Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My Very First Pattern and Dolls in my Shop--NOW

Now this is a really, really big deal for me personally, so take a deep breath and stay with me here. I just completed the creation of my VERY FIRST EVER Beeper Bebe pattern designed for sale. Can you believe it? Should I pinch you? Should I pinch myself? Shall we just high-five and do a little booty dance like football players are always doing in the end zone after a touchdown? Whatever the case, let me tell you ALL about it...

Well, the pattern is for my Two-Faced Friend dolls--if you do not know what that is, well, it is like two dolls for the price of one since the doll is different on the front and back sides (see loads of photos of them here). The pattern comes with complete, step-by-step instructions with illustrations (!) for those who are reading-comprehension challenged and also because all those really cool Japanese plushie books do that and so I thought I'd jump on that bandwagon. It also comes with FULL-SIZED patterns for both a boy and girl doll. So, in mathematical terms: 1 pattern = 2 different dolls (or 4 if you count the front and back sides of each doll). If you go ahead and buy the pattern, I will send it to you in a PDF format direct to the convenience of your own email inbox and you can just print it right out on regular old printer paper and off you can go on your plushie-making adventure with no need for scanning or enlarging too-small pattern pieces. And also, it comes with the embroidery designs for the faces. Yeah, I'm totally serious. Get your own pattern right here in my shop.

And on a side note, holy-schmoley it takes a buttload of time to create a pattern with illustrated instructions. I am pretty sure Beeper thought his mama had forsaken him over the long holiday weekend as I worked deliriously trying to finish it. I may well be served with divorce papers by my lovely and patient husband yet too. This is the price you must pay to make a pattern, dear readers, so keep that in mind as you consider whether to buy a copy for yourself--marital harmony and mother-child bonds were put in jeopardy just to bring you this pattern.And in other Chez Beeper Bebe news, I have made 4 new Two-Faced Friend Dolls that are all up for sale in my Etsy shop right at this very second. So, should you not be the sewing type, you need not forsake all hope of owning your very own Two-Faced Friend. These are sort of special to me as they served as the dolls photographed for the pattern and include some new detail modifications to my original doll design--AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, they are all constructed from mostly vintage materials. Every single one is made with lovely vintage feedsack fabrics, vintage buttons and vintage rickrack. And the bodies of the dolls were made with reclaimed white cotton sheets--so there is a whole lot of reducing, reusing and recycling going on here.

I do plan to put together some Two-Faced Friend Doll kits this week. These will come with the complete pattern, cut-out doll pieces from some of my very favorite vintage feedsack fabrics, vintage buttons and trims for embellishment, and the other items needed to make your own without all the pattern-pinning and cutting fuss. And I have been working on some sweet and simple packaging for these. Look for those this coming weekend...

Oh, and one more thing then you can go back to doing to whatever you were prior to all my enraptured ramblings, I started a Two-Faced Friend doll Flickr group--you can find that right here. So, should you decide to purchase the pattern and make a doll or two, you can share your doll design prowess with the world--or at least, with me.

6 comments:

Katie said...

Oh. My. God. Your shop. Your blog. I think I'm drooling. I just stumbled across you while searching toys at etsy. Your craftsmanship is outstanding. I am adding you to my blogroll. AND you live in Minnesota like me! (I'm matsutake.etsy.com).

Molly said...

Your dolls are so cute - and a clever design. I included them in my adorable doll round-up today on Charlotte's Fancy, and that was before I read this post. See it here:
http://bit.ly/VDtbq

Anonymous said...

These are the bee's knees! I adore them. I really want to buy a doll, so I'm saving my pennies. What a fantastic design--and beautifully done. Yay, you!

Holly said...

Katie--I love your blog and I love your shop and your toys EVEN MORE. Your stuff is utterly cool. I am going to dig into your blog more tonight after my son is asleep and quits assaulting me with flying legos.

Hey Molly--thanks so much. I am honored by all the good company I get to keep with the other dolls in your round up. I really, really love Project Grab Bag's work--and Hasenpfeffer is always excellent too.

Amy--well, you really are my BFF. I can always count on you for some appreciation. Of course, I still feel the same about you and your blog--always and forever. You're still my number one blog I check every single day. And also, I love the idea of one of my dolls residing in your home because I know it will be so happy there and have a good life--well, a sweet life, actually.

Courtney Short said...

found your blog thru the toy society newsletter .. LOVE that 2 face doll pattern.. so of course I had to come see your blog - I like to see the person behind the creations.. and u are just as sweet as your dollies.. congrats on this being your first pattern - it's really adorable, and I have it up in another window to purchase after I leave this comment. Im going to add you to my blog roll and please feel free to come visit mine : http://mommasgoodies.blogspot.com

Courtney Short-Prudhomme - The Cajun Hillbilly Housewife

Sunny said...

These dolls are sooooo fantastic! I found your blog awhile back while looking for sewing cards- thank you for the free download- the kiddos really love them.
Thanks for all the awesome!