Sasha's Doll Blog: Cordelia, Missoula and the Box of Chocolates

Here I am at a blue-topped table at the Farmer’s Market, just about to have a cup of hot chocolate with the tiniest bit of whipped cream. Christmas is over, but Santa's workshop is just getting started for late holiday gifts and gifts for Christmas 2016, with my sewing partners, Liz and Sallie.

Liz and I are working on two more of the “Peter Patches” doll, also known as “Oatie,” one for a new baby and one an ‘old’ baby, in our extended family, which stretches from the west coast to the east. These are boy babies, but we also have a  brand new girl baby in Costa Rica, and one on the way in NYC, so we will be making “Polly Patches” dolls soon! (We may need Sallie’s help.)

But most momentarily, Liz and I just finished Cordelia, the doll that I promised my Montana sister, Vera, who finally got shipped off with a box of See’s last week and arrived in Missoula yesterday. (The doll, not my sister!) Cordelia has been in the works for the past few years and is the first of the “Tomboy” dolls I wrote about on an earlier blog post. (Sometimes it takes awhile for inspiration to turn into industry!) The doll is the first with Raggedy-type arms and legs that bend, and red and white striped leggings with flatheeled black boots, with long feet reminiscent of Pipi Longstocking. Liz made her purple taffetta dress with matching ribbons down the back. She also has delicate, daisy-trimmed bloomers and a black eyelet petticoat with a gold ribbon waistband.

A year ago, Liz and I made a doll for Liz’s friend Allie. This doll was made in time for Burning Man, where Allie likes to go, and had a tutu, leg warmers, and a tiny “Burning Man” logo necklace. Earlier this year, Liz and I made a similar style doll for another friend. These dolls are a little smaller and look to the side, rather than straight ahead. See some pictures here and we will be posting them on the Doll Gallery soon.

In the New Year, dollsbysasha will be venturing into some original vintage style dresses for grownups based on the doll dresses, which should be fun, as well as some scarves with the faces of dolls on them. You may notice that we have a new format and a new “Contact” page. We want to hear your comments and ideas about the dolls, art and creativity and will try to respond.
 
Hope you are having a lovely holiday season. Now go see some art!
 
See you next year
 
Sasha and Liz