Shoe Redo

I was not quite satisfied with the red shoes I had made so I decided I needed a shoe redo.  I loved the way they turned out with a bit of tweaking, and then decided cool msd bjd shoes deserved a cool outfit!
This is Rain, my Goodreau Whisper MSD  BJD.  The shoes are much better this time around, and I thought the outfit was kind of fun too.

Here she is without her hoodie.  I do apologise for the quality of the pics, they were a quick shot from my cell phone.
Nothing new going on here.   Just a fun bout of stomach virus going around the schools here.  Of course my youngest managed to pick it up.  I haven't yet......

I have some new ideas for my shoes, the ideas seem to keep coming faster than I can write them down or sketch them out, but I just haven't had the time to work with them. 
I know I was going to stick on topic with the blog, but I am going to let you know what has been going on. 
For about a month now, my youngest son has been having seizures.  He may have had them before this, but if he did, they were the petit mal seizures and went unnoticed as they sometimes do. 
About 3 weeks ago he had a grand mal seizure, and frightened us to death, so now we are very aware of what happens with him.  We watch his every move (poor fella, he hates that). 
Yesterday he began doing something that was new to him, but was very familiar to me.  He was darting his eyes around the ceiling like he was seeing something up there that we couldn't.  We could get his attention for a minute, and he would even stop for a while and seem normal, but then before much time had passed he was doing it again.
My oldest son does this a good bit.  He is really out of control when this happens, and there are some really wild behaviors, but with all the other behaviors that come along with the autism, I never figured it could be seizure related.  Matt has never had anything that was obviously a seizure.
Now I am thinking that there is a possibility that both boys are experiencing auras, the precursor to seizures. 
There are more types of auras than I realised, but as I understand it they could be seeing flashing lights or glittery light. 
As a young teen I used to have episodes of tunnel vision, which is also listed as a type of aura.  I never reported them to anyone, and remember having the odd idea that I was doing it myself, and that everyone could do it. 
The doctor is supposed to call me back today and I will find out if he wants to do some tests.

Drive in Time

I haven't worked on my shoes much for two days.  I went to the drive in last night.  We saw Nanny McPhee Returns, and Charlie McCloud.  I love going to the drive in and feel like we are so lucky that there is still one in the area we live in.  It has been a long time since we have been able to have a chance to do a normal family activity.  I really missed it.  The windows fogged up and we could barely see, and our son thought it was hilarious to eat pizza in the car.
Today my husbands neice asked me to help her daughter decorate a cake.  It was a monkey made in one of those Wilton cake pans.  I took the Wilton cake decorating classes years ago, all but the one that teaches how to make wedding cakes.  I would have loved to learn wedding cakes, but I was afraid if I ever made one I would drop it when I delivered it.  The monkey did turn out adorable. 
I always liked decorating cakes, but neither my husband nor my two sons would eat cake, and though I will eat cake, I don't really care for much frosting.  I was just loved the idea of making my boys fabulous birthday cakes every year.  They just ruined my plans by not liking cake.

New Shoe Preview

This is just a little preview of what is coming next, as far as shoe designs go.  I am going strappy!  I love all the strappy shoes that I see the dolls wear in the lovely pictures that other BJD owners and designers share.  They are usually showing off a dress, and yes I love a great outfit as much as anyone, but it is the shoes that always draw my attention. 

 Funny considering I don't have that many pairs right now. Mostly because as a SAHM I am in blue jeans most of the time.  I love shoes, but as I get older they have to be comfy. 

There are more designs to come with this pattern, and perhaps a bit of improvement with these.  I don't care for the way the toe looks in the cream colored pair, and I have eliminated a seam that is in the outer side of the red pair.  I am still aiming for easy to make shoes, eliminating seams and uncluttering my designs where I can.  This just gives a taste of what is to come.

Lace Up Boots

The pictures of my lace up boots are finally ready.  I think they turned out well. 

I loved the way the gold boots turned out.  They were a purse in a previous life, and the leather was a bit to thick to make boots of this scale but I couldn't resist.  They look just like a pair of my husbands steel toed work boots.  The soles are made from two layers of  a 7mm foamie sheet, and I actually gave them a tread.

The black boots remind me of a pair I had in jr high.  Mine were brown, and the soles weren't made from mouse pads though.  I don't think there was any such thing as mouse pads then.

I wore my boots with plaid wool skirts, and thought I was soooo fashionable.

The above the knee boots are a bit different, but a lot of fun.

I have them listed on Ebay, but I hope soon to have my own website with downloadable patterns.

These boots are a little more complicated than my first boot pattern, and my shoe pattern, that only have one seam and were designed with simplicity in mind, with one piece uppers. 

This pattern has three piece uppers and three seams to sew,  but it isn't difficult, and the holes can be made with a simple paper hole punch.

I have put my auction link below.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130432338007&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123

Now I am off to start a new pattern for shoes.  I will give you a sneak preview soon.

Woohoo!

I am so happy.  I have my 600E Singer Touch and Sew completely fixed, oiled and lubricated, and running like a top.  I never bothered taking the top and bottom off and oiling everything you are supposed to.  I used to take the old one in the shop.  Now with cobbling the two together and making one good machine, I won't be doing that anymore.  There is one dial that wont turn, but I generally only use straight and zigzag, and it is doing both well. 
I also oiled and lubricated the Touch and Sew 750 portable that I got for $5 at a garage sale.  You would not believe all the lint I took out of the bottom when I removed the cover.  It was packed full.  The old owner was definitely like I was before.  If it runs, it is just fine.  Take it in to the shop if it wont.   Removing the lint was so easy, and lint is not a sewing machines friend.
I am an odd bird.  I like old sewing machines.  My old 600 was a year older than me, and had belonged to my mother.  It worked well, and made me happy.  I don't need something computerized and with a bunch of fancy bells and whistles.  I like the cast iron machines that are a pain to lug and carry.
There is a place not to far from here that offers a class on sewing machine repair.  I would really like to take it, and my husband said he might just take it with me.  I never expected that, but it would be very nice. 
Anyway, the result of all my work on my sewing machines is that I wont have to keep trying to limp along  on my old Dressmaker sewing machine.  It was another bargain find, and didn't ever quite run as smoothly or efficiently as my old machine.  A sewing machine should be a pleasure to use.  Maybe I can fix it up though.  If not I have a friend whose grandmother has the same model and might need spare parts.
I need to get my photo session with the lace up boots done today.  I have another design that I just have to start soon, I love the idea, and it is driving me crazy not to work on it.

Good day, bad night

Today started much better than it ended. 
I finished my last pair of lace up boots.  I just need a photo shoot and the pattern is ready to go. The one picture I have is from my cell phone and not the best picture.  It is the knee high version.
 I was pleased with the way all of the boots turned out, but I wonder if anyone else will like them without a zipper up the back.  Except for the two short pairs, they are definetely not a part of a quick change wardrobe.  I think an experienced seamstress could add a zipper.  I could add one myself, but the object of the game for me has been to keep the sewing as simple as possible.  I will have to think on this.
After my boot success I decided to tackle my sewing machine problems head on.  I have an old well loved Singer Touch and Sew 600, that no longer works because I didn't know that the drain in the shower above my sewing area in the basement had sprung a leak until much too late to save the machine.  I found a Singer Touch and Sew 600E that was working  but had some parts missing at  Salvation Army.  Goody goody for me!  I cannibalized my poor 600 and have the new/old machine working great.  The only drawback is that the piece that is supposed to cover the bobbin area (it isn't the throat plate which is what I keep wanting to call it) was obviously replaced with the wrong part, and though I have that piece on my 600, there is stuff covering it that I can't remove because it is frozen in place.  Sigh.......
I also have a Touch and Sew portable that I found last summer at a garage sale for $5, and I fiddled with it a bit today, and it is working now, just needs oiled and lubricated. 
My new designs will go much quicker than they did sewing by hand.  Though I still do like sewing by hand, and will probably still do it some.
The bad ending to the day was my youngest boy getting sick.  There is a virus going around school right now, and I think that is what he had.  He wouldn't eat much last night, and that boy is an eating machine.  He is 14 and taller than my husband and I.  He loves potato salad, and didn't eat much of what we had.  He was in the  bathroom and started throwing up and something got stuck.  At first I thought he was having a seizure because he threw his head back and then his eyes started rolling around and then back in his head.  He seemed to be passing out and I couldn't get my arms around him and hold him up while doing the Heimlich.  Thank goodness my husband was there to get him laying down and he was able to manuever him to where he could get him  breathing.  That was so scary.

Gremlins

Yesterday was one of those days.  You the type.  I was going to finish the last boot for the photos for the new boot pattern, and I picked out a matching thread, set it aside, left the room for a second, and.....
Darn it how does it happen.  You have something one minute, and then it is gone.  I backtracked over all of my steps since I got it out of the plastic box, and it is no where to be found.  I've looked all over the floor of the area where I was sitting.  No luck there. 
I think it must be gremlins.  Or sprites.  Something other than me! 
Used to be when something like that happened I could usually pin point it to my oldest boy.  He is pure magpie through and through.  He is autistic, and it never occurs to him that if you have something that takes his fancy, that it would matter to you if he took it.  He is off at school now, and since he left I have been finding things in the oddest places.  One of his favorites was behind the fridge.
My youngest is also autistic, and curious about everything.  If he takes something, it is usually to take it apart.  He is getting better about those sorts of things, and does this far less often.  Can't take apart a spool of thread, so I doubt he is my gremlin.
I did get a good bit of picking up done just hunting for that silly spool of thread.  I guess I will have to buy another, which of course will mean I find it.

These are my first two sets of shoe and boot patterns.  They will fit Goodreau resin and vinyl  16-17" dolls, and should be able to be worn  by any slim MSD BJD that can wear Goodreau clothes and shoes.
I began making these shoes because when I found the dolls, at a price I could afford, I was delighted.  I had been wanting them for such a long time, but I had put off buying them, because with my children I usually have more pressing need for money than a new doll, no matter how badly I wanted it.  When my first doll, Chloe arrived I had no clothes or shoes,  but I love making clothing.  Could I make shoes that would look good on this type of doll?  I had made shoes for Bleuette and American Girl, so I decided to give it a whirl, after all if I could make my own, that left more money for things like a new friend for Chloe.

The first pattern I designed was for very simple slouchy boots. They have a one piece upper and no zipper buttons or ties. There is only one seam in the back, except for the thigh high boots which were made from a stretchy velvet and wold have frayed and looked unfinished without a hem.  You can't get much simpler, and still have a cute new pair of boots. Four new pairs of boots in fact.
My confidence a bit higher I decided to try shoes.  I wanted a pair of Mary Janes, and a simple pair of ballet type flats, so that was the next thing I tried.
The shoes have 4 different patterns which are a variation of the same very simple easy to sew pattern with a one piece upper, and one seam in the back.  There is also a T-strap shoe and just by varying the upper slightly from the ballet flat, one that gives the feel of a loafer. 
I have been selling my patterns on ebay, and I am working on a download which I will offer on an auction site which allows downloads, and hope to have my own website soon.

I am very nearly done with a new set of patterns for lace up boots that I am really excited about.  I will probably be taking pictures this afternoon.  My husband will be so glad when I finish, since I have been kind of obsessed, and have been really hard at it trying to make these boots just right.  I can't wait to show them off.

The Dragonfly

Why have I called my blog dragonfly fancy?  Well, three weeks ago I was facing some of the hardest decisions of my life, and their inevitable consequences.  I was nearly certain I was making the right choice, but it was so hard and so painful, and it was natural to have some doubts.
I was sitting on my back porch with my husband and we were about the choices we were making, when a dragnfly flew my way.  Without thinking,  I put my hand out, and it landed right on my fingers.  As my husband and I talked, not directly refrencing the dragonfly, it stayed put and seemed to look at me and listen.  My husband finally said "They don't normally behave that way do they?"  "No, would you like to hold him for a while?" I asked as I held my hand towards my husband.  The dragonfly then flew from my fingers straight to his, where he sat for quite some time. 
During the time that we held our new friend we gestured with our hand a bit and didn't hold perfectly still, but to all appearances he wanted to stay with us.  The odd thing was no matter which way my husband held his hands the dragonfly would turn to face me. 
Mr Dragonfly stayed on our hands trusting us for at least 10-15 minutes.  Finally my husband with some gentle guidance encouraged him to perch on the deck railing where he stayed, at least as long as we were on the deck.
During this encounter, I becan to feel more at peace with our decision.  I was suddenly certain it was the right thing.  I felt like it was a sign from God telling us we were doing exactly what needed to be done.
The purpose of my blog wont be to go on about my choices, or talk about my personal life, but I wanted to share this experience.
I mostly want to share what I am doing.  The things I am making and designing.  And show previes of the patterns I am offering.  Right now I am a bit obsessed with making patterns for shoes and boots for my Goodreau ball jointed dolls.  The cover picture is of my favorite girl, Chloe.  She is a resin Secret, and has  been retired by Goodreau.