Dollmakers anywhere???

Pam_SewsAlot

20 years ago

I stumbled upon this forum and thought, How wonderful!! But...where is everyone?? Are there no dollmakers out there?

Comments (24)

desiderata
20 years ago
I've wondered the same thing....I posted, so long ago, I don't even think about this forum, much anymore.
I posted, wanting to know if anyone has ever made apple-head dolls.
Nearly a year later, I got an e-mail, from a lady, who lives in France. she was looking for recipes, for apples...lol
We've been e-mailing fun stuff, back and forth, for all these months, now. She's getting married, in Africa, in July and I'm trying to make an attempt, to attend her wedding party.
A strange twist, to a simple post. We never did discuss dolls, though, of all funny things......
What kind of dolls are you interested in asking about? and like you, I don't know why no one checks in here.....it needs a boost.

Becky, in Washington State
Pam_SewsAlot
Original Author
20 years ago
Hi Becky!!
I really enjoyed your post! And you are right!..."A strange twist to a simple post"!! LOL. It's amazing how the simplest things can change a whole life.

I'm really not interested in a particular kind of doll...just all dolls in general. I tried the apple head dolls a long time ago. I must have done something wrong though, because they turned really dark. I still have them, but they don't look very nice. I have also made cloth dolls, which I love to do. For the past year I have been doing the Reborns. I have a hard time adopting them out.(I tend to get really attached to each one I do). But if I didn't do that I wouldn't be able to afford to keep doing them.
Thanks for posting, hope to chat with you again!
Oh Yeah...Hope you can make it to your friends Wedding this summer!!

Pam, in Indiana
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Molly Adams
20 years ago
i make soft baby dolls, for babies and toddlers to cuddle! cotton, with wool stuffing and just a hint of a face...
Lia_SC
20 years ago
Hi,
I bought a copy of ArtDoll Quarterly recently and have become interested in trying some sort of doll making. I'm not much with fabric, stitching, that kind of thing. But I like to work with clay and paper. I think the props are as interesting as the dolls themselves.
I was just going to ya hoo to see if there are any fun groups there for dollmakers. I need some help getting started!
Star58
20 years ago
Yep, here's one!
I do cloth dolls and polymer clay figures.
If anyone knows of a good magazine about
cloth dolls, would love to check it out.
Have found some interesting websites and books
about cloth dolls.
Desiderata, I loved your story!
theroselvr
19 years ago
It's been years since I made dolls or bought magazines. Some of my favorites were Doll Reader (they had patterns in the back) Doll Designs, & Dolls. I googled Doll Reader & see Hobby House Press still makes design books

I get catalogs by Clotilde she's got various doll making things for sale. My favorite is the doll zippers & buttons, as well as patterns. Another favorite pattern company is Sew Sweet Dolls I've made various dolls from this company, Twinkle being my favorite. She's also got a clown pattern that I loved making. I changed the hair & outfit a little & made 2 girl clowns.
jomo
19 years ago
There is some pictures on KT of some of the dolls I've made. I am making another one of the life sized little girl dolls.
crazyaboutdolls
18 years ago
Hi,
I just run a cross this site and like to make cloth dolls. there is a magazine called soft dolls and bears that have patterns in it. Simplicoty use to have a pattern to make a 25" Pattern # 9620 but its hard to find now.

Hope you find what your looking for.
sherilynne
18 years ago
I make soft sculptured dolls.. kinda like the original cabbage patch kids.. and I sew doll clothes.. mostly for cabbage patch kids. :) I run an msn group for people who make CPK's clothes and also the dolls..

Here is a link that might be useful: cabbage patch sewing club
giardinierven
17 years ago
I'm an on and off cloth doll maker, though I have dabbled in Japanese paper doll making too. Finding this forum has got me in the on again mood...though it is spring- time for gardening and I'm doing a reno project in the house starting next week, plus have fieldwork on the farm starting tomorrow.

I like cloth dolls for the variability and ease and also am a costumer. so sometimes a small costume will satisfy the craving.

...Don
newagedolls
16 years ago
I make dolls, but not cloth dolls. If you want you can view them at http://www.newagedolls.com =)

Here is a link that might be useful: my dolls
seaglassic
16 years ago
wow, it's been ages and a half, since I checked in here..
my user name used to be desiterata and I've since changed it..
I thought for those who checked in here, so long ago..I would add a footnote to my friendship with the lady in France...

I didn't attend the wedding in Ghana, because of passport/costs/insurance and the obvious expense.
I did keep in touch with her and when she got married in June, not July, like I had posted.
she was there for a month and flew back to France by herself. because her new husband was an African resident.
she was ill, the entire time, from marriage, through the month of early marriage.
her last email I received, said she would email me the next day, after she could maybe get some much needed sleep, from being so incredibly sick.
I never heard from her again, until August, when her daughter emailed me, to inform me that her mother had died of malaria, about 7 days after her last email to me.

after her death, she went through all of her mother's files and found the friends she had been in touch with.
I was heartbroken to hear it and it's been 3 years now...
whenever I even think of applehead dolls, I think of Uli, the wonderful, friendly lady, who used to send me jokes and recipes in German.
she was a German lady, who had a small orchard in France, who was only doing voluntary work, to help the poor.
that's how she met the man she later married..
very sad ending to her gift of help, to so many.

Becky in Washington State
copper_ne
16 years ago
I have decided to get back into doll making, but this time I am going whole hog. I used to make my own sculpted dolls and animals, but now I am going to work in molding as well. I am glad to see other doll makers to converse with.

Rose in Nebraska
pandgdolls
16 years ago
Hi everyone

Seems like this might be a low traffic board - but that suits a slower paced person like myself.

An intro

Gwen and I are porcelain dollmakers / teachers in North Tasmania (that big island that sits just under Australia)

We have been having fun with dolls for around 7 years and have had students for the last 4.

I am happy to share any information that I can and will nor doubt have my share of questions as well.

I have played a little with sculpting, cloth dolls, moldmaking, jewellery and have a few skills in other areas as well.

I look forward to an interesting and enjoyable exchange.

Peter

Here is a link that might be useful: A picture site with some of our stuff :)
TwoMonths
16 years ago
Hi, I am a luker starting today. Other sites I frequent are very slow. I think the whole reason is that we had holidays. Then cold weather and short days. People just have less time to do what they like I guess. My DH is sick and that takes a lot of my time.

I have made a lot os soft body dolls. Made some for my DD friend for her daughter and niece and mother, but think she fell in love with them and did not gift them but kept them. I did not see many black dolls so I made those. I made some of the black "golly" dolls with my own madeup pattern. I almo made some wrapped rag dolls (over wire frames) and some 'bottle' dolls. Most of those I have seen on tv programs and made some sorta like them. Other wise I do an internet search and look for a particular doll. Now you can put in 'free patterns for cloth dolls' and find many sites that have free patterns online. Good luck. Keep stitchin.
primgal36
16 years ago
I've been making primitive dolls for about 4 years now. My specialty is Annie dolls, but I never know what I'll be creating. I don't use patterns for anything.
I don't even try to explain to others how my mind works, it's too hard. Having all this creativity can be maddening at times, your brain doesn't shut down.
First time to post here, usually on the garden side, but there doesn't seem to be much happening on this site.
I have some things in the works, but I have a full load right now, so I don't know when I'll get them done.
Have fun creating.
pink_warm_mama_1
16 years ago
seaglassic: That is a sad story, and I can understand how you feel. Life is so strange, isn't it? However, you did have a short period to enjoy your new-found friend.

I've never made dolls, but have always been interested. Pop in here now and then to see if I can learn a place to begin, but have yet to do so.
gillianuk
16 years ago
I still looking for a clown doll pattern. I got if from a Craft'n Things magazine 1989,1990/3 sorry can't be more specific.I made it for my daughter, and would love to make one for my granddaughters, unfortunately I was unable to bring my crafting things back to the U.K. The clown was about 2ft tall with multicolored yarn hair, the thing I liked most was his boots. The were sewn with his legs(didn't come off) They had shoe laces, I had to buy a special tool to make the shoe lace holes.Please if there is anyone out there who has this pattern I would be eternally grateful. I will be happy tp pay for postage etc; Many thanks Gillian Wilhelm
wondersome
15 years ago
New member here, preparing to make a large cloth doll. Is anyone home?
sassycrafty
15 years ago
Hello all fellow doll makers, I make beautiful dolls from plastic canvas I have one up for auction on ebay if anyone is interested in seeing what I make. Just type in (beautiful handcrafted 12" Christmas doll). Thank you and look forward to seeing some of your dolls that you make. I am looking to branch out into other mediums.
donnajean_2008
15 years ago
Has anyone heard or tried making a dollie blanket. It's where you make the upper part of a doll (head, arms, chest) sew it to the corner of a baby blanket. This way the child can cuddle up in the blanket and have a baby to hug.
sophybade
15 years ago
I make clothespin dolls.... I love it. Check them out.

jamiesdolls.weebly.com
huggybear_2008
15 years ago
Hey Pam and Becky, I would love to see pics of the reborns babies.. I made many many of the Time out dolls and sold almost all of them like about 50 or 60 of them and each time it was like giving away one of my children, infact my grandson came to our house one day after I had been to a craft show and sold pretty much of the dolls I had made and he wondered where all the kids when. I almost felt like I had sold part of our family.. LOL he was just a little guy then.. but he still remembers as I still have one or two of the dolls left that I would not sell. It was funny how some of the folks who bought the dolls were buying them for either their mothers or fathers , aunts or grandparents.. I even made one with red red hair for a lady ..whose little boy had fire red hair and so she wanted to give the doll to her Mother.. I told her to bring me a snip of his hair and I would try to match and I was able to do so and she was as happy as a bug in a rug. One other young man bought one for his mother.. when he gave it to her.. she cried, and said..that was the only doll she ever had, as when she was growing up they were to poor to have toys and dolls.. she sent me a thank you letter and I cried too. So Dolls are just like family...
Huggy
huggybear_2008
15 years ago
Hey Pam and Becky, I would love to see pics of the reborns babies.. I made many many of the Time out dolls and sold almost all of them like about 50 or 60 of them and each time it was like giving away one of my children, infact my grandson came to our house one day after I had been to a craft show and sold pretty much of the dolls I had made and he wondered where all the kids when. I almost felt like I had sold part of our family.. LOL he was just a little guy then.. but he still remembers as I still have one or two of the dolls left that I would not sell. It was funny how some of the folks who bought the dolls were buying them for either their mothers or fathers , aunts or grandparents.. I even made one with red red hair for a lady ..whose little boy had fire red hair and so she wanted to give the doll to her Mother.. I told her to bring me a snip of his hair and I would try to match and I was able to do so and she was as happy as a bug in a rug. One other young man bought one for his mother.. when he gave it to her.. she cried, and said..that was the only doll she ever had, as when she was growing up they were to poor to have toys and dolls.. she sent me a thank you letter and I cried too. So Dolls are just like family...You can see some of my Time out dolls on this web site
Huggy

Dollmakers anywhere???

Comments (24)

desiderata

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Dollmakers anywhere???

Comments (24)

Pam_SewsAlotOriginal Author

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Pam_SewsAlot
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