A Purpose Such As This...

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Dresses & Dolls

 What a fun day I had yesterday!

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Dresses & Dolls

I created four dresses for our Dress A Girl ongoing effort...these three, and

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Dresses & Dolls

 this last one, which I put the final touches on right after we ate dinner.

Every time I finished a dress and doll, I carried it out of the studio to show Handsome for his critique. He chuckled when I held each set up for him, and said they were all so darned cute.

I took pictures of the dresses before I remembered to put the Dress A Girl labels on them, but it was simple to add one to each pocket before I packaged and labeled them for donating. Putting the labels on them is the final touch, and I won't let any of our dresses head off to our Ambassador without making sure each dress has one.

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Doll

I had so much fun making everything. Sewing the hair on the dolls was especially amusing to me. I wasn't sure what each one would look like until the hair was sewn into the seam and turned right-side-out.

Our group often shares techniques, and now many of us are sewing heads to bodies prior to stuffing them. It takes one step out of the instructions on the pattern from the Dressed In Hope group. The last thing left to do is sew a decorative stitch seam across the bottom of the doll and then it's done.

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Doll

 Each one wears fabrics matching the dress to which it belongs.

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Doll

Some have short hair...

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Doll

Some have long hair. Each one has a unique personality like the little girls who will eventually play with them.

I hope that the little girls who receive them will love them as much as I loved making them. In fact, I'm looking forward to the next sewing day when I make more to send to parts unknown.

Brynwood Needleworks - Dressed In Joy Doll

We've set our next deadline, which will come in the new year. I've called it the "Valentine's Dress Drive" and all dresses and dolls will be due here (at Brynwood) by February 13, 2016. I set our goal for 300 dresses with dolls, and the dressmakers have already said we can surpass that number. What an incredible group we have!

If you're interested in sewing dresses or dolls, or donating supplies (like fabric, stuffing or ribbons) to our cause, please ask to join our Facebook group, Dressed In Joy - Brynwood Needleworks. There are so many ways you can contribute to our effort even if you don't sew.

I'm so honored to be a part of this project. I think it may be something I've been working toward my whole life. Maybe this is one of the reasons I learned to sew when I was only 11 or 12. A purpose such as this.

Not Tuesday With Tag - I Think I Did It...

By bansheehouseofmake on Etsy

I have told you an interminable number of many times that I can't make a doll. But one of the items on my To Do list is a stuffed toy. So, I ask you this question..."Can a stuffed toy be a doll?"

I looked on etsy and found this little monster. Would you considered this a doll for some lucky child?

Created by quiltedblissbynadine

Then, I found this stuffed toy. How about it? Is this considered a doll?

I bet you're wondering why I'm asking this, aren't you? Well, my little red-haired granddaughter has fallen in love with one particular corgi. She talks about Tag all the time and even draws pictures of him, so I decided I had to try to make a stuffed toy for her, and my Little Man would be the perfect subject!

I took this photograph and printed it on cotton fabric with my inkjet printer. It really was easy as pie.

I decided to use a beautiful, hand-dyed wool felt for the back. I cut around the image, leaving a 1/4 for sewing and joined the front to the back (right sides together) leaving a small area (between his front and back leg) for turning.

I stuffed "Stay Tag" (that's what I've called him!) with a silk-blend fill so that it was really firm and then stitched the opening closed.

"Stay Tag" measures approximately 8" tall (including his ears!). He'll be just the right size for a little red-haired girl to carry around with her to remind her of her favorite corgi.

The question remains. Is a stuffed toy a doll, and if so, have I finally accomplished the impossible? Can I make a doll? I'll be anxious to know what you think!

I'm going to see Tag tomorrow, so this week you'll be able to read about him on Thursday. I'm so excited I probably won't sleep tonight! I promise a nauseating number lots of pictures!