6th Annual Detroit Doll Show

I will see you there!

Vinyl Fabric Haul

Recently, I mentioned Beauty of Creating's expansion into accessories for the 18 inch dolls.  Well, I spent the last few weeks testing fabrics and have a haul to share.  Now, this does not mean that production with other fabrics cease.  This is simply an expansion to the existing runs.

Doll Accessory Haul

Expect to see some more wonderful purses, bags, belts, jackets, and etc. 

Flashback Friday...first sewing machine

I have been sewing since the age of eight, nearly 40 years ago.

Holly Hobbie, Christmas 1978

My first machine was the Holly Hobbie.  I saw it on it in the Toys R Us advertising and on t.v. and immediately wanted one.  I remember I wanted to make doll clothes and this was the thing to do it!

I do not remember it operating with a plug.  It had a bench hook that kept it stable and to make stitches, you turn the handle.  I darned many socks for me and my siblings.  I was so proud and it paved the way for many more machines and years of freedom of expression.  

Unboxing and Getting Started

My new serger/overlock arrived yesterday.  It comes with a demonstration dvd, some accessories: pair of needles, screw driver, tweezers, and a spreader.  I watched the dvd for a quick tutorial on threading, however there is a demo on YouTube.  Additionally,  it comes seated and ready with four cones of thread: yellow, orange, green, and blue.  Sewing perfectly of course until I changed out the threads to black.  It took some time to get the stitch as close to perfect as I could get it before I called it a night and started watching Outsiders (love that show).

The trickiest part was not changing the threads, but removing the arm plate, and doing so without breaking a nail.

Today I took to the net in search of the additional presser feet.  Sadly, Singer.com was not helpful.  I then called their toll free number and the lady was quite gracious.  In about a month I will have all of the presser feet needed to do those extra tasks, like putting on elastic, cording/yarning, shirring/ruffling, blind hems, beading, and lacing.

Officially, the SpeedyLock will rest with white thread and maybe light colors, while the new Singer Stylist will focus on dark colors, mostly black.  As much as it is tedious changing loopers, adjusting tensions, and deciding on lifting the knife or lowering it, I plan to do more than standard operations.  With two to volley, at least I can move between colors without changing out threads back and forth on one machine.

This technically makes my third serger.  I totally forgot about the mini serger I purchased, which was my very first.  That was a product of Singer also.  I used the cone stands because the thread seats used standard size thread spools.  I was not ready to leap into a larger ticket item like a serger, which at that time priced above any sewing machine I ever owned.  Now, that I have a Viking Husqvarna as my main manufacturing tool, serger prices do not look so expensive any more...unless its a Viking!

I am very happy with the investment so far.  Happy Serging!

I think my serger/overlock hates black thread...

Every time I change the thread from white to black in my SpeedyLock serger/overlock, it is a huge fight to the finish.

This is a problem that keeps me using white thread even with dark colored fabric.  Well, the end of that fight is near.  I cannot tolerate this inconvenience another year.  I decided to buy another serger/overlock machine. 

I know it seems like overage, but I already had a plan to buy another soon, just not sure the cost of the investment.  Viking Husqvarna, who makes my main sewing machine (I have a Brother in the closet.) makes a serger/overlock but the threading process is not made easier with that expensive price tag.  

It arrives tomorrow.  I do plan to do a review on it.  But for now, the manufacturer is Singer.  It falls in the upper level of amenities and price point.  Stay tuned.

Free Gifts!

As promotional items for the new accessory division, Beauty of Creating is giving away a few items that met the final evaluation for production.

Backpack

Drawstring Backpack

Flashback Friday

This brings back such fond memories of our beginning! This is from the Fall/Winter 2015/16 photo shoot, of the Academy Collection 2016.  That entire collection sold almost immediately.  As much I try to share it with the world, most of my stuff sells instantly through my direct sell customers.  I never even get the chance sometimes to load it into Etsy or Ebay.  Direct sell customers rule the roost!

Naked and afraid...a Chavonne review

I have a total of five Chavonne's.  For the most part, they all look the same.  They should look the same, since they derive from a mold, with no production suggestion that they are "unique" like Cabbage Patch Dolls.  

The first four Chavonne's ordered from December 2015 through Spring 2016 are essentially identical, except for subtle differences in their hair rooting.  These variations are slight.  If you spy them on the runway, modeling any BOC fashions their hair styles are to my credit.  I did this to give them a unique look.  One has a bob, and another has a pixie.

Chavonne Jan. 2017 

The recent purchase, in January 2017 for my birthday gift to myself, I noticed right away that her hair was incredibly thicker and longer than the previous purchases.  This is not bad!

Second, I noticed her thighs are rounder, which makes her measurements a few centimeters larger.  This is not bad!  Her thicker hair is a bonus as previous customer complaints consisted of the annoying bald spots or empty spots due to bad rooting patterns.  The fuller thighs brings her lower body measurement closer to the the comparison of the competitor dolls for which BOC also designs, but here she is equivalent in dimensions of Dana, Mikaella, and Kelsey.

 Lower Torso fabric, w/o Geoffrey logo

Additionally the lower torso fabric on Chavonne January 2017 has a gauze-like texture.  It seems more durable.  This difference separates her apart from all other dolls in my collection, including Dana, Mikaella, and Kelsey.  Chavonne January 2017 also has the Geoffrey trademark on her upper back.  

Geoffrey Logo on Center Back

None of these changes as you can tell from my review impair BOC from designing fashions, but the body shape differences do make the Chavonne 2017 a bit more unique. With her bigger hair and fuller thighs she looks more like a bigger sister.

I love all of the dolls.  Even though they have more similarities than differences, they have brought such an illuminating effect on the creativity of BOC that we celebrate diversity in all sorts of ways!

SOLD!

The Winter 2017 Catalog is closed. Thanks everyone for their purchases.  It was a fun production, but it is officially discontinued.  Some of the pieces could return in future collections.  

Stay tuned for the free pattern upload coming in April!

"If I Had a Hammer" with Tote Bag

If I Had a Hammer is the largest featured ensemble from our Winter 2017 Catalog.  It comes with the new matching tote, barrette, overalls, blouse, underwear, socks, purple tennis shoes, ski jacket, fleece hat, scarf, and mittens.  Its online price is $40.  But you can get this for $30 as a direct sale.

The tote bag pattern with instructions will be available next month right here on the blog for free to the first 50 subscribers to this blog!

Tote Bag 

"School Girl Crush" with Satchel Purse

School Girl Crush arrives from our Winter 2017 Catalog.  It comes with black satchel purse, patent leather shoes, white knee high stockings, wool skirt, white blouse, fleece vest, and barrette.

Saddle Bag

"Denim Blues II" with Shoulder Satchel

Shoulder Sling Pack

By popular demand, Beauty of Creating now features for the first time, for 18" dolls, purses, totes, and back packs in a variety of colors, while supplies last.  Special orders by request!

Dana is wearing the new Shoulder Satchel.  It is an early Spring/Summer 2017 debut as Denim Blues II so you will not find the outfit in the Winter 2017 Catalog.  It comes as an accessory to the featured Denim Blues II that includes a blue denim jacket, black leggings, short sleeve blouse, and socks.  Online price: $25.  Direct sale: $15.

The boots and glasses are not included.

"Denim Blues"

Welcome Kelsey and Mikaella to the BOC family!

"Kelsey"

Kelsey and Mikaella arrived just a few days ago and I am so excited for what the Beauty of Creating designer has in store for them! They join Dana, and several Chavonne's as a welcomed addition to the BOC family.

Kelsey wears a denim dress with a floral macrame design, green and navy purse, floral ribbon headband, and blue flats.

Mikaella wears silver patterned pants, purple sweater with silver embroidery around the neckline, hot pink/silver clutch purse, with black ballet flats. 

What I love...

Journey Girls have their own unique personality and charm.  Kelsey, my ginger sweet girl, has red hair and green eyes, while Mikaella has strawberry blond hair and royal blue eyes.

This edition of dolls come from the celebrated 5th anniversary "Italy" series, like the Chavonne's.  Thus far, Dana is the maverick chic, from the "New York" series.

Kelsey, Mikaella, and Dana have workable magic with their original stylists. Kelsey and Mikaella only needed shoe replacement from BOC, while Dana's combat style boots are an earmark to her persona!

Unlike Dana who did not arrive with her purse, Kelsey and Mikaella each have their own shoulder bag and clutch, respectively.

The dolls continue to wow over at Toys R Us, who continues to run online sales at remarkable prices.  I purchased both Kelsey and Mikaella for $25 each, thanks to the online promotion and a $10 off courtesy coupon for the Dana purse debacle.  If I waited just a week, an additional $4 savings...but oh well!

"Mikaella"

What I dislike...

The dolls shoes, not boots for Dana, are abysmal.  They are extremely cheap and scream 'make me over' hence the reason Kelsey and Mikaella received an instant upgrade.

I am certain with better accessories the price will increase by $10 per doll.  Even at that increase, they would remain rivals to the pricier dolls.

Beauty of Creating, Inc. has already begun to put these girls to work and they are enjoying the fun!

Welcome Dana!

Dana is a cute doll but her hair...

In her first photo shoot, she wears a bun, I fastened down with several bobby pins. Out of the box, her hair is straight, no curls, with a lone braid. It is not the straight texture that annoys me, but the squared edges that make it very hard to control.

The process...
I did not overly saturate her hair, but a gentle spritz of Peppermint water and set it. After 45 minutes on low heat under a dryer, I am pleased with the results.

Winter Catalog Photo Shoot

Beauty of Creating Winter Catalog 2017

 Printable Brochure Page 1

Printable Brochure Page 2