what i'm working on today...

well, worked on today... she's off to Minnesota!

i had a blast with this doll. i spun the fat slubby yarn and handdyed the mohair. Dad wanted tan skin with brown eyes so *the doll can be whoever my daughter wants her to be*. i LOVE that!! he requested funky hair in his daughter's favorite colors, and we worked together to design a more traditional dress for the doll that celebrated his daughter's love of color while sticking to his more conservative tastes.

i didn't get to name this one...but i hope, hope, hope i get to find out her name once the little girl who loves her decides who she *wants her to be*.

O Christmas Tree

you've been neglected for too many years. each December we drag you home, prop you up, and allow everyone to inspect your unsightly stand for a month or so. this year, i promise it will be different.

see, i found this wonderful blog entry over at The Paper Pony. step by step instructions for how to make a fancy skirt for you at a fraction of the cost of a store bought one! simple and elegant, too.

tree, we've known each other for many years, and by now you've certainly come to realize i am unable to do anything exactly as suggested. so although the original skirt is beautiful, i have to add to it somehow.

so, i've enlisted the aid of 4 of Santa's elves, and together, we have made a skirt for you that is anything but simple and elegant. but it is terribly, terribly beautiful because we've made it with love for the Season and with love for each other. this year, you may well be the best dressed tree the world has ever seen...

what i'm working on today...

oooh. customs. and funky ones, too! i ♥ it!!

the one that got away

i just made a custom doll...in a gianormous hurry for a 3yr old's birthday. let me say, i don't rush things often, especially Moppets, but this case called to my heart.
and then, when she was finished, i so wished i could keep her.
i was in such a hurry to get her to the post office, that i couldn't even get good photos. but what i have, i'll share with you.


see why i wanted to keep her? *sigh*

Ribbon Bookmarks a Simple Tutorial

my kids and i just celebrate a modified version of "Yes Day". i say modified, because they didn't tell me yesterday what they wanted to do...i just took them to do a whole bunch of things they've been asking to do for quite some time.

one of those things was to make crafts...we got supplies to make several, and i promise to show them all to you along and along.

the first thing i want to show you (all apologies to any of my readers who may also be my kids' teachers) is the book marks we made for teacher Christmas gifts.

yes, i know it's early, but when you have 4 children and each of them has at least 3 teachers, you've gotta get a jump start on things!

here's how to make your very own:

Supplies:
ribbon
book to measure and/or measuring tape
ribbon clamps
jump rings
beads
pendants or charms
tiny needle nosed pliers (either a jeweler's pair or the tiny one available at the hardware store)
scissors
optional: fray check or a lighter (to seal the ends of the ribbon and prevent fraying)













Instructions:
1~measure your book and add 2 inches (we found that 10 to 11 inches is just about right)

2~cut a length of ribbon to those measurements.

3~using your pliers, clamp the ribbon clamps to the ends of the ribbon.















4~pry open your jump ring and slide on the beads and charms for the top
















5~now add the loop attached to the ribbon clamp(which is attached to your ribbon...right?)















6~squeeze your jump ring shut.

7~repeat steps 4-6 for the bottom of the ribbon

8~pop in in your favorite book and admire your handiwork!























we've decided that good books go great with coffee, hot chocolate, or tea, so we will attach these bookmarks to a gift card for our local coffee shop. voila! 12 teacher gifts finished in about an hour...and the hardest part was choosing the charms.



p.s. please excuse the quality of the photographs in this post. my assistant was busy...

Winds of Change: They Are a Blowin'

last time i checked in(embarrassingly, 6 months ago), i went on and on about how much i love making Waldorf-inspired dolls, and then, i proceeded to only make 3 more for 6 months. yeesh.
my passion for these dolls hasn't waned in the slightest...i've designed dozens on paper, but i haven't quite managed to get any of them birthed into reality. there are myriad reasons for this, not the least of which is the fun and frolic that naturally accompanies summer...
i'd like to announce that major changes are coming to Imogen's Garden. soon and very soon, you will see fewer options in the shop, but i believe you will absolutely love what you do see!!! (so if there is something you love hanging out in there now, you'd better grab it while you can!)
do you remember the doll giveaway i was talking about? well, it's ON, baby! check back over the weekend to see photos of this little beauty and learn how to enter the giveaway...fantastic way to score an early Christmas gift for the little flower in your life. sorry, this giveaway is for US residents only. i hope to be able to include my international friends in the next one.


finally...patterns for Jane/Peter and Anya dolls are up in the shop! get yours and get to crafting your own custom dolls!! go! now!!

big squishy love to you all....♥anna

obsession

dollmaking.

i thought it was bad when i was making only rag dolls. then i ventured into the wooden ones...love them, too.

but Waldorf-inspired dolls...

wow.

it's all i think about anymore!

it's fun to daydream dresses for my girls and for my shop. i love to hear that a mom is especially happy with a skirt i custom made for her hard-to-fit-daughter...but none of that compares with the deep, obsessive love i have for this doll making.

i have made six 14/15 inch dolls to date and 3 little snuggle dolls (and one wee pocket-sized doll for my daughter who was obsessively jealous of the pocket doll given to me by Ulla of Germandolls. (check out her shop...we do the same things, but so differently...she is really, really gifted...and her dolls are made from a *secret family recipie*!) i refuse to share...i made her a poor replica instead)

right now, i have 5 dolls in the hopper. 2 boys for my 2 boys (but don't tell the big kids on the bus), 2 mermaids, and 1 golden skinned doll who must be River's little sister. i wonder what her name is...

anyway...here are photos of Helen's doll *Rosa*. she's made from wool i sourced locally with the most fabulous hair! i would never have picked it...leave it to Helen to choose something totally unconventional and have it totally rock. the thick slubby stuff is yarn i handspun from a roving by Woolyhands. the rest we chose at the same sheep farm from which Rosa's stuffing came. i made Rosa's dress and bloomers, but her FABULOUS sweater came from Elaine at GrannysKnits with a button for closure by Gina at GinaMStudios. there are more sweaters on the way...assuming i can keep them out of Helen's greedy little mits.




i've been pondering a Waldorf-inspired doll giveaway...what say you all?