Paper dolls

Hi folks! How is everyone today? I am getting better, but that darned cold is still hanging on and sapping my energy. No choices but to push through, though. Too much work to do!

Today I am playing with another scrap project for RSC15 that promises to be a lot of fun and use up a bunch of scraps, especially some of the weird scraps I have that never get used.  I don't know about you, but I have a bunch of scraps that don't really fit into any "regular" color category or are weird sizes or shapes, like this:

I cut some appliques out of this fabric a few years ago and saved the leftovers because I just can't throw out usable fabric. This is the pattern where I'm finally going to use up scraps like this:

Isn't it a cute pattern (available HERE)? I think it's simple enough to make a few dolls every month with scraps from the RSC15 color of the month. After all, who doesn't love a crazy-looking dress or skirt? All those weird colors and patterns will fit right together, especially if I throw in some solids for balance. I may even cut up an orphan block or two if they'll fit the skirt piece. Plus I'll get to use up a bunch of beige scraps that have also been hanging around here forever.

One part of this pattern that I needed to go shopping for was fabric for the skin tones. I saw some bundles online, but I really didn't like them, and had nothing acceptable in the closet, so I spent a happy hour at the quilt shop pulling Kona solids to find a range of skin tones for the dolls. It was really hard! I think at one point we had 24 bolts stacked up. Here's the multicultural mix I ended up with:

For anyone who's interested, those are Kona solids in Eggshell, Cream, Flesh (really, Kona?), Khaki, Raffia, Honey, Biscuit, Mocha, and Chestnut (left to right). There are a lot of others that would have worked too, but I like this mix.

Here are the first three dolls made from this pattern:

I think they're adorable! And look--that weird fabric piece is now going into a quilt! It makes an interesting dress. The pattern is super-easy and goes together quickly. The whole thing is given as templates, but most of it is easier and more accurate to cut in strips and then cut down. Only the dress and the background pieces with it really need the templates. Clearly I'm going to have to work on the hairstyles (which aren't in the pattern) but that should be a part of the fun. Maybe I'll even add some jewelry or something too. We'll see!

The other thing I'm working on this week is finishing up the winter quilt. Once I'm done with that I think I'll have a cup of tea and a nice nap. Have to kick this cold once and for all! Hope you all are feeling well and making lots of happy things. Stay warm and healthy!

Linking to Linky Tuesday, Fabric Tuesday, and Let's Bee Social, and also the RSC linkup at soscrappy.  Be sure to stop by!