Not Just Any Dress

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I've decided to stray away from dolly clothes and make a full-fledged human garment.  Of course, I can't just do something simple like a summer dress, I'm going all out and attempting a variation on one of my favorite gowns of all time, the 1950s Junon by Christian Dior (photos courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art).  Why?  Let's just say the dress will be worn by yours truly when the wedding bells chime. So, I have approximately 10-1/2 months to accomplish the task.  Thus far, I have purchased somewhere around 150,000-200,000 sequins, knowing I will be sewing each one on myself and probably needing many more.  I'll be looking around at fabrics over the next week and making final decisions on some of it very soon so I can get started.  I have my work cut out for me.

I'll be providing regular updates on the process.  I'd recommend checking back often to see how the insanity goes!

Also, to my dolly friends, don't worry -- I'll still be making my doll clothes for a variety of dolls and working on my pattern book.  At the very least, I will learn how to manage my time very well this next year.

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Looking for Momoko in Stores

I'm on a mission -- to find those darling little Momoko in actual stores in North America (not online). There is something gratifying about seeing a Momoko in person before purchasing it. As with many collectable dolls, there is a possibility of variation in the actual doll versus the stock photos, making it an even better reason to see those little beauties in person. I've encountered some stores over the past year and I want to share them with you, in case you are in the neck-of-the-woods of one of these great little shops. First up, The Swell Shop in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After walking into this store, I was greeted by Bradley Justice, a very friendly and wonderful shop owner. We had a nice chat about Momoko and I learned he writes articles for Doll News, the current issue of which has a Momoko pattern in it. The dress pattern was displayed on a Momoko doll in his shop (see photo). Talk about darling. This fabulous store also offers a variety of other doll collectables for nearly any dolly fan. I bought a couple items, one made by DollHeart and the other a Jenny accessory pack. The other photo provided in this blog post is also from The Swell Shop.

Next, Fabric Friends and Dolls in Laytonsville, Maryland. This awesome little shop is tucked away in a small town, but it offers a large variety of dolly fun that can even be purchased online. If you are an Integrity, Tonner, BJD, or Momoko fan, this place is a must. The owner tries to carry the latest Seki Momoko, but will be trying to carry Petworks soon. While in this shop, I bought a Randall Craig accessory pack (because I just love glasses), YoSD wig for my new boy, Ruby Red Galleria Honee-B shoes, and an Obitsu 11 body. I was very tempted to buy a Tonner Cami wig.

Lastly, a shop I visit often, is Japantown Collectables in San Francisco, California. It is located on the first floor of the Kinokuniya Building and it usually has a Momoko or two in stock. Along with Momoko, this little shop carries other dolls, such as Jenny and J-doll. I believe I've even seen Pullip dolls there too. If you want to branch out a bit, they even carry a large variety of model kits and action figures. Of note, at the Kinokuniya Bookstore you can sometimes pick up a dolly pattern book from Japan with Momoko patterns in it (along the stairwell inside the store).

I've tried Little Tokyo in Los Angeles a couple of times and have yet to find a Momoko there.

Know of a store in North America that carries Momoko? Let me know about it via the Facebook page or shoot me an email.

Support an artist! Visit my Etsy Shop. You can also follow my Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest pages. I'm planning on offering discount codes on the Facebook page from time to time!

The Memories in Cork Boards

Cork boards made from old wine corks is not a new craft, but I found something quite noteworthy about them when I was constructing my own. After constructing the cork board using an old wood frame I picked up at a thrift store and corks I have saved throughout my experiences, I realized that my cork board was full of memories of events in my life. The day I graduated college, my first dinner at my new home, great dinners and recipes with people I love, the big summer party, and the list goes on. So, I am mentioning this craft idea to y'all not just because it is great decor to adorn the walls of your home, but also because it can provide you with lots of memories. It does not require more than a frame, cardboard, hot glue, and quite a lot of corks. I even used champagne corks. If you are interested in detailed instructions, let me know via email or the Facebook page.

Save those corks!

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Sewing with Paper

Lately, I've wanted to spice up my business cards. I've been using my sewing machine for my cards for quite some time, but I figured I'd try apply similar methods to my business cards. Below are some new business cards along with some greeting cards I've made lately, accenting them with a bit of sewing. Of course, I love to repurpose and recycle items, so the cards below use old art magazine clippings and/or scrap fabric to create a new lovely piece of art. Try it out, but I'd recommend sticking to cardstock. Sewing machines seem to get along with cardstock a little more than some other paper products.

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Hunger Games Series of Cards

After watching the Hunger Games movie and having read all the books, I felt like I needed a constructive outlet regarding the series since my brain was constantly reminding me of the awesomeness and refusing to let it go. I decided to do a several blank greeting cards with quotes/names relating to the books. I also really loved that some characters were named after plants, so I decided to start a botanical series based on those characters. Who's next in the series? Katniss! These cards are available on Etsy, but I love them so much that I'm going to make some extra ones to frame and put on a wall in my house. Are there some 1-4 word quotes you'd like to see on cards? Post it on my Facebook page and you might just see it pop up on Etsy.

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