shoe bases, or soles are taken from a pair of Tonner basic sandals. The ribbons and insole are very easy to remove giving me a nice…pink…sole to work with. Well, we can’t have that for a start! These shoe soles are actually very handy to have around, don’t throw away the torn out insole though, use it to draw round and create your own!
I painted my soles blue using ordinary little pots of enamel paint, mixed to the right colour.
Covered the insole in my blue taffeta and made a shoe strap from the black lace. Then I have sewn the tiny sequins across the front.

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 11

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Outfit No 11

Right then, lets tinker a little more with the strapless silhouette and throw into that a shameless inspiration from Robert Best. He did a stunning gown on Project Runway, using this neckline. I was so beautiful I couldn’t resist doing it in miniature, so with all due respect and regard to Robert, this one is for you!
…Well, ok, with one or two changes! Although the neckline blew me away, I wasn’t sure about the skirt, so decided to go for something more simple, classic and elegant. I shaped the skirt into the fishtail style and pulled out the back into a small train.

The fabric is beautiful, it is a new one on me, (maybe I don’t get out enough?) it is brushed silk and has a lovely velvety look and feel, yet is very fine and has a nice weight without all the bulk of velvet. I have fitted the dress closely to the doll, lined the dress and zipped the back.

The front neckline is gathered into the beaded halter necklace (..now there is a good word! Halternecklace!) The necklace is made out of a random selection of beads, they are different sizes for texture and they are gold, gold glass and pearls. The necklace fastens with a hook and eye at the back.

This handbag was also inspired, this time by Ginger Rogers. She tends to dance quite a bit, you may have heard, she also has handbag problems, so she is really one to watch for her solutions. She can’t really break into a dance with a handbag in her hand, so this is an idea taken from one of her films in which the handbag was fitted to her wrist. Dolls always have problems holding handbags, so I hope this one won’t just get dropped on the floor! The bag has a press stud opening and the fold over flap is trimmed with beads to match the neckline of the dress.

The red and gold strappy sandals finish off this outfit perfectly.

Challenge 10 - The Final Challenge - Outfit 12

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 13:53:00 +0000

Outfit No 12

This last outfit became a mix between the last outfit, Outfit 11, and my Fashion Royalty Moonlight outfit. The neckline and the shaping of the beading follow on from Outfit 11.

The shaping of the bodice, the underskirt and the, now pointed, tails are from my Moonlight and Joy dress done for the Fashion Royalty Challenge. The underskirt has been made in two layers a red layer overlaid with black, this reflects the dress fabric with is woven in red and black threads.

The dress is made up of eight lined and shaped panels, these form the dress which zips up the back.

The beading is done in a random selection of beads in gold colours and glass.

The outfit includes a matching beaded handbag, lined on the inside, it has a tiny bead and loop fastening. The beading on the outside matches her dress and the handle is made in the same way as her earrings.

Then to complete the look she has shiny red shoes!

Just for fun, and in case you were wondering what the dress looks like without the underskirt…

The dress is made in the rich red Silk Dupion as used earlier, not quite Moonlight and Joy, more like Fire and Passion!

I tried to get my collection to work in as many ways as possible, I have three basic colour groupings that you may be interested to see all together…

So! There it is, my collection …my Passion for Fashion!

As a footnote, and because she never likes to miss out on anything, here’s Ellowyne!!

Challenge 9 - The Gabby Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:49:00 +0000

This challenge is going to be particularly hard for me as I don’t consider myself as having any particular style, I have always dressed dolls to suit them, taking a lead from them or their personality. Or even from the customer requiring a commission.
I have never tried to inflict myself on them, if you see what I mean. So, a collection...hmmm.
Well, I will start where I usually start, ploughing through image after image and researching. But what do I research?? Me?? Well, perhaps not! I will just go with what I like and what influences me.
Here are a few images that inspired me as I scoured the internet…

There are also a few influences in my life which should really have an impact on my collection. My married life was spent moving around all over the place with the Royal Air Force so I think we will have a little military in there somewhere.

My brother is a drummer and plays for many bands, including The Sex Pistols Experience, he is very good …but I am supposed to say that!
So we shall have a little touch of the Punk too as that is supremely English!!

My Brother and his band.

I like detail, lots of detail! This comes from Jason Wu and his extraordinary Fashion Royalty.

I like my dolls to look real, like they are wearing real fashion that has shrunk.
I like everything to be in scale, from patterns, to fabric thicknesses, to buttons and zips.
I like to have fun, and I love anything that is just “different”!

I also like tartan, which, as we all know comes from that rare Scottish breed of Tartan sheep!

Tartan is not the easiest fabric to work with, it can be a right sod to sew at times, matching up lines and patterns and making sure everything meets. It is a nightmare to cut out, as you have to work out where all the patterns and lines will meet each other and then it can be equally as bad to sew, making sure you sew dead on the spot where the lines are supposed to meet!

Still, it is a challenge that I enjoy but can get very frustrated with!!
…Right where does all this leave me!
Well, it leaves me thinking, and more thinking!
The Gabby doll is very young looking, probably late teens, she likes music, and England.

Here I am again, designing for the doll, but I don’t care, she just fits perfectly into my picture!
For this challenge, I wanted every item of clothing to have something “different” about it, some little feature, no matter how small. Most of these elements will never be shown on Dollway but it will give me satisfaction to know that they are there, and to know that you are now aware of them too, having read about it here.
I started with the underwear. This is made in black chiffon to keep the bulk down. It has the seams running up the front of the legs and this is covered with red ribbon to keep everything tidy and seamless looking. The end of the ribbon has a tiny hook on the end to attach to the loop on the stocking tops. The knickers are elasticated at the waist and fasten at the back with a press stud.

The knickers and stockings are trimmed with red and black lace.
Now on to the shirt, this had to be bulk free too, as it was going under her jacket, so I trimmed it down to the bare necessities.

It is made in white silk, it is fitted without being too tight. The collar was a problem as I wanted her to have a tie but didn’t want too much bulk down the front. To solve this I made the shirt fasten down the back and lost the back of the collar all together, the collar begins to fold from the shoulders as you can see above, so that her jacket will sit properly around her neck.

The back has tiny bead buttons sewn on, as does the front and the cuffs, which have openings fastening with press studs.

Her skirt was a bit of a challenge, getting all those lines meeting properly AND getting the pattern to fit properly onto the pleats. I needed to get as much red showing as I could so that it would go with her jacket.
The braces on the skirt are fine satin ribbon, they are adjustable and attach to the skirt through tiny loops trimmed with buttons, The slide on the braces is a tiny buckle that is just perfect for the job.
I have to admit to tying myself in several knots trying to thread the ribbons though in the right sequence and end up with no twists in the ribbon. It is seriously not as easy as you would think! LOL!

Next up, is the jacket. I like to do jackets and I think they make dolls look very smart - IF you get it right! This jacket is made in silk again, it is a lovely deep black/red, which sadly is very difficult to photograph!

The fabric presses really well, there is no thickness to it and apart from the fraying, it actually behaves very well. The tartan was brought into the jacket with piped seams and epaulettes then finished off with shiny gold coloured beads. It has a tiny hook and worked eye fastening at the front so that the jacket can be worn open or closed and you won’t see any ugly fasteners.

The Tartan again was worked into her boots with piped seams. The black fabric is a lightweight upholstery fabric that looks just like distressed leather, it is great to work with and makes a great pair of boots!

Next came the hat. Now, this was inspired by a girl I had seen whilst out and about, she had pinned her rather floppy peak up with a glitzy brooch, which I thought was a cracking idea! This became incorporated into my hat, the peak was extended and squared off on one side and buttoned back onto the hatband to give it quite a quirky look.

And there you have it! My outfit, which, if I am successful, will represent my Final Collection!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:52:00 +0000

All I ever wanted from each challenge was to scrape myself through into the next round!
But to actually win a challenge is unreal! Imagine how I feel winning two!!

When I first heard of Dollway I thought it sounded like a great idea, but of course I thought I wasn’t good enough to enter a competition like that!
Designers selected from all around the globe?
How could I compete, don’t be silly!

I tried to put it out of my head, after all I didn’t even have the courage to e-mail Ted and ask for more details!
However, a little voice in my head (probably Ted’s LOL!) just wouldn’t let it go, it nagged at me constantly until I just thought, well, why not?
This is what I do for a living, I make dolls clothes!

Well, ok mostly for the beloved Sasha dolls (The support from the Sasha collectors has been breathtaking) with an occasional dabble into the fashion doll realms, but I am not one for putting myself forward in anything and certainly not competitions. And I don’t care what you say, I am not good enough…or so I always believed!
But here I am, how amazing is that!!

Well, whatever happens from now on, I have had a blast, I am SUCH a different person from this time last year when I was trying to talk myself into ...and out of, entering the competition.

Then there are all the valuable lessons learned and the knowledge gained. If I had spent the next 10 years working away here in my workshop, I doubt I'd have learned so much! We as designers, and I hope I can speak for all the other designers too, have learned so much about new sewing techniques, photography, writing blogs, design, illustration, different dolls, pattern design, working with fabrics, research, other fashion designers…I could go on all day!
You can’t find, let alone pay for, an education like this.

Thank you to everyone for your support!!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea) — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:20:00 +0000