My creative space today: kitchen bench -

Hot cup o’ coffee. Breaking up reviews of documentation (that I have had to take home from the office) with staring at the pages of Dolly Dolly 16.

My goodness – how have I never heard of this magazine before??? Jamfancy mentioned it when making her gorgeous doll here so I looked it up on the net and ordered a copy just to see. And wow – so much dolly goodness! It’s all in Japanese so I have no clue what the articles are about but there are lots of swoon-worthy dolls:

And this issue has a tutorial on making really cute (and very real-looking) miniature treats like cakes and macaroons. There are also patterns for dolls and dolls clothes including a pattern for making the doll on the right – sweet!

So whilst I’m reading this mag I’m getting lots of good ideas about clothing for future dolls and quickly sketching a few out for refinement later on.

Some Peg Bears for the show have been completed (left-to-right: Nagma, Nakasi, Nha Nac, Nederpop and Nisiotika):

You’ll find individual pics over on my Flickr.

I’ve almost completed some cushions using my custom fabric . . .

. . . and I’m all fired up to get started on a few more button-jointed dolls like Constance on the weekend – completely inspired by Dolly Dolly :-)

More Creative Spaces here!

Growing up, I never, ever, liked the colour Green – it was always the last colour I chose for anything. My mum loved (and still loves) that colour and I used to wonder why, oh why? But somehow it has grown on me over the years and now, when given a choice, I usually pick it – or specifically, chartreuse – over all the other colours. I think it’s refreshing, serene and happy. So weird.

Credits for the above collection of chartreuse-related flickr pics:
1. chartreuse… as seen in nature, 2. concerto in chartreuse, 3. texture on chartreuse, 4. Chartreuse Lace Handknit Scarf, 5. Chartreuse Hellebore, 6. friday flickr fix: chartreuse

Thank you Victoria for the fun theme this week, and thank you Angela for the meme :-)

Over the weekend, Simmy and Sid finally received their little teddies:

And Woodland Girl Nikki was completed as a gift for a wonderfully supportive and generous gal. She’s made from Japanese fabrics, my favourite woodgrain print, and a vintage button.

Simmy and Sid were completed this week:

They are the larger-size Shmerpi creatures and made from two different types of fleece – chenille and terry. Just need to make their little teddy bears. The sewing pattern for these two will also be available through Pattern Press in November. I was sent the mock-up cover for the Happy Chibi Girl sewing pattern the other day and I’m really happy with it and can’t wait to share it with you.

Meanwhile, this gal is in progress:

And this Peg Bear, Nagauta, is on his way to his new home.

If he looks familiar, I used the same Japanese fabric as the one used on this Peggy, but a different panel.

I also picked up the new issue of Frankie today (after the tip-off on Catherine’s blog) and oh boy, oh boy, it’s a good one! It comes with a sweet little book of gift-wrap by Catherine, Beci Orpin, Mel Stringer and Jodee Knowles (of course, I don’t think I could actually use these as gift-wrap – but they will look great in the girls’ room!). And lots of lovely stuff to look at, a few articles that saddened me, and a few articles that made me laugh out loud and almost snort-choke on my lunch.

So how’s your week been? Glad it’s Friday? I’ve had a rough week with three consecutive migraines in 3 days, so I’m very happy it’s Friday again and I can kick back a little bit. I’m looking forward to a less stressful and migraine-free weekend – hope you have a good one too!

A few weeks ago, I think I mentioned that I had stopped making Shmerpi Creatures – well, I completely forgot that there was one more of these guys in my pile of things to do! He has been a work in progress for the last 6 months, not because he was difficult to make, but I kept putting it off because I knew he wasn’t needed until this month.

My sis-in-law’s friend asked for a special Shmerpi for a friend of hers who was going to have a baby – the main points being that the friend was expecting a baby boy with a name starting with “J“; that his room had a nautical theme (but no pirates please) with lots of blue; and that her husband (and daddy-to-be) was from New Zealand.

Please meet Sparke the Shmerpi. I used Lara’s Riverstone fabric for the top and added a red-felt anchor. On his back is the letter “J” in red felt too. And he has his very own little Kiwi bird softie.

Sparke is Shmerpi #50 and the very last Shmerpi I will make. Feels like I should retire the pattern and hang it up somewhere on the wall :-) If you would like to make your own Shmerpi and little softie, the pattern will be available in a few months time :-)

P.S. On a totally different note, if you are interested in making your own patterns but don’t know where to start, check out this detailed and well-explained post by Rachel, and this one by How About Orange.

Happy (and relieved!) to let you know that my etsy shop has been updated with the following:

Happy Chibi Girl Coco

Happy Chibi Girl Chloe

Baby Chibi Doll Viveka

Baby Chibi Doll Matilda

Baby Chibi Doll Heidi

Sayeko the Shmerpi (#47)

Omari the Owl

Seahorse #5

Take ‘em Totes

Baby Chibi Doll Ana and Seahorse Softie patterns are also stocked.

More details and pics are here: One Red Robin Shoppe @ Etsy

I’ll probably be away from here for the rest of the week nursing 2 little sick bubs back to health :-) Be well!

. . . it feels good to have a few more things crossed off the list after a week of limited crafting time, especially when the completed items are extremely overdue custom orders :-)

Baby Chibi Doll Jardine:

Baby Chibi Doll Greta:

Salvador the Shmerpi Pirate & Owlie:

Sarita the Shmerpi & Cat:

And after a few emails regarding this softie, I finally started on a new pattern – the Seahorse with patchwork body :-) This one is still WIP and I hope to have this one available in my shop in early October.

Thank you for the lovely comments about Chibi Aimee :-)

I’m excited to announce that some of my toys are now available at a new shop for children in Caulfield South (Victoria) called ‘My Poppet‘. It is owned and managed by Cinti, who is also a very talented designer and makes gorgeous baby wares using vintage fabrics through ‘Cinti Does Vintage‘.

The following will be available from this week at My Poppet.

Left to Right: Baby Chibi Feliz & Bird, Baby Chibi Delilah & Cat, Baby Chibi Gwen &Owl

Happy Chibi Posie (left) and Happy Chibi Pippa (right)

Sakaya the Shmerpi and Owlie

Sawyer the Shmerpi and Owlie

And here’s a view of what’s on their shirts (the yellow one in the middle is not available at My Poppet)

Thanks so much for this opportunity Cinti! More photos over at my Flickr.

I’ve got one more wholesale order to go and then, as mentioned in a previous post, I’ll be taking a break from wholesaling for the rest of the year :-)

So I walked into my studio the other day to be greeted with this sight:

Noting her frown, I asked Sian the Shmerpi why she was unhappy.

“Well,” she began, “I’m not quite liking the fashion you have us Shmerpi folks sporting. Look at Isidore – she gets to wear such a pretty dress. And how about Ramona with her head scarf and dress with pockets? And don’t get me started on the Chimp – I mean, he’s wearing a tie! A tie! Seriously – why does a Chimp need a tie???”

I nodded – after all, she did have a point.

“Listen, the quirky tops and mismatched pant-legs you make us Shmerpi creatures wear is cute but, you know, it wouldn’t hurt to have us in – well, prettier clothes.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to empathize – because, really, how do you empathize with a Shmerpi? “Do you have an idea of what you would like to wear?”

“Let me show you,” she quipped. So I set her up with paper and a pen, and she happily sketched her ideas.

Then we spent some time checking out the fabric stash. She initially couldn’t decide between florals and novelty patterns.

However, once she saw the new floral number by Denyse Schmidt from her Katie Jump Rope line, Sian quickly made up her mind.

So I spent the next hour sewing her up a smock with pockets (while she impatiently drummed her stubby fingers on the table). And when I thought we were just about done, she requested some matching bloomers.

“Bloomers?” I said, “What do you need bloomers for?”

“Well, unlike the other softies, kids actually like to make us Shmerpi creatures do silly things like hang upside down. And when that happens, I would like to . . . you know . . . protect my modesty.”

“Riiiiiiight,” I said. “Of course.”

So I then made her some matching bloomers.

She hastily put them on and after a few little adjustments, Sian was finally one happy Shmerpi. She found a spot next to the window and immediately day-dreamt of new clothes and new outfits.

Before I walked out the door, she did ask me for one more thing.

“And what’s that?” I replied.

“I’d like some sisters – just like me.”

Hmmmm, looks like it’s back to the sewing machine. (Who knew Shmerpis could be so demanding?? And so fashion-conscious too.)

Here are the five Shmerpi creatures that are finally on the way to Aspects of Kings Park in Perth (WA) for the kids display. All of the little softies that accompany the Shmerpi creatures were special requests.

Sigmund the Pirate Shmerpi and Snail

Schafer the Pirate Shmerpi and Elephant

Spring the Shmerpi and Monkey

Sequoia the Shmerpi and Owl

Siona the Shmerpi and Koala

Please contact Aspects if you are interested in any of the Shmerpi above.

And this here is Sullivan the Shmerpi. His shirt is from a vintage children’s fabric.

He’s actually going to my sister-in-law who currently teaches Grade Prep (5-6 year olds). During this term (Term 3), Sullivan will be going home with a child at the close of every week and the child will then return the following week with a story or two on their adventures with Sullivan over the weekend! I can’t wait to hear some of their stories :-)

Hope your weekend was all that you had hoped it would be!

Mine was fairly productive. Perhaps it had to do with my new little helper -

Ava (3 years old) decided that she wanted help me with my “biznez” (as she pronounces it) so she pulled up a chair and asked me to teach her how to stuff a softie. She did a great job – although I had to keep reminding her to be gentle :-) Of course, I suddenly had visions of us sewing and making things together in the distant future . . . that’s what I’m hoping for anyway!

So thanks to Ava’s help, these little gals and guys are just about ready to travel to Western Australia.

They will be participating in a kids display at Aspects on Kings Park, Perth (and will also be available for sale in their store).

The order of scarves is also almost ready too and I was about to start on binding the doll quilt but got a little side-tracked with this Happy Chibi Girl:

But I’ve put her aside so that I can really, really, really start on the binding (so I keep telling myself).

I also got distracted by this wonderful surprise package I received from Tracey and Rebecca.

They sent me a sweet drawstring bag which held some cute ladybug stickers, a super-cute pair of crocheted lady bugs, and a delightful handmade book to store birthdays in. Thanks so much Tracy and Rebecca! The surprise made my day. Your kindness and generosity is overwhelming. Thank you! (Read more about the handmade book here).

More sweetness came my way in the form of gorgeous greeting cards that I picked up free with the latest issue of Frankie magazine. I think there’s a different mix of cards with each copy of the magazine. The one I picked up had cards designed by Jen Corace, Katherine Brickman, Eveline Tarunadjaja, Beci Orpin, and Kat McLeod. I love them all and don’t know if I’ll be able to give them away . . .

And finally I wanted to share with you Happy Chibi Girl Isidore. She was completed last month and I almost forgot all about her! A new Australian online store is opening very soon and Isidore is one of the many prizes that can be won through competitions that the website will be running. I’ll provide details once the online store is open for business. I really love the fabric I used for Isidore’s dress – it’s amazing what gems you can find hidden in the discounted section of Spotlight!