Doll Artist and Teacher: Preserving the art of making dolls and Artist Member of the Original Doll Artist Council of America (ODACA).
Finally, Cooler Days!
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Hello Reader, I can't believe we're nearly halfway through September! This summer was gone in the blink of an eye. I published my last newsletter in July, right before the UFDC Convention / ODACA Day. I'd hoped to send another before now, but life conspired. My husband and I caught COVID in Kansas City (or on the flight home) so we lost a week, followed by three weeks of babysitting grandchildren. So on weekends (when the upstairs studio temperatures were tolerable) I worked on my {secret} souvenir dolls - an exercise in time management. No waiting until the last minute on this one! That being said, I've decided to work assembly-line style for efficiency, and will divide the project into small groups of finished dolls. Yesterday I completed the first group of six. In between these groups of souvenirs, I'll be working on other dolls in preparation for next year's ODACA Day. This one will be in Norfolk, Virginia and the theme is "Shiver Me Timbers, PIRATES!" How fun! I've already got some ideas. Check it out: https://www.odaca.org/odaca-day-2025 As I look through my patterns, I think I'll make a Santa doll next. The holidays will be here before you know it, and I haven't made an Old World Santa in years. The stores will probably start displaying Christmas decor before long, and ornaments make great accessories for dolls (like the red lantern below). https://www.etsy.com/shop/blueherondolls
*Have you missed any Tips or Tutorials?* Tip #1: Sewing with Freezer Paper
Tip #3: Sewing Stripes Tip #4: Realistic Fingernails
Tip #6: Drafting a Clothing Pattern Tip #7: Pleater Board Tutorial
Deanna Hogan
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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, 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...
Hello Reader, It took over two weeks, but the new pattern is finally completed. Creating a new pattern means making another doll, writing instructions and photographing each step, proofreading I don't know how many times, and drawing the pattern pieces (without being overly caffeinated. 'Tis the Season She still needs her official photo shoot (she's kind of washed out in this photo), but she is done. I've just added the pattern to my Etsy store and website, but wanted to offer it here at a...