A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE

What a delightful surprise -- a Christmas gift from "Aunt" Kendal for one of my Sasha baby dolls. Of course it was immediately snapped up by "Scamp" the newest kid on the block. It is our very first outfit created by DOLLYDOODLES and features a teddy bear motif. The delightful design has a white front with a patterned back.

I thought that "Scamp" and her Teddy Bear friends might enjoy posing in front of the heavy-weight tapestry print created entirely from drawings of Teddy Bears I created for a Dover clip art book. It was quite a surprise when I found the fabric because I had never seen any of my art used this way. "Scamp" and her friends really like the image of the Teddy Bear riding a rocking horse.

And so, a Merry Christmas to All, and to all a Good Night.

REMEMBERING CHRISTMAS

In the mid 1930s my father's display company created Macy's mechanical Christmas window displays. I was very young -- 3 or 4 -- but I still remember the giant toy machine that cranked out all sorts of toys.

I worked briefly as a display designer in a local department store but never got to do anything as fantastic as what my father's company had created.

Decades later, in the mid 1970s, I created this window display for "dollsandreams" in New York City. That is where I discovered Sasha dolls and where I spent many happy hours "interviewing" potential adoptees.

Over the years I created several windows for the shop but this was one of my favorites.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

A SNOW WHITE STUDIO STYLE DRESS

Sasha looks like an angel in this prototype dress that I created for the Feltman Bros. doll dress line. It is currently being offered on eBay -- Item number 120666605501

A PENNY SAVED

In these harsh economic times every penny counts -- especially if we want to adopt another Sasha. So I keep track of all my supermarket discounts and use coupons until my savings add up to a reasonable adoption fee.

And I recycle and reuse everything I can. Here are two of my favorites. I love French Roast coffee and the red plastic containers are well designed and sturdy. I use them to store all sorts of things in both the kitchen and my workroom. In the winter I fill them with water and place one in each room so that the heating doesn't dry out everything including my Sashas.

The other item I really love is this Roasted Chicken container. I love sliced chicken sandwiches and this brand packages it in this terrific container that stacks easily or hangs smartly on a peg board. They are transparent so I am able to see whatever I store inside them.

I used to buy plastic pencil boxes but they cost about a dollar each. These are better for my needs and are free.

All these plastic items may not be eco friendly but for me they are eco-nomically friendly and over time contribute to my doll fund by saving the money I might have spent for more expensive containers.

A NEW NIKKI CREATION

Sasha is delighted with her latest outfit from SASHA DOLL STYLE -- created by Nikki. It seems that Sasha has developed a passion for purple. The polo neck sweater is hand knit using 4 ply wool in purple, navy blue, and sky blue. This is paired with navy blue fine cotton needlecord boot leg trousers. A knit hair band and knit socks complete the ensemble. The set came with a shark hand puppet.

To see more of Nikki's fabulous Sasha fashions just click on this link http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/

A PALE PINK STUDIO STYLE DRESS

Here is another one of my prototype designs for the FELTMAN BROS. doll dress line. It is currently being offered on eBay. Item number 120659386363

Or use this link http://tinyurl.com/37fxrmy

WHITE STUDIO STYLE DRESS

Here is another of my FELTMAN BROS. prototype dresses that was one of several designs created for their line of doll fashions.

It is currently being offered on eBay. Item number 120657240624

THE NEW GIRL

Over the past few years I have been rebuilding my original Sasha family from the early 1970s. Those dolls were lost in a move from New York to California. The most difficult girl to replace was my 1971-72 wide face brunette. I found her on eBay a few months ago but like many of her sisters, she has delicate hair. So rather than risk damaging her with various modeling assignments I went in search of another brunette -- one with non-falling hair.

This charming mid-70s girl just arrived and I'm still trying to figure out what her personality really is. Here are a few images of her "screen test" and I am just beginning to know her. Only time, and more modeling, with reveal her heart and soul but I think we are off to a good start.

THE STUDIO STYLE

Here is another of my Feltman doll dress designs. This pale buttercup yellow dress was never produced in this version. As with any design project there are always variations of any concept and some never make it into production -- at least not in their first version.

This prototype is now up for auction on eBay. Auction number 120654466314

At the time that I was designing these dresses I was not aware of Sasha's beautiful studio dolls that often were dressed in similar "heirloom" styles.

A COUNTRY GIRL CHALLENGE

Last week on a whim I sent away for this printed "Everyday Clothing Panel" from HOME-SEW. It cost just $9.95 and I thought it might be a fun challenge to alter it for a Sasha. It arrived yesterday and I was delighted with the quality -- especially the colorful and detailed printing on a lovely 100% cotton panel.

The outfit is intended to fit an 18-inch doll -- there is a companion printed rag doll panel -- or an American Girl type of doll.

I decided to only use the pieces provided but not necessarily the way they were intended to be used. The "lining" for the collar and back closing of the blouse became a collar and bow. Because Sasha is only 16 inches tall I had some skirt fabric excess to play with. And I decided to make a full dress instead of a blouse and skirt. Some of the skirt material became pockets and part of the apron became its waistband.

I'm not a great fan of poke bonnets but I made this one more or less as described. Overall I think it turned out to be a fun project and considering the price, an inexpensive one. The final outfit looks much more expensive than $9.95.

While I was working on it I thought this would make a fun challenge to see how many variations our clever designers might come up with.

Meanwhile, Sasha is enjoying her new frock and is looking for some geese or maybe a couple of lambs.

AN EVENING WITH SASHA

The Center City Doll Club in Philadelphia will be hosting AN EVENING WITH SASHA in January 2011. The tentative date is Tuesday evening January 18th at 8 pm. The club will be celebrating Robbin's winning the Sasha Pinafore Challenge and we will be displaying her winning outfits. There will be refreshments and possibly some of Robbin's creations for sale.

This is a small, very relaxed and friendly club that meets in the HAPPILY EVER AFTER doll and toy shop once a month.

If you live close enough to join us please feel free to bring a Sasha and share a couple of hours having an evening with Sasha.

I'll post more details as the date is confirmed. I hope some of you will join us.

TOP FIVE PINAFORES

FIRST PLACE - designed by Robbin

SECOND PLACE designed by Maureen

THIRD PLACE designed by Robbin

FOURTH PLACE designed by Monica

FIFTH PLACE designed by Jocelyn


Congratulations to the top five most popular designs. Thanks to all the talented designers who made this challenge a fabulous success.

MIXING IT UP

Fashion today is often made up of mixtures of colors and eclectic styles. I find myself buying both packaged outfits as well as second-hand things on eBay. And, over time, I discovered that I have little mini color collections.

My lavender "collection" began with a "Best Friends Club" packaged outfit in shades of lavender. Next came another packaged outfit from the "Tolly Girls" and finally a "batch" of "Our Generation" second-hand outfits from eBay.

Sasha is now wearing a really beautifully made white parka with lavender fleece pants and perfect fitting gloves from "Our Generation" plus a shirt and boots from the "Best Friends Club" collection.

My red, white, and blue collection began with the "Tommy Hilfiger" fashions but over the years I have added more and more outfits from various sources in those colors and now I can outfit about a dozen dolls in those colors.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to organize all my Sasha fashions. Doing it by color might be efficient but I'm also tempted to do it by seasons.

It would all be so much easier if my Sashas decided to become nudists.