Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Ten: Dolls and Their Clothes

These are in the running for my favorites of the whole lot of handmade gifts. 

Meet: Rosie and Penelope.

(Named by Trisha)

I had an old doll pattern that I developed over several revisions. I thought it was right, that it fit my vision.

Then, after two late nights working on some dolls for the girls and having them fail me, leaving me exhausted and frustrated, ready to give up doll-making forever, I scrapped it all and started over. These were the result.

I was thrilled. Now this, fits my vision. Definitely more Black Apple-inspired, but still completely my design. I am in love with these two girls.

And they're pretty fond of each other as well. They're best friends. Inseparable.

Penelope's my favorite. Like, of all time. But don't tell the others.

I'm pretty fond of her, too.

(Full-length view)

All right, this one...she fairly disgusts me. She's from the old pattern. 

Now that I've developed my new girls, I can barely look at this one and her freakish giraffe-like neck.

Bella wanted one that was 'her'. Hence, the short brown hair, blue eyes, and tiny sprinkling of freckles across the nose region. (I don't put noses on my dolls, much to Bella's chagrin.)

She is wearing a nightgown made from one of Bella's old swaddling blankets she had as an infant. I love the thought that she was wrapped in this blanket, barely bigger than the doll itself, and now she wraps her 'baby' in it. This doll's redeeming quality is that Bella loves her and is proud of her. When people ask her what she got for Christmas, she can often be heard to lead with "Well, I got 3 of mom's dolls that she makes, and this one is me. I used to be wrapped in this when I was a little baby." So we'll keep her.

Though not handmade by me, I found this bed at an antique mall and fell in love with it. I paid an inordinate amount for it because of that love, and the perfect fit for my dolls.

Besides the nightgown the Bella doll is wearing, I made one more nightgown, 2 dresses (1 with puff-sleeves and 1 with a flutter sleeve), 2 shirts with a flutter sleeve, and 1 with a puff sleeve. Pattern for the doll clothes from Bit of Whimsy Prims. I love her dolls so much. Luckily the clothes fit my dolls too.

And here are the girls modeling the two flutter sleeve tops.

I see a lot, a LOT more dolls from this pattern coming. I love them!

Thanks for following my Handmade Holidays series this year! I loved doing it, and I've loved hearing your feedback, so keep it coming! If you link to me, let me know- I'd love to visit!

Now on the rest of the year's crafting...
Here are the links to the whole series:
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part One: Gifts for Men (and Boys)
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Two: Sentimental Repurposed
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Three: Funky Decor
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Four: Gifts For Kids (That aren't my own)
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Five:  A Late Wedding Gift
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Six: Classmates
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Seven: Stuff You Put On Your Head
and here, too
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Eight: Luggage Tags
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Nine: Gifts For Families
Handmade Holiday 2010 Part Ten: Dolls and Their Clothes