Feeling old-fashioned

Am I channelling my mother, grandmother and all the tantes (i.e. great-aunts)? I don't know what's come over me with this urge to do thread crochet. I grew up in a home covered with crocheted doilies, antimacassars, dresser scarves, etc. and I hoped never to see them again in a home of my own. And now look what I made... a thread crochet needle case and scissors case. Sure goes faster than cross stitch. If it interests you at all, you can find the instructions here and here.







Thanks for all the nice comments about Marilyn. The little impersonator wants to go to Vegas now, but I think she may have to stay a bit closer to home. And Miek, I'm taking the challenge to do an Angelina Jolie to heart!

Hello, Norma Jean

Marilyn Monroe was the quintessential sex symbol movie star when I was growing up. Every other blond bombshell was just a cheap imitation. So I figured I would try my hand at making another imitation, cheap or otherwise. This
classic photo of Marilyn from the "Seven Year Itch" was my inspiration.

Another view:


And this little graphic gave me a start as well:


I drew the face freehand in more or less the style of the graphic. Came out more like Madonna trying to be Marilyn than Marilyn herself.

The hair was done in crocheted chain loops: *(chain 12, slip stitch in the 10th chain from the hook)* repeat. Then I just scrunched it up and sewed it on around the face. Now she morphed a bit into Medusa.

I crocheted the bra bullets (more Madonna) from a pattern for a Barbie doll halter top. And the skirt came from the ruffle on a pattern for a Barbie doll gown.

And here she is:

Card swap

Sometimes the mail system is too good to believe. I mailed a card to Kristen in Germany on Tuesday and it arrived today! This was for the first swap in the cross stitch group on Stitchin' Fingers. A kind of 'getting to know' you exchange. The design is by LR de Rien. The title is 'Miniature Tulipe'. I used DMC color variations 4200 and a piece of wrapping paper underneath. My gluing of the paper leaves a little to be desired. I guess the humidity kind of got to it. Anyway, this was a fun design to stitch. I enjoy the 'negative' types.

Blogging award

The wonderful and talented Pat Winter, manager of the Comfort Doll Project, queen of CQ and all types of embellished embroidery has distinguished me with this award:



With the acceptance of this award, are some rules:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blog

So now I will pick 7 blogs that I check out regularly, but these are not in any particular order. And there are many other blogs that are just as worthy.

1) Sandra is a multi-talented needleworker and crafts-woman. She delights in exploring every avenue of creativity and is the most warm-hearted woman I have met in a long time.

2) Nita has the best tutorials for cross-stitch finishing and a ton of creative ideas to share.

3) Angela is a good friend who shines a little light whereever she goes. She is always so ready to help in any way she can whereever she is needed. She was a force that started me blogging.

4) Frimousse is a wonderful French designer who gives away adorable charts and tutorials for finishing on her blog almost everyday. She designed this little bicycle door-hanger just for me!


5) Val is another very good friend and wonderfully accomplished stitcher, needleworker, lace-maker, artist and photographer. Catch the beauty of her surroundings on her blog.

6) Rachel is a stitcher who lives in my area and writes the funniest stitchy blog on the web.

7) Barb shows off a ton of her marvelous creative efforts on her blog with the added bonus of pictures of her adorable children.

I could go on and on....

Marjannie

Here is my first collaborative doll. The face, hair and felted hat were done by Marja. The lace collar, body, hanger and beaded tail were done by me. I've just heard that Marjannie will be featured in the next issue of Crazy Lady Doll Quarterly.

Rehab progress

My first bikini doll has now safely arrived at the Swedish rehab clinic. She is being cared for by a loving family and I'm sure they will set her on a proper course. Here is the photo of her. She wants to be a stripper when she grows up, but hopefully she'll realize the folly of that pursuit with time.



Sandra, the Dotee doll is named after the woman who invented them. Her name is 'Dot' and here is her blog. She has a tutorial for making the basic doll and she even sells kits to make them at her etsi shop.

Nightbreaker

Today, I received my doll for the Dotee doll swap on Stitchin' Fingers. It comes from Marja in the Netherlands. Marja does beautiful work. Check out her blog to see the examples and note her newest 'Miss Piggy' doll. She calls the doll she made for me, 'Nightbreaker'. She created her at night when she was having trouble sleeping. The doll is supposed to be looking through a cloud. I just love her! And Marja also enclosed a doll face that she has embroidered with some very funky hair. So I can turn that face into another doll! I'll keep that face a secret for now.

Born on the 4th of July

Here is my tribute to the sun for July 4th. This little doll is ready for Wimbledon and the after-party with her kick-a-poo joy juice. It's hard to see the hands in this picture, but they are crocheted with all 5 fingers from a pattern in my new book. The little tennis racket and wine bottle are Sue Cook designs. And the sunshine face was a freebie at cross-stitching.com. The motif is called 'Cloister Window'. Sadly, my library book of crochet designs is due back and I've already maxed out on renewals. It's out of print, but I see there are some similar pubs on the market, so I may have to invest.


And for Patternuts, the inside of the altoid box:

Snow Cube

Just in time for July 4th, I took a picture of this Snow Cube I made from some of the little snowmen designs by San-Man Originals that were issued last December. I didn't stitch them til this year, and finally, now that I have a camera, I could take a photo. Not the world's greatest photo, but you get the idea. This was the first cube I ever stitched. I enjoyed stitching the sides, but I got kind of bored sewing it up. I like the finished product a lot though. And special thanks to my friend Jenny who taught me to make a twisted cord hanger.

Good mail day

I was recently discussing Altoid tins and ways to decorate them with a stitchy friend, and then, surprise, I received one in the mail! This was for the Spring exchange on 123 Stitch. My partner, Marie, had never tried this before. She used a design from Victoria Sampler and made it into a little needle case. The inside has a felt lining and magnet sheet attached to the lid. And note the cute bee button glued to the side. Very pretty and springy. She enclosed a couple of packs of needles as well. Thanks, Marie!



Then I also received a book I ordered, Creative Crocheted Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay. I've just glanced at it briefly, but it is filled with the most whimsical doll ideas that you can imagine. What an inspiration and new source of ideas!

This made my day!

Bikini Babe

My partner for the Dotee doll swap on Stitchin Fingers just let me know she received the little doll I made for her so I can show a picture here. I used two colors of pink floss and un-cut Turkey work for the hair. I played around with a variety of crochet motifs and edgings to invent the little bikini. She was my second attempt at this. The first one I tried has been sent to a Swedish rehab clinic in hopes that she will straighten up and fly right.