The Dolls Are Coming... or Going...or at least a few are

My major project this Summer, other than the nursery...which I will start at some point, hopefully, before the baby gets here... are my crocheted dolls for friends and family.

The logo banner showcases the first one I made in this style. It was done completely freehand (no pattern) and is a self portrait of sorts. She's also naked. Pregnancy has made me take time to reflect on my body and when I was making the doll I didn't want to obscure her heavy belly.

When I decided to make the series of dolls for friends and family, I wanted them to each reflect the person that they were made for and have a practical purpose. Each doll will serve a different function. The first complete two are like the original CraftFro doll in that they are made as desk weights for two friends who are also academics.

Check 'em out alongside Dr. CraftFro herself -

From l to right: CraftFro, Dr. Poly, Dr. Stat


A side view. Look at all that hair!

The dolls are similar in size and are each stuffed with a combination of natural fibers and heavy rocks before being mounted. Each has a wig made of yarn. This was the hardest part of making the dolls. I decided to go for hyper-realism and make the dolls - all based on African American women - have hair that reflects the natural hair of the women who the dolls are made for/after. I spent a few hours on each doll's hair - longer than the forty or so minutes they each took to crochet and stuff. I then accessorized them minimally with earrings and beads that fit the tastes of the women I am giving them to.

Here's a close up of Dr. Poly.


Each of the dolls has eye lashes and ears to hold the earrings. But the body shapes and sizes are different (purposely).

I really enjoy making these and will have plenty more to share in the coming weeks!

Thanks for taking a look,
~Dee

Embroidery Circle Earrings

I like crocheting with embroidery floss in the Summer. It's light weight and easy to take a long on trips. I usually just make earrings or bracelets.

If you want to make earrings like the ones here, I suggest you learn to crochet a circle in the round with one of these two great tutorials - http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa091104.htm or http://2good2lose.com/crochetcircles.shtml .
 
Here's a peak into my process.
The pictures are done with a green DMC floss. I used a size 1 steel hook.

















Next, I added some findings and beads that I had sitting around the house. I sewed them on with a hand needle and regular thread. I connected an earwire with a jump ring and VIOLA!  A pair of earrings I really liked. I decided I didn't care if they curled a little. Notmally, to prevent curlage (is that a word? lol), I would weave in a bit of jewelry wire under my finishing slips stitches. But these were fab without it.





I'll be back soon with photos of the new dolls!

Thanks for coming by,
Dee

Doodling Around

So I haven't had the focus or energy to work on the dolls for the last week. We're still unpacking and I have another project due for work soon. I've taken to reading art journaling and doodling sites and realized that I am quite a doodler and always have been. During long meetings, at conferences, when I'm bored and when I'm feeling anxious - I doodle. I found at least 6 around the new house this weekend.

I took a few photos of them.

Most of them come out like this squiggly paisley-thing. Done in whatever pen or pencil I have handy and in any blank space of paper.

I even broke out my big (11x17) sketch book I usually use for doll designing,  the other night when I couldn't sleep and did something a bit more artsy.


I unpacked some colored pencils and started doodling with those too.


I realized that I hate the regular Crayola colored pencils that I use. They lack pigment and they don't blend well.

Then it hit me. I really miss drawing. Hence, why I started reading the art journal sites. I don't think I want to create anything mixed medium  just yet, but I do want some pens and markers to replace the lackluster tools I currently have. So, I'll be going to the craft store and picking up a few supplies (and not trying to break the bank) to start a new art/doodle journal. I plan to post something soon!

Thanks for stopping through,
~Dee

"Freehand" Crochet Flower - Mini Tutorial for Beginning Crocheter

Admittedly when I first started crocheting, I had a hard time following patterns. To tell the absolute truth, I still have a little trouble with them. If you're anything like me, don't let your inability to follow patterns stop you from crocheting!!! Once I learned the basic stitches, I often found myself just hooking to hook and seeing what I came up with.

If you want to start crocheting and want to get rid of a bit of the pressure of doing it perfectly - try making this flower. This flower can work as an accent on any number of projects and takes a very short time to make (less than 10 minutes.)

To get started:
If you need to learn the basic stitches, there are a lot of good websites, blogs and videos out there. I think the tutorials at http://crochet.about.com/ are a great place to start and they even have a super helpful forum if you get stuck.

Follow along with the pictures and REMEMBER don't be uptight about your work. The project is intentionally not precise. Don't be afraid to experiment and try variations.

For the sake of pictures I used a size I hook but normally I would use F or G on a 4 ply worsted weight yarn like the one used here. It makes the flower a bit thinner with teh smaller hook.













Let me know if you make your own!

Check back soon for a crochet thread earring tutorial that's very Summer and even easier to do than this!

Also, more about my other craft hobbies coming soon!

Thanks for stopping by,
~Dee

Fro-Made - Crochet and Chain Flower Necklace

I haven't had a lot time to do much of anything beyond unpack, but this weekend I was up at an insane hour and saw this necklace by Joan Rivers on QVC. Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Joan Rivers or her aesthetic but I like the big rose collar. I went to the craft store and decided to use silver chain and turquoise beads for my version. But as I was making it I realized the beads made it heavy and not at all summer-like. I dis-guarded the beads and made my version without them.

Here's how it turned out:


I freehand crocheted the flowers and I really like the way they turned out. What do you think?

I will post a "freehand" flower tutorial in the next day or so, so check back soon!

~Dee

Welcome to the Burbs!..and crafty inspiration

So we've moved. There are a few last things to get from our loft, but we've pretty much relocated to the new little house since the bed got delivered.We've met most of the neighbors and even started working on the yard. I am having a bit of angst about the whole thing. I'll admit to liking having a bit of grass to sit out on with the Hubb around dusk but I also miss my city views and there's a jazz festival downtown tonight that is within walking distance of our old apartment. We'll see how I feel once we settle in and I set up my two most important areas - my home office space and my craft space.  

My next project that is not doll related it  is a jewelry project that will mix crochet and beading. I was inspired by this necklace that I saw on QVC at like 4 am the other morning. Pictures soon.


Laters,
~Dee

First Booties - to Embellish or Not to Embellish

Okay, so I admit it. I love to see patterns online and I "ohh and ahh" over the finished projects people post on sites like Ravelry.com.  But I usually don't get to the end of a pattern. But I decided a few weeks ago after a visit to the doctor when we find out the sex of our baby girl, I would try out some simple bootie patterns.

And viola! They aren't perfect - but they're pretty much done!


They were both supposed to be Mary Jane style booties. The purple pair was the easiest to make and would look most like Mary Janes on, but the blue ones are waaayyyyy cute.
Take a close look..


I am so glad I made them. Now, I need to decide whether or not to embellish them with something or not. If you're a Ravelry member you can find the patterns I used Here and Here.

I should add that these are the first things I've made for the baby and I haven't yet brought anything for the nursery. We're moving in two days and I keep telling myself I've been waiting for us to get settled in a new place before I buy anything, but I will admit part of my reluctance is first pregnancy worries and jitters. At 25 weeks now, I'm slowly getting over them and look forward to working on the nursery and preparing for her arrival.


Ohhh, and things to come. Over the next few weeks, I am working on a set of dolls inspired by some of my great friends in the style of the one that appears in my header. They don't know it yet (I haven't even sent them the link to this blog;)  Each of the dolls I make is done in freehand and I spend about twice as long making the wigs. I have a plan to make these have a function other than their quirkiness.

Here's a sneak peak of the first one..

I love the way the eyelashes turned out!

Thanks for stopping by.

~Dee