New Dolly Mail Postcard featuring Saila!

 

In my Etsy shop, I now have two new postcards available from my Dolly Mail Service!

My new postcard shows Saila and Chrissa (AG) having tea in the garden. The other is a very popular saying from one of my blogs, "Keep Calm and Play with dolls".

This past week I have so enjoyed being the Dolly Postmaster General sending more then 10 of these postcards to girls all over North America!

This fun service has been so well received and  I am so excited to be adding new postcards to my shop over the next few weeks. 

If you have someone you would like to send Dolly Mail too, I would be pleased to send to them through my Etsy shop service!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Free Pattern Friday!

I was so thrilled to find this Free pattern and I created the most wonderful beret for my doll!
Here is the link to this great free pattern and tutorial! Click Here.
I am so thrilled with how this came together and now I am thrilled to have another pattern to help me sew through my stash of fabric and make my nieces happy at the same time!
Off to sew more of these wonderful hats!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Here is the Email I got yesterday from Maplelea! The contest is on!

The contest Maplelea Hosts is finally here! For Girls with Maplelea Dolls this is a time for you and your doll to shine!
I love that there is a chance for every little girl to win. There are some rules. Click Here to see them.
I hope you will all enter the Contest. I love the photos that won last round and hope to see some of your photos win this time around, and who could not use and enjoy the prize of a $50 gift card for Maplelea Products, I could spend that several times over!

Back tomorrow with more Maplelea Fun....
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Easter Dollar Store Gem

Dollar Giant has the perfect sized Easter Eggs for our dolls, 24 for $1.25
I love them because they are refillable  and doll items such as hair elastics and doll sized jewelery inside each one.
Other small and wonderful items at your local dollar store are the tiny chicks, that are made out of pipe cleaner type materials! The small Easter trees and ornaments are also perfect and doll sized.
This is such a fun time of year for our dolls, you can take them outside for great photos and with some fun dollar store gems as props take some great photos!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Let's explore Dollabee The Doll Marketplace

Did you know that doll lovers have more options these days for buying things for their dolls on the secondary market? Now you can shop not just from Maplelea directly or American Girl, Etsy shops or Ebay. Dollabee from the same people who brought us Liberty Jane launched Dollabee last year and it works like a Craigslist, but just for dolls. It is free to use and you never know what you can find on this great site!

Dollabee offers sellers and buyers a great opportunity to list for free and their is a wanted section that I have used myself! I have also listed there items that have linked back to my Etsy shop.
On my other blog http://karenmomofthreescraft.blogspot.ca I have found shops and items to interview and review through Dollabee. I have also made some great friends, who I trust to purchase from.
 Now this site is used by mostly US customers there are many of us Canadians who can and should take advantage of this great site.

If you are looking for new or gently used items for your dolls I recommend you give Dollabee a try! You never know what you might find! Click here to visit Dollabee today!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Another Dollar Store Gem! Let's Go Bowling!

 

I picked up this great bowling set perfect for our dolls from Dollar Giant, for $1.25 you get great doll play value!

Using clear elastics also from Dollar Giant, you can get your dolls to "hold" their own balls!

These sets make great basket stuffer's, party favors or prizes for your next dolly event!

I hope you can find these at your local dollar store!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A cozy Sunday Post, Springfield Doll Bunny Slippers and a Snuggie fit for your dolls!

I am so happy to report that the wonderful Bunny slippers from Springfield Doll Collection fit our dolls! Just in time for Easter these adorable (though tighter fitting)Bunny Slippers are a great addition to any doll play collection!

These great slippers are under $5 with your Micheal's the craft store coupon! My coupon came in Friday's Paper and I love to use them for Springfield Collection Doll Clothes. They are great to have on hand for last minute gifts, just because I love you and now Easter baskets!

I purchased this Purple Doll Sized Snuggie from a great Etsy shop called AuntBeesOldSewNSew
I love Buffy's shop and had to have a purple Snuggie for my dolls!

 Buffy will even personalize your Snuggie for you! A great deal at $8.99! Currently offered in Pink or Purple! Check out her Etsy shop by clicking here
I hope you enjoyed  this cozy Sunday post!

The couch used in my first photo was made for me  by Kristi of Miss Kristy Craft, Teaching and Dolly Blog  you can visit her blog by clicking here
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Outfits for sale benifting the Canucks Autism Network

I have met some really wonderful people since beginning my doll and writing journey.  A lady named Carol, who I also know as Skippy's Mom, has created 3 outfits including necklaces to be sold in my Etsy shop, where the cost of the outfits will benefit The Canucks Autism Network.

As some of you may know I am a mom of three and two of my Children have been diagnosed with Autism. With the help of The Canucks Autism Network my family learned how to connect with each other through sport. We started with CAN when my middle son was 5. We went to a soccer camp. My middle son Oliver, could not speak at the time of the camp, he and my older son could be in the same room with each other and Oliver would not notice. Everything changed for us at that camp. My youngest was only a few months old when we went to our first camp. I was watching from the sidelines, while my "Typical" son, played soccer with a mix of "typical" kids and children with Autism, I was amazed, Each child on the field, had a volunteer that helped them participate. Even Oliver! I could not believe it. When we got home that night, my two sons, who had previously never interacted were passing a ball in the back yard together, like normal brothers do...you can imagine I am sure what that meant to me. Now 4 years later Oliver participates in the skating and swimming programs offered by the CAN network. These programs and the volunteer's who help make these kids act and feel like regular kids are amazing to me.

Recently Oliver's school went skating and the teachers, staff and even the principal could not believe how Oliver just took off on the ice like everyone else and had such a great time. I had to point out to them as I do to so many people, Oliver can do anything other kids can do, if you believe in him!
The people at CAN believe in my child and my family and for that I am truly thankful.
I am thrilled that Carol made these outfits and that she made them so I could sell them to help others.
A family membership for one year is $25. It is my hope that these three outfits will help 3 other families living with Autism experience all the programs that CAN offers, the cost of Oliver's skating, swimming, camps and more are covered by donations raised and we are able to take advantage of every program offered with our $25 annual family fee.

So if you know of a family living with Autism in British Columbia let them know about the Canucks Autism Network and if you would like to donate to the CAN network you can do so directly by clicking here  or by visiting my Etsy shop and purchasing one of the wonderful outfits that Carol created!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Free Pattern Friday!

I want to crochet so badly! While in my travels I found this free pattern and while it would look great on any 18 inch doll I think Alexi would so benefit!

 I hope some of you will take advantage of this free pattern and send me a photo of your results!
 I am still working on chaining on!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A swap I got in the mail !

I got this adorable dress from the owner of Miss Sassy Pants! She contacted me and we decided to do a doll clothes swap through the mail.

Michelle used a pattern from Eden Eva available from Liberty Jane's pattern site
I think it is just so adorable, so much so that I had to get the pattern myself!
The pattern is $3.99 on the Liberty Jane site and is a PDF pattern that will be emailed to you upon purchase.  I love that about Liberty Jane, you get your patterns instantly and you can begin sewing right away!
I love this dress on Saila and I think you will too. This dress would look cute with footless tights as well, I think I may just go make a pair to go with it....
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

New Catolog is here lets look at the dresses

I got my new Maplelea Catalog in the mail and I  can not believe all the beautiful dresses for the spring line Maplelea has come out with. The above dress is called Summerhill Stroll and in the catalog it is shown on Saila and it looks much darker blue. I love the cut and the style, not to mention the cute purse! All for $15.00

 Sunset Sundress is offered at $18 and includes the sandals.

Uptown Girl is $32 and comes with the jacket, dress and shoes.

The flower detail on the dress is fun and age appropriate!

I want a pair like this for myself!

Katajjaq Giggles  is another of my favorites with the dress, tights and shoes it is a great deal at $27. I love the color and as Saila is my favorite doll, I think all the dresses shown would look amazing on her!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Easy to make up cycled yoga pants for your doll!

Thanks to Pinterest I have found some fun and free patterns for our dolls.
This one was on how to make yoga pants for our dolls using the arms of shirts!
I love how mine turned out!
Peachy Tuesday has a great blog and I loved this so much I wanted to share with you.
the best part is you get two pairs from one shirt!
Brilliant!
Check out Peachy Tuesday and her directions on how to make these pants for your own dolls by clicking HERE
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Maplelea's Deluxe Wardrobe

 I would love to have this wardrobe for my dolls, Maplelea offers this deluxe wardrobe with space to hang and store your doll play items.

 I love that it has drawers and shelves for display as well as room to hang your dolls outfits!

Even closed it is simply delightful. It is offered at $120.00

My niece recently got  the Our Generation version at Zellers, it was almost $80 with tax and though it does come with a drop down dressing area it is not as well made or as tall as the Maplelea version.
My niece does love it but I find that the drawer under the hanging part of the closet makes it hard to hang longer dresses.

I would be thrilled to have either but I would invest my money in the Maplelea Version!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a commenter or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

My Etsy Shop is up and running

I have re opened my Etsy Shop and have a line of Tea Dresses.  I am shamelessly promoting my shop here and hope you will forgive me. I have used the pattern I found on http://windfalldolls.blogspot.ca/2012/02/free-waldorf-doll-dress-tutorial.html

 Here Salia is modeling one of my tea dresses, all the dresses in my shop will fit most 18 inch dolls.

If you would like to visit my Etsy shop please click here 

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and all your dolly friends!

Today is St. Patrick's day. I hope you have a wonderful day with your family and your dolls.

 

I loved this Irish Blessing and I wanted to share it with all of you. 

I hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day. Back tomorrow with more doll fun!
As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Great finds for your dolls for Spring Gardening!

Last year I found these fun doll sized gardening tools at my local dollar store. The were perfect for the dolls to hold.

My Local Michael's the craft store had the most fantastic Gnomes on sticks that were the perfect sized doll Gnomes. The one shown above was under $5 and so cute, he was holding a "Welcome" Sign

The bench was also a Micheal's find it was $30 originally, but I got in on Clearance for under $10. Two dolls can sit comfortably on this fun doll play bench.

Dollar stores have now put out their spring items and I have seen some adorable doll size planting pots, 3 for $1.25 as well as some doll sized Garden friends similar to my little Welcome Gnome.

My Friend Amy, shared how to make a doll sized plant on my blog last year and if you would like to see how she did it click here
Now is the perfect time to check out your local dollar stores, party stores and craft stores for fun finds that you can make into doll play items. Go with and open mind and you never know what you will be able to find!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

A wonderful new bathing suit for Maplelea Dolls

Well Maplelea has done it again and made another must have outfit. I love the colors of the new bathing suit!
This $20 suit includes the sandals and I love the Maple leaf embellishments!
I love the color of this suit on Saila and think it would look great on any 18 inch doll!
Way to go Maplelea! If you would like to see this suit on their website click here 

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Underware for our dolls a great PDF pattern from a Great Canadian Etsy shop

The one thing that I wished my Saila doll came with was underwear. My American Girl dolls all have underwear and I really wished that Maplelea would send their dolls with at least one pair!
I found a great pattern and tutorial from  an Etsy shop called Wendy Say Sew

I love that this pattern offers an easy way to create both Modern and traditional bloomers

I think this pattern at $5.50 is a great investment as I think underwear is very important don't you?

Maplelea does offer this great set on their website for $11.00 if you wish to view it click here

If you would prefer to learn to make your own visit Wendy Say Sew's Etsy shop  and see for your self!

As with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Make your dolls their own slip on flip flops.

For today's post I thought I would share with you a very easy way to make shoes for your dolls. Now I have published this on many other websites but I thought it was important to revisit as our Maplelea Doll Feet are longer and thinner then other 18 inch dolls.
I start by tracing my dolls foot and that became my template. For one pair of shoes you will need:
- Fun foam or felt,
-3 1/4 inches of ribbon per shoe,
 -a pair of scissors
- a glue gun
-YOUR DOLL
You can also decorate them with artificial flowers, gems or buttons if you would like

I start with a dab of glue about 1inch down on the right hand side of the sole place one end of the ribbon in the glue and carefully press into place.

Place the shoe sole on your dolls foot and wrap the ribbon around and secure it tightly with another dab of glue on the left hand side.

Next remove the shoe from your dolls foot and add more glue to the bottom and place another cut out sole over top this hides the ribbon on the bottom

Then repeat the steps to complete the other shoe.  You can create many wonderful pairs for your dolls using items you may already have around the house. If you are having a doll birthday party you may want to make these ahead of time  as party favors.

I hope you enjoyed today's post, as with all my posts I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com