Diamond Life

 

For awhile now, I've been wanting more estate jewelry for my girls. But for reasons of time, cost and current geopolitical issues, I have not wanted to order from abroad. I have seen ropes of rhinestones, but never knew how to work with it. Recently I found what's called "rhinestone chain" at a nearby bead and crafts store (though you can order from Amazon if you know what you're looking for). And eventually I discovered a DIY site that explained the various things you can do with it and finish off the ends. You can use glue instead of solder and you can even wire the chain to another surface. To my surprise, it was amazingly easy. And so....the post which I had hoped would go up on Valentine's Day is here, just as my girls are setting their sights on Oscars night at the red carpet!  

For this project you will need:

Rhinestone Chain (3mm)

Rhinestone Cup Chain Ends (for chains 3mm)

Jump rings

Wire to make S hooks 

Strong glue

Jewelry pliers

At first when I set out, I had visions of grandeur! You know, Queen Elizabeth style baubles. But then I took the time to research trends from high fashion jewelry houses.

It should come as no surprise that given current lifestyles, simplicity reigns supreme! In any case for us, it is a good place to start. I had fun with this project, so trust me, as I find more stuff that can be used for jewelry making, I will be coming back to this subject in the near future!!! For my first attempt at creating "fine jewelry," I focused on the basics in my efforts to keep things fast and easy.

Anna's first jewels! What could be sweeter than a single row of diamonds! Making this choker is simple. A piece a string around her neck will give you an idea as to the amount of chain to cut. Add another 2 links to allow a bit of ease. 

This is so easy, The rhinestone chain is a series of crystals embedded in minuscule, clawed cups, linked together by a bridge which runs throughout the length of the chain. The metal is very soft. So you can cut it with a pair of ordinary scissors. Then there is the chain cup ending, a small claw link with a tab on one side and prongs to hold down the jeweled end of the chain on the other. Hold the chain cup by its tab and place the end of the rhinestone chain inside (a single crystal). If you look carefully, you will notice there are two prongs standing upright. Using a pair of jewelry pliers, carefully press each one towards the stone. You don't need to press too hard as the metal is quite soft. 

You will also notice that the tab has a small hole to which you attach a jump ring or a closure. You can use anything you want. However, these necklaces are quite tiny and getting them on the doll can be a real pain. If you plan to sell your creations, go ahead and use the standard jewelry clasps. But if this is for yourself, you might want to make your own S rings with an extended hook! Note: for instructions on making your own jump rings or S-rings, see "Pearls of Wisdom."

With this single strand of "diamonds" you can create a lot of different looks simply by hooking on a small pendant-- perhaps something out of your own jewelry box. Those pendants which I wore in my teens and early 20's make for impressive estate jewelry on the doll! All you need do is to create a small hook out of a bit of soft wire which can be attached to the front of the necklace (as opposed to threading through the chain)! 

Most pendants fall vertically from a chain. However, I found a pendant and added a loop of wire around the lower end so that I could connect it to rhinestone chain on both sides, thus creating a very glamorous "diamond" choker. 

And even if you don't own pendants, feel free to create your own using rhinestone stickers! 

Use a tiny bit of air dry clay and press the jewel onto one side. Make a loop with some thin wire, then twist and press into the clay to completely cover. At the top right, I started out with a round stone in the center of a small ball of clay. Then I added a row of rhinestones from the chain around the perimeter. You'll see the result in the photo below.

You can also use a longer single chain to wrap around the doll's neck, thus giving the illusion of a double chain. For the one below, I added a S-ring only on one end of my "rope."

While we're on the subject, let's talk about a double row of diamonds. You can cut two lengths of chain and put jump rings on both ends. Then join those ends together with a single ring before adding your closure. 

Dolly can wear it as is or..... Atoia is modeling a double strand to which we added a that mega-baguette diamond we created earlier! But you can also create double strand choker that is....shall we say....very Van Cleef & Arpels!

Normally the two strands are soldered together, but a good clear glue works just as well!

After measuring your doll's neck to determine the amount of chain to cut, you will measure out another length that is 2 stones shorter. Turn one length of chain on its side and, using a toothpick add a line of glue. (This gets tricky, but keep on going.) Next, line up the two rows of chain close together gem side down, then liberally apply glue to the back.  Press the two rows together using your pliers. Allow to dry and add a second coat. 

While researching,  I came across the Van Cleef "A Cheval" necklace....an extraordinary piece of jewelry valued at about $700 Million dollars! My dolly's version didn't cost nearly that much, but don't tell that to Dorian who felt like a billion dollar babe in hers!

After deciding where on the doll's neck I wanted the necklace to fall, I cut two lengths of chain. One will be one stone shorter than the other. Glue the two together on the side at a 90 degree angle as shown. Then carefully add some glue to the side of the send row and press together. Repeat on the other side, being sure to meet at the center. When all has lined up, turn the necklace over on its back and apply glue. Let dry. Add a second coat of glue.

 

This method of gluing (which replaces soldering) allows you do have a little fun with the design of your necklace. I'm sure many of you have seen some version of Iman's necklace. This is a very contemporary design and super easy to replicate.

 I started out by measuring the chain around the doll's neck then deciding how far down I wanted the diamonds to drop. You can end with something symmetrical or make one side longer than the other. I decided where I wanted the chain to meet in the front and tied a bit of wire to keep it in place while I found the center point in the back. Cut the chain at the center point and add the chain cups and closures.

then turn the necklace over so the back is facing you. Add a drop of glue to two links where the necklace will join in the front. Let dry, add another drop of glue.

Or.... you can simply glue on extensions at right angles to the basic choker. 

This is where this project would have ended had I not gone back to the store.... I discovered some "novelty" chain on sale. But, unlike the rhinestone chain, this one is made of plastic, rhinestones and thread. I assume it was really designed to be sewn onto a garment, but since it was the closest I could find to the Cartier necklace that inspired me, I decided I would work with it a bit.

It isn't as heavy as the rhinestone chain so it wouldn't lay flat around Catherine's neck. (Metal is always better for this sort of project.) So after carefully pondering the situation, I decided to add a bit of thin wire to "tame" it. 

I threaded the wire through the double rows of thread running throughout the length of trim. Instead of threading, you can also tightly wrap the wire around these rows. I left enough wire to create a loop on one end and an S-link on the other. 

And true to form...I was able to shape the necklace to better fit the necklace to the doll.

My goodness, this was a lot of fun. All my divas are now all singing "Diamonds are a doll's best friend!" Believe me when I tell you..... This.Is.Not.Over!!!!!

Looking for more fine jewelry ideas? Check out "Pearls of Wisdom."

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Unless otherwise noted, all images and text of this blog are the copyrighted property of Fashion Doll Stylist 2023. We are independent and not part of any other group or website no matter where this post or its elements appear on the internet or social media. Please request permission before reproducing any parts of this post. And please, always credit us. 

What a Difference a Decade Makes

OMG! Can you believe it's been 10 years already! Back then after not finding the style of doll fashions I was looking for….  I launched this blog. 

“Welcome to Fashion Doll Stylist! Your fashion doll collection is about to get a little more interesting! If you've found your way to this blog, you don't need me to tell you about the expense involved with doll collecting. Between the initial cost of purchasing the doll and the associated costs of dressing her, you can easily run yourself ragged trying to keep those 12" plastic divas in the height of fashion. This blog is for the frugal collector who wants to create sophisticated fashions for their dolls. We will look at how to get your creative juices flowing; how to choose fabric and create basic silhouettes; and where to look for inspiration. There are countless blogs and websites all to dedicated to making clothes for Barbie. Trouble is, most of the clothing rarely goes beyond the juvenile styles one makes to satisfy the tastes the children in our lives: prom or princess frocks, sparkly party dresses, beachwear. I wanted something different. Something reflecting adult tastes like....suits, sheath dresses, fur coats, uncomplicated trends reflecting modern tastes.” (FDS, February 2, 2013)

Bloggers and collectors have come and gone but we are still here. Admittedly, it's not easy maintaining a blog like this for 10 years. Someone once asked me if I really thought I could find enough to blog about long term. I said "of course!" Fashion is a living breathing entity. Of course I could not have imagine all of the aesthetic and lifestyle changes that lay ahead. We have tried our best—even though we hobbled along to the finish line this past year. So we can say… we made it! And that’s thanks to you and your loyal support. But let’s not get sentimental, just yet. Instead, let’s take a look back at how our dolliverse has changed over the past 120 months. 

In 2013,  finding dolls was as easy as strolling through retail stores or perusing information on blogs like Collecting Dolls by Terri Gold, Inside the Fashion Doll Studio or The Fashion Doll Chronicles. Even better, there was “Doll Observers” a free online club where many of us met up to post photos of our favorite dolls, participate in challenges and communicate with other collectors. (That’s where I learned that not all 12” dolls were Barbies!)  In fact, 10 years ago the internet was host to lots of bloggers: some who talked about new dolls; others posting dolly  “soap operas” or adventures; and a few (very few) who offered tips on making naive doll clothes. Some used their blogs to showcase their own dolly photography or handcrafted clothes. There were even blogs that promoted our blogs (Fashion Dolls Top 100). And some of us even found ways to promote each other (remember the Liebster award).

For me, what I found missing at the beginning of the 2010s, was real information on how to create current fashion trends on a 1/6 scale complete with DIY tutorials on patternmaking and where to find ideas for clothes. The few designers who sold their wares did not share their secrets! 

Mission Accomplished

Hanky Couture

Over the past ten years, anything and everything I could imagine I would want to wear myself, I transformed into miniature versions and delivered it via tutorials and “trend reports.” At first I assumed few folks in this community had sewing experience, so I began with simple ideas: wrapping fancy or colorful pocket squares around the shoulders of a doll, making a fringed poncho out of a square of chamois. Over the next several we covered all the basics of patternmaking beginning with slopers customized to fit your own doll whoever she is. Then we showed how to manipulate those slopers into a few basic patterns. As if that weren’t enough, eventually we expanded into clothing for Ken and friends!

I was so focused on the clothing, I did not think about accessories until I started looking at “Billa’s Dolls & Fashions” blog where I noticed how well put together her dolls were right down to their toes. That prompted me to venture into DIY accessories: hats, handbags, designer luggage, stockings, lingerie, gloves and of course, shoes. Oh yes, I found myself spending so much money on shoes!

Especially those little gems from Integrity Toys dolls! With encouragement from BlackKitty (one of my first to leave comments on my blog) and a tip about epoxy clay from Galacticat (a fellow member over at The WClub), I figured out how to make my own 1/6 scale footwear, information which I promptly turned into a set of tutorials for you. 

Oh and let’s not forget the guys! It was my dad who asked why there were no male dolls. Wonderful, I brought Ken into the house and eventually he invited his FR Homme friends. All of them needed clothes but I was warned about how silly looking “home made” Ken doll clothes could look, So I found looks that did not require any type of tailoring for him and our menswear was born.

During this journey, we even took our dolls to the beauty salon, showing  how to care for them, apply lashes and even how to make hair pieces or apply flocking. (Unfortunately we could not do manicures because we couldn't figure out how to get the long fingernails to stick!)

You've Come a Long Way, Dolly

Many of the dolls we collected back then--especially if you collect Barbies, Monster High, My Scene or Bratz, are no longer in production. But if you’re lucky, they have, perhaps, appreciated in value! Mattel’s SIS dolls cost me as little as $7-13 a piece in my local (US) store. When you can find them, they now run $50-120 each! My Model Muse Barbies have also tripled or more in price! When I stop to think about how much money in dolls I have, I started putting some of those dolls away!

On the plus side, doll technology has greatly evolved over the past decade. Most now have articulated bodies and are found in a vast array of ethnicities, skin tones, looks and hairstyles. For those of us who collect Integrity Toys, all dolls now have removable hands, allowing them to wear form fitting sleeves, bracelets modeled in one piece and more realistic “gloved hands.” Some dolls have legs (with heeled feet) that come apart at the knees and can be swapped out for lower limbs with flat feet thus allowing them to wear flats, sneakers AND high heels whenever they want.

The last 10 years has also been about customizing our dolls. A few of us tried our hand at re-rooting and repainting. Many more have given our dolls new bodies! And yes, a few of my dolls are hybrid: Barbie heads atop Fashion Royalty bodies.

In terms of aesthetics, I've noticed how today scale has become extremely important. Dolls and everything in their world look incredibly real. Facial features are more refined and the details of the torso more natural. Gone are all of those figure eight bodies with pinched waists. "Belly button" torsos are now the standard.The male dolls really look like guys (and not bug-eyed nerds). Many of my dolls today have personalities, attitudes. Some even give the side eye. 

Look at the difference in beauty and expression. Top left is a replica of AA Barbie 1980 placed next to Fashion Royalty's "Modernist Eugenia" 2018, On the bottom... I was very happy with my SIS Chandra Barbie 2013. But IT's Annick Vandale (2019) takes Black doll aesthetics to a new level. 

Let's go back to the basic blond fashion doll. They have become so much more sophisticated over the last decade. This is IT's Petite Robe Classique Veronique (2020) giving attitude (from top to bottom) to Barbie Fashionista (1999), Barbie Basics (2010) and FR Veronique Silver Society(2001). 

Ken dolls have always been a challenge. Look at the difference between Ken as Barbie's inanimate sidekick, and the heart throb FR Hommes dolls. Notice how modern, even daring the hair styles are!

(Top) Ken circa 2010 and IT's latest Weekender Lucas Maverick doll. The dude dolls have grown up! (Middle) An Adonis doll on the left and Studio Sessions Darius Reid on the right seem to overpower Barbie Basics Ken. The bottom photo is another example of the modern guy doll versus classically coiffed Ken. 

What we lost 

Robert Tonner no longer produces his iconic 16" Tyler Wentworth and Antoinette dolls. 

And unless you are collecting Mod Dolls, Sybarites, Kingdom Dolls, JamieShow and the like, it seems that 16” divas are no longer a thing. Tonner’s DollChat on Twitter has ceased. Not enough interest as other social media platforms took over the spotlight. And those of you who collect classic Barbies, you lost your beloved Silkies when Mattel halted production of the Silkstones! 

We also lost some really great blogs. Some bloggers dropped out of the hobby and onto other interests. While others fell to health issues. There are many that I miss, but one in particular: "Fashion Dolls at Van Doll Treasures." I miss seeing not only the adventures of Vanessa's dolls, but also the fashions she created for her Dasha doll. 

FDS by the Numbers

Over the past ten years I have made 559 blog posts, visited 1.39 million times. The most popular ones are, of course, anything with patterns, slopers and sewing tips. On Pinterest, our shoe tutorials continue to generate a lot of serious buzz, followed by accessories.

Though I post almost exclusively dolls from my IT collection, my doll family now numbers 176 which includes 67 IT dolls, 57 Barbies, 24 dude dolls; 7 Tonner; and 3 My Scene.

The female dolls share more than 620 garments which are hung on little foam hangers in 17 closet boxes. They have 287 pairs of shoes and boots (132 pairs made in house); 55 Bags, 53 hats, and an assortment of over 150 accessories ranging from scarves, extra hands, gloves and hairpieces to jewelry, small props (like cellphones) and sunglasses. And yes…. My bedroom resembles a toy store!

State of the FDS  Blog Report 2022

2022's Tutorials

Ten years ago when we were new and there was so much to cover, we put up 102 posts in 2013. But as content on our blog began to build, and fashion trends tumbled into astraction, not to mention the blinding impact of pandemic lockdowns, it became more challenging to be inspired, harder to arrive with new ideas. Last year was lean…. only 13 posts and out of those, only two were tutorials: Pucker Up Again (revising permanent pleated fabric) and Hot Glue, Cool Corsets. Moreover, my blog was one of several victims of web-scraping and plagiarism by another toy based website . This for me was disheartening, discouraging, adding to my mental block.  Somehow I managed to keep up with the fashion reports, but could not avoid being impacted by personal challenges, which also crimped my creativity. 

But the dolls were still there…cheering me on! I’m not sure which dolls put the word out there but, we apparently have a reputation for one of the best dolly wardrobes on the planet. So there’s no stopping the constant stream of dolls knocking on the door to join us! In 2022, we let seven of them into our home. For the first time ever, members of the Poppy family arrived: Simone (Resort Ready Poppy) and her sister Sandy (Belle Mariee Poppy)  Even though I no longer collect Barbies anymore, I could not resist Yoon (Vera Wang Barbie). Much to the delight of my ladies, two handsome new boyfriends arrived in the house: Ahmed (Weekender Lukas Maverick) and Terrance (Studio Sessions Darius Reid). And finally, two very sultry ladies rounded out the year: Vivienne (Glamour Coated Elyse Jolie) and Lindsey (Petite Robe Classique Veronique.)

From left to right: Simone, Sandy, Vivienne, Lindsey, Yoon, Terrance, Ahmed.

So, what will the future bring? Honestly, it is anyone’s guess. I simply hope I can keep my head above water while the rest of the universe adjusts to this “new world order.” Fashion right now is as insane as ever which makes it difficult to find inspiration on catwalks or red carpets. I’m still hopeful that I can find small snippets that can spark new ideas. Personally, things are such that there is less stress in my life right now.. Hopefully I will be able to sustain this momentum and create decent content over the next 12 months.

Ten years ago, this hobby was ablaze and blogs were immensely popular. Back then we were doing something very new. And though I perhaps can’t take credit for any of this, we’d like to think our presence had some impact on what we see today in our dolly universe. Everybody’s dolls are so much better looking, better dressed and wearing current fashion! There are lots of very professional doll fashion and accessory designers doing very interesting things! And for anyone not creating their own dolly wardrobes for their dolls, Etsy and Ebay is abound with amazing products ranging from 1/6 garments and jewelry to footwear and designer handbags. There's even a professional furrier, Dimitha Doll Furs with a store on Ebay (ebay.com/str/dimitha) selling doll sized mink coats (made from recycled garments!

On the other hand, there are many who have left the blogosphere for Instagram. It’s a platform that is quick, easy and doesn’t require as much work as a blog. And, it reaches a broader audience. But the “tutorials” are to my eyes, more “quick tips” or “show & tell” and don’t afford lots of hand holding though the creative process. Though I do post photos to our Instagram and FaceBook pages for those who simply want to look at pictures,  I have remained faithful to the blog format because it allows me to provide in-depth detailed tutorials and commentary on the things that matter the most---all things fashion for the fashion doll.

Thank you for your friendship, your loyalty, your curiosity and your moral support. Thank you for continuing to follow us here at Fashion Doll Stylist.

April & the gang

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Unless otherwise noted, all images and text of this blog are the copyrighted property of Fashion Doll Stylist 2023. We are independent and not part of any other group or website no matter where this post or its elements appear on the internet or social media. Please request permission before reproducing any parts of this post. And please, always credit us. 

Doll's Eye View: Golden Globes 2023

 Well....... It's been awhile! But as promised, I've been making an effort to get my blogging shoes back on! My journey back to the blog began last month with my annual Dolly Advent Calendar, familiar to those of you who follow us on FaceBook and Instagram. That got me back in the habit of photographing and Photoshopping dolly fashions. And so here I am, back with another favorite...a Doll's Eye View Red Carpet Event. I have gone back and responded to the lovely comments you left on our holiday posts. And I promise to go back and catch up on the dolly websites of my friends here.In the meantime, let's get this party started!

Though  CoVid is still with us, at least life has gone somewhat back to as normal. Everybody is finding renewed energy. Everybody wants to get dressed and hit the streets. And so it appears that Red Carpet Events are back in force beginning with the Golden Globes, sponsored by the Foreign Press Association. Many Hollywood celebrities were in attendance and, I must say, they looked great in their glamorous frocks. At first glance, it was a welcomed sight, however, upon closer inspection, me and the girls were really not all that impressed with the gowns. (At this point, the girls' wardrobes are so much more interesting!!!)  That said....the girls have been complaining about the lack of new clothes over the past couple of years. So there was no way I was going to miss this opportunity to let them shine. So....as usual, I took needle and thread in hand and began to "tweak" a few of the most promising looks of that evening.

What a spectacular gown! The full scale version is from Atelier Versace worn by Lily James. While I loved the volumes and the 1950's old fashion glamour vibe, upon close inspection, this dress had everything and the kitchen sink incorporated into one silhouette. Personally I don't like so much volume over the stomach area. The sarong skirt beneath is lost under all the the convoluted drapery going on above and to the sides. I thought about suspending the skirt from the bare midriff top as in the original, but after much contemplation, I felt it was better to simplify the bodice so that we could appreciate all the movement of the skirt. I do wish I had access to a crisp taffeta which would have given this dress a sharper edge, but Dorian, our model here, pleaded with me to make it for her. So I used a simple Habitai silk I had on hand.

We read the controversy over Selena Gomez in this Valentino gown, which we then took into consideration when constructing our 1/6 scale version for my girl Veronica. Some say the sleeves were way too big. But my girls have a couple of dresses with those exact same sleeves and we think they are quite elegant. Perhaps on a young lady with a few extra curves, the scale of the original dress might be a tad bit off. So we scaled down the poufs, draping them over fitted sleeves and let them stream down to the ground like trains. Also, the notch in the front of the original dress is unflattering to Ms. Gomez' full breasts. And though I was tempted to put the little notch in Veronica's dress (because her breasts are a lot smaller), I changed my mind because her dress is made from stretch velvet. I was afraid the notch would affect the fit at the top.  

This is Brit Lower wearing a Bach Mai gown. This dress is really very pretty and with her short haircut, it evokes memories of Audrey Hepburn. But here again, this dress is cut from taffeta and I had none in hand. Still, at the request of Belle, our model, I wanted to make some version of this gown. In actuality, even if I had the right fabric, I'm not sure I would have been able to reproduce the exact same dress due to the volume of the skirt suspended from such a form fitted bodice. So, I took the skirt part of a dress my girls never wear (it's from IT's Bijou Elyse Jolie) and added a little more pouf at the bottom. Then I tacked it on a body hugging tube top made of stretch velvet. I know it's not the same dress, but it has the same spirit. And, in some ways we like it more because it resembles an giant flower.

Rihanna arrived late to the award ceremony but made quite a splash in a rouched silk gown worn under a sumptuous velvet stole. She looked amazing. Ok, so personally, I don't care for dresses with shirring up the front (they remind me of funeral shrouds), but my girl Tamron wanted to make an equally grand entrance. So we compromised. I kept the top simple--strapless top made of stretch velvet--and teamed it with a rouched skirt made from a simple tube of stretch rayon jersey shirred up the center front and center back. Her stole is another unpressed tube, this time of panne velvet velvet (I opted for panne velvet because it photographs better). It is simply tucked and tacked in place around the shoulders and left to cascade down to the ground.

Monica Barbaro floated in onto the red carpet in a Giorgio Armani classic strapless chiffon gown. For us, this is always a "forever stylish" look my girls love, particularly around the holidays. Marpessa was thrilled to show off his 1/6 version. Her dress is comprised of a red lace top over a full tulle skirt.

We all enjoyed the humour of comedian Jennifer Coolidge who showed off her zofty curves in this black sequinned, off-the-shoulder Dolce Gabbana gown. Upon close inspection we noticed her dress has shirring to one side. To my eye, this type of construction gets lost under all of the sequins. On the other hand, I do like a lot of tone-on-tone topical details. So, for Morgan's dress, I added a few extra details (double straps falling down from the shoulders and something resembling a sequined belt over the tummy) using a different scale of sequin. 

Frankly, I'd rather see these celebrities keep things simple and chic rather than something that overwhelms their bodies. Angella Bassett's dress is a good example. We love the cut of this slinky silver sequinned gown around the shoulders. The scale of the sequins is small enough to be replicated by silver lurex fabric in our 1/6 version. For Helen, we added a thigh high slit up the side of the dress, accessorized with matching thigh high boots and a sparkly silver stole made from "eyelash" fabric.

I'm always interested to see unusual or unlikely fabrics used for eveningwear, provided that the end result is still glamorous. Dolly de Leon's leather dress by Alessandra Camilla caught the eye of me and my girl, Samantha. Though I like this somewhat punk approach to high fashion, at the end of the day, I wanted the look to still be feminine and glamorous. I did like the idea of combining leather with tulle. But instead of the tulle used for halter top worn under the dress, we felt it was better served as stole...a long big cloud of tulle floating over a 2-piece dress. The top is a hip length strapless corset worn over a sarong skirt showing a flash of leg adorned in thigh high stiletto boots. 

How could we end this report without at least featuring one male fashion! There were lots of great looks that night. Unfortunately we couldn't make more than one outfit because we didn't want to delay getting this blog post out. So we had a vote and this was the look that stood out from the rest. Actor, Jeremy Pope's black leather, head to toe suit from top to toe, accessorized with a little bit of bling. Pure class act. Not having enough thin skins on hand, I made this out of faux stretch leather. It's easy to sew but VERY difficult to finish. I'll admit that I didn't keep this photo front and center as I laid out the pattern which resulted in my cutting the jacket a tad too short. You can't get the seams to lie flat which is a problem especially with the collar! Last year in my men's classic garment tutorials, I promised to go back and update the construction of the man's jacket. This year I will follow up on that. But in the meantime, Jean-Marc is rocking his 1/6 version. 

Coming up next... our Blogaversary! What a difference a decade makes!!!!!

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Happy New Year 2023

 

Wishing all of our friends a wonderful, whimsical, healthy and dolly good year ahead.

April and the gang.