This Weeks Dolls for Haiti: Well Done Everyone!

Sabine ( Germany) the doll maker behind Miss Tiffy can't stop making dollies!!!!  They are all so charming. I especially like the side ponytail on her little diva of a dolly! Fabulous idea!

Sian (UK) High in the Sky made these dollies with her little one "we cut and stitched and stuffed all Sunday afternoon and by teatime we had these two" .... How wonderful!

Mary (USA) sent in this lovely group of friends!  They look eager to find their new home ;)

Ruth Ann (USA) made these happy little cuties! "It was so much fun making them. My little granddaughter who is only 2 1/2 helped stuff their little legs and arms and sent them off with lots of hugs. Your pattern was great!"

Melinda, (USA) Peppermint Grove can’t stop making dolls! Which I think is fabulous, especially when the boys are as handsome as these!

 And don't get me started on their shoes!!!!!!  Too cute Melinda! 

I just love the lace collar on Nancy's (USA) dolly. "Thanks for the pattern... it was easy and fun to sew!"

Cathy (USA) (I blogged about yesterday!) and her dauhghter made these lovely dollies!

Hayley (UK) made these two sweetie pies! I just love the little pink heart on no.2! She's part of a group of ladies in the UK stitching Dollies for us, so far they have15 :) YAY!!

Tawnya (USA) and her wonderful mom Colleen made these adorable dollies! They are in fact already in New York waiting to be shipped, but Tawnya, a seamstress, will be making more;

“ (I) am currently addicted, and will probably send another 10 or 20? Depending on time…… my (sewing) table is full of half stuffed limbs!”

Let’s all say it together, Hoorrahhhh for Tawnya!


Well Done Everyone!  Another wonderful week of dolls!

Have a lovely weekend, & Happy Sewing!

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List of People’s Dolls that have arrived in New York!

Stephanie Victor, the President of The Abundant Ground Foundation has kindly sent me a list of everyone’s dolly packages that have arrived in NY. So stop your fretting my friends, the mail is getting through!! Hoorrhhaa!

121 dolls so far!!

"The response and the dolls are beautiful. I can’t thank you, Dolly Donations and everyone who helped enough. Thank you. All of you are great people." - Stephanie Victor

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Four Dolls Are Already in Haiti!

Thanks to Cathy (USA) (and her daughter for painting the dollie faces) four of our Dolly Donations Dolls are already in Haiti! Tucked into a visiting Haitian Pastor’s suitcase. How wonderful!

"... my Daughter told me ..... a visiting Pastor from Haiti ....would be back to speak on Wednesday night. I said I'd come ....... I had 4 dolls to take and Pastor's American friend said that he could give them to some of his neighbor children. Pastor's home and neighborhood was devastated and some of the children could use a doll."

As you can see from the photo's Cathy's been very busy! I wonder just how many dolls she'll end up making .... as she said, "they started multiplying ..."      YAY!!

You can read the whole story here: Cathy’s Scrap Creations

Well done Cathy, You're a Dolly Sewing Star!

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Make Yourself the Best Doll Stuffing Tool Ever!

There are a lot of very informative tutorials and tips online when it comes to doll and toy making. Some work for me, some … not so much! Here’s one that does.

I have always used a pencil or a chop stick to stuff my dolly limbs with. But Melly and Me, a fabulous blog about soft toy making, with lots of links to free pattern rescores suggested cutting up a paintbrush.

I have a ton of old paintbrushes, their bristles splayed all over the place, so I had no need to cut up a perfectly good one! 

I gave it a go last night and...... wow! 

This is one fab stuffing tool that really works!
I suggest you try it on your next dolly!

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Shipping Reminder! The Clock is Ticking!

Time is slipping away! Are you like me? Sewing like a crazy woman, trying to make one more doll before bed at night, dreaming of sewing doll legs and stuffing arms? Up early to cut more dolls before your baba wakes? Hmmm could I have OCD I wonder…..?! hahaha  I know i only have a week or so left before i'll have to send my dollies off so.......


..... here is a reminder for shipping!

• Send well before the end date, March 31st to ensure they arrive in time! N.B. The Dolls leave the US on March 31st for Haiti!! (I’m sending mine at the end of next week).

• Don’t forget your tax receipt! - even if you are not going to claim your dolls, please note that The Abundant Ground Foundation will be issuing tax receipts for all dolls received , so filling in the form saves them lots of time! :)

Click here for the printable PDF Tax Receipt Form

• If you are in the US, Priority Flat rate envelopes and boxes might be your cheapest option ;)

Please send your Dollies to:

The Abundant Ground Foundation

96 East Raymond Avenue

Roosevelt, New York 11575.

Happy Last Minute Sewing and Shipping!!

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Speed Up Doll Hair Sewing!

I do like the hand stitched look of felt, but I was in a pinch for time yesterday and decided to wiz a few through the machine, and they turned out wonderfully.

Here are 3 tips I found worked well:

1. Pin it well!! Make sure the felt is securely in place.
2. Use a contrasting thread.
3. Sew close to the edge, 1/8 inch.

Happy Sewing!

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Doll Faces: Get Inspired!

I thought I’d make a little inspiration board up of some of the fabulous faces you have made (all of your hard work can be seen here!) to help inspire others who are daunted by the task.

You don’t have to be able to paint, you can use felt, fabric pens, applique or embroidery (buttons are best used for older children).  Doll faces can be as simple or as complex as you like. In general all dolls have eyes and lips, not everyone adds a nose. You can’t go wrong though, because it’s up to you! That’s what’s so fun about faces!

…and with a face, the dolls come alive!

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Look What Dolly Donations Was Given!

A Big Box of Stunning Fabric! Thank You so much Carla (Scientific Seamstress) and Jennifer (the very talented designer of Sis Boom) for the wonderful fabric scraps! There’s nothing quite like a beautiful box of fabric to spur a girl on with her work. I left dolly limbs scattered all over my house, far too excited to finish them before I started cutting the new fabric! It took me half an hour just to choose from all the many colors, and wonderful designs…… and then I stayed up all last night sewing away!

TA DA!!! Two beautifully stylish dollies in Sis Boom Fabric all ready to find their new owners in Haiti!

Thank You both so much! Happy Sewing!

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My Creative Space!

I've been meaning to post this for a while......... I see a lot of beautiful craft and sewing rooms on blogs, all the fabric organized, their tools of trade hidden away in some clever designer storage bin with all the furniture color coordinated …. And I drool!!

My sewing space just doesn’t fit into my art studio anymore! As you can see it’s taking over my whole house!!!  My sewing station is in fact my dining room table.

My limb stuffing station is my comfy chair, all my doll face painting happens on my kitchen table and ……

…. This used to be my entryway living room!

I’m a one woman production line! Hahahaha

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