Quiet moments with Blu
This past weekend was truly lovely. I got to spend a wonderful time talking to my Patreon peeps, via a Show & Tell where everyone brought their work and recently made dolls so that we could all see them and oh! and ah!
We talked for hours discussing everything from how not to get wrinkles in doll’s necks, to how everybody discovered dollmaking and the latest tutorials shared with them via Patreon. It was loads of fun and I am looking forward to next month’s Gathering.
Doll hands: a little thumb on a cloth doll. Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
After the live call ended I was full of energy and love for this beautiful craft I discovered almost 13 years ago. Blu was waiting for me, with a total lack of clothes, so I decided to tackle some of the essentials first.
She had already chosen the fabric for her underpants so that’s what we made first.
I offered green elastic, to match those wispy green leaves, but she instead chose white. She loves three colours the most: blue, grey and white. Blue being her very favourite of course.
Hint: there is a free pdf tutorial in this website on how to make underwear like my dolls. You can find it here>>>
Doll underwear, made with cotton jersey and fancy elastic. Natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.
Lettuce-style hem on doll shirt. Doll clothing details for Blu. Natural fiber art doll by fig and me.
Once we finished her underwear she said she wanted a tshirt. I had hopes she would love a cotton fabric I had purchased for her, but she said it was too full of colours and she wanted “just a tshirt” so this is what I made for her.
In true Fig&Me tradition, we chose a cashmere ribbed collar for her tshirt and added the fun details of lettuce hem on the sleeves. I loved that it made her giggle, looking at those ruffly bits on her shirt. Oh! the simple pleasures of a sweet doll.
We had so much fun sewing and making messes together.
I wrapped her in her cozy blanket and let her play with Poet, knowing I wouldn’t get to work on her again until mid-week. I am trying to be a good dollmaker and be responsible and take breaks. So that’s what I did…though I couldn’t stop thinking all weekend about what else to make for her. I have big plans.
A doll by the window. Sculpted doll profile by Fig and Me. Sculpted in wool.
She wants to play outside, though the forbidding temperatures of -28C make it quite a challenge, so we are thinking: nice and cozy socks, big boots so no snow can get inside her socks, lovely and warm wool overalls (praise the lord, she already chose the fabric), her tshirt (which we just made) and perhaps mittens, a jacket and a hat.
As you can see, we have a long way to go. We have only just begun the arduous but entirely fun task of dressing this little girl.
Little doll underwear, cloth art doll by Fig and Me.
Because Blu is quite little, both in age (she told me she just turned 6 and she is very proud!) and in height, she measures barely 15” tall. She is weighted with a little bit of glass beads in her belly, so the wind doesn’t take her a-flying.
Blu is a magical doll being from a distant land and she will be telling you all (if we can coax her out of her shy shell) about herself soon. For now, let me go and keep playing with her, with fabrics, buttons and lace.
We shall report back soon.
Blu, a Mini Petite Fig art doll by Fig and Me. Sculpted in wool, with long mohair weft.
