Thoughtful Thursdays: Big-Eyed Dolls!

So what's with my obsession over big-eyed dolls, cartoons, and other miscellaneous characters? I've always been drawn to them. Oh, and juxtapose a big giant head with big giant eyes on a tiny little body... well, then I'm in love!

Perhaps it's that eyes just draw you in (pun intended!). I mean... there's so much emotion that can be read from looking at the eyes, even if they are drawn in.

Maybe it's because in addition to being adorable, they just happen to be a little scary. Cute and creepy... that's definitely me!

Or maybe it's because they look so sad. You just want to scoop them up, tell them it's okay, and make them feel all better.

But whatever the reason... I am inspired and amused by these wide-eyed wonders every time I look at them. And what could be better than that?

Cotton Candy For Coraline...

Oooooh... I almost forgot! I meant to make my "Little Me" some yummy cotton candy. It's her favorite. I made an aluminum foil base, glued an unwrapped cotton ball around it, and sprayed with a paint/water mixture. Nice and fluffy! The cone is out of cardstock and I painted red stripes on it. I'm letting it dry before I assemble it.

Little Me... Fini!

Here I am... in all my Little Me glory. Want to come and play with me?

If you would like to make your very own Little Me, I have this pattern for sale in my Etsy Shop!

Can Little Me Come Out To Play? Patience, Dear... Just One More Day...

So, I wasn't happy with the tea dye color of my Little Me, so I re-tea dyed the whole doll. But all I had was Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger... and it made her pink! Too funny, but not my intention. Serendipity, perhaps? I painted on some lips and freckles...
Fashioned a skirt and hand-dyed peek-a-boo crinoline...
Added the arms and made a cute pink sweater from one of my own sweaters...
Added a darling vintage pin as a barette... and tomorrow I shall reveal my Little Me finally completed! This doll was so much fun to make. Having sewn it by hand, I really felt like a little girl in the Colonial days... making her own little dolly. Until tomorrow...

Little Me...Coming Around...

My "Little Me" doll is starting to come into focus! I traced out the hair placement with pencil so I could add the eyebrows and eyes in the appropriate place. Before I sewed up the doll after stuffing, I inserted a long triangle made of cardstock for the nose. Cute, but it keeps slipping sideways though. So I may need to sew it into place later on...
More fun! Adding the hair. And... uh... it's pink... did anyone guess that's what color yarn I would be using? She's really developing a little personality...
And of course, matching pink striped stockings! Hello dolly...
Until next time...

Coraline, Coraline, Coraline...

Okay, so being inspired is quite addictive! It's been a real Coraline "Little Me" weekend. I realized from my original pattern (already cut out), that I forgot to add her ears! So I was able to sew them in while sewing the entire doll by hand...
To age the doll, of course some tea dying was in order. I do like to get messy when I create. I used the tea bag "direct-to-surface" for optimum color, but rinsed a little of it out. I think I might want more color, but I'll wait and see...Stuffing is fun and therapeutic! And, as you can see, the "creative juices" are flowing...
Until next time....