Wondering how to age a handmade doll? It's easy! Watch My How To Video Here

Free Video and Pattern on How to Dye a Prim Doll

Hi all! My son Joey, (10 years old!) shot this video for me on how to dye a primitive doll. You know how you always see those gorgeous dolls that look vintage and aged and wonder how they got it like that? Well, now you can make dolls like that too! I used to think it was complicated and I was so jealous that other doll makers could get the results I was yearning for. Well, now I know the secret too--and today you will too!

I was reading Prims Magazine (the August 2010 issue with the cat on the cover) and it tells all about how to make a dye out of tea, coffee and some other household items. It's really easy. So watch the video and then get crafting!

The bunny pattern is my own creation and you can have it for free if you just shoot me an email at clarasclosetinfo@gmail.com. You'll get hooked on prim making. I know I have!

P.S. Here's the link where you can buy the apron I am wearing in the video. My mom makes them for Clara's Closet. http://www.etsy.com/listing/69024880/crafterteacherwaitress-mom-waist-apron

Did your Grandmother Inspire you to Create too? Take a Look at Bailey's Bruins

It seems a lot of us started sewing because of our grandmothers. I hope that tradition always continues. Take a listen to this teddy sewer's story and see if it sounds familiar. And I'd love to hear from you if you have a "Nonny" story too about your grandmother. (clarasclosetinfo@gmail.com)

I came across Bailey's Bruins on the team that I started on Etsy called We Love Softies: Dolls, Animals and Cuties. (Feel free to join us at http://www.etsy.com/teams/7975/we-love-softies-dolls-animals-and-cuties) . 

Tiffany Bailey is the creative mind behind Bailey's Bruins. She  makes the most charming bears and other characters. What I love about them is that they have such expressions on their faces! And you can just feel the love that went into crafting them.

Bailey's Bruins (www.baileysbruins.etsy.com) is run out of a small cottage in Bonne Terre, MO. It's easy to imagine a sweet cottage set back from the road filled with marvelous bears, bunnies, and other stuffed lovelies just waiting to go into the hands of a girl or boy who loves softies. Or perhaps even an adult like one of us!

Tiffany, the head bear maker at Bailey's Bruins says, " I have been sewing as long as I can remember because both of my grandmothers thought this was an important skill to learn. Both of them made quilts, their children's clothing and later on toys for the grandkids-I still have many of them! I have followed in the path of these great ladies by creating the animals you are about to see, some even their original creations." 

She goes on to say, "Each animal is hand sewn and unique-I've never been able to make the same one twice! They are all made with faux fur or recycled clothing-anything from corduroy pants, old army fatigues or a vintage coat. They are filled with hypoallergenic stuffing or plastic beads and jointed with plastic safety joints and safety eyes unless otherwise noted. I learned to create teddy bears from a lady I met years ago and have been doing it ever since."

You can find Tiffany Bailey's creations, including these adorable bears at www.baileysbruins.etsy.com or at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Baileys-Bruins/115007531880138.  Stop on by and support another one of us softie lovers. And keep the stuffed ones coming.

Create an Etsy Catalog In an Instant For Free!

Etsycatalog.com is so easy to use! And free!

I can't tell you how excited I am to tell you about the new feature I found on Etsy.com. If you're a crafter with a shop on Etsy, you can now make your own catalog of your entire Etsy shop for free at http://etsycatalog.com/. 

CLARA'S CLOSET CATALOG IS HERE in full! Look at what you can have too!

• http://etsycatalog.com/etsyimages/ClarasClosetBags/ClarasClosetBags.pdf

It will automatically list all your items, put them into the design and you can print it out! You can also link it to your blog or other web page as a pdf. It's such a great way to create a free marketing catalog to bring to craft fairs and other venues. Hand it out when you're talking with people about what you do. There are so many uses!! You simply have to try it. It requires no tech skills and you'll have it done in literally seconds. 

A free Etsy catalog of your shop? Too good to pass up! Get over there to http://etsycatalog.com/ today!

Ever Been in a Bad Mood? These adorable soft crafted dolls will cheer you up

How can anyone be in a bad mood once they take a look at this adorable guy? He's just part of a series of plush dolls made by a French plush doll maker. You can find the Bad Mood Monster Series of dolls at Hibou Cards at http://www.etsy.com/listing/68711788/monster-plush-bad-mood-monster-series.

Hibou is run by French emigrant Annie-Claire Regan who now lives in Boston. She talks about her inspiration from her childhood in France:
"I love to use old materials or recycle things I have at home (all sorts of papers and fabrics, clothes...). My grandma's closets back in France in particular are full of treasures that I use in my designs. I am inspired by the world around me. New England's dramatic season changes, my art books, music and for a big part by my son's imagination, books and pretend games. My own French culture is also an endless source of creativity :) Today I'm also a happy plush maker! Creating truly makes me happy and I put all my passion in each design I create and make. I hope you will enjoy my work!"

And how could anyone not love her work? Her entire Etsy shop is filled with colorful creations that bring delight. Stop on over at her Etsy shop and cheer her on. Say you found her here on Clara's Closet's Blog.
Hibou Cards can be found on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/HibouCards 

On the Art of The Possible: Try A New Technique Every Day

Try a new way of doing and looking at things to renew your crafting passion.

 I tend to want to be perfect. If I can't make the perfect craft, I won't make it at all. Sound familiar? Well, lately, I've started making some happy accidental discoveries. My mom gave me her old sewing machine--my first. And though I've always known how to hand sew, I was afraid of the sewing machine. My irrational fear? That the needle would come unthreaded and I wouldn't know how to thread it again. Solution? Learn how to thread it!

Lately I've been making some really cute animals on that sewing machine. I've discovered that it's ok to be a beginner. Sometimes your items will look a bit lopsided and nothing like the pattern. But then you can get creative and fix them with unique embellishments and your own design twists.

Kitty (above) was one huge mistake after another. But she turned out quite winsome and she is actually my favorite creation right now. The lamb and chihuahua? (above and left) Had gaping holes in them that I had to sew over by hand. But they look fine. I had to stretch myself to find ways to cover my mistakes. But I learned that nothing has to be perfect when you're crafting things you love.

Let yourself be a beginner while crafting. Try a new technique like felting or crocheting. The more it scares you the more fun it is to triumph!

The Humble Seamstress: Nurse Dolls and other Cuties!

I discovered Helene from The Humble Seamstress on Etsy. I really love her style. There's something so whimsical and charming about the simple beauty of her creations. They remind me of a different time when life was simpler. 

Her shop features all sorts of darling hand made items including doll clothing and unique scrappy angel dolls and this little bear here.

Helene used to be a nurse and now she makes many nurse dolls!

A crafter from Pennsylvania she says, "I am an avid sewer & retired from my job as an R.N. to persue my creative path. I am primarily a collectible doll maker but make many other sewn items & will have some really cute, different dolls & other items listed." 


Her dolls truly have a unique personality. You can find her shop, the Humble Seamstress, on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHumbleSeamstress?ref=seller_info. Check out all her interesting and lovely dolls, especially her doll clothes.  It's worth a trip! 


P.S If you read yesterday's post here about using gesso for your dolls, you'll love Helene's idea for another creative gesso use. She used it to paint over her 1970's paneling (yes, we remember it!) so that she wouldn't have to take it all down. Cool!

Gesso...Try it for a new way of creating softies!

Gesso on Cloth: A technique you'll want to try!

After reading this month's issue of Stuffed magazine, I realized that there's a whole world of techniques out there that softie lovers can use to enhance their dolls. It may be old news to some, but to me, the light bulb clicked on when I saw an article about using GESSO and ACRYLIC PAINT to make doll faces.

What is GESSO?  Gesso is a type of paint that's thick and white. It's like a whipped icing. But it's really a medium that is used to prepare a canvas before an artist paints over it. It can be purchased at any art or craft store and online. It's usually in the paint aisle.

You can use it in the same way to prepare your softie doll's face. It works best on cotton. Don't try felt for the first time around as it soaks in too much and you may get frustrated.  

This technique is so easy to master. You may have seen some lovely dolls that looked like primitives. They are made of cloth, but their faces appear to have a cracked, textured surface. This is the gesso's magic. . You simply make the doll face with cloth and then you paint it with gesso. Allow to dry and paint the face with acrylic paints. 

The results will be a sweet, almost aged patina that looks as if your doll has been well loved for years. 

I'd love to see photos of anyone's projects using an acrylic and gesso face painting technique. Send them to clarasclosetinfo@gmail.com. Or leave me a comment here with your links. Happy painting.