If you sew, this is a must have in your tool basket. I have tried many fabric pens and markers. If you are familiar with my patterns then you know I use the trace-sew-cut technique very often. I prefer mechanical pencils with fine lead because they produce a fine line that is easy to sew on. When you are working on dark fabrics a pencil line is difficult to see. Fons & Porter has a mechanical pencil with 0.9mm white pencil lead that is very visible on dark fabrics. It creates that fine line that I love so much and can be removed easily with the eraser or a damp cloth. You have to try this pencil!

I will be teaching a class at Fiddlesticks on Friday April 27th from 10 to 4.

The project will be Nelly and Nyles from the Tiny Rag Doll Collection.

This project is enjoyable for all skill levels.

To sign up, stop by the shop at

1229 Arizona Street, Boulder City, Nevada

or call the shop at 702-293-2979.

  Nelly and Nyles

I have designed a line of small scale dolls made in the rag doll style

and I would like to introduce them to you.

Please meet the first new pattern releases from

the Tiny Rag Doll Collection.

Nelly & Nyles                                   Little Emma

Tess

Addie

The Tiny Rag Dolls range from  9″ to 10″ tall.

They are so much fun to make! The fabric required is minimal so

if you have a fabric stash you can search there first.

There are many more Tiny Rag Dolls in the collection

and I will release more patterns as soon as I can.

Check out the details on the pattern pages.

Those who know me know that I love to go fishing.

I don’t fish in the winter but I do daydream about it.

The title of this piece is “Goin’ Fishing”.

The rainbow trout is 19″ long. It was needle felted with a size 42 felting needle.

The worm has crawled up the line and is looking at the frog

as if to say “Hey! I thought we were friends!?!“

This unlikely trio sits on a shelf over my work area

and they make me smile every time I look up.

I am putting together a “Student Gallery”.

If you have taken one of my classes or if you have made a doll from my book

or one of my patterns I would love to hear from you! If you haven’t finished

your project or you’ve just been thinking about doing something, then perhaps

this may inspire you to get busy. Please contact me and show me what you’ve done.

I’m excited to see your dolls!

In my book Make Cloth Dolls chapter 5 is the pattern for rag doll Emily Ann.

Many of you have inquired about the rag doll Patty Ann (photo on page 91)

and rag doll Charley Ann (photo on page 95)

asking about the material that was used to create their hair.

Their hair is made from Shoelace Yarn from YLI.

It is about 1/2″ wide and looks just like shoelaces. It comes in solid colors, wave pattern,

hound’s tooth pattern, and tri-color pattern. Some rag dolls have hair made with cotton

fabric that is ripped into strips and sewed to the head. The Shoelace yarn gives the doll

that same look and is a great alternative to the usual red yarn that is often used.

You can see the shoelace yarn at ylicorp.com

Solid colors shown – red, burgundy, and dark red. Visit ylicorp.com to view more color choices.

I have received emails from some of you that live outside the United States asking where to find the Soft Dolls Magazine. You can go to scottpublications.com for subscription information.

The May 2011 issue of

Soft Dolls Magazine

features my pattern for a

Garden Gnome on the cover.

He is 15 1/2″ tall with a round, plump body.

You can adjust the position of his arms to

accommodate any prop you would like him to hold.

Complete instructions and pattern templates

are included in the magazine.

Check it out!

If you have been waiting to sign up for a class, now is the time. A new class is scheduled at Fiddlesticks Quilts in Boulder City, Nevada. Fiddlesticks has expanded to add a beautiful new larger classroom. I will be teaching a two session class that will take place on Saturday March 5th from 2:30 to 5:30 and the second session on the following Saturday, March 12th from 11:00 to 3:00. You can call Fiddlesticks to sign up at 702-293-2979.

Do all creative minds think alike? What sparks your creativity? I’m often asked where I get my ideas from. Sometimes a piece of fabric will inspire an entire project. Many times ideas seem to come from very odd places. The inspiration for a new design often comes from something that is not related to doll making at all. I saw this vine growing on a wall. It stopped me in my tracks and I found myself staring at it. The colors are soft and the vine seems to be gently embracing the wall. As I stood there I found my mind starting to wander off in different directions. I began to see a new project in my head and as I worked out the details, the idea started to come together. As I went through the rest of my day, I was constructing the project in my head. I decide what materials to use and keep changing them until it feels right. Designing in my head often keeps me up at night. Sometimes it’s hard for me to shut off my brain so I can sleep. Once I have a detailed plan I can see the project very clearly in my mind and then I will begin to make the new pattern. I’m sorry I can’t show you the project that was inspired by this vine on the wall- not just yet- but I will. Sometimes this process happens very quickly. A new idea could  be worked out in a few days. One idea rolled around in my head for two years before it came out. There were many times I tried to let it go but it wouldn’t leave. When the idea finally came to fruition I was more than pleased with the result, and yes, it was worth the wait. That project will appear in my next book.

So tell me, what sparks your creativity?

What inspires you?   I’d love to hear from you.