Making a quilt for Baby Cole

Hello,

I'm in the process of making a quilt for my new grandson due in November 2012! I think I've briefly mentioned it here or there ;)

Just wanted to stop by to show you the progress on it, its my first. I've made a crocheted quilt before but have never tried a fabric style until now.

These are the fabric choices that My daughter & I settled on and my quilt block template. There are easier templates but this was inexpensive and it worked.

I used a disappearing ink pen and a ruler to mark my fabric.

I did use dressmakers chalk on the darker fabric because the purple ink didn't show up. I still have a piece of dressmakers chalk that my Mom use to use, its a keepsake for me now that she's gone. I also gave myself the option of using a rotary wheel or my scissors, which one won out? hmm

I ended up using my rotary wheel for a few cuts and then switched over to my trusty scissors, I guess we all have our preferences :)

The top of the quilt! All the rows have been sewn together and pinned to the batting. I have made an error somewhere on this quilt top, can you pick it out?

This is the backing for the quilt, its very soft...just right for a little one.

I have a computerized machine, a New Memory Home, which allows many choices for machine quilting. I used a ruler and a disappearing ink pen to mark my stitching lines.

A closer look at the stitching.

And finally the dotted "Minky" that I'm using as a backing for the quilt, I've pinned this too instead of basting, I find it easier & quicker and it still holds great.

 

Next is the binding so I'll be back soon,

 

Michelle

 

 

 

Some fun, creative pics for you to view!

Hi...I'm working on my newest doll(s) ! I've been putting together 3...couldn't make up my mind? ;)
I'm also working on a baby quilt for my new grandson that will arrive in November! Just thought I'd drop in and post a few fun pics from the past. Oh and I've just opened my domain...yay! Funk-e-Fragmentz.com....completely, utterly, amazingly.....EXCITED!

a doll in the making

this was a pattern handed down from a friend to my Mom to Me!

Mahdreen in her early stages, not yet realized

Ankri the gypsy

 

And Zandar!

Keep those creative vibes....vibing!

 

Michelle

 

3rd & Final Segment in The Making of Mahdreen

Good Morning! Its hard to believe that I'm posting the last segment of Mahdreen, when she took sooooo long to be created. But here she is........

This is just after the hand sewing of her hair, made from a portion of a yarn that was very popular about 4 yrs ago for scarves. You can see I experimented on her eye makeup also, this was with watercolor pencils.

I also added in braids before completing the hair that was attached to her head.

Once I had her hair in place I played around with some embellishments, 2 more types of yarn that I had in my bag of tricks! When you compare this picture to that of the completed Mahdreen you can see many changes! That's what I love, love, love about creating my own dolls ;D

CREATIVE LICENSE..yayy

As I had posted in the previous segment, I added on breasts for Mahdreen by cutting out a small piece of flesh colored knit fabric. I hand stitched a gathering under each piece (they are connected),stuffed them with a fiberfill and then hand stitched them to her body.

You can also see some of her jeweled embellishments, I added beads just about anywhere I could find a place! And a bit of ribbon here and there.

Elf Shoes, again a scrap piece of drapery fabric, cut in the shape of a curly toed shoe!

I changed the yarn in Mahdreen's hair to ribbon & gave her an earring. You can also see that I've changed her eye makeup as well. I used acrylic paint this time and achieved the final look, which I was very happy with.

Mahdreen has one wire sculpted hand and one jeweled mystic hand...there is a story behind that, that I will have to tell sometime. Turning small fingers like these can be a bit frustrating but with the right tools you can breeze through them in no time.

                                                    A completed Mahdreen.....side view

                                                                       Front view

                                                            side view left

                                           MAHDREEN THE ELDER ELF OF WISDOM

I've enjoyed making Mahdreen from the top of her ear to the tip of her toes! Every moment filled me with a thrill of excitement........ENJOY!

Thank you for dropping in,

Michelle

 

 

 

Next segment of "The Making of Mahdreen"

Hello again!  I'm posting more on The Making of Mahdreen today.......

I applied a coat of gessoe and then let it dry, applied 2 more the same way & sanded with fine sand paper after each.

I attached some mystical jeweling to Mahdreen's left hand and painted her face with flesh colored acrylic. I've also added a bit of coloring to her eyes and lips with water color pencils.

These are a few of my favorite things...to work with. Acrylic gessoe, a glue that will hold a wide array of embellishments, watercolor pencils, the chopstick that comes with batting!, cloth tube turner and my hemostats (love these guys a lot). All these items make my life so much easier when I'm making a doll!

I repainted Mahdreen's face a lighter flesh color and started the eye and lip coloring all over again....this is the amazing greatness of creating! You can decided what you do and don't like, its all up to you!

Mahdreen with her hair and outfit. I pieced together all clothing with scrap fabric, following the idea of a doll's pants for her jumper. I then had taken a few small pieces of upholstery fabric (scraps) and sewn them together,....kind of mish mosh..for color effect. I played with it for awhile and ended up folding over two corners to make arm holes, sewed them together and had her coat. I had also by this time repainted her face with more watercolor pencils and started adding embellishments.

The back of Mahdreen's jacket, I gathered the back up a bit to form fit it to her. I've also zigzagged a ribbon onto the edge for another fun effect! As you can see her hair hasn't been trimmed yet.

I added some flesh colored knit to form her breasts, gathered them by a hand stitch and sewed them onto her body. I stuffed them with a small amount of fiberfill, then put on her pantsuit.


Well enough for today......I have the last of few pictures that I will post by Monday! Again if you have any questions for me about the making of Mahdreen or purchasing the pattern with full instructions leave a message and I will get back to you asap. She will also be posted on my Etsy store in the very near future!

Thanks for dropping by,

Michelle

 

Tutorial for Mahdreen the Elf of Wisdom

Hello.....well here goes!           This is the making of Mahdreen.

She is an all cloth doll, sculpted, painted, clothed & bejeweled!
Mahdreen sits about 6 1/2 inches tall, she does not have the ability to be posed. Her face is sculpted cloth but has been painted with gessoe, then designed with water color & acrylic paint. She has sculpted clay eyes that have been hand painted & inset. Her ears are wire rimmed and painted with the same flesh colored paint as her face. Her hair is a specialty yarn that has been hand sewn, braided and trimmed. Mahdreen has one wire sculpted hand and one jeweled mystic hand. Her coat, pant and shoes are scrap fabric that has been pieced together to make the beautiful outfit that you see here. As for the amount of fabric it took to make her...it was minimal ! When I mention that I used scraps..it truly is what it took to make her. The fabric for her body is a one way stretch faux flannel piece that I had in my scrap box. I had used it previously to make a larger 2 headed doll, a pattern that had been handed down from my mom. I rarely ever throw away any scraps...I love fabric and unfortunately I cant find anymore of this fabric ( I bought it that long ago!) I'm sure there are comparable fabrics that can be used, in fact the  next doll will be made of something entirely different (as I said, I don't have anymore of it left :)

I will post a progressive pictures of Mahdreen from inception to completion next...ENJOY!  and if you have any questions please feel free to leave a message and I'll get back to you asap ;D

Mahdreen's head before sculpting

                                              Her body, legs, arms & hands before stuffing

                                                Mahdreen's head after being sculpted

Elf ears pinned in before sewing & eyes that I drew on a separate piece of material with watercolor pencils. I cut them out and pinned them in to see what my actual eye drawing on the face itself would look like. I changed my mind along the way and used clay eyes that I painted & set into the material.

Her body has been stuffed and ears have been attached. Legs have been sewn on and arms and hands were next on the agenda.

clay eyes were molded and painted.....dried & glazed. Piercing a hole in the clay allows you to sew it into the cut in the fabric.

 

trying them on for a fit before painting

Her eyes have been set in and her face has been given the first coat of gessoe

Mahdreen completely sewn together and with her first round of face paint..I did repaint her face several times. Changed the flesh color the eyeshadow and mouth color a few times, I just kept going until I was satisfied.

!Well I'll leave her at this point and be back tomorrow for more...she was a process, but well worth every minute of her creation!

I hope you are enjoying "The Making of Mahdreen" the Elf of Wisdom ;D

Be back tomorrow! & if you have any questions in the meantime please feel free to leave a message for me. I'd love to answer any that you may have.

Thanks for taking this adventure with me,

Michelle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mahdreen the Elder Elf of Wisdom.....COMPLETED!

First a picture of the beautiful Mahdreen, my Elder Elf of Wisdom.....completed!

 She has been the most patient Elf that I've ever known, so many months and a yr have gone by since I began her. She has waited through all my healing from surgery, moving to AZ, getting settled in my new abode and then a few other projects that seem to have jumped ahead of her. Ah, but here she is finally completed and as beautiful as I thought she would be from the inception.

I will post a tutorial on her as best I can, being that she was a personal project I didn't get a step by step picture of her progress. She has gone through many changes as I put her together and played with the possibilities of what she would look like when finished.

This has been a learning experience for me as well in making Mahdreen. As I read more about soft sculptured dolls I came upon new ideas, I mixed them with the picture I had in my vision of her and voila'.........My greatest desire is to add more Elves to Mahdreen & Zandar's world.

Zandar (above), for those who are new to my blog, is my first Elf. Zandar is not my pattern (a pattern from SDA) but his clothing and detailing are. Mahdreen is a pattern drawn by me, as are her sculpting, clothing and detailing.

I will have a tutorial on Mahdreen coming this week! I also have a grandson on the way (November) so I'm making a quilt...my first for both! I will be sure and post on the progression of it and of course make a tutorial out of it as well. I also have a new doll that I've drawn just recently and plan to start that too! Busy, Busy, Busy!

See you soon,

Michelle

A Summer Hiatus

Hello Again.....I've had a few months off and still I'm making things (big smile).

Since I've last posted I have made another purse but this time its for my youngest daughter's Mini Chihuahua! She's only 4 1/2 lbs and loves to be carried or taken with no matter where you go, she's a cutie.  And since dogs are not allowed just anywhere and she's so small, well, you can fit her in a purse and shop as you please.

Most of the time when we shop with Lupe (the chihuahua) in arm everyone wants to stop us and pet her or talk to her. Sometimes though when we get to the check stand...some of the attendants are not  as pleased...so hence the making of the purse. Now Lupe can come along with us, happy and undetected!

I made the purse from a Simplicity pattern, decided on some upholstery fabric and leatherette (for durability) and also bought a purse bottom (a lightweight Plexiglas) so that Lupe felt sure footed when she's in it.

I didn't make a tutorial out of it but if you like it and want more information on it I can certainly do that. Or I can just pass along the pattern #.. :) Here's the purse, completely finished..its now in the custody of Lupe and her Mom, my daughter-youngest, Kristen.

I also put in a lining with special meaning....a piece of material that we saved from Kristen's childhood curtains.

I'm now starting a quilt for my grandson to be born in Nov ! So excited, this will be my first grandchild. Here's some of the material that I've chosen. I have it cut out and ready for sewing.

There will be a tutorial on this coming soon.............

This is just a snip-it for your viewing pleasure....

Talk to you soon, p.s. Mahdreen's finished, she'll be in the next post!

Michelle