From Beginning to Now

I've received many requests for tutorials or videos on doll making and I'd really like accommodate those requests.  I hope in the new year to be able to post up some tutorial videos of some of the techniques I use.  From experience, I know how difficult it is to find any instructional material for porcelain doll making, in particular miniature doll making.  When one "gets the bug" to learn something, it's nice to get results to our research and really learn something well.  It's like an obsession with me, when I discover something new to learn and master, to find out all the information I can about the topic.  So, hopefully I can help those out who would really like to know these "secrets"...they're not secrets really, it just takes lots of practice :)

And I mean PRACTICE...take a look at these beauties.  Some of my first dolls.  A few made from polymer clay and some of porcelain.  I had to dig for these :)  They are from about 15 years ago...yowsa!!

I learned most of my doll making skills online with tutorials made by talented doll artists.  In fact, most of these tutorials are still up on these artists' sites.  Check them out:  

http://www.ginabellousdolls.com/tutorials/

http://www.minidolllist.com/

http://cynthiahoweminiatures.com/tutorialindex.htm

So, I hope to add to the treasure trove of tutorials out there...let's see if I can do it!  Juggling work, family and school...well, I AM superwoman you know!  

To end my post with my latest dressed doll and to show how far I've come...practice practice practice!

So Christmas is almost here. We've already had some snow, just that "frosting" I had talked about, but so far it's been a mellow winter.  The winding down of business for the year is evident everywhere, even in my own little world where I'm finishing some projects for work and school.  That mad rush of buying gifts is coming to a close.  It's been a good year.  Life is lovely.

Here is my latest custom order and as always, I enjoyed creating her and embroidering her apron.  She turned out well I think :)  Her new owner likes her and that's what matters :)

I've been rolling around some ideas in my head for the new year.  For Lilli's Littles it's been a wonderful growing journey and it's only getting better.  Learning about how to run a small business is definitely an invaluable skill to learn!  I want to have supplies for miniature doll making and even expand into building supplies for houses and scenes.  Hopefully this new year will bring a new printer so I can continue designing fabrics for minis.  I also want to keep working on my own molds.  I have a few already and now that I've figured out plaster mold making, I just need to practice my sculpting!  So, keep an eye out for new things arriving at Lilli's Littles!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Snow snow snow!

Hiya readers, I hope your holiday season is enjoyable and lovely!  It's about to snow here, or so "they" say.  1-3 inches!!  Wow!  In this area, it's a rare thing.  Most of the winter is just rainy and gray, but when snow comes around the holidays...it's like frosting :)

My little studio is humming away, and luckily my heater is too!  Lots of beautiful dolls coming your way!  I just finished this sweet little lady today.  Her face is so sweet and charming.  She's from a mold named "Harriett" by Doreen Sinnett.  I love dressing dolls from her molds.  They have such character and warmth.

I name her "Mireille".  I don't normally say what I name my dolls, but I name every one of them :)  I just figured that whomever their owner turns out to be, will decide on a proper name for them.  In my heart (and picture files) they stay the names I've given them.  Shhh...my little secret!  I also didn't stop playing with my Barbie dolls until I was 16...wait did I just write that?

Well, it sure seems like dolls were in my destiny.  I so enjoy making these little people.  I hope I can improve and get better and better at it.  It's very satisfying to me.  I also enjoy meeting customers from around the world...you're all a lovely bunch!

18th Century Glam

Hi everyone, remember that little piece of embroidery I was working on for a doll?  Well, here it is finished on my latest, an 18th century lady.  I've even created a set of panniers underneath to hold out the skirt at the hips as was customary to this era.  Let me know what you think!

Happenings of late

Hiya folks, after my stint at the Portland Miniatures Show, I decided to go to the Las Vegas show in January of 2017.  I'm very excited to be part of this show and it's their first (I think or second maybe) year of having retail tables.  They usually do wholesale, of which I'm excited to see as well!  Check out CIMTA and come visit me and see the dolls up close!

My latest creations, not including custom orders, are these little ones.  The tiny girl with her equally tiny bear.  And the gardener.  Very neat and proper for digging around in the dirt with his rust rake!

See you soon!

New Look Forever!

Just a quick post to show my latest custom order for a dear, sweet customer of mine.  She is dressed in the late 1940's early 50's New Look fashion.  She's my top favorite :)

I get so excited when I finish a doll!  

Back to my roots

Whenever I come back from a recent show, I'm so motivated to create more dolls and to get better at it.  I usually get home and begin, starting with dusting and cleaning out the studio and sitting down to write out my goals.  Again, I'm struck by how lucky I am to be HERE.  This is my bliss, my work, my home, my family, my life.  I'm eternally grateful :)

So, with that, I begin a new project...a 18th Century young woman in an elaborate gown.  I've decided to embroider.  Now here's where the title above comes in:  this is going back to my roots when my mom taught me to embroider kitchen towels.  I'd iron on the design and she would show me the stitches:  the backstitch, the french knot, the lazy daisy and the satin stitch.   Since, then I've loved embroidery and needlework of all kinds.  I've enjoyed adding this touch to my dolls as I can make the design to scale and the handwork can be trimming and decor on the doll.  My 18th century doll isn't quite finished, but here is a preview of the stitching.  I will add little gems and beads to glam it up.

Back to my roots again, here is one of my first dolls that I had made.  This is of my mom on her wedding day in 1957.  She had firey red hair and pale blue eyes.  She handed this to me the other day and asked if I would like to show her at my show.  I didn't bring the doll to the show as I didn't want her to be accidentally purchased!  I did however, take some photos of her.  I created "Mom" about 12 years ago and I'm pleasantly surprised that she's held up so well!

So, my dear sweet Mom... here's to you.  For teaching me to sew, to embroider, to make cookies and to stand up for myself.  My mom has dementia now, but so far she's doing pretty well at 78.  She remembers many things and goes back to her memories for most of the time, but she's still here and I'm ever so grateful that I get to have her in my life.