Monday, May 21, 2012

Sew, Mama, Sew Give-a-way: A button-eyed doll!

Hello! I'm glad you've found my blog via the Sew, Mama, Sew give-a-way. I'll just get right on down to the nitty gritty - what I'm giving away!  I'm giving away one of my handmade button-eyed dolls! 


This dainty gal's name is Frances. She's an heirloom-quality button-eyed fabric doll with a funky flowered design on her dress, green striped legs, brown hair and brown eyes. She was machine and hand sewn. She's made out of cotton and muslin fabric. She has a "zipper" down the back of her dress which is where I stitched her together and a cloth tag that features my Etsy shop's name and address. She was made in my pet-free, smoke-free home. She stands 14 inches tall and her arm span is 8.5 inches. The bottom of her dress measures 5.5 inches wide. She's filled with soft fluff and is super soft and flexible, yet durable. She's washable too! Because of her plastic button eyes she's better suited for children that are 3 years and up. She's perfect for hugging, loving and carrying around on various adventures. Frances is actually the last plastic button-eyed doll I have! I've sold my entire stock of dolls and I'm not sure if I'll be making any more. 




Here's how to enter!

Leave a comment on this post. Please make sure to leave your email address so that if you win I can contact you. AND! Answer this question: if you are a sewer, what is the first thing you remember sewing?  If you do not sew, but are the creative type, what's the first thing you remember making? 

Personally, I was quite handy at whipping up elastic ponytail scrunchies at a young age. I started making them when I was about 14 and I remember the first few times I made them my mom had to help to re-thread the needle and refill the bobbin. It wasn't too long before I figured out the machine and was cranking out those badboys left and right. I thought I was pretty darn cool being able to make my own hair accessories.


This give-a-way will be open until 5 p.m. Friday, May 25. I'll pick the winner Friday night via a random number generator and contact the winner via email and I'll put a post up here announcing who won. I will ship internationally! 

Go to Sew, Mama, Sew to enter more give-a-ways! There are some awesome crafters and sewers who are giving away some fantastic items! 


Want more chances to win?

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If you want additional entries in the give-a-way, do any or all of these things: 

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I have an Etsy shop but currently stock is a bit low. But, I'd love to connect with you! Heart my shop! Be sure to leave another comment here so that I know you did that. (If you already heart my shop, tell me that for an entry!)

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I have a Facebook page for my shop also! Go there and like it! Be sure to leave another comment here so that I know you did. (If you already like my shop, tell me that for an entry!)

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Best of luck! 


Want to learn more? 

I started making dolls when my two girls were younger. I wanted to make a simple vintage-looking doll that was also durable. I love buttons, too so I decided that my dolls would have button eyes. I have had quite a good time making many, many dolls. No two dolls that I've made have ever been identical. I had good success selling them at craft shows and in my Etsy shop too. For one craft show I had an assembly line going - I made 60 dolls! I have had a blast making them for friends and family too over the years.

My dollies at a craft show!
But then, I kind of got tired of the dolls. I had a few custom orders to make and I found myself getting mad at the dolls and at having to make them and stuff them, blaaaaah - I wasn't enjoying it at all. So, I stopped. I haven't made a doll in almost a year. Sometimes, I do miss them. I may start making them again, but I'm not sure ... I have announced that I've officially "retired" the design but that's not to say it can't come out of retirement! I haven't been making much of anything lately because life has been so darn busy, but I have dabbled in a few other things: I've gotten into quilting and I've jumped into carving linocut blocks and have had fun making pillows and tea towels out of my designs. 

Well, that's about it in a nutshell! If you've read this far into this post - well hey, you get another entry in the give-a-way! Tell me what you make! Have you ever gotten tired of something that you've made a lot of?  Did you get out of that rut? If so, how? 

Thanks for stopping by my blog and good luck in the give-a-way! 


47 comments:

Beth said...

The first thing I remember sewing was doll clothes. Really small seam allowances!
beth.sebastian@gmail.com

Beth said...

One year I decided to make everyone I knew neck pillows for Christmas. By the time I was finished I never wanted to see another neck pillow again! I didn't even like the one I made myself anymore!

Beth said...

I liked you on facebook!

Brooke said...

I mostly sew clothes for my 3 children- 2 girls and a boy. :)

brooke at richardchurch dot com

Jen said...

The first thing I remember sewing (or really attempted to sew) was a set of placemats. They turned out terrible but were great practice. Thanks for the giveaway, the dolls you make are really cute!

Aimee said...

I don't sew but I BUY from people who sew. These dolls are adorable. My daughter STILL plays with hers from two years ago. Freakinfit@aol.com

thehappycrochetchic said...

This is adorable...I remeber trying to make a skirt that didnt turn out well at all...i am still not all that great at sewing.lol

thehappycrochetchic@yahoo.com

SHANA said...

The first thing I sewed was a crochet hook case.

SHANA said...

I tweeted.
https://twitter.com/#!/Blaze_inOn/status/204786128409202688

SHANA said...

I hearted your shop

SHANA said...

I liked your facebook page.

Rookie said...

Ooh - I love your dollie! When Coraline came out I had a total geek-fit over the alterfamily with the button eyes :)

Marilize
marilize (dot) paulsen (at) gmail (dot) com

Rookie said...

Hearted your etsy store.

Marilize
marilize (dot) paulsen (at) gmail (dot) com

Rookie said...

Liked you on Facebook.

Marilize
marilize (dot) paulsen (at) gmail (dot) com

Jingle said...

I used to make all kinds of things when I was very young. I remember creating puppets and other masterpieces from paper plates to then SELL to my parents! LOL! jinglesells at gmail dot com

Debi said...

Ahh..the first thing I sewed were dresses for my Barbie dolls and were very crudely hand-sewn, but I was so proud of my accomplishment! (ialady44@ yahoo.com)

Jackie said...

I am not a sewer, but I remember always wanting to learn to crochet when I was younger. Being left-handed, I could never quite 'get' it when someone was showing me. I kept at it though, and taught myself. One of the first things I ever made was one of those 'bed dolls'....with the wide ruffly skirt. I was so proud of that!
Thanks for the chance to win this awesome doll!!
jackieinmi67@gmail.com

Jackie said...

I added your Etsy shop as a favorite!
Jackie Reini
jackieinmi67@gmail.com

Jackie said...

I like you on Facebook!
Jackie Reini
jackieinmi67@gmail.com

Victoria said...

I am a bag maker and YES I get in a rut. I also quilt, crochet, and embroider. I just started painting again. Best way out of a rut for me is to figure out a new pattern and try new embellishments.
Love your girl and think her name ia Agnes..Aggie.

Jill said...

The first thing I remember sewing was a pillow in home ec, but that was a lot of years ago. When I picked it back up, I sewed some curtains for my husband's theatre performance at school and since then I've sewed a dozen bibs and burp cloths! Love sewing, just wish I had more time for it.

Pick me!

happyhopefuls@gmail.com

atabanana29 said...

I favorited you on Etsy! Stacy Alfano mjalfano19@gmail.com

atabanana29 said...

The first thing I sewed was a pillowcase dress for my daughter! mjalfano19@gmail.com

SewNurse said...

Great giveaway.
The first thing I remember sewing was in elementary school we each hand sewed a small stuffed animal...mine was a skunk

Stephanie Granite said...

The first things I remember sewing were little doll blankets. They were basically just rectangles of fabric sewn together but I loved them

lil'monkeysmama said...

Cute dolls! The first sewing project was a needle case. Fingers crossed for a doll!
smcintosh12(at)gmail(dot)com

Mama Lusco said...

Fun dolls! I first made a pillow case :) Thank you, mamalusco at ortelco dot net

Danielle said...

I first thing I sewed was a set of pillowcases. They weren't my first pair; I was really nervous to use the sewing machine for the first time so I talked my mom into making them. Since that first pair of pillowcases I've made bags, dresses, aprons, and a stuffed animal. Thanks for the giveaway!

Mao Mao said...

My first sewn item was made when I was around 6y old, a doll made from daddy's old pajama, with button eyes and a tricot dress :)

Mandy said...

the first thing i remember sewing was a quilted tote bag in year 7..i was 12...we had to draw up the lines and everything...i didn't do too badly and i had it for alot of year...i still remember it was pink with some blue flowers on it..it was 35 years ago...wowsers...xxx

JLVerde said...

Following you on facebook

JLVerde said...

The first thing I ever remember sewing were clothes for some cheap little plastic dolls I found at my grandmother's house. The dolls were hideous and so were the clothes (gray double knit dresses, poorly constructed!).

Seventh Sphere said...

I first started making pillowcase dresses for my daughter, as they are the easiest clothes that I could think of to make!

Seventh Sphere said...

I used to make a lot of coin purses, like in my little avatar to the left there. They are easy to make but I got really bored doing it, so I've started making clutch purses and pencil cases etc, which I'm really enjoying! I think when you get bored making the same thing over and over you've just really got to make a change, learn something new. You can always go back to dolls at a later date! :)

Lisa said...

Ok I love your doll my niece would go crazy over it! You are very talented!

Lisa said...

I liked you on fb because you are creative!

Lisa said...

Hey, I read to the end and yes I made very beautiful cards by hand for everyone. Now I prefer to quilt but I have my stuff just cant part with iit. I hope you find you was back to making dolls, because you are talented but I like the plastic eyes.

hueisei said...

I make few reversible totes when I started to sew. Very easy!

hueisei said...

Liked your page on FB.

mframe said...

The first thing I sewed was a stuffed pig in home ec. in high school.
mframe00@gmail.com

mframe said...

I hearted your shop on Etsy- mframe00
mframe00@gmail.com

mframe said...

I like you on FB- Michelle Frame
mframe00@gmail.com

Raven's Rascals said...

I don't sew, but I crochet. I remember making granny squares with my grandmother. That was my first experience. Thanks for the chance to win!

ravensrascals (at) gmail (dot) com

Raven's Rascals said...

I've added your shop to my favorites (RavensRascals). :o)

ravensrascals (at) gmail (dot) com

Raven's Rascals said...

I'm a new FB fan. (Rachel E.E. Martorano)

ravensrascals (at) gmail (dot) com

Sarah said...

Wow! That was a long scroll! :) The first things I sewed: doll clothes, doll blankets, pillows and then scrunchies! So fun.

Katrina said...

I remembering doing a cross stitch project when I was a little girl!

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