Written on February 27, 2015 at 3:30 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Musings with tags: crafting
I adore thrift stores. One of my dreams in life is to one day stumble across a minty Kenner Blythe. Maybe she’d have frizzy hair, maybe she’d still have both shoes on. But my dream is to find that elusive thrift store Kenner. Previously loved, and then so carelessly tossed into a box to be sent to a local thrift store. I’d come across her and pay the amazing price of $1 and be gleefully on my way.
Short of that dream, some pattern books for Barbie-sized furniture is always welcome. I came across these ages ago at a thrift store, bought them, and then promptly forgot about them until I was recently cleaning. The last time I did anything with plastic canvas would have been when I took a textiles class in high school, so I was a bit nostalgic when I came across these books and then I was super excited because Blythe fits pretty well with Barbie-sized furniture as they are technically the same scale (1:6).
While some of the colour combinations are bit dated, I think the overall furniture shapes can be mostly be used for a more ‘modern’ set. The nice thing about plastic canvas projects is the ease of it, and plus it’s fairly easy to thread a yarn needle (as opposed to a needle for cross stitching). I do plan on getting my hands on some plastic canvas soon, and see if I have the right type of yarn and then maybe I’ll make some living room accessories in bright colours to go with the IKEA HUSET pieces.
Will there be new furniture in my dolls’ future? Most likely!
Written on January 28, 2015 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Article with tags: blythe on a budget, crafting, diy, free pattern
The great thing about cushions is that there is a huge range of ‘standard’ sizes’ for the 1:1 scale crowd (that being us!). For Blythe, I wanted to make some throw cushions for that great Ikea HUSET couch (modeled after the KLIPPAN). My real-life throw cushions on my real couch range from 12″x12″ to 16″x16″ which, in 1:6 scale, would be be 2″x2″ or 2.67″x2.67″. The nice thing is that you can make these in a variety of sizes, or all the same size. Click to read more of this entry.
Written on December 17, 2014 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Article with tags: blythe on a budget, crafting, diy
The thought of my Blythes taking part in hobbies that I partake in just tickles me, so I had to find a way to get them involved in knitting. If you already know how to knit, this DIY will be a lot easier for you. If you don’t already know how to knit, you will need to learn how to cast-on (I use the long tail cast-on) and how to do the knit stitch. I find that KnittingHelp.com (very appropriately named!) is very helpful when it comes to learning knitting, they have many free videos! Click to read more of this entry.
Written on December 10, 2014 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Article with tags: blythe on a budget, crafting, diy
I saw this adorable string of bunting that was designed to be strung across the top of cupcakes on skewers. It was super cute, and came in a variety of designs (football! minions! robots!). It was also $7.50 per package and I knew that was just too much, I could definitely make something that was more size-appropriate for Blythe at a much cheaper cost. So I did.
You will need:
- String (or thread) – 30cm long (I used extra pull string cord – $1 for 3 colours, 11m/12yd total)
- Washi/paper tape (as many or as little designs as you want!) – I paid $2 for 3 rolls of tape
- Ruler
- Scissors
Directions:
Cut your string or thread so that it is 30cm long. You can make it longer or shorter if you’d like. Knot the ends. The knot helps the dolls hold the bunting a little bit better!
Cut pieces of washi tape to be 4cm each (approximately 1.25″).
Fold each piece of washi tape over the string, make the ends meet (even out with scissors as needed).
Put one piece approximately every 3cm, or evenly across the string.
Using your scissors, cut out a small triangle from the rectangle of tape.
Hang around your doll house or have your dolls have in a photo. And you’re done!
Written on October 17, 2014 at 1:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Article with tags: clothes, crafting, diy, middie, personal challenge
So this going to be an incredibly embarrassing post. You remember way back when I challenged myself to work on a wardrobe for my Middie Blythe doll, Kitty Brighton? (If you don’t, it was back in April…) Back then, this is all Brighton had for clothes (and shoes):
Jogging some memories now, I bet! I told myself that I would make her wardrobe by myself. So no buying things, except for shoes. And what have I managed to get done from April until now?
Two nearly identical dresses. Both knitted.
I’m a bad dolly owner, poor thing should really go into Dolly Protective Services. Hopefully the next update will be better, and she’ll have more than dresses to wear. Or at least another dress to wear. I’m so bad at this! Hopefully the next update in a couple of months will be a lot more fruitful for her.