Boots for Lorraine

I came across a pair of shoes that I thought might fit Lorraine, and by cutting the straps off and using a small spoon as a shoehorn, I was able to get her feet into them.

She was quite pleased and wanted more. Then I had to have a little talk with her about how she and I are Special. We have Big Feet and we can't just go into a shoe store and buy shoes like normal common people. She said she understood, but I don't think she does.

Then I found a wonderful pattern for making doll boots here and since I had some spare fur on my hands I decided to try it.

Here is a closeup.

I had to enlarge the pattern, since Lorraine is bigger than American Girls. They were very easy to make, but I advise making a practice boot first out of felt (make two and your doll can have house slippers). Also, read the directions! I glanced at them and then thought I knew what I was doing but soon realized I didn't.

Now Lorraine wants to know if there's enough fur left over to make her a coat. I suppose there is. 

Sydney's Here!

Sydney arrived Saturday morning. I thought sure she would have to go to Sacramento and then back to Reno, but apparently she came straight to Reno, was processed early in the morning, and then sent out for delivery and we got her around 10 a.m. Because we were going out thrifting, she got to see a little of her new city. Then I was afraid someone would steal her if she was visible in the car, so I wrapped her in a sweater and put her behind the seat. She spent last night getting acquainted with her sisters. This morning I took pictures of the girls.

"We all got new dresses," said Sally. "Maybe you will too."

I already had Sydney's dress cut out, so all I had to do was sew it up.

"I love our sailor hats."

Last night Auntie Berman and I restrung Penny, following the directions of dollstringing.com/. It was very easy and painless (I hope) and Penny is a whole new girl.

"I feel like dancing."

"I heard we're going to get hoodies next!"

They are going to get hoodies next (but not today.

We had an incredible find at Salvation Army Warehouse. I've often wondered when Monster High dolls would show up in thrift shops and then thought "never," but I saw something in a bin, reached in and pulled her out, and Auntie Berman recognized her as a Lagoona Monster High doll. She was missing her forearms. We searched the bins but didn't find them. You can actually buy replacement forearms and hands from Mattel for $3 a pair! We also thought of making them out of Barbie arms. In the meantime, Lorelei, as Auntie Berman named her, relaxes at home with her camel (Auntie Berman collects camels, among other things).

"I thought I was going to die in the landfill. I'd rather be buried at sea, if I must go."

Auntie Berman has two other Monster High dolls.

I think they're whispering together about the New Girl.

Auntie Berman has many eclectic collections. She is going to start her own blog soon.

One New (Last) Dolly is on her Way

I've always loved the look of Mary Hoyer dolls but never thought I could afford one. Then I found out her face molds were often used by other doll makers. So I kept my eyes open and found her on eBay. Thanks to Auntie Berman, we won her for only $23.50. I will owe Auntie Berman for the rest of my life, as usual. The eBay seller, itsalways4sale, said I could use her listing pictures on my blog, so here she is:

We have named her Sydney.

She already has a dress but of course I am making her a new one.

The seller sent her out promptly and Sydney left Kansas City Thursday afternoon. I don't have much hope that she will get here Saturday and Monday is a holiday, so she probably won't be here until Tuesday. I wrote a little poem about her:

Oh Sydney, dear Sydney

Your mama awaits

Your arrival in Reno

Across many states.

Then another one this morning (not nearly as good but I'm not at my best in the morning):

Oh Sydney, dear Sydney

I'm glad you're not an Aborigine.

You are so very pretty

They don't appreciate you in Kansas City.

So then Auntie Berman had to write one:

A doll from the Midwest

Wanted to cover her chest

So she’d look her best –

She chose a vest.

Now looking her best,

She goes on her quest

(this is NO jest,

She is NOT a pest)

To find her nest;

She’ll live in the West.

Sure, she picked the easiest word to rhyme, while I picked Sydney, which is extremely difficult to find rhymes for (I refused to use "kidney).

Meanwhile, I've been sewing. (And we've renamed Marley Peggy, because we thought it was more in keeping with the times.)

Noelle, Peggy, and Sally enjoy the wintery sunshine.

Penny had a little accident. Her leg fell off when the elastic broke. She was originally a walking Sweet Sue but her walker mechanism had been removed and she had been restrung without it. I want to restring her properly so I invested $3 to learn how here. I saw that the main problem was whoever restrung her didn't use S-hooks. I only have two of them right now but will get some and fix her up. I made her a dress and Peggy is modeling it for her.

She wants to keep it for herself.

I used the fabric Ann sent me a while ago to make an American jumper (as opposed to an English jumper which, you may remember, led to some problems between Kyle and G.I. Joe and ended up as the fight). I need to make a better blouse to go with it and I have some nice honey colored silk (from a tie) that should work.

Auntie Berman painted Penny's lips, which really brightened up her face.

Penny will soon be a whole new girl!

Now I must get to work on Sydney's dress, which is a yellow-with-cherries cotton print from Mary Engelbreit. It will be nice to have a dark haired girl to dress.