The Magic Bean

Freebie Friday - Beaded Flower Embellishments

I like nothing more than a good spot of beading.  I find it very meditative.  Plus, beads are sparkly.  Mmmm...sparkly.  So, they do make good embellishments.  Here's few free tutorials to get you started:

Janie's Beads shows you how to make a simple looped bead flower here and then a really funky one here and another funky one here.  Wouldn't those be great to embellish a doll?

Thesewire crochet flowers from CraftyPod with beaded centre would also be cool as an embellishment.

3D Beading has a whole slew of great free beaded flower patterns here.

And to finish off those beaded flowers what about this peyote bead leaf pattern.

Don't you feel sparkly now?

Wordless Wednesday

Freebie Friday - Newly Discovered Free Doll Patterns

I only recently discovered these sources for great free doll stuff on the net.

Phee McFaddell (who has the most fabulous name) provides the greatest patterns for 'puppets' that I think would make great flat dolls.  Click here for these great free patterns.  To make these patterns into fabric flat dolls, I'd probably use the technique that I used here, in this free tutorial I wrote a while ago.

Check out the newsletters created by the All Dolled Up Cloth Doll Club of Ottawa, Canada.  Thesenewsletters have free patterns and great articles on various techniques in addition to the news of what the club is up to.  Aren't these newsletters inspirational?

And here is another great list of links to free patterns, including some paper dolls, softies and more from Whip-up.

I love how one or two free links can keep you busy for hours.  My apologies to your loved ones if you don't surface for a while. 

Wordless Wednesday

 

Freebie Friday - Keeping You on Your Twinkle Toes

When I was little, I was ballet obsessed.  I had ballet everything!  I figure there are few of you out there with little girls in your life who might appreciate some ballet dolls made from these free patterns:

This full size doll Peaches Ballerina by Judi Ward would have had me in raptures as a young ballerina.

With Easter fast approaching, this Ballerina Bunny doll pattern would be perfect.

Carol Clark designed this pointy toed pin doll Freya.

Another cute pin doll ballerina in honour of the Nutcracker by Sandra Corson-Walker.

I think this Cinderella Ballerina doll by Debbi Bain is very elegant.

So remember keep your toes pointed and your chin lifted and as my first ballet teacher used to say 'Stick in those porkchops!' - that 's your bum, for the record.

Testing Treasures of the Deep

I am a fanatical tester of my patterns.  So I've been testing my pattern Treasures of the Deep.  I also wanted to offer an alternative to the beaded sequin bodice for those people who aren't into hours of meditative beading.  I came up with this version of Treasures of the Deep.

 

Ialways shy away from straight long blond hair as it always reminds me of Donatella Versace, which in turn, always makes me think of how much she resembles Janice the Muppet.  And of course,  that sends me into fits of giggles.  Somehow I managed to get over it on this one.

 

What do you think of the simpler bodice?

 

As compared to the original sequin one?

 

Which would you be more likely to make?  Would it make a difference to you that both options are offered in the pattern?  Inquiring minds want to know....

Wordless Wednesday

Freebie Friday - Great Product Tutorials

There are lots of great products and techniques for doll making out there.  Check out this sampling:

Click hereto see how Deanna Hogan uses Modge Podge to create fabulous fingernails and toenails on her dolls.

Click here to see this tutorial on stamping fabric with bleach.

Check out thisfree tutorial on how to dye fabric using shaving foam from Sue Bleiweiss.

Click hereto see how to ue liquid polymer clay to make fairy wings for your doll.

Joggles has some great tutorial on everything from how to use Angelina Fiber to using lutrador.  See the tutorial list here.

Tim Holtz has a whole collection of videos on how to use his products here.

Wordless Wednesday