Sign-up will remain open for this swap because we are not swapping a determined number of dolls. Therefore, if you want to make dolls to swap, as long as you abide by the deadline rules you may send in even though you may not have signed up. In either case, it would be better for you to sign up if you are really serious about sending because I would like to have an idea of how many are playing.
OK...For all you Crazy quilters and those who want to be....There are more things in the quilty world than we can imagine to be embellished!!
How about a Dotee Doll Swap?....Dot of Australia is the designer of these gorgeous little dolls and has graciously given me permission to host this swap. I will be posting photos directly from her blog: http://dotslifeandart.blogspot.com of her dolls to give you an idea of what I am asking you to make for this swap. You must be willing to go the extra mile with your embellishing...
These dolls are all small and fit in the palm of your hand...They come with hangers attached to their heads so these could be hung on a tree-like display in your sewing room once the swap is over....Take note when you are looking at the blog and see that these dolls either have little sewn in legs or they either have beads on the bottom...Also look at the ones that they have put hand charms sewn on for the hands or boot charms sewn on for their feet...The sky is the limit.
IMPORTANT: She has many types of dolls on her website but the ones I will post in the next few replies will show you the ones I am requesing for the swap. She has some stuffed teddy bears and other things but you will know by the photos just which dolls I would like for you to use as a guide.
Visit Dot's photo album to see many of her dolls to help give you an idea of how to embellish them and what fabrics to use.
Pay attention to the exciting fabrics and sometimes they have made the front of the doll by sewing a different fabric to the top for the head piece.
Fabrics can be quilters choice but no thin fabrics are allowed that would show the stuffing inside the doll. I would ask for no fleece dolls...I have really never seen any decorative fleece that would make these dolls stand out.The faces are sometimes cut from fleece and this would be the only area in which you could use the skin tone to white fleece
Embellish to your hearts content. Embellishing is a MUST! Please pull a few of your embellishments to the back of the doll so it looks pretty hanging on the collection trees some of us might put them on. You dont have to embellish the back as heavily as the front but please put a few on the back...Thanks a bunch...
NOTE: ALL embellishments MUST be sewn on. We wouldnt want these coming off in transit. Thanks for understanding.
Signing the dolls: After much thought on this I would like for you to sign your dolls in SMALL print with an ULTRA FINE tip permanent BLACK pen. BLACK pen is a must or do it in BLACK embrodiery done SMALL.....AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE BACKSIDE OF THE DOLL.. PLEASE PUT YOUR HGTV NAME AND YOUR STATE OR COUNTRY. YOUR CITY AND REAL NAME IS UP TO YOU.
You can send in any number of dolls and receive the same number in return.
This is a centralized swap. Everyone will send me their dolls and I will swap them out among everyone and repackage and send them back to you.
The postage will be different for everyone according to how many dolls you send. The way I will do postage is have you send in cash, check or money order made payable to me..the sum of the EXACT amount of postage that it takes you to send in your dolls PLUS an additional 2.00 to cover if the postage is higher coming back to you...Some people may embellish heavier causing your package coming home to weigh more than the one you sent your dolls to me in. If you are due change back, it will be in with your dolls when you get the new dolls home after the swap is complete.
I can get free boxes at the post office so there will be no need to send the SASE's. Everyone will be asked to mail in boxes to me because their dolls will get damaged in the tyvek envelopes.
PLEASE do not short your return postage by any amount...even though you are sending the extra 2.00......In one of my swaps a year or so ago, one lady shorted her return postage by a dollar because she had to send in the extra money...I had to pay additional postage for her. So please understand and respect my request.
Due date for these dolls will be August 15th. There will only be a 10 day grace period for those who may be met with tragedies or illness during the swap and need a few extra days to finish. Upon the 10th day, if a late swapper cannot post a legitimate delivery confirmation #, I will be swapping and sending the packages home on the 11th day. If the late swapper does post the required DC#, I will wait the 3-4 days for the package to arrive.
10 days grace is all that I will be giving so please do not ask for any longer time. I will have to say no, so please do not ask to begin with.
Who would like to play? Please send me a pm with your real name, hgtv name and phone number when you reply that you want to participate. If you send a cell number it MUST be a phone you use and check daily and return calls from. I had rather have your landline inside your home.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Quiltaholic,
Q, While playing around on Youtube.com I just happen to put in the words "Dotee Dolls" Unbelievable! There is a short video on how to put one together which will give everyone and idea on how to get started - then they can embellish like crazy. I also put in crazy quilting, embroidery stitches, silk riboon etc etc. and cannot believe what I came up with. I actually sat there and learned a few new stitches! For those of you who are "visual" and need to "see" how something is done (like me!) this is great! I would have never thought to check out Youtube for something like this.
***We got hope, we got dreams but most of all... we got each other***
This link shows how to make these little dolls...The one in the tutorial isnt as embellished on the body as I would like to see them but it gives you an idea of how to make them anyway.
These should have more embelishments for the swap than shown in the tut and a stitched face instead of drawn on? In fact the ones you showed as examples had a LOT more on them...right? We all want them to be beautiful works of art for trading...think Ill make myself one just to see how I do before I sign up. This is a great swap and I am looking forward to it even if I just get to see the pics!!!
I can see huge possibilities with these dolls - a bit like PCs. And as much as I love PCs, I love these dolls 10 times more! I was just looking at Dot's list of swaps - what cute ideas:
When I grow Up, Wacky Holidays, Flower Fairies, Fabric for Dotee, I'm Hungry, 12 Months of Dotee's, Potpourri Dotee, Medusa Dotee, Alien Dotee, Seven Deadly Sins Dotee
LOL!! I wish she'd posted pics of the Dotees she received from these! Makes me wish I had more time.
Janie
Friends are God's way of apologizing for your relatives.
"They came to realize family need not be defined merely as those with whom they share blood, but as those for whom they would give their blood." Nickolas Nickleby~Dickens
I ordered some arms, legs and cowgirl boots and they came in the mail today...I may just be showing a photo soon..I am itching to do just one...I need beads and embellishments first...Gotta search for those items..
OK, now Quiltaholic!!!!! You ARE NOT allowed to do this to me. I so want to do this. I have NO TIME. I have a few things in the works already that I need to finish before SHE gets here. She is my Gammill. I still have to finish getting the area ready for her. I also have one swap to finish and the pink bunny challenge. OH DARN!!! Oh well I will keep this in mind to make one for myself when I have time. I knew I should NOT look at this board.
