Lets make thick ringlets!!!

If you would like to make thick ringlets like the ones I have made in the pictures below this is how I did it, and you can do it too!

What you will need:

Hairpin lace loom

2 skiens of yarn, I think Red Heart works great for this but I also really like the soft feel of I Love This Yarn. I always experiment with different yarns.

A sewing machine that you are okay sewing yarn on and it has to be one in which you can lower the feed dog (is that what it's called?) and take off the pressure foot.

HEAVY weight needle for the machine. You will be sewing a somewhat thick amount of yarn and believe you me, it will snag and break that needle.

Dual Duty Coats and Clark HEAVY thread in a color that matches close to the yarn you are using. I am going to use a contrasting thread so that you can see where I have sewn.

This is what you do...

First adjust your hairpin lace loom to the width you would like your ringlet to be.

Next start wrapping two strings of yarn around the loom. You want this thick so make sure to push down as you go. By the time you get to the other end, or the length you would like your ringlet to be, you want to have as much yarn on the loom as possible without overlapping.

Once you are done wrapping clip your yarn and take your loom to the sewing machine. Make sure your pressure foot raised and taken off, also make sure the feed dog (is that what it's called?) is lowered. Now sew down the middle going very slowly and making sure not to snag your needle. I have my stitch length set at 0. Once you get to the other end, turn and then sew back up. Once you are done clip the ends and tie them off.

Now it's time to take the yarn off the loom so take off one end of the loom and slide the ringlet off. It should start to twist on it's own if everything went as planned. All you have to do now it help it along a bit and twist it as much as you would like. You can leave them more spiral or twist them up good, it's all up to you!!!

Happy Ringlet making and I so hope you share pics should you use this style on your dolls!

I would also like to metion real quick that I have started another blog just for "this and that" chat. Yanno, just a place to post things that are not necessarily
doll related but I am sure I will still end up talking about dolls there LOL.
I would love for you to come share in my smiles on my new blog!
http://abitofthis-alotofthat.blogspot.com/

Just one more thing before I go lol, I decided to add a new page to my website where I can share some of my tips and techniques with you! Take a peek!
www.tipsyteacup.com

Hugs n Squeezes

Xoxoxxx Ree

I didn't get a doll made, but I have something very heartfelt to say...and in a way doll related *smiles*

I do so hope I do this post justice as I am not the savviest with words much of the time, I shall try my very best =:o)

A few months ago life sent a wonderful surprise my way, and while I knew something special was all about this surprise, I didn't quite realize the extent it would end up touching my life. I say "it" but it wasn't an "it" at all, rather a "she" and this "she" was always such a smile to me each time we would cross paths. Little did I know though, this special person was just waiting for that email, that in retrospect, would end up turning the smiles into such a true blessing filling my heart.

This email was just a simple email but wow did it sure turn into something so happy and warm! See, I have been wanting to change and re-vamp my doll making business for such a long time now. I just didn't know quite how to go about it. I knew what I wanted but just could not get over that last hump.

So funny how things can come at you when you least expect it and this is what happened to me. I was sleeping all peaceful in dreamland and boom, what I needed to do just hit me. I knew my new "company" name and I knew exactly what I was hoping to achieve. I just did not fully know how to pull it off. This is where the email comes into play. I just knew the perfect person to email! So I sent an email off asking for help. The Lord says ask and you shall receive and boy did I receive! Not only did I find help for what I was so hoping to do, but I found a beautiful friend and Angel as well. What a fantastic deal huh???

Samm is the name of this heart touching friend and Samm is why I am writing this post today.

As you noticed, there is a picture up above of a beautiful box that was sent to me containing the most beautiful bracelet. This isn't just any ordinary bracelet, but a bracelet that was so thoughtfully picked out JUST for me and such a prefect fit JUST for me. The most special part about this gift is that it was not even being shopped for at the time, but rather when she saw it the thought of me jumped straight into her thoughts. Now is that the best kind of present or what? What a blessed gal I am to have someone think so kindly of me and to have me in their thoughts!

I was on the bed going through fabric when my husband brought the package to me. He knows the name Madame Samm quite well now and he knew I would bust out smiling when he handed it to me. I opened the package and just squealed when I pulled out my perfect gift. There was a wonderful note on the back of the adorably wrapped box and I just could not help but shed happy tears. This perfectly matched bracelet will be something I will always treasure as will be the beautiful friend who sent it to me.

Thank you Samm for this heart touching smile and so much more!


Love Xoxoxx Ree

A doll, but not really a doll...

After all the pin cushion talk at Madame Sam's blog I had to jump on the pin cushion bandwagon. I wanted to make a pin cushion but at the same time a doll so I compromised.

So, why did I choose to make what I made? Well, my bedroom is also my craft/sewing/creating room but I often times like to sit out in the living room and sculpt so that I can be around my boys while they play the video game or watch TV and such. I know they must get tired of seeing all my girly girly stuff so I decided to make a pin cushion that would make them say "hey mom that's cool"... So out of the works came my little goth doll pin cushion.


I do think she might appreciate arms and legs at some point don't ya think?


Below is the pin cushion I have been using which is a gorgeous piece of art in itself made by Sherry Goshon at http://sherrygoshon.blogspot.com/

Sherry is an amazing artist and last I checked she had a couple more of these type pin cushions for sale on her ETSY site.

Oh, before I go I would like to note that I have made a new blog for non-doll related "this and that" chat and that is where I moved my earlier tattoo post to. The blog link is http://abitofthis-alotofthat.blogspot.com/

Smiles and Squeezes
Xoxoxxx Ree

An Award for ME, Can You Believe It?

I was so tickled to find out, that over the weekend, I received two very kind awards from Jess at Little Dirt Lane http://littledirtlanedolls.blogspot.com/
Thank you so very much Jess!


If you have not viewed Jess's bog I strongly suggest a nice long peek. You will not regret it, and you will so fall in love with her beautiful and heart touching dolls!


The rules are as follows:


(1) Thank the person giving the awards
(2) Copy awards to your blog
(3) Place a link to their blog.
(4) Name 7 things people don't know about you.
(5) Nominate 7 bloggers
(6)Place a link to those bloggers
(7) Leave a comment on their blogs letting them know of their awards


Ok so now 7 things you don't know about me!!


(1) I can cross my eyes then keep one crossed while moving the other one back and forth.

(2) I have always had a kitty cat in my life since day one, never had a time without one.

(3) I have two boys and so wanted to try for a little girl but in my 20s I had to have a hysterectomy. I am very blessed with my boys though and have no regrets. I do think that is why I like sculpting girly girls so much though lol.

(4) My right arm is covered in tattoos. I have a full sleeve in progress that consists of Alice in Wonderland and Dr. Suess. My hubby and I designed it, and yes, I do indeed have a large teapot and stack of tipsy teacups going down the back of my arm =:o)

(5) Along with having a huge thing for cloth dolls I so love vintage chenille bedspreads and anything vintage.

(6) I do not like pizza, can ya believe that?

(7) I love watching all the old TV shows, Andy Griffith, Lucy, Little House on the Prairie, Bonanza, Golden Girls, Beaver, Red Skelton Show, etc.


Okay now for me to pick my choice of 7 bloggers.
I just want to say before I start that Madame Samm at http://sewdollswhosnext.blogspot.com/ , Jess at http://littledirtlanedolls.blogspot.com/ , and Sandi at http://bearlysaneaust.blogspot.com/, would have been on my list but they have already gotten awards =:o)


These are in no paticular order and I chose each of these magical people because of their heart, kindness, talent, creativity, and warmth. I love visiting each of their blogs and they are such a sweet part of my dolly world and many are such good friends.


1. Shelley at http://abracreations.blogspot.com/

2. Ute at http://uteandtrolls.blogspot.com/

3. Nessy at http://soynessy.blogspot.com/

4. Lauxita at http://lascosasdelauxita.blogspot.com/

5. Shahsi at http://sewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.com/

6. Sherrie at http://sympletymes.blogspot.com/

7. Nancy at http://www.atticbabys.com/


Xoxoxxx Ree

No dolls to show right now BUT....

I am so very happy to say I am FINALLY finished re-vamping my site. I have put a ton of work into but it was so worth it. Now, I am sure I will end up tweaking some last things here and there but all in all I am quite happy.

I have changed things on just about every page. One of the biggest changes would be my logo and I so thank Madame Samm at http://sewdollswhosnext.blogspot.com/ for designing that for me. Is she good or what??? I couldn't resist adding some of my dollies to the logo above =:o)

I also added a bit more info on the About Ree page.

You can see all the changes at http://tipsyteacup.com/

I hope you will take a peek when you get the chance. It's such a blessing to share my smiles with you!

Xoxoxxx Ree