Christmas in Paris

Taryn and Natalya are in Paris visiting
their friends Gabrielle and Simone for the
holidays.  The Muses are enjoying pizza
and hot dogs while decorating and wrapping
presents.

Hope your holiday season is merry and bright!

Christmas Skirts

Georgene, Natalya and Ellery model
their new Christmas skirts.  The tops
are actually knit dresses I bought for
them on eBay doing double duty.

(Please ignore Georgene's purple shoes,
I could not get those buggers off!)

Barbie Pack Dresses

I picked up a few Barbie pack dresses
that are suppose to fit all the new size
gals thinking they might be perfect for
the Model Muses.

 



Charmayne and  Roxanne snatched them
up right away but weren't at all happy
with the fit.  While they liked the knee
length, the waist wasn't as form fitting
as they had hoped so they each added
a wide ribbon belt.  The fit is much
better.

Once again I am disappointed in Mattel.
The backs of both dresses are made from
a plain fabric rather than the front print
fabric.  Honestly, how cheap can you be,
it's doesn't take a lot of fabric, it's not
like the print fabric is that much more
expense and you still have to take the
time to cut out both the front and the
back pieces.  I suppose it keeps them
from have to match the prints front and
back but it still disappoints me.

Pom Noir

I belong to a Barbie sewing group on FB and
the September challenge was to use 20 pompoms
in an outfit.  This 50's day to night ensemble
popped in my head and I had to make it.  Modeled
by my original Barbie doll.

The open front swing coat is black kona
cotton lined in a red marbled cotton.  Hat
is embellished with black tulle and red
pompoms.

A simple boatneck black sheath of
kona cotton is perfect for any daytime
activity.

We add an overskirt of black tulle with
multicolor pompoms for nighttime
festivities.

Although the fit on the dress could be
better I think the ensemble turned out
well.  I love the 50's styles and like
how women utilized these types of
ensembles to expand their wardrobes.

Summer Breeze

I modified the original halter
pattern making it a full skirted
sundress.

It's been warm, rainy and humid
here in NW Florida but a break
in the rain allowed the ladies to
take their new frocks outside.

I LOVE the way these dresses turned
out!   Both of the halter dresses will
be a staple in the Model Muse closet.
I can't wait to get started on some for
the holidays in satin, lace and velvet!

I also think these are my best doll
photos to date.  It was a brutal
photo shoot at 92deg. with a real feel
of 112....crawling under this bush to
set each doll and then trying to take
a good picture with an iPad you can't
really see in the sun.  I just pointed
and shot, hoping for the best and was
pleasantly surprised with the photos.

But I think I might ask The Husband
for a small camera for Christmas.

A Bevy of Beauties

So I finally finished up some dresses for
the Model Muse ladies.  We did a photo shoot
at the Museum of Sea Creatures (aka my foyer).

I think the dresses and the photo shoot went well.
Sorry, kind of photo heavy......

Taryn:

Ellery:

Fiona:

Georgene:

Halter Dress Sample

I found a simple halter dress pattern at
Janel Was Here .  She designed it for
the Model Muse body so I was comfortable
giving it a try.   I chose Taryn as my
model and made a sample of muslin.

Although I did read Janel's instructions
I didn't really follow them to the letter
(which I never do).  I think it came out
very nice.

There is a little side gap on the halter
here, but once I tugged the dress down
a bit it fit better.

There is a little bunching at her tush
but that is seamstress error.

It appears Taryn is a tad ticklish and
moved a bit when I was measuring where
to end the waistband......it ended up
being a little to snug.  It's an easy fix
and I need to make the halter straps just
a smidgen longer.

I love this dress!  I can't wait to make
some in different fabrics.  It will look
nice with a fuller skirt and in a variety
of lengths, too!

Swimsuit Babes

Since I do not have any patterns that will
fit the Model Muse body I am going to have
to force teach my self to draft patterns for them.
I am not a patient person and get frustrated
when I don't pick something up quickly. 
But if the ladies want some new clothes I
am going to have to learn to make them
some.

I figured I'd start really, really simple with sarongs.

The most fun part was matching the fabric to their
swimsuit color.  They are very simple.....a glorified
apron with a side dart for shape.  But I think the
ladies like them........          
              

Taryn

 Fiona

Georgene

Ellery

I am planning a simple halter sundress

for them next.  Picking the fabric based

on their swimsuit color was fun and

took a little of the stress off about what

color would look good on them.  With

all the fabric I have sometimes I get

bogged down in the planning process

but because each lady already has a

color it made it a little easier.....and they

don't have to change shoes!  So I am

going to stick with that color formula

for awhile.

Any ideas or suggestions on where to

find any patterns for these ladies is

greatly appreciated!

Fashion Insider Ken Gift Set

I have been trying to find what little fashions
there are for the Silkstone Ken so that Roger
Brentwood has a few changes of clothes.  I
have had my eye on this Ken Giftset but the
price was always to high........until one day
it wasn't!

This will be a nice suit for Roger.  I am
not sure if I will keep the doll.

I am not too crazy about his looks. I
think it's the shape of his head, fore-
head is too big or something.  I
still have Olivia Brentwood so I can
either hook them up together in a storyline
or give them the boot together.


We'll see.

Happy Independence Day

Have a safe and happy holiday!

More Model Muses in the House

I really like the Barbie Basic dolls.
They remind me of what Barbie's
original career was a teen fashion
model.  I find a lot of the new dolls
too youngish looking for me and
prefer the sophisticated look of these
dolls.

As I was perusing Ebay one evening
I came across these 3 dolls from
Collection 003, which I call the
swimsuit edition.  I already had a
doll from this collection, #05, who I
call Taryn.  Since there are only 6
dolls in this collection and I already
had ONE....and here were 3 more
sitting in front of me at a very
attractive price.....it might be fun to
collect the entire group.  So...

only 2 more to go now!!!!

Fiona Arther, our fiery Irish lass.

Ellery Kenrick, the fair English girl

Georgene Stepanek, the eastern european
beauty.

Taryn Winoto,  an exotic mix of
Indonesian and Irish

I like the diversity of faces with this
small collection.  Only 2 more to get,
the blond in the fuchsia suit and the
AA in the yellow suit with the gorgeous
head of hair......she will be the hardest
to find at a decent price.

50th Anniversary Fair Hair Doll

I could not resist getting this doll.  I wanted
one when I was a kid but it was never to be.
I did pick up a rerooted one without the
hair pieces many years ago...but I longed for
the accessories.

I really like her (the Mods are my
favorite vintage era) but wished her
hair was a little more platinum than
yellow and I really wish Mattel would
knock off the hair gel already!  I love her
dress and those earrings are just FAB...but
it would have been great if she had white
go-go boots!

Very Scandinavian with the braided
headband.  I think it's the rosettes.

Love the 'fall'.  So wanted a fall when I
was younger.....

It's a little thin in the back though.  Come
on Mattel a few more strands wouldn't
break the bank!

The flip wig was always my favorite.
All the gel makes it like a helmet though
so will need to remedy that at a later date.

I had trouble attaching the braid to her
because of all the GEL! 

Here she is with my vintage reroot,
Stephanie.

All in all I am happy to have her.  She fits
in nicely with the vintage Mods.  Now she
just needs a name.......