Merilotte with Elliphant in my Etsy Shop

I have just listed Merilotte with Elliphant in my Etsy shop.  Little Merilotte holds a special place in my heart as she was hand sewn in our Paris hotel room in the early mornings of our European trip.  When we got home, I decided she needed a companion and created Elliphant.  Merilotte is made of a soft dusty pinky peach German mohair that I hand shaded.  I made her a sterling silver chain necklace with a freshwater pearl pendant.  She is cotter-pin jointed and is 2 3/4" tall.

Elliphant is a patchwork wool elephant with a vintage brass bell around her neck and little freshwater pearls on the ends of her reins.  She has thread-jointed legs and is 2 1/2" tall.

I hope you can come visit them.

Teddy - All Pinned Up

This teddy has a muslin rectangle pinned to her front and is looking a little like a voodoo doll at the moment.  The muslin piece will become the front bodice.  I make vertical slashes in the muslin around the neck so the muslin will lie flat there.  I cut off some of the excess fabric as I slash and pin around the neck.  Then using a length of pearl cotton thread as a mini style tape, I "draw" the neckline design by placing it in the approximate position I want and then adjusting it.  I repeat the process for the back bodice.  Then I determine and pin the side seam.

I want a gathered skirt for this dress, so I gather the top of another muslin rectangle and pin it to the bodice.  I may play around with the gathering some to get the desired fullness, then mark the side seam.

I cut out a full pattern and pin it to the teddy to get a better idea of the look of the whole dress on her.  When I am happy with the draped design, I use it to make a paper pattern.  Then I’m ready to cut the dress out of the garment fabric.

Pignon in my Etsy shop

Pignon is now available in my Etsy shop.  He is 7" tall and is made of sparse, matted German mohair.  He wears a cotton lace scarf and 100% wool felt booties with perle cotton ties .  He is hand-shaded and has black and white google style eyes.  He is a one-of-a-kind.  As you can see, he is a little mischievous.  He is fully cotter-pin jointed and has a whimsical, primitive look.