Sweets 4 You + CotesDeMeres!

Yesterday I attended a friend's all girls garden party and had the opportunity to bring some fun items to promote TransparentCarrots and dress up our hair with sweets and bows.

In loo of the event I made four new items to debut which were adored and are now available on Etsy!

Chocolate Cookie with Mocha Icing and Purple, Glittery Sprinkles Hair Clip
Bright Blue Lollipop Amigurumi Hair Clip
Mint Chocolate Chip Sundae Amigurumi Hair Clip
Oreo Style Cookie Hair Clip

At the event I sold four items, two of which I grabbed off the coffee table very last minute and am so glad I did because they were the first to go! So now the Carrot Key Chain, Strawberry Key Chain, Claret Puffy Flower Hair Clip, and Kiwi Hair Clip are all in their new homes!!!

Overall it was a cute event and talk started up about two future Custom Requests so that's super exciting. I also got a Custom Request on Etsy this morning from someone I play DroidWords with so that's the coolest happening ever. It's actually for something I've been hoping someone would ask me to make and it's just extra special that she's the one who asked for it. Let's keep those details a surprise for now!!

In chatting during those super cutthroat word games I've learned she's a very talented dressmaker and our conversation inspired her to start up her very own Etsy called CotesDesMeres. She has little girls' dresses available sized 2T-8T and is very open to custom orders if anyone has a little one in their life they'd like to treat to a very special handmade dress!

Flutters By, A Dress by CotesDeMeres

That's it for now I've got to get back to my Custom Orders!!!!

xoxox Bunnies!

All about Sally!

After much hard work and wondering what I got myself into Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas is finally complete! Actually, she was picked up Saturday night... but she was one seriously epic accomplishment.

At a final length of around 2 1/2 feet long she is the most complicated toy/doll I've made so far. Originally she was intended to be a bit smaller but not much smaller than her eventual size. When making a toy, or receiving a custom request for toy, I like to start with the smallest feature in the item's design to establish the minimum scale needed since I can always go bigger. In the case of Sally I started with the eyes and to give her that great "big eyed" look. In making her eyes super crisp she required the additional size which resulted in her toddler scale.

From the head, and facial features, I proceeded to the neck and torso. Her arms I kept nice and simple and added those great stitches details before stuffing them and connecting them to her body. I started her legs from the pointed toes of her boots, adding the stiletto heels before making the stocking socks, and again added stitches details before stuffing and connecting to her body. In a confusing and ultimately challenging decision I convinced myself that making the dress around Sally would be easier than making a pattern and crocheting the swatches together. So I wrestled the nearly naked doll around for the better part of a month or so working her dress together. I write "nearly naked" because knowing she'd be without apparel for awhile I crocheted a bandeau style bra to her upper torso and gave her black bloomers. (It was creepy enough having a bald Sally laying around in bits and pieces so I figured the least I could do was prevent her from being naked.) Between crocheting irregular sections of dress patchwork together I went back into the dress with black yarn adding those boarding stitches and other detail designs. Sally's hair pulling and haircut were the final stage of her laborious creation. In total I guesstimate spending over 50 hours crocheting Sally and another 7 hours working on her hair.

Sally was made only with Caron One Pound yarn, 2 black beads, and a lots of Polyfil and patience! Having spent so much time with her hanging around my living room I miss that spooky girl but I know she's in a great home and very appreciated. Can't say I plan on making another one of her anytime soon, but maybe if someone asks very-very nicely I'll change my mind!