YouTube Tuesday! Halloween 2012

First a quick note to all my loyal fans. My Granny (who is 92) injured her leg just recently and I'm on the Granny-Care rotation which means I will be spending at least 3 days with her this week and probably at least 3 next week, maybe 4. Her leg will be fine but as a loyal granddaughter my obligation is to help in her care and recuperation, which will probably last a couple of weeks before she can get around on her own again. Right now she's using a walker and sometimes a wheelchair. So anyway, family has to come first and I know y'all will understand when posts are hit and miss for the next couple of weeks. We have complete confidence that she will make a full recovery, but her knee is swollen right now and it's hard to walk on, which makes it hard to do everything else in life such as washing the dishes, hanging the laundry on the line, taking a bath or shower, cooking, getting from one room to the next, changing the channel on the TV etc. Until she's able to do for herself, I'll be on the rotation schedule along with my aunts.

Now onto our main theme. Our good and faithful and extremely talented HardyGirl66 has been working overtime on a brand new Halloween Video, that right, Brand New! She made a super video last year which I shared earlier this month. This month however, she has exceeded our greatest expectations! She has created the piece de resistance! The epic 1970's Halloween Extravaganza. You can check it out below. Also be sure to visit YouTube and leave her some feedback. Feedback feeds the imagination of our beloved YouTubers. If we want more videos we must feed the ones who create such treasures for our viewing pleasure. So be sure to let Sharry (aka HardyGirl66) know what you think of her 1970's Halloween Carnival!

Flashback Friday: Niya's Lost Profile

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Birthstone: Turquoise

Hair: Straight Black

Eyes color: Brown

Hometown: Springfield

Favorite color: The rainbow

Pets: Brown and white horse named Polly

Family: No siblings, but she has a lot of cousins that come every week to visit.

Best Day: When her father offered her Polly. He gave her some lessons to ride the horse and now they ride together all the time. She loves spending time with her father.

She likes: Playing with her cousins, taking care of Polly, making jewelry with colorful pearls and beads, & brushing and braiding her long black hair.

Pet Peeves: When people leave their garbage in the forest, & the noise of the thunder.

Dream: Working in the National park to protect the forests and save the animals.

Best Friends: Amanda, Madison, Lindsey, Gina, Stacy

Favorite Outfits:

Hanging Out: Fringed top and skirt, moccasins and headband

 

* * *

Like Gina, Niya was discontinued a few years back. I was really disappointed because to me she was such a fun character. Her hair is different from the current Maria's because Niya's is rooted in a permanent part from the front all the way to the back, which leaves big bald spots that have to be covered up when styling her hair. The easiest way I found to cover the bald spots is to style her hair in 2 braids or 2 pigtail. Because of this Niya's hair is less versatile than Maria's hair. One thing I always did like about Niya is that she had no bangs. I don't wear bangs myself and never have. I like that Niya didn't have bangs and I like that Maria doesn't either.

Even though Niya has been discontinued you can still buy her at Sunshine Crafts. They have a small supply left and they are on sale for under $20, which is a super bagain. They also have Gina and all the other Springfield girls too.

If you don't have access to a Niya doll then Maria (Sofia) makes a great alternative. Her hair is easily braided and she can be a Native American doll in a heartbeat. Because of her hair and coloring she can stand in for a lot of different nationalities including Native American, Latino, Indian (from India), Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Bi-Racial or Multi-Ethnic, African American, and some Asian nationalities. I miss Niya, but feel that Maria is a good replacement for her, and because of the difference in the rooting of her hair, it's my opinion that Maria is perhaps more flexible and has more play value. Niya was a lovely doll though and I'm glad I was able to make her part of my collection.

YouTube Tuesday: Springfield Collection Sportswear

This is my Youtube Video of Springfield Collection Activewear & Sportswear. Hope you enjoy it!

All of these items are available from the Springfield Store, or Sunshine Crafts or your local craft store like Michaels or AC Moore. Since making this video there are a few other Sportwear items available, like ballet shoes and a new yoga outfit.

Make It Yourself Monday: Niya's Native American Outfit

AG doll Kaya -- Niya Dressed In My Pattern -- Niya Undressed



I wanted to share a pattern I've been working on the past week, but I didn't have it done in time, so I'm sharing a pattern that I has posted a few months back before the great delete of grief.

 

Free American Indian Dress Pattern

PDF File

 

 

I grew up with a very odd mixture of Native American culture, Fundamental Christian culture and Wicaan culture, which has given me an ecclectic world view as an adult. My great grandpa was Cherokee who was raised white, and his daughter, my Granny (now 92), decided as a girl to be mostly white, which was probably easiest for her, considering the times she lived through. She remains mostly white to this day, except when she goes to PowWow, when she is all Indian. My mom and my aunts are sometimes white and sometimes Indian, which after talking to other people of mixed heritage, I found out is pretty normal. I'm white. I know because when I tried to be Indian as a teenager I was imperiously informed by an Indian girl who was half and half that I was too white to be Indian. Then later, when I was at a powwow with my oldest son, who was 7 at the time and who thought being indian was the greatest thing he'd ever discovered, we were both informed by the PowWow leader that we were too white to be Indian. So, I'm not Indian, but some of my people are. Just like I'm not Wiccan, but some of my people are that too. Mostly I'm anabaptist, but that's neither here nor there.

 

My point to all of this background information is that I'm especially fond of Native American Culture and I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of the American Girl doll Kaya. A few years back Springfield used to make a native american doll named Niya. I plan on sharing her lost profile this Friday. She is the doll I used as my model for this pattern.

 

 

 

The pattern for Niya's clothes is my own invention, designed after looking at several patterns for Indian Princess doll costumes. The fabric was purchased on sale at my local fabric store. It took less than 1/2-yard for the dress and overlay. I think the material was intended as an upholstery fabric, but I could be wrong. It's stiffer than ultra suede, similar to microsuede, only not as expensive as most microsuede I've seen. The trim came from AC Moore. It's a cream colored cotton braid. I accented the front of the cape with small strips of red leather cord topped with a plastic gold bead. It was very challenging to sew through the red leather cord and if I had it to do over again I would choose yarn or even ribbon. Anything that is easier to sew. I only did 3 because it was so hard to get the needle through the red leather cord. The necklace is made from inexpensive glass beads strung on a thin elastic thread. I have a lot of them leftover from kid and craft projects over the years. The hair ornaments are big plastic buttons that were found on sale at Hancock fabrics about 15 years ago. They have lurked in my button tin until I rescued them for this project. I ran a short length of elastic thread through the button shank and then tied it and trimmed the ends. They fit on her braids like any elastic hair band would. The ends of her braids are tied with simple cotton string. Kiyah's boots are inexpensive Springfield doll boots I bought at a going-out-of-business sale at a craft shop in the late 90's. I stashed them with my doll stuff until bringing them out for this project.

The outfit I designed isn't associated with any particular tribe. It's modest and the cape gives it double coverage, which my inner anabaptist finds very pleasing. If you're making a historical character, this pattern can be made suitable for both Pocahontas and Sacajawea by using different colored fabric and varying the trim. I think an ecru or ivory fabric would be great for Pocahontas.  A darker color would do for Sacajawea since she is traveling. A baby in a papoose would be a fun and historically accurate addition to Sacajawea's ensemble. Felt is inexpensive and widely available at craft stores in 36-inch square yard packages. It is very easy to work with, especially for beginners. It would work perfectly for this dress.

Flashback Friday: Amanda's Lost Profile

Abby used to be named Amanda. Before that, when Springfield Dolls were kits to be stuffed and sewn together, she was named Sarah. She's always had blond hair and blue eyes, although it was curly for a little while, when she was in kit form. Amanda's profile is very sweet. I love that she has two cats and hopes to be a veterinarian when she grows up. I also find it amusing that she wishes her hair was curly, the way it used to be, back when she was Sarah.  Compare this profile with Abby's Current Profile. There are  still a few similarities, for one, her favorite color is still blue!

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Birthstone: Diamond
Hair: Straight Blonde (she wishes it was curly!)
Eyes color: Blue

Hometown: Springfield
Favorite color: Blue
Pets: 2 cats named Tabby and Magic
Family: Younger brother that she loves to play games with after school.
Best Day: When her Mom organized her surprise birthday party. All her friends came and got to spend the night! They had pizza, and played games all night!
Favorite Activities: Going shopping with her Mom, watching cartoons, playing with her cats, going to her tennis class with her friend Gina, & going Ice skating with all her best friends.
Pet Peeves: When her bedroom is messy and getting in trouble.
Her dream: To be a veterinarian and save all the animals living in Springfield.
Best Friends: Madison, Lindsey, Gina, Stacy, Niya
Favorite Outfits:
Dressing Up: White dress with flower in her hair, white teardrop shoes.
Hanging Out: Denim jacket, heart top, skirt and tennis shoes.

 

No updates today

No new updates today or tomorrow. There will be one on Friday, and then none until Monday of next week. I'm working on some projects and need time to complete them. :-)

You Tube Tuesday: 1970's Halloween Party

This is one of my absolute favorites of Sharry's Springfield Doll Videos. This has all the classic 70's accoutrements and the Ben Cooper Halloween costumes are a special treat. I had a Ben Cooper costume for a fairy princess when I was a girl. I felt like I was the most beautiful princess from a fairytale that the world had ever witnessed. I had all but forgotten how special and beautiful I felt in that princess costume. Sharry's video brought back that memory and so many more of Halloweens past. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

In case you're interested, here is the preview of the video, which gives you all the behind the scenes action!

Thanks for sharing Sharry!