Cubes

When asked by a lovely Grandmother to custom make some soft cubes for her granddaughter, Pria - how could I resist. I created them using textural fabrics of corduroy and raised spot swiss cotton. It was requested to have 'Pria's' name appliqued on one side, so I thought it would be cute to add some shapes and other letters spelling 'four' and 'pink'.

Thank you to the lovely Rebecca from Edward and Lilly, who asked me to do a quick interview for her blog. Welcome to some new followers who have ventured over from there, I hope you will stay awhile!

Sweets anyone?

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been trying to make special things to go with gifts that Santa may be bringing my kids. I have heard whispers that Miss P will be receiving a beautiful wooden kitchen on Christmas day. Over the next few weeks, I plan on making delicious felt sweets to store on the shelves of her new kitchen. Here are a few cookies I have started - cupcakes, sweets, aprons and tea towels should soon follow {fingers crossed}.

P.S. This photo was taken on my brand new toy - I finally purchased a DSLR!!!!! I ended up buying a Nikon D5000 with extras - It will take awhile to figure out all the gadgets but so far I am VERY impressed.

Dandelion Fairy Lamp

Miss P has been having trouble sleeping as she is petrified of the dark. I have tried everything from night lights (which cast scary shadows across the room), princess torches (that ran out of batteries every night before 2am in the morning) to glow worms, but nothing seemed to help ease her fear. I came across this tutorial to make a gorgeous lamp using fairy lights. After an hour of cutting, gluing and assembling, Miss P was so pleased with the result that she slept through the entire night free from nightmares and crying! She thinks it looks like a beautiful flower and make believes her fairy friends live inside - I am just happy to have my little girl excited to go to sleep.

Introducing Miranda

Miranda's gown is created using fuchsia pink shantung satin with a contrast soft pink duchess satin trim. Her waist features a hand stitched bow detail in duchess satin. Her elegant side bun in curls of mohair is finished with a double bow in two complementing pinks.

Miranda is a custom order for the lovely Deb.

background image via weheartit

Introducing Charlotte

Charlotte's frock is created from layers of turquoise soft cotton in print and solid shades. Her a-line dress features graduating ruffles finishing at the hem. He hair is swept into a beautiful high ponytail and finished with a deep turquoise satin ribbon.

Charlotte is a custom order for the lovely Deb.

background image via weheartit

Introducing Gigi Maxine

Gigi's gown is made from a bodice of soft pink shantung satin. Her pettiskirt has three layers of beautiful gathered spot tulle in pink with a over skirt in floral pink cotton. Her waist is finished with a double satin pink ribbon. her bodice also features a handmade rosette in tulle, satin and floral cotton to complement her dress. Her hair is tied in two adorable blonde pigtails.

Gigi Maxine is a custom order for the lovely Angela from Angela Henrie Designs in the states.

background image via weheartit

Introducing Brigitte

Brigitte's gown is made from layers of beautiful floral lace over a dress of soft pink satin. Her sleeves are created from gathered lace, with her waist finished in a double pink satin ribbon tied in a bow.

Brigitte is another custom order for the lovely Mandy. Brigitte was created as a special friend for Madison.

background image via weheartit

My perfect ballerina

It has been weeks since Miss P and I spent quality time together - I feel like I haven't left my machine in months - so today it was our day. Miss P is loving learning how to use the camera, and after literally hundreds of snaps of 'dolly', it was her turn to get in front of the camera. I am extremely bias, but I think she is a perfect little ballerina!

New collection of girls

Finally I can share some new girls that are now available in the shop. I was hoping to have all new creations ready by this morning, but as usual I was a little ahead of myself in thinking I could do it all with no sleep. I will be adding more (including babushka dolls) over the next few days so be sure to check back soon. {edit - Chiara and Tallulah now sold - Thank you)

{Shop Update}

Mathilda's Market

OK, so I didn't get a chance to show you all my new creations before they went to market. Things got a little crazy after our week away and the night before the markets I actually didn't even make it to bed! It was worth it though. The day went beyond my expectations with almost everything selling out way before the days end. I was a little sad that I didn't even get to photograph many of my new girls to show you before they went to new homes, but there was just not enough hours in the day. Most of my girls in the shop have also sold and I am having a new shop update by the end of the week with all new creations (well, the few that I have available!). It is always fantastic to meet new people and many of you who follow my blog. I had lovely ladies bring in treasured wedding dresses and formal dresses made by Grandma's to be turned into my girls. I am so honoured to be given the opportunity to create such sentimental pieces.

Thank you to everyone for your amazing support, I am blown away by the response. Here are a few pics that I quickly snapped on the day. I also have to say a huge thank you Nat for all your help on the day. I could not have done it without you!

Back soon

I am taking a quick break away to my home town of Woolgoolga for a week before Mathilda's Market on November 1. I am hoping to showcase the new 'girls' that will be available along with some new creations on Saturday October 31. Have a great week!

New card designs and my 100th post!

I wanted to share some of my new card designs that will be launched at Mathilda's Market in November. I have a limited run of Christmas cards that will be sold in a pack of 6. Each pack has two original Tiny Concept designs on metallic silver or gold. The other new cards were sketches I had finished a few weeks ago. I wanted to create a range using muted pastel tones and line art images.



This is also my 100th post! Thank you to everyone who has been so amazingly supportive and for all your kind words - it is very much appreciated.

I also need to send a huge thank you to my wonderful Husband and gorgeous kids who spoilt me rotten for my birthday yesterday. Can you believe after organising a friend to babysit the kids, my husband not only took me to my favourite Turkish restaurant for dinner, but when we returned home he lit an entire room with candles surrounding my new massage table that he gave me as a gift. I then received a very relaxing massage complete with scented oils, rolled towels, a satin gown and enigma - Thank you Corey you are amazing. (sorry to make you all jealous!)

Alannah's room

I love it when I get to see my creations displayed in gorgeous bedrooms. The lovely Shae {who purchased one of my soft babushkas} kindly sent me some images from her daughter Alannah's bedroom. It has been lovingly transformed into a little girls dream of red, white and pink. How cute is that little one sleeping in her gorgeous room!

In the studio today

Here is a little look at what has been happening in the studio lately! I would show you more but every square inch is covered in fabric, cotton threads and scraps of material the kids collect in little piles all over the floor making there own creations!

My girls now available at Udessi

Remember the collection I created exclusively for Udessi? They are now available in the Udessi gallery!! I am so excited about this new direction for Tiny Concept. I have always wanted to create more elaborate dolls, but I have tried to consider they are designed for children and may not be appropriate for play with these intricate details. When presented with an opportunity to create them as art pieces, I knew I could design them the way I had dreamed. Each doll created for Udessi took hundreds of hours to complete including details such as 150 hand cut and burnt chiffon flowers with crystals centres & 10 metres of hand stitched french lace on a three tiered veil. I loved every minute of it and I can't wait to create more. I also love how Kim has photographed them for her gallery - simple & pure.

In other events, I am still sewing madly on new creations for Mathildas Market and I endeavour to have eight new girls to show you over the next week, which will be available on November 1. I hope you are having a great weekend!

Ivy's room

The last week has been so crazy preparing for Mathilda's market, I am really not sure if I am going to be ready in time! My studio is full of arms and legs and dresses, just waiting to be turned into beautiful dolls, but with under two weeks to go I think my sleeping hours are going to be very limited!

My blog will probably be a little bare for awhile, but here is a few snaps from the gorgeous Ivy's room (daughter of the very talented Wynona from Ivy Designs) featured on Swish and Swanky this morning. Did you notice who's dolls are sitting beautifully on the bed and bookcase? I just love this room - Ivy is one lucky little girl!

images via Swish and Swanky

The Udessi Collection

Finally I can reveal my very exciting news!

A few months ago the very lovely Kim Wallace from Udessi approached me about creating a collection of dolls that are designed to be admired as an art piece. They would be sold among other much admired artists through her gallery shop including Tsk Tsk, Feed the Dog and Renee Treml.

I was so excited about the possibilities that I began working immediately after our meeting! I have spent the last six weeks intensely hand sewing, pattern making and stitching and finally I can reveal the Complete Udessi Collection.

Kim collected the 'girls' this morning and they will be left in her very capable hands - I have to admit though, after tears and many finger injuries I incurred while creating them, it was a little sad to see them go.

I had some fun with photography this time around, trying to capture the essence of their personality. I hope you enjoy!

VALENTINA

ALICE

AUTUMN

MARJOLAINE

ARDEN

BELLANCA

The Photobooth adventure

I have been wanting to get the kids to a photo booth to get some candid shots of the two of them to frame in their rooms for ages. I thought it would such a wonderful memory for them (and me) to look back in years to come. The reality of trying to get two small children in one of those booths, without me in the shot and keeping them both on those tiny stools while keeping them still enough to get a shot was impossible! So I decided to set my own mini photo booth up at home. It allowed me to take many pictures until I got shots I was happy with. I am heading for some retail therapy to find the perfect frames so I will show you the finished product once its up on their walls, but here is a sneak peek of the pics that made the cut!

Pen to paper

After what seems to be the longest time, I took a much needed break from the machine yesterday. I have been working on something very exciting for Tiny Concept {but you will have to hold your breath, as all will be revealed next week I promise}

I decided to begin some illustrations I have had in my mind for what seems like forever. Every time I sit down to sketch, there is always something else that needs to be tended to first. Finally, with pen in hand I began to draw. At the start it felt like riding a bike after a while - you remember how to do it, but it feels a little uneasy at first. Then it happened, the joy I received from such simple strokes returned. I had forgotten how good it felt. I found myself so captivated that I was still sitting in my pajamas at six o'clock last night, wondering where the time had gone!
I am still a little rusty, but I thought I would share some of my work in progress. Some of these might just end up on something for Tiny Concept, but for now I am just remembering what it was about art that got me excited all those years ago.