Tuesday, January 20, 2015

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!


16 comments:

andrea @ tideline quilts said...

Beautiful blocks! I can't wait to see the finished quilt!!! Please keep sharing pix of this lovely project.

Marcy said...

This will be a super cute quilt. What a fun quilt to work on.

Sarah Goer Quilts said...

Great job. What a fun project!

Marilyn said...

Love this!

Unknown said...

So cute!!! I love this.

LA Paylor said...

I'm in love with these. And yep, odd bits of fabric look really much more interesting when used this way. I want some!! I used to play with paper dolls growing up.
BTW, I am enjoying the first ladies link you had up a few days ago. What a treasure trove of info on them! LeeAnna at not afraid of color

France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...

Those blocks are gorgeous! I love your choice of fabric and how you used them. They are indeed adorable and will make a stunning quilt with such beautiful skirts. Really beautiful.

Jayne said...

They are adorable! This is going to be an amazing amazing quilt!

Kaja said...

We used to play with paper dolls all the time when I was a kid, so this really brought back memories. What a fantastic way to use your scraps - I love them.

Terri said...

They are adorable. Love the skirts and the new do you came up with. These will be fun to watch.
Hugs

Julierose said...

Such adorable dollies--nice choice. hugs, Julierose

Scrappy quilter said...

Those dolls are adorable.

Nell's Quilts said...

Something about those dolls just said, "Check out this site first," so I did. They are adorable and the hair styles are pretty cute too. Embellishing them would be so much fun. Enjoy the process.

Sheila said...

Wow. I look forward to seeing your quilt grow each month!

Kate said...

It's going to be a fun quilt! Love your first few "designer" dresses. Very chic!

scraphappy said...

Lovely collection of solids for the flesh of your blocks. What a great start! Those odd sizes are hard to cut down, but seeing them in a block makes it all so much fun!