Well, last week sure felt like fall with the cool temps and overcast skies. Today it is definitely summer! We got up over 90 degrees on this humid, sunny day. So, it is ironic that we are making a really warm garment for our 18" dolls this week, wristers! (You can also call them wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, whatever you want!) I think that the cold will soon set in again and this is a very quick project to get done so you can still go out and enjoy the beautiful summer weather while it lasts! Check out the video below.
If you missed out on the first part of my series you may find the first part of the jacket by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94vF6CnLBcg
Also, if you are looking for the free pattern, you can find it at the Red Heart Yarn website by following this link: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/walking-dog-dolls
Looking at this week's forecast, I guess we will be having summer weather all week long! School starts for the kids in my area tomorrow. It is a shame they can't enjoy more of this weather as last week was more of the time when kids could spend time inside without getting that antsy feeling.
I sure hope you all enjoy this series as much as I did making it! I know we are going to have a cute outfit for our dolls when it is done. I also can't wait to make my favorite part of the pattern, the cute little dog for our doll to walk!
Please let me know your thoughts of this pattern in the comments down below and if you want me to continue making doll clothes how-to series on YouTube.
Also, make sure to subscribe for updates and check out my other social media accounts! Of course, don't forget to check out my Etsy store where I sell all clothing and accessories for our darling American Girl Dolls and other related 18" soft-bodied dolls!
Monday, August 31, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
A Minute of Biscuit #5 - Happy National Dog Day!
If you didn't know it, today was National Dog Day! I found out late this afternoon through someone else's Instagram post. :( So, I made up for time quickly by playing with my dog all afternoon and taking pictures! :)
We also played Biscuit's favorite game of fetch with her toy balls. She wanted to play with a stick, too. But, we were able to get quite the game in before the sun went down! Here is the video so you can see for yourself.
I absolutely love my dog and enjoy spending time with her, but sometimes running a business, even working from home! If any of you have dogs, maybe you have the same issues where you forget about your furry friends once in awhile. That is why I was glad that they set up a holiday just for my favorite furry one in my life. It really made me appreciate her even more for lifting up my frown into a smile each morning.
Hope you all had a great day!
We also played Biscuit's favorite game of fetch with her toy balls. She wanted to play with a stick, too. But, we were able to get quite the game in before the sun went down! Here is the video so you can see for yourself.
I absolutely love my dog and enjoy spending time with her, but sometimes running a business, even working from home! If any of you have dogs, maybe you have the same issues where you forget about your furry friends once in awhile. That is why I was glad that they set up a holiday just for my favorite furry one in my life. It really made me appreciate her even more for lifting up my frown into a smile each morning.
Hope you all had a great day!
Walking the Dog for Dolls - Fall Outfit for 18" Dolls Crochet Pattern Tu...
The birds are congregating together, the trees are starting to turn color, and the air is cool and crisp. That means fall is upon us and it is time to start pulling out those warmer clothes and blankets!
Of course, we cannot forget about the little 18" people in our life either. They need to dress for the season too. That is why I created this tutorial on how to make a fall outfit for your American Girl (or similar style) doll to wear when she goes out to walk her dog.
The pattern is free for downloading at Red Heart Yarn's website. You can find a link to the pattern here http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/walking-dog-dolls. Download the file as a .pdf and you can either view it on your computer screen, tablet, or print it off as a hard copy.
I am making a YouTube video series on how to crochet this pattern in steps. The first week we cover how to crochet the jacket. I made mine using different colors, but I followed the pattern as it was written. (Adding a few of my personal touches such as the two-tone sleeves) :) You can view Part 1 of the Jacket below.
The above video allows you to create the basic structure of the coat along with the collar. Part 2, which you can view below, finishes off the jacket.
Next week, I will show you how to make the wristers. And, we will get to the boots, cap, and of course the cute little puppy later on in September. I am so excited to share this pattern with you and I hope you are able to follow along and make this wonderful outfit for your doll before the snow flies!
Of course, we cannot forget about the little 18" people in our life either. They need to dress for the season too. That is why I created this tutorial on how to make a fall outfit for your American Girl (or similar style) doll to wear when she goes out to walk her dog.
The pattern is free for downloading at Red Heart Yarn's website. You can find a link to the pattern here http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/walking-dog-dolls. Download the file as a .pdf and you can either view it on your computer screen, tablet, or print it off as a hard copy.
I am making a YouTube video series on how to crochet this pattern in steps. The first week we cover how to crochet the jacket. I made mine using different colors, but I followed the pattern as it was written. (Adding a few of my personal touches such as the two-tone sleeves) :) You can view Part 1 of the Jacket below.
The above video allows you to create the basic structure of the coat along with the collar. Part 2, which you can view below, finishes off the jacket.
Next week, I will show you how to make the wristers. And, we will get to the boots, cap, and of course the cute little puppy later on in September. I am so excited to share this pattern with you and I hope you are able to follow along and make this wonderful outfit for your doll before the snow flies!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
My Etsy Store Vlog #3 - Getting Ready for Fall by Crocheting Instead of ...
I don't know what the weather is like where your at, but here it is dreary, wet, and cold. The summer weather we had last week quickly turned into fall! I took the time to wrap myself up in a blanket in my favorite chair with a cup of hot cocoa and dug through my yarn stash. Crocheting is just as enjoyable to me as it is to sew. I love designing my own patterns! And, that is exactly what I did this week.
I hope all of you are having a good time selling things on your Etsy shop! I have had to rethink how I take my pictures, as I do them outside. My house is too dark to take good pictures indoors. So, I am seriously thinking about making a lightbox as I won't be taking pictures outside as soon as the snow flies!
I hope you all have a fabulous week!
I hope all of you are having a good time selling things on your Etsy shop! I have had to rethink how I take my pictures, as I do them outside. My house is too dark to take good pictures indoors. So, I am seriously thinking about making a lightbox as I won't be taking pictures outside as soon as the snow flies!
I hope you all have a fabulous week!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
My Etsy Items Won't Sell!
So, I am down in the dumps today. It is raining for one thing. That never helps. And, I haven't been able to make a sale on Etsy yet. This week Wednesday, my store turns exactly one month old. Of course, I tried Googling why I can't sell anything and you know what the first thing is that pops up in the search list, "Top 10 Etsy Stores," "The Best Etsy Stores based in the United States," and "Etsy Stores You Must See to Believe!" I was almost waiting for a listing to come up saying, "It is so easy to sell on Etsy a Caveman can do it." (Remember those commercials?) Anyway, that just made me and my dolls blue...
It's a little hard to read in this picture, but it says, "Be Brave & Keep Going." So many times in my life I have looked at this bracelet and stopped to meditate on those words. I think of all the little kid shows I watched where sayings of, "No pain, no gain" or "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" help lift me up and keep me on the road to my goal. But, my strongest asset is praying and meditating on God's Holy Word through reading the Bible. Much inspiration comes from there by seeing all the trials people and prophets have faced.
Well, at least American Girl dolls always have a smile on their face!
Searching a little deeper I did find out there are other Etsy sellers like me who don't see sales $$ right away either. It is more or less a patience game. I read where one successful Etsy seller didn't see her first sale until she was open for 3 months. The thing is, I can't wait that long. Mostly because of my financial condition and a family and group of friends who think I am absolutely crazy and out of my mind that a person can make money through the Internet instead of attending a 9am-5pm office job like everyone else.
I found through it all that I needed support more than anything. But, support is harder to come by than what you think. Yes, I joined various Etsy teams, but no one has responded to my inquiries for help. I noticed older posts than mine also did not receive any replies. This is disheartening as what is the purpose of joining a team? I did find some webinars to sign up for, but it really isn't the same.
I did find one thing I own that has given me all the support I can muster. My bracelet...
It's a little hard to read in this picture, but it says, "Be Brave & Keep Going." So many times in my life I have looked at this bracelet and stopped to meditate on those words. I think of all the little kid shows I watched where sayings of, "No pain, no gain" or "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" help lift me up and keep me on the road to my goal. But, my strongest asset is praying and meditating on God's Holy Word through reading the Bible. Much inspiration comes from there by seeing all the trials people and prophets have faced.
Lastly, I did come to articles that helped me fine-tune my business plan, learn from other Etsy sellers' mistakes, and showed me resources I had overlooked for marketing. It is all a learning process and I have learned a lot so far! I will do my best to keep you updated of what I am going through so if you run across my blog and are feeling the same as me, you know that someone before you has been there and done that. Hopefully, you can find peace and tips & tricks to keep you going on your journey of becoming an entrepreneur, too!
A Minute of Biscuit #3 - Brushing a Golden Retriever's Teeth
Another week has come and gone so I like to share with you another clip of Biscuit to brighten your day! Right now, I need some brightening up as it is stormy outside with rain pouring down. Dreary days call for a dreary outlook on life sometimes.
I embedded this video below, which this week is a clip of my brushing Biscuit's teeth.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, "You actually brush your dogs teeth?!" Like that is the grossest thing in the world. Well, maybe your right, but what I think is more disgusting is bad dog breath. LOL. You see Biscuit is like any other golden retriever, she is a licker. And, I hated to think just where that tongue of hers has been. I thought, if brushing my teeth helps get rid of bad breath and germs, then brushing my dogs teeth would do the same!
It really isn't that hard to brush dog's teeth either. They really do most of the work for you by making the biting and licking motions seen in the video. The toothpaste I use is K9 toothpaste. It is not human toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is formulated to work better in your dogs mouth and not make them sick. I started brushing Biscuit's teeth when she was 6 months old and got her into a regular routine of having it done. She actually doesn't feel ready for bed until she has gotten her teeth brushed!
If you have an older dog that you want to get on a teeth brushing routine, they may object at first. You should first put some toothpaste on your finger and get them used to the taste of the paste. Then, you can work up to an actual toothbrush. When we are camping, I use dog tooth wipes (also in her favorite mint flavor). The wipes feel and look like baby wipes in my opinion. They don't do the best job of brushing my dogs teeth, but she doesn't object to those either. And, it is an easy way to pack with the wipes when going on a trip than to remember to pack with her toothbrush! I have a hard time remembering my toothbrush on a trip let alone someone else's! LOL.
I do encourage you to give it a try, though. Believe me your visitors, family, and even your dog will thank you for it in the end.
I embedded this video below, which this week is a clip of my brushing Biscuit's teeth.
Now I know what some of you are thinking, "You actually brush your dogs teeth?!" Like that is the grossest thing in the world. Well, maybe your right, but what I think is more disgusting is bad dog breath. LOL. You see Biscuit is like any other golden retriever, she is a licker. And, I hated to think just where that tongue of hers has been. I thought, if brushing my teeth helps get rid of bad breath and germs, then brushing my dogs teeth would do the same!
It really isn't that hard to brush dog's teeth either. They really do most of the work for you by making the biting and licking motions seen in the video. The toothpaste I use is K9 toothpaste. It is not human toothpaste. Dog toothpaste is formulated to work better in your dogs mouth and not make them sick. I started brushing Biscuit's teeth when she was 6 months old and got her into a regular routine of having it done. She actually doesn't feel ready for bed until she has gotten her teeth brushed!
If you have an older dog that you want to get on a teeth brushing routine, they may object at first. You should first put some toothpaste on your finger and get them used to the taste of the paste. Then, you can work up to an actual toothbrush. When we are camping, I use dog tooth wipes (also in her favorite mint flavor). The wipes feel and look like baby wipes in my opinion. They don't do the best job of brushing my dogs teeth, but she doesn't object to those either. And, it is an easy way to pack with the wipes when going on a trip than to remember to pack with her toothbrush! I have a hard time remembering my toothbrush on a trip let alone someone else's! LOL.
I do encourage you to give it a try, though. Believe me your visitors, family, and even your dog will thank you for it in the end.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
A Minute of Biscuit #2 - Golden Retriever vs. Kooky Bird
Yeah! Another minute of Biscuit has been uploaded! Well, this clip is more than a minute, but I am sure you will enjoy it. Please view the video below.
So, yes the Kooky Bird was scary. But, I did decide to put it away in storage rather than out in the trash for now. Who knows? It may actually be worth something being it is considered an antique from its age. And, I do have the original box. I think I heard it on Antique's Roadshow or something to that affect that having the original box of a toy makes all the difference in the value of the item. Well, I may just be on Antique's Roadshow one day with that Kooky Bird! (Yes, I will keep dreaming...)
So, yes the Kooky Bird was scary. But, I did decide to put it away in storage rather than out in the trash for now. Who knows? It may actually be worth something being it is considered an antique from its age. And, I do have the original box. I think I heard it on Antique's Roadshow or something to that affect that having the original box of a toy makes all the difference in the value of the item. Well, I may just be on Antique's Roadshow one day with that Kooky Bird! (Yes, I will keep dreaming...)
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
My Etsy Store Vlog #1 - Monday, Monday... Can't Trust that Day
My first week of running an Etsy store didn't turn out as great as I thought. I have backorder issues on getting materials, too much stuff cluttered in corners, and I feel totally overwhelmed! Well okay, it could be worse. And, I have to start out somewhere, right?
I have literally been waking up in the middle of the night and jotting down ideas on a notepad I keep near my bed. So, if I come to a day where I feel that my imagination is dried up, I can resort to my notes to jumpstart my inspiration process again. As you can see, with the materials I have on hand, I should be able to make something worthwhile. :)
I do hope you check out my Etsy Store and see the hard work I put into it. I would also love to hear about your Etsy experiences, too. So, don't forget to drop me a line and comment below!
I have literally been waking up in the middle of the night and jotting down ideas on a notepad I keep near my bed. So, if I come to a day where I feel that my imagination is dried up, I can resort to my notes to jumpstart my inspiration process again. As you can see, with the materials I have on hand, I should be able to make something worthwhile. :)
I do hope you check out my Etsy Store and see the hard work I put into it. I would also love to hear about your Etsy experiences, too. So, don't forget to drop me a line and comment below!
Welcome
Welcome to my blog! I just started an 18" Doll Clothes Boutique on Etsy July 19, 2015. I am super excited to begin a store to sell my most precious doll clothes. I share tips & techniques I incorporate in my business as well as my latest doll clothes I have made to stock my store. So, please stop by often!
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