Product Reviews: Doll Stand Sold by WishlistDollClothes4U on eBay

Have you ever set up an object in the perfect position to take a photo of it and it just topples over before you click the shutter? I have that happen to me all the time! Especially when I am trying to photograph my dolls outside in their outfits. Sometimes the wind is strong and pushes them over or I have to conduct a balancing act on uneven ground.



So, I was trying to figure out a few weeks back what I could do to stabilize my dolls better so they don't move when I take their picture. Well, somebody already invented something long before me called the "doll stand." But, I totally could have come up with that if someone else hadn't. :)



I searched and searched and searched online mostly as the brick and mortar stores here don't carry such items. I finally found one that caught my eye that is sold be WishlistDollClothes4U on eBay through their store WishlistDollClothes. I thought the price was right and finally bought one after it had been sitting on my watch list for a few months. They aren't the cheapest doll stand on the market, but they are fairly reasonably priced compared to some other items I saw.



The base is wood and the neck of the stand is metal painted in a brown color. It also has an adjustable holder for the doll to accommodate anywhere from 16" to 20" dolls. I tried out my doll stand on the Mattel American Girl Doll Samantha as she has the most stuffing of my other American Girl Dolls by Pleasant Company before the buyout. Plus, most people looking for dolls to buy are probably looking at the newer Mattel ones as they came out with more variations and historical ones for the BeForever collection.



Overall, I was happy enough with my purchase that I am going to use it in my photo shoots. You can see my overall review in the video:

Some things I would have included in this video is how the doll looked wearing a dress. I talk about it but never showed it. The dresses I make are floor length and you cannot see the stand at all when the doll has a dress on. Actually you can't really tell that the doll is leaning backwards unless you are very intent on staring at her to see what her flaws are.



I also never showed what a Pleasant Company American Girl Doll looked like using the stand. I am not actually planning on using this stand on those dolls as it was so tight on my Mattel doll that I didn't want to risk ripping the cloth body on those dolls. I don't use them in photo shoots most of the time as they are my collectibles and not apart of my business display dolls.



If you have purchased this stand please let me know what you think of it in the comments section below.



If you are interested in purchasing this doll stand, you can find the eBay listing here: http://stores.ebay.com/Wishlistdollclothes/_i.html?_nkw=doll+stand&submit=Search&_sid=229432335



I hope you all have a great day!



Walking the Dog for Dolls - How to Crochet an Ear Flap Cap for 18" Dolls

I am so, so, so, so, so, so, sorry I did not get this video uploaded sooner. I had made this about a month ago and never got it up on YouTube! I did not mean to leave you guys hanging out there wondering if we were ever going to finish the outfit. We have one last video coming up on how to crochet the dog that our doll needs to walk. I say video, but it might be more than one as that is a long tutorial with various parts. We not only make the dog but also the collar and leash. Plus, the dog is the most complicated, at least I feel, to complete in the pattern.



I really don't know why I stopped in the middle of the series in uploading these clips. I had good intentions! Trust me, I really did! I was going to upload it one night but the Internet was out. This happens all to frequently in my part of the state being in the rural American setting. I think with our lower population, we just don't seem to have the attention of the Internet providers. That and the signal has to travel longer distances. It never fails that we here on the radio that a fiber optic cable was cut in our area with all the excavation and field tiling going on in our area. That's what you get for being a farmer!



Oh, and that brings to mind another project that has taken my time these past few weeks. We got 10 baby bull calves in that have to be bottle fed twice a day! They are so cute and I have them take up way too much of my time. But, like I said, they are so cute!!!! I love seeing them romping around outside on these sunny days or quietly napping in the straw in the barn. But, I talk more about that on my more personal blog of my little homesteading project I got going on with gardening, canning, and crocheting other items. (You can check that out on my YouTube channel meliannrobe if you are interested!)



But, without further ado, here is the video on how to crochet the ear flap cap!







I promise to get the last of the series finished up and uploaded. Hopefully, in time this next weekend!

A Minute of Biscuit #6 - Dog Walking on the Treadmill or Not?

Even though it isn't officially fall, the beginning of September always makes me feel the need to prepare for the new season. School has started and I perform my fall cleaning. I reorganize, store my summer items, take out the sweaters, and of course... get the dog trained to exercise indoors instead of outdoors.



Yes, I have trained my dog to walk on a treadmill. She started using it when she was almost a year old and knows all the ins and outs of walking on it. However, she didn't seem like she was too enthused walking on it today. Check out the video below!







Biscuit seems to be able to hop off and on the thing without any problem. At least she remembered that from last year! But, I don't know how to get her to stay on the treadmill by herself to walk. I thought about using treats, but that kind of defeats the purpose of exercising in the first place don't you think? I also wouldn't want her drooling over the track and the crumbs would be a chore to clean up with the conveyor belt dropping them from front to back.



I don't want to tie her to the machine either. I have seen people do this and wonder, what if the dog has to get off. I want her to be able to comfortably walk, too. She is a large dog so her stride is just about as long as the treadmill track I have.



So far, I have come up with the routine of standing by her side making sure to block attempts of prematurely jumping off the machine after she jumps on. But, I really don't want to stand their all day either as I like to keep an eye on her but still get work done of my own. Like vacuuming! (Yes, I have a lot of dog hair to clean up with having her in the house. But, she is oh so worth it!)



Does your dog walk on the treadmill? And if so, how do you keep your pooch from jumping on and off? Please comment below!



Thanks everyone and have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Walking the Dog for Dolls - How to Crochet Wristers for 18" Dolls

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!

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!

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!

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!