The little paper ship

I'm really sorry for the long quiet period, you must believe me, I was busy in all means during this time. A new pattern is forming in my little sewing corner for the smallest child, maybe some Christmas tree elfins will make us smiling, and definitely will I show you how Simon and Lonka liked their presents.

So this time you can read about our paper-ship project with Simon.

You know, Simon is really passionate about ships, boats, rafts ...He wanted to create a boat for himself, so I thought him, how he can fold a paper ship. When he was satisfied with the ships he could create, he waned to try them out. I suggested the bath tub, but he insisted on "real, big water", so we took a walk to the nearby river bank. On the way we found some fishing boats, and Simon became really excited he just told me again and again, that he wants me to take a photo on him and the fishing boot, until I agreed (of course I agreed soon, since I like to please him).

He decided to take two of his beautiful paper ships with us, just in case. It was a clever idea, since one of his little ships keeled over so early.... Fortunately Simon is an eternal optimist, - we have an other one! - he said. And this time, being more careful, we were lucky, and his little paper ship was floating nicely on the slow-running river.  

 And then some miracle happened, the river played with us. She took the little ship back and forth before us! It was amazing, the little paper ship was floating around for half an hour! It enchanted Simon so much!

 When the little ship floated away, some wild ducks came near us. It is a big fun to feed the ducks, but we were not enough deliberate, and didn't took any duck-food with us. I had to promise Simon, that next time we will pay attention to that!

 

Before we set out for home, Simon wanted to take one last glimpse on his little ship, so he climbed up on the highest tree, that he could find. He didn't tell me, whether he could see it, but from his big, big smile I think you can find it out!

Have playful days!

Especially at Christmas!

Simon, finally!

Simon, who waited for clothes so long, is ready now to introduce himself to you. One of his most peculiar quality. The reason why I keep him waiting, because between creating him and sewing his clothes, my little son was born, so it took me two months to get him dressed.

So now I'm happy to announce you dear Simon! First of all, he wants me to tell you, he has a passion for water and boats. He wanted to wear so called "sailor-colours". Ok - I said. Then blue, red and stripes started to wreathe in my mind. His favourite is the little red boat on his dungarees.

Simon has a really calm and quite personality. He enjoys the sounds of nature, the water, the wind and the birdies, when he remains quiet. He is always smiling, and gladly helps to the tiny and the week. He always listens to every happy, exciting or sad stories, he never interrupts the story-teller. As everyone he has some bad habits as well he doesn't want to wear jumpers, because he wants his little red boat to be visible, and hates to comb his hair.

Simon was created based on the PuppLonka pattern. He has a straw-blond crocheted mohair wig, embroidered mouth and blue eyes. She wears a dark blue striped blouse, re-purposed linen, striped, light blue trousers, a red shawl and a pair of crocheted shoes made of red cotton yarn. He has a nice bum, knees, elbows and bellybutton. Simon is my fist dolly with ears, maybe that's why he is a good audience. He is approx. 45 cm heigh, his skin is made of cotton jersey and his features are blushed with beeswax. 

Simon and I made two paper-boats, and went out to try them, so next time, you will here about our little trip. And finally, here you can see my helpers, who accompanied me, so these nice photos of Simon could be taken.

Have playful days!

Walk by the river

I'm sorry, but Simon is still not ready to introduce himself. So instead of the tale of his story, I tell you about Lonka a bit more.

It was a midsummer day, and Lonka desired to go out into the nature, and spend some time far away from the noise of the town. She decided to take a walk to the nearby river bank. It wasn't a long trip, but she enjoyed the golden warmth of the afternoon Sun.

On the way, she realised some sweet-scented and buzzing friends, so she sat down, to take a greet all the wild-flowers and buggies of the fields. Shhh! Don't tell the buggies but her favourites are the flowers. She really likes them, all kinds, buttercup, forget-me-not, cornflower and all the others.

All day it was so hot out there, but now it is much more friendly. Reaching the river bank, she laid down on a blanket, and listened to the warbling of the river.

On the way home she climbed on a willow, from that height, she could look further, and see much more of the landscape.

 Before leaving she laid down her blanket again, and rejoiced at the sunset.

You can find some more pics of Lonka at my Flickr gallery. 

Have playful days!

Dolls on pedestals

It is so exciting! In this September, I participated with two of my dolls at a national doll and teddy creating contest and exhibition. And I'm happy to inform you, that a special price was given for me by the Hungarian Toy Association. This is my first proving in dollmaking, so I'm really joyful for this acknowledgement.

This is an annual contest, and until now, it was organised in Győr, in the city, where now I live.This year it was moved into the capital city, where I grew up, so we fail to meet each other. How strange and special it is. I planned to participate for some time past. I was hoping my dolls participating at this exhibition in Győr, when I was living in Budapest, but I moved to this small city and now my dolls travelled to my home town.

I'm really happy, that I could make it this year, even with two dolls, and I have to say it was an eventful summer for me. Together with the acknowledgement I also got a really beautiful book about the national handicraft products of the year. It is good to have a look on other fields of handicraft, from leathering to lace working.

Actually this whole is not that remarkable, dollmaking in Hungary isn't that widespread, but it makes me proud and affirms me, that ladies, who have been creating dolls for a lifetime found my dollies meritable for any kind of price.

Simon

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Someone was waiting for clothes so long...Simon lost his patience and decided to take a walk without clothes, hoping this adventure of him will urge me to give him something to wear.

Hopefully he will be back soon, properly dressed. Until that happens...

...have playful days!

Naming dollies

..is a very big privilege. Personally, I really enjoy the process of finding a name, but I also think, it strengthens the connection between the child and her doll.  So maybe this privilege belongs to the "mummy".

During my university years even my clothes-horse had a name, so you can imagine, how much I enjoy naming dolls. Searching for the name is a challenge itself, finding it always induces happiness. When you find THE NAME, it seems it was never your idea, but the new little owner whispered it into your heart. I think, the name shows much of the doll's personality and helps to make playing with her more real like.

This is a real fun part of dollmaking, but still, the dollies made for a certain kid  will not be named by me. Of course I have to call them somehow, so I plan to use titles, which refers to their habit, hobbies or any kinds of favourites. Like Tricky, Brave, Dotty, Redhead, Shy or Strawberry. I would like to leave the magic of naming them to the little kids, who hopefully will play whit most of my dolls. I will still have plenty chances to name dollies, since the ones I make without knowing the future owner will get their name from me, yeeaaah!

Have playful days!

Strawberry Girl

She is a sweet little blond girl, who has a passion for flowers and, of course, strawberries. It was a sunny spring day, and we decided to take a walk in a nearby park. She was searching for flowers everywhere. She found some white ones among the trees in the grass, and laid down, to sniff their sweet smell and feel the warmth of the rays of the Sun.

Later on she climbed on a blossoming tree, which had thousands of nice little pale pink flowers all around. But she still wanted to search for more flowers. So we went on, until she found some yellow spots here, and there on the ground.

Strawberry Girl has thicker wool yarn blond hair attached to a crocheted cap, embroidered mouth and blue eyes, a dress designed for her, with little white flowers, cherries and strawberries, and a pair of crocheted shoes made of red cotton yarn. She is 35 cm heigh, her skin is made of cotton jersey and her rosy cheeks are blushed with beeswax.

She was a birthday present for a one year old sweet little girl, called Lilla. I knew, that she has already baked some mud-cake with her little owner and she is always ready to play! 

Lonka

What can I say about Lonka! She and I spent a long long time together, before she could come to life. From the first sketches all the four seasons went by, until she got finished. In the beginning I couldn't see whether I'm working on a boy or a girl dolly. 

Many hours of daydreaming, investigating, trying and trying again ... and slowly her lovely personality took shape. I was working on her on train trips, during holidays, and expecting my baby. We have lots of common experiences, and slowly, step by step, as I was creating her, I got to know her. We found some materials for her cloths, we choose fibres for the shoes and her scarf. I have to say, she had the shoes first, even before her hair was completed. She had a red babushka on her head for a while, before her locks were prepared. I was really keen to finish her, but even a blonde dolly steal her thunder. 

Having her ready was a remarkable event for me! She turned out to be a mischievous little ginger, who has a passion for nature, especially for flowers. Lonka is not dare to stain her pinafore, she loves working in the garden. She has a really kind and always cheerful temperament. Although her pinafore is covered in flowers as well, she loves the shoes better, because of the flower-buttons we found for her! Those are her favourites! By the end of the summer, her freckles turn darker, just to be able to fade during the following seasons. 


Lonka's hair is made of Valais Blacknose sheep locks, she has embroidered mouth and brown eyes. She wears a beige polka dot blouse, repurposed linen dark green trousers, a flower printed calico pinafore and a pair of crocheted shoes made of grey cotton yarn. Of course, she needed a hairpin with a handmade woolfelt flower. She is approx. 45 cm heigh, her skin is made of cotton jersey and her rosy-posy cheeks are blushed with beeswax. She is my first "large doll" so later on you can read her "how it's made" story for sure. And I think after her, my large doll pattern will get the name: PuppLonka.

You can find more photos of Lonka at my Flickr page. 

Have playful days!

The beginings...

I think it may be interesting how I met with Waldorf dolls and started my playful and adventures journey in dollmaking.

It it really simple. I have seen some Waldorf style dolls on a Hungarian craft selling page, and I fall in love with it these dolls in that very moment. My husband bought me a doll from that dollmaker for the next Christmas. She is Reka, an always cheerful friend of mine. 

Reka was created by Marta Schnetzer from Stoffpuppe

Next summer I bought the book "Making Waldorf Dolls"  by Maricristin Sealey. To be honest, today I do not use the patterns, or hairstyles shown in this book, but it meant the only basis for me at the beginning. It also tells about the nature of dollmaking and Waldorf dolls, which was really interesting, since I knew nothing about these traditional toys.

I started on with my first "Corner Doll", what I made from an old T-shirt, and soon I created two 20 cm traditional dolls with a borrowed sewing machine. At that time I used materials, that were available, which was quite challenging. At this point, I have to mention, that I had no previous sewing experience at all. I struggled with the not so perfect supplies and my own inexperience, but I made a doll for my sister as a Christmas present. He had far too long arms, and was no perfect at all, but I was happy with him, although I really struggled with some steps of sewing him.

Next year from an academic contest price I bought my own sewing machine, but it was long before the next doll came. I had concentrated on my studies, got married, moved to a different part of the country and started working as an engineer.

In 2013 December I realised, I promised a doll for X, and two for Y, so in the end I had to make four dolls, in a short period of time. All were Christmas presents for sweet little kids, moreover, one of them was made for my God-daughter. At this time, I knew a bit more about sewing and I could buy better materials, which made the creating process more joyful then ever before. 

I think these four little figures meant the turning point, and I felt so motivated and enthusiastic. In the beginning of 2014, I searched as much information on the web as I can, and was really impressed with some talented dollmakers work, such as Fig&Me, Fröken Skicklig, Poppenliefde, Petit Gosset or Marias Nature Toys. 

The spring found me endlessly thinking and talking about dolls, designing limbed doll patterns, learning crocheting and knitting. The idea of this blog occurred to me approximately a year ago as well, so I started planning logos, collecting name ideas. During the summer I made my first large limbed doll, but I wanted to try out everything, so I made many many investigations, made many mistakes and changed my mind again and again, until she became ready in the beginning of this summer. Sometimes weeks went by me, without making a stitch, sometimes I advanced with triple speed. Later on I will write 2-3 post about her, and the making process, so stay tuned! Lot of sweet memory, many good and some hard experiences are connected to her creation.

And now here I am, I feel ready to show my work to the public. I hope some of you will find these dolls nice and loveable, and maybe also find it joyful to read about dolls, who are always ready to play! 

Welcome Here at Puppenka - a blog about dolls and dollmaking

Hello! I'm Lulu, and this is Puppenka, a blog about my doll sewing journey. A small but playful corner of mine, where I want to share my devotion towards creating these little friends. The dolls made by me are based on traditional Waldorf dollmakig, but usually they are more detailed and also may show emotions. Despite these small changes, my dolls are all natural, created with cotton jersey skin, sweet wool stuffing, and I use cotton or wool yarns and fibre for making their hair. Creating these little guys is a favorite hobby of mine, which has started three years ago, and now I would like to share this joy with you!

Although the main theme here is going to be dollsewing, from time to time, I will share some other creative projects as well (the first one maybe my sons appliqué blanket). Making dolls led me to lots of other handicrafts, like crocheting, knitting and natural dying, therefore I'm planning some posts concerning my learning process of these skills too. 

Now I'm working on a nice boy, who may stay with me, and accompany my little family in some adventures. My plan is to share spots from the special and also the usual days of his little life with you.

The world of children is something, that I find really interesting, just like designing toys and also the nature of playing. So you may find some "philosophical posts" concerning these topics as well. Don't say I didn't warn you!

I'm not a professional - maybe one day I will be - so for now, I can make dolls and also take care of the blog only in my free time. Thus please excuse me, if there are going to be less active or a bit silent periods. Here I want to mention as well, that English is not my mothertongue, therefore, I'm sure, I will make mistakes in my writings, please be indulgent towards me, I will try to do my best. 

I hope sharing this playful adventure pleasures not just me, but my readers as well!
 

Have playful days!