aunt sarah dolls.
I have been wanting to make Aunt Sarah dolls for a long time now. They hear about her, talk to her on the phone, and play with her toys and creations all day, but didn't really have a visual of her. So, after good sport Sarah complied and sent me this flippin cute photo, I jumped on this project pronto. Sadie insisted that she have sleeping bags (which can hang) because camping is the new favorite nighttime activity, with blankets, all the lights out, flashlights, a lantern, and lots and lots of dollys.
Here are the Sarahs all nested snug in the hangable sleeping bags.
I did the drawing in illustrator and then printed it onto the twill, using this product, which I like a lot. I was gonna do the whole bubble jet thing, but didn't have the patience nor the right fabric to print on.
Then, it's hard to see here, I traced a light pencil line around the shapes, on the back side of the twill. This was my stitching line. I never cut out the shapes first when they are this small, I sew on the line first and then trim and turn. Much less swearing because then there are no unaligned seams edges. I turned them and stuffed them with this tool, which I can't live without, the stuffing fork. It's impossible to stuff these teeny tiny parts without something like this and I like working small, so I am so happy I found it. I learned about it when I was making a Gail Wilson doll and it has changed my life. Seriously.
The girls love these dollys a whole lot and I thought about making some with photos of the whole family. I think it's especially cool for long distance family and friends that they don't see very often. Plus it's just freaky and funny to see faces of real people on dolls.
Okay, on a business note, all the mailorders are out the door and if you haven't gotten yours soon, you will. Overseas may take a bit longer, or course. Tomorrow is a holiday so things might be backed up a bit. . there were a lot of address changes this time and also some paypal double payments and other oddities, so I will e-mail you if something gets returned or if there is other craziness. Thanks again for all the orders!
Love them. Now must make favorite uncle doll. :)
Posted by: Michelle | January 14, 2007 at 10:23 PM
i did those for christmas gift to my dear friends (they`re a couple). i made `em the wool yarn hair-do and clothes in colors they usually wear.i had such a fun time making them!
Posted by: bubamaca | January 15, 2007 at 01:38 AM
Ha ha, they are marvellous!
Can you make an Amy doll to me so I can drink a cup of coffee with you ;)
Posted by: camilla Engman | January 15, 2007 at 02:41 AM
What a great idea! :-)
Posted by: HildeC | January 15, 2007 at 03:13 AM
ha ha! those are freaking awesome!!
Posted by: jenny vorwaller | January 15, 2007 at 03:20 AM
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Brilliant :)
If I was drinking coffee I'm sure it would come snortling back up through my nose.
Posted by: Alison | January 15, 2007 at 03:45 AM
The Aunt Sarah dolls are great--what a fun idea. I now envision a whole family of dolls: sisters, best friends, etc. You have given me a great idea for birthdays. Oh my, I just love this!
I safely received my Mail Order envelope and am so excited about making all the activities--the recipe is wonderful. Thank you so very much!
Posted by: June | January 15, 2007 at 05:03 AM
these crack me up! i love them.
Posted by: molly | January 15, 2007 at 05:14 AM
those dolls are great!
got my mailorder....can't wait to dive in!
Posted by: erin | January 15, 2007 at 05:36 AM
Hopefully they never become voodoo dolls. Got my mail order last week and loved it as usual.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | January 15, 2007 at 05:55 AM
Thanks for all of the tips, techniques and product references. I always learn so much from your posts.
These are hilarious:)
Posted by: martha | January 15, 2007 at 06:23 AM
I love the idea of an "Aunt Sarah" doll.
We made a memory game for our kids when they were a bit younger out of our relatives' faces. I printed out their smiling faces as large as I could on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper. Then I cut it out, and backed it with two pieces of scrapbooking paper, a different solid for each person to frame their face, and the same patterened one on the back. I used the "Hello my name is" stickers for their names under their pictures. Then I laminated them.
It was a lot of fun, and made our family members a bit more "famous" in our house. It also sparked some story-telling.
Now I want to make a bunch of dolls!
Posted by: Amy Lu | January 15, 2007 at 06:34 AM
Love! Very funny and clever. And congrats on the book, by the way. I can hardly wait to read it!
Posted by: Liesl | January 15, 2007 at 07:04 AM
Such a cute idea! These are so fun...
Posted by: Amy | January 15, 2007 at 07:06 AM
so funny and so amy...
Posted by: hannah | January 15, 2007 at 07:14 AM
these are so awesomely fantastic!
what a great idea!
:)
Posted by: gkgirl | January 15, 2007 at 07:18 AM
I live a long way from my family so these dolls are great! But the best tip is...sew around first, cut second! This will change my life! (The sewing part anyway!)
Posted by: Jane | January 15, 2007 at 08:05 AM
these are so much better than the face transfers... goodness. and of course they need to hang-- we all have a little fruit bat inside us begging to be let out.
Posted by: melissa f. | January 15, 2007 at 09:14 AM
okay...you have given me the best birthday gift idea for my nephew (who lives on the other side of the country). THANKS!
Posted by: brandie | January 15, 2007 at 09:34 AM
What an awesome idea! Cute cute cute.
Posted by: Stacia | January 15, 2007 at 09:42 AM
Dolls with faces of real people, it's so "of course" when I hear of it. Thanks for that idea!
Posted by: Elena | January 15, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Just wonderful idea!!! I can imagine the whole family, kids will love it for sure.
Posted by: Zabrina | January 15, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Omigod, I love this idea. Right now my 2 year old loves me to draw her whole extended family with bath crayons in the bath every night -- she would love a Aunt, er, Daniella doll. You, my dear, are a genius.
Posted by: elizabooth | January 15, 2007 at 10:37 AM
They're hilarious!
Posted by: Erin O. | January 15, 2007 at 11:00 AM
ha! really cute.
Posted by: stephanie | January 15, 2007 at 11:02 AM
These are really funny! My daughter would go crazy for something like this (with a different aunt, of course - or maybe even with Daddy). So great!
Posted by: abbyjane | January 15, 2007 at 11:07 AM
Those are lovely!
Posted by: Lina | January 15, 2007 at 12:09 PM
yer killin me....too funny!
Posted by: laura r. | January 15, 2007 at 12:34 PM
oh my god its so cute over here today!!!! Those dolls, your banner, your stuffing fork, YOU! crazy cute, your ideas never lack in originality!
Posted by: blair | January 15, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Well aren't you super productive! VERY nice sleeping bags, and the dolls are great. It would be very cool to have those of the family! I would like a Deedle doll.
Posted by: Mariko | January 15, 2007 at 01:06 PM
What a funny idea!! The dolls are so great!
Posted by: Karin | January 15, 2007 at 01:41 PM
What a great idea...I think I see my family (in dolls) going south to my neice!!! Love it!!!
Posted by: barb | January 15, 2007 at 04:19 PM
Hilarious and awesome. All that the same time! I need me an Aunt Sarah....
Posted by: Morgan | January 15, 2007 at 04:20 PM
those are awesome! too too funny!
Posted by: hillary | January 15, 2007 at 06:24 PM
Oh my gosh, so fabulous! LOVE these!
Posted by: Gillian | January 15, 2007 at 09:03 PM
What a cute idea!
Posted by: Jill | January 16, 2007 at 04:53 AM
This is brilliantly good fun.
Posted by: carolyn | January 16, 2007 at 05:32 AM
Hi there, I am a new around these here parts, but the Aunt Sarah doll - how could I not comment? What a wonderful creation and what lucky girls!
Posted by: Sonya | January 16, 2007 at 08:21 AM
oh that is so funny and cute! :D
Posted by: joleen | January 16, 2007 at 11:18 AM
Oh my gosh! How adorable!
Posted by: Lauri | January 16, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I wish you could hear me scream!!!! FAN-TAS-TIC!!!
Posted by: Hazel | January 16, 2007 at 12:29 PM
The doll is wonderfully great! What fun!
Posted by: kathi | January 16, 2007 at 01:21 PM
The dolls are so great! What a wonderful idea!
Posted by: Veronica TM | January 16, 2007 at 05:12 PM
Oh my gosh. I think that I would break out in table-slapping laughter every time I saw my sister (or some other relative)peeking out from the toy box. Hilarious! But really, so great for keeping young kids connected with "rellies". Too much fun ...
Posted by: Mae | January 16, 2007 at 06:22 PM
hahahahha!!! these are WONDERFUL!!!
Posted by: sonia | January 16, 2007 at 08:12 PM
lol!! these are great! ;)
Posted by: Casey | January 17, 2007 at 05:56 AM
these are flippin' fantastic!!!! I can't draw in illustrator [or otherwise] to save my life... would you be willing to share or sell some body/clothes drawings? please oh please! :o)
Posted by: Jen Downer | January 17, 2007 at 08:36 AM
I'm hoping to be an Aunt Sarah some day too. I can't wait to be my own doll. Thanks for the instructions - these are fantastic.
Posted by: Sarah | January 17, 2007 at 11:18 AM
oh i like the idea of voodoo dolls. I have just the right person in mind!! Bhg.com has a pillow design with photos that is really cute.
Posted by: Teresa | January 18, 2007 at 07:05 PM
OMG! Those are hysterical! And yet...BRILLIANT! I'll be jumping on that one soon for my kids and then a niece/nephew to-be! It'll be a great alternative to the photo book or photo bumper (both great things, mind you, but this is so original)!
Posted by: Sharon | January 19, 2007 at 07:10 AM