Shifting Gears

It's time to put aside my fun time of hooking the lion which was started at Barb's and work on things for my upcoming show in July.  Meanwhile, this is what the king of my jungle looks like now.

And, I was torn about what to do with the dome of the head area.  I'd thought about not hooking anything there for fear it would lose the shape of the head and ears not be noticed.  But then the ears may have ended up looking like horns if the dome were not hooked.  But this morning as I was waking up had an idea that if I used the mane colors and made it look like it was flowing backward it might work... and I think it does.


Back to my show.....There are LOTS of unfinished things and thankfully got one finished  today.   I just finished another Beloved Belindy.  Guess they are making a comeback as I've recently had a few orders for them so thought I'd make another to offer at the show.

Well at least I'll get my hooking fix satisfied tonight as this is another project which I want to take to the beach show.  It's getting close and want this dang thing done!  I'm tired of looking at it and want to move on.

Then tomorrow I'll work on another doll which was started a couple months ago.  Since I prefer hooking to making dolls now, my attention span for dolls is short lived.  So I might cut out a doll or two, make one and the other one sits half finished until the urge strikes me again.  Such is the case with the body parts in my sewing room; but at least they are stuffed, they just need to be assembled, face, hair, clothing, and eventually it will be a doll.


Thanks for visiting.


Saundra

All in a Day's Work

I've kept busy all day until just now and figured it was time for me to rest before starting my next project.  First thing I did this morning was ship two packages ~ one was another Domestic Zoo pattern.   I received an e-mail from a lady who had just come back from Woolley Fox and upon inquiring with Barb about obtaining a Domestic Zoo pattern, they sent her my way.  

That was the last Domestic Zoo pattern in stock so today I cut two linens, serged the edges and will start drawing another when I update my blog.

And the other package was the Beloved Belindy, whew, she's done and gone.  I just don't enjoy making dolls like I used to.  This is a picture of her that I sent to the customer to see if she wanted me to tea stain her or if she wanted her like she is.  She wanted her clean and pristine so she is travelling to her new mom.

Also drew out another pattern for someone else, cut my grass and other menial tasks which needed attention today.  I'd really like to sit and hook but think another Domestic Zoo should be drawn and be on hand because word has it two other ladies in Barb's class were asking how to get in touch with me.  They haven't made contact yet but want to be able to ship right away if I get an e-mail ~ I hate rushing a job, it is much better when I am in a relaxed state while drawing a pattern.


I'll leave for rug camp at Woolley Fox myself in two weeks and need to clean up the guest room because I'll have someone come stay with Ben.  I personally feel it is much better when the pet can remain in their surroundings rather than caged at a kennel.  


And soon I will have to get serious about gathering my wool for camp ~ more about that on another blog post.

Seaside Swimsuit and Beloved Belindy

It has been a few days since posting anything new on my blog and frankly I've been too busy with life getting in the way and taking sharp right or left turns in a moment's notice to take much time to read other blogs I enjoy.   But with grass cutting, drawing more patterns for someone and getting an order for a doll, I've taken other paths during my waking hours. 


Yet I have managed to pull a few more loops on my vintage swimsuit (a Polly Minick design) and this is how it is looking right now. 

 It will be SO good to finally get it done as it has been a UFO for a couple years.  Since it had wool which needed to be pulled out it didn't seem like a very friendly project so it stayed tucked away ~ out of sight, out of mind.  But I can't sell it if it isn't finished.


Then I received an order for a Beloved Belindy doll ~ she is a friend to Raggedy Ann and Andy.  Since I didn't have any already  made up had to work on the order but this time I cut out two so will at least have one started for me to take to my Lewes show in July or have it ready for the next order.

Two bodies have been sewn but will finish the one for the order first; at least the other is partially made.  As you can see neither has a face yet either.  However, this is how Beloved Belindy will eventually look.

That is a picture of the last Belindy I made for an order I had from my web site and since that particular skirt fabric was all I had it required me to go buy another yellow small print fabric which has some red in it.


Well time for lunch then work on the Beloved Belindy for a while.

Beloved Belindy

For those of you who didn't know about Beloved Belindy or that she was a friend of Raggedy Annie, here is a little information I copied and pasted for your reading pleasure. 

BELOVED BELINDY

Readers of Johnny Gruelle's Raggedy Ann Stories are familiar with Raggedy Ann's chubby black friend Beloved Belindy, who had a separate Beloved Belindy storybook about her own adventures with the dolls in Marcella's nursery. (P.F. Volland 1926, M.A. Donohue & Co., 1930s)

In an April 1941 advertisement for Gilberts Quality Paper that appeared in Fortune magazine, Beloved Belindy is shown with Raggedy Ann and Cleety the Clown pouring sawdust back into the Percy the Policeman doll. The ad was drawn by Worth Gruelle, Johnny Gruelle's artist son (father of Joni). A framed print of this 11"x14" color ad runs about $25.

Beloved Belindy cloth dolls were made as early as 1918 by "Grandmother Gruelle," then by P.F. Volland, Mollye Goldman, Georgene Novelties, Knickerbocker Toy Co., Hallmark and the latest by Toy Works.

The Volland Belindys, produced from 1918-1934, have mother-of-pearl button eyes, painted facial features, red sideways pointing feet and eyelet-trimmed collars and aprons over pale floral skirts. The $15" size is most common, with current price of about $3,000 in original outfit.

Scarest of the Beloved Belindys were those manufactured by Mollye Goldman's firm, Mollye's Doll Outfitters from 1935-1938. Only one Belindy was made for every 50 pairs of Ann and Andy.

Georgene Novelties' Belindys, 1938-1963, had painted facial features and pearl or black button eyes. Their body shape was unusual; the heart-shaped torso had comparatively small waist, large hips and a tummy.

They wore red kerchiefs, red tops and bold, floral-print skirts similar to those that appear in the cover picture on the Beloved Belindy book. Apron, collar and cuffs were usually trimmed with eyelet. Feet were solid red or a red print. Some had light print kerchiefs and wore sewn-on-earrings.

Most common were 15" and 18" sizes. A stamped marking on the head read, "Johnny Gruelle's Own Beloved Belindy/Georgene Novelties." Occasionally the mark appeared on the hips. Their current price is about $1,500.

Patterns, sewing and drawing

Yesterday I shipped out a Domestic Zoo pattern and need to draw out another to have on hand in case of another order. And, I have yet another type of pattern to draw for someone but also have an order for a doll from someone in Washington State.  Seems she wants a Beloved Belindy (for those of you who may not know, she was the best friend of Raggady Ann) and really wanted a vintage one but they are much more than she wanted to pay.  So thru a Google search she stumbled upon my web site where I have two versions shown http://www.woodlandjunctionprimitives.com/Reproduction.htm.

Since I'm a one-woman operation  and really don't do a lot of business as I only do two shows per year, I don't keep an inventory of everything but do like to show what I've done and then people can order.  Such is the case here.  So yesterday I started cutting out the pieces from the vintage pattern I have and need to start sewing later today.

This morning I did a search on e-bay and found two vintage Belindys to show you.  One was dressed and either lost some of the buttons on the shirt or this one was made with just the button at the top.  Also the one below has it's apron and pantaloons but skirt was missing.  This one is priced at $485 for the buy it now.

The other was without clothing and had even lost it's kerchief, the numerous pictures in the offering only showed the body and obviously that is what you will get for the buy it now price of $479.99.

So for sure the lady in Washington State should be pleased with the purchase of mine and she did ask that I beat it up a little so it shows a little age.