Pattern Sale!!! Now thru Sunday 4/26

Pattern Sale!!!!  This weekend only - 4/24 - 4/26 

SAVE 25% on all patterns in my Etsy Shop!
Coupon Code SPRING25 Enter at beginning of checkout
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns

To the Ball - Cinderella-inspired Ball Gown

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and Passover!

As this happy Springtime ushers in thoughts of flowers and butterflies, I am so pleased to announce the completion of my newest design:
"To the Ball" - A regal Ball Gown and Petticoat fit for a Princess

Find it in my Etsy & Craftsy shops:

Having the tunes of the old Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Cinderella in my head, I recall how Cinderella wishes to go "to the Ball" so she can see all the finery. So lucky to have a Fairy Godmother!

While this design looks very impressive, it is really the fabric that is the star of the show. The specially shaped panels of the bodice and skirt make it very easy to recreate the look.
Using light and sheer layers of pretty lightweight colors in the blue, aqua, and purple family the pattern shows how to combine them and get a very showy result.

It isn't difficult to make, either! This gown has a lot of layers and a lot of gathering which take a little time to put together but the techniques are pretty basic - gathering, hemming, hand-basting, sewing a lining down. There is a tutorial included for creating the pretty butterflies.

And lots of pictures and diagrams to illustrate your way!

Have a lovely Weekend!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns

http://www.craftsy.com/user/573030/pattern-store

♥♥♥ Happy Valentine's Day! ♥♥♥

♥ Happy Valentines Day to all! ♥

Anticipating Springtime is a favorite activity in February :)

Dollhouse Designs is celebrating a new pattern, a soon-to-be-released pattern, and a handful of new items soon to be in my Etsy shop.

New Pattern - Winter Princess Nightgown!

Want to Build a Snowman??? Yes, and this pattern offers 2 Versions of the Nightgown, 2 Lengths, in 2 Fabric styles :)

Make it up in Knit or Woven fabrics, choose long or 3/4 sleeve styles, and long or short length! Very fast to make for lots of fun :)

Find patterns in both my Etsy and Craftsy shops:
Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns
Craftsy http://www.craftsy.com/user/573030




Next, there will be a NEW pattern coming very soon!
The luxurious new CINDERELLA Ball Gown....

Here is a preview photo. It is still in the production stage but should be ready by March 7!!
Featuring a gorgeous and enormous full layered skirt, pointed basque waist, and fluffy bodice accent plus an optional separate petticoat for maximum density.
There will be a couple of the finished gowns available in my Etsy shop for sale at that time, too!


And available very soon in shop are finished nightgowns, and 2 Raincoats for Springtime fun. (Raincoat sets are made from modified versions of  Sophie Clareese and Kotton Candy patterns)
Also... a new take on Elsa will be available soon just in time for the Spring release of Cinderella  and "Spring" Fever... Shhhh....

 

Fall Savings this week! Coupon Code

Pattern Sale!

Don't miss the pattern sale going on now. Simply shop for your favorite patterns in my Etsy shop and enter the special Coupon Code at checkout. Save 10% on your total! Expires September 28th. Find all the styles you want for American Girl Dolls...
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns 
  Coupon Code:    FALL12

Anna's Cape & Cape Pattern is now available!

Anna's Cape & Cap pattern is now available in my Etsy and Craftsy shops! I will be updating the sample photos soon but enjoy these in the meantime.

The pattern features templates and instructions for making the winter set as detailed or as simple as you like.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns

http://www.craftsy.com/user/573030/pattern-store

Her Winter Outfit with Skirt, Blouse, Dirndl and Mittens are coming next  along with a 1930s Hollywood Pajama pattern

Wishing everyone a safe and happy summer!!!

-Renee

How to hide those American Girl Doll Neck Strings -Safely

One thing that all American Girl Doll fans have to deal with is moving those neck strings around when you change the doll's outfit...
when you brush her hair...
when you fasten her clothes...
when you put her in a pretty new outfit with a pretty back and those white strings are just... There.

Well, some time back a Wonderful lady wrote to me about what a shame it was that those neck strings distracted from an outfit I had made in otherwise very nice photos. She had a lovely tip for me: hide the strings.  I "shall always consider (her) a benefactress", to quote Anne of Green Gables, but unfortunately I cannot find that original message to me and thus, cannot credit her in this post. If you are that delightful person, please come forward so I may acknowledge your help :)

She went on to explain how she uses tweezers to push the strings down into the back opening on dolls with the gusset opening on their backs.  Voila... no more strings sticking out and getting in the way, but they remain perfectly safe and pristine.
I used her method in these photos with the assistance of my long serger tweezers - available at any sewing source or Amazon.com.

I did have to wrap the strings around the tweezers in order to insert them but I wonder if the process would be easier with curved tweezers? If anyone has them and tries that please let me know!

See below for the steps!
If you like Sewing Patterns or outfits for AGs, please visit my shop:

 http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns

Grasp and twist strings a few times

With the other hand, hold the strings from the bottom end and wrap the twisted strings around one side of tweezers. Pinch the ends tightly with tweezers. I had to try a couple times before I got them to stay.

Get ready to insert the strings.

Keep a tight grip on those tweezers as you work the strings inside. You will have to "find a path" through the stuffing.

Keep pushing and don't let go of the tweezer's grip until you get MOST of the strings inside.

Some will just not go, so at this point we will release the tweezers and pull them back out, leaving the strings partially inside.

Grap some of the strings that are still sticking out and push those inside.

Repeat until you have them all in there. 

Now isn't that so much neater???

I love this trick :) I had these inside my doll for over a year and untucked the strings and the only thing was they were all curly, but a little misting and pulling will restore then to being straight. (Or a quick iron steaming on the ends -taking care to keep dolly's hair out of the path of the iron)

SALE 10% off Everything in my Etsy Shop

Happy Mother's Day!

Enjoy a 10% Discount on everything in my Etsy shop - Outfits and Patterns $6  and up, now thru May 14. 

{Reminder ELSA Frozen pattern is at special reduced price of $9.99 til May 30 - I like to offer new patterns at lower cost the first few weeks} 

Thanks and Enjoy!! 

Coupon Code: MAY10 ~ Good thru May 14th

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DollhouseDesigns