Just Desserts...

I was so excited when the editor of Prims magazine contacted me about a couple of my modern vintage rag dolls. One of my favorite Stampington & Company publications, Prims is among my very favorite. Chock full of all types of primitive style dolls from softies to sculpted versions, it’s a mixed media doll makers dream. So I was blushing with pride when I got the call to pen an article for their magazine, and super excited when I received the issue and saw my name on the front cover!
 

Being inspired by just about everything around me, I discovered a fondness for making dolls that resemble my favorite desserts. So I had worked with the editor in picking out the most appropriate dolls for the issue, and we decided on my 3-tiered cake and a smiling cupcake because they had a common teal color scheme. When I sent them off to be photographed, I had no idea what an adorable layout they would create with my babies! To pair them with the kitchen scale, muffin tin and sit them next to each other like they were best friends…. well, I was just tickled at how it turned out!
 

In the article I talk about my inspiration behind my rag dolls as well as tips and step-by-step techniques I used to create these modern vintage softies. If you’d like to read more about my vintage style dessert dolls, you can find the article in the Winter issue of Prims, available through Stampington and at many of your local or online book and craft retailers. Muggsy and Van I. La are also available in my Etsy shop if you would like to take a piece of dessert home with you!

Knock Me Down! A More Colorful Solution...

For about 6 years now I've been making these Tillie version Knock Down Dolls in fun, circus-themed colors. The seafoam version was to match the color of the Palace Amusements building in Asbury Park, where Tillie's smiling countenance watched over children of all ages for decades.

An orange version was perfect for clowning around. Bright and cheery and colorfully circus-y.

And a royal blue version gave nod to a spiffy, more dressed up Tillie. And in all those years, I've sold over 100 of them.... with no complaints from the crowd.

Then, one day... I was like, "Hey! How about some new colors?" which was quickly followed by, "Duh!" and a head-slap. So, I decided to try out a pink version, to perhaps appeal to the ladies out there... a dusty lavender version, because I was feeling dandy... and a teal version, well, just for something different.

The exciting part was that I had just been contacted by someone who previously purchased one of my Knock Down Dolls and wanted to buy 5 more — in all different colors — to make a boardwalk themed display. And with the 3 new colors, I just so happened to be able to give her exactly what she wanted. A more colorful solution!

And since I was already fiddling with faux fur, sitting at the sewing machine, had hammer and tacks handy, and ribbons galore to rummage through... I made 2 whole sets. One for my patron and the other for you! To see all my Tillies in their fabulously amusing glory, you can visit my Etsy shop and click on Knock Down Dolls in the sidebar.