Free pdf pattern

Experimenting here to find out just how including downloadable links will work using Blogger's platform. The pattern is very beginner friendly and makes a very nice southern belle dress. While it was designed for my Charity, it can be adjusted for any delicately modeled dollhouse doll. In my line, the dolls are Charity, Joy, Eleanore, Janice, Solange, Belle, and Hope.

 

The only difficult part of the pattern is the pulled silk ribbon neckline. This can easily be replaced with one or two rows of gathered lace if desired.

To download pattern click here 

I am old, hate snow, and need to winter where the coconut grows!

   Sigh over the last few years, winters have either been particularly harsh or I have lost the ability to cope with snow and ice. Perhaps both. I live on a farm and there are feeding chores that must be done regardless of weather. I am responsible for sledding 120 lb bales of hay up and down hills. If we have fresh snow, this increases the difficulty ten fold. It takes a couple of days to pack the new snow down  so pulling the sled becomes comparatively easy. At 56 falls on ice are harder on the knees, and LOL just bloody aggravating! Throw in a nasty virus after Christmas,and helping cover the owner's chores while she dealt with a family crisis....life just got way too interesting!
   Website wise things took a strange turn as the software I was using stopped working. It is no longer being supported, so I am just out of luck. This makes the fifth WYSIWYG type of software that I have used since my very first computer. All eventually were discontinued as trying to keep up with the rapidly changing technology became impossible. My son convinced me to actually try to learn to code this time around. So we are doing both the mold website and the model website in the new Bootstrap 4. This means both sites will be mobile friendly, but it also means the information will be different. This blog will be the place for in-depth articles, clickable links to other resources, and other experiences that are just better on a desktop. The mobile friendly sites are meant to be enjoyed on the go and articles will have a listening option as well as a text option...as soon as we figure out how to do it!

China paint suppliers and a link to using water based techniques

This tutorial is for large dolls but the tips should apply equally valid for miniatures! She is covering using the same dry china paints I use but with waterbased mediums.
http://www.stanecdolls.com/TechniqueSheets/chinapaintingtechniques.htm

I grew up with the oil based mediums and never so a reason to switch, but for those interested in exploring the waterbased method the above tutorial is very well done!

You can buy paint from the porcelain palace, they also sell the superb ultra chic porcelain slip. A good starter set would be first blush, dark nutmeg, black diamond, arctic ice, and smokey blue.
http://the-porcelain-place.mybigcommerce.com/doll-making/doll-china-paints-and-mediums/doll-china-paints/

If you are in the UK, you can buy Bell's china paints from Lydia's Doll Making Supplies.
http://www.lydiasdollmakingsupplies.com/bell-lead-free-china-paints-404-p.asp
A basic starter set would be autumn rose, blue velvet, midnight black, raisin, and frosted snow from the lead free range..

These same colors can be purchased in the USA from The Bell Collection, they also make the Gold Marque line of porcelain slips. If you prefer the china paints with lead get their gloss white, ebony black, rosewood, deep blue eyes, and brown sable.
https://www.bellcollection.com/popaint/body_popaint.htm