Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
2023, Here We Come
Hello Reader,
Boy, it's been a rough few weeks. I burned the candle at both ends trying to prepare for the holidays while working my day job and trying to grow my doll business in preparation for retirement; seeing an overwhelming number of really sick patients with respiratory illnesses; dealing with terrible weather and all that comes with that... loss of power, loss of internet/WiFi, loss of a part of our roof (while the whole family was sick with Covid).
I so appreciate everyone who emailed me with get-well wishes.
I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2023.
I'm a big maker of lists. Some might think pathologically so (my husband). I feel much satisfaction in crossing off completed tasks; it's my way of triaging what needs to be done first (and affirming that I DID something).
Toward the end of my Covid isolation, I took the time to formalize the pattern and instructions for my Santa head ornament (and yes, I crossed that off my list). This meant I had to make one more ornament in order to photograph the various steps. I add photos in my pattern instructions because I'm a very visual learner, as are many others. In this pattern, I talk about minimizing the appearance of center seams by ensuring your seam allowances lie in the same direction. It really makes a difference!
I've added the pattern to my website and Etsy shop.
My next big priority project is preparing and finalizing a doll class I'll be teaching in March, followed by another one in April. Lots to do!
| My Patterns are Here |
| Instant Downloads on Etsy |
Deanna Hogan
www.blueherondolls.com
deanna@blueherondolls.com
Deanna Hogan, Blue Heron Dolls
Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
Hello Reader, I finished a doll yesterday, and it felt good. When I started her I thought she'd be a good one to take to Virginia for this summer's ODACA Day. But as life has a way of getting in the way, I had to make the decision to cancel the trip. My only regret will be missing all my doll friends. So here's "Averill." I'd forgotten how time-consuming she is to make but I didn't feel rushed as I made her, working a little bit on her each day. She has buried bead joints in her elbows,...
Hello Reader, It's finally spring, which means we're due for weather that beats down my beautiful daffodils. It never fails. Yesterday I started sewing a new doll. This is exciting and refreshing for me because while working on my Big Project (secret souvenir dolls for 2027) and Christmas creations, all my other doll undertakings were on hold. But which doll to make? I went through my patterns and picked one. I chose "Averill," a doll I haven't made in a long time (the last one was a OOAK...
Hello Reader, I sew a lot, sometimes every day. It's never a good time for equipment failure. I love my sewing machine, a Bernina 165 that was purchased in 2006 (manufactured in 2004). Over the last month or two, the reverse/back-stitch button has been increasingly glitchy to the point that it has stopped working altogether. It works fine in every other respect, but the reverse feature is used on EVERYTHING. So I took it to the Bernina doctor. He informed me that my machine is older and has...