A cute baby for Valentines Day by Pat Jones

Welcome Phyllis Valdez

Phyllis lives in the desert city of Las Cruces, CA with her husband of 32 years Richard.

Almost 30 years ago she began making cloth dolls and then switched to reproduction porcelain dolls. She says that the market for reproduction dolls is almost non existent now and that is when she became aware of the 'revolution" that was taking place in the area of cloth doll design.

Two things happened says Phyllis, she began to feel the urge to make cloth dolls again and seco9nd she came across the Dinky Baby web site. After she finished ooohinbg and awwwing, she made contact.

Phyllis is looking forward to becoming Dinky Baby Certified.

Welcome abourad Phyllis.

Mary Lenzen is Dinky Baby Certified

Mary Lenzen has met the qualifications and standards set fourth by Dinky Baby LLC to be certified in teaching classes and to call all the dolls that she makes Dinky Babies. Her doll is beautifully made and shows the quality and workmanship required by Dinky Baby LLC.

Meet Mary the Newest Dinky Baby Demonstrator

Mary lives in Lake Villa, IL with her husband of over 31 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Her two granddaughters are part of the reason for making the dolls.

Mary retired 6 years ago when she felt burned out after being an account for almost 22 years. She stared quilting at that time and tried several doll patterns and did not like the results. She came across Dinky Baby patterns in the Clotilde catalog. She took a look at the Dinky Baby website and that is how it all began.

Mary is interested in making dolls, selling them and teaching classes in her local quilt shop. She looks forward to becoming Dinky Baby Certified and by the looks of this MopHead doll, it will be soon.

MopHead made by Mary

"Babies Have Arrived"

Just take a look at some of the babies that will soon be on their way to new homes. This is the "Dinky Baby Fall Doll Swap". Participants sent a doll that represented the season and were to also send something that represented where they are from. In a few days the babies will be going to new homes, could one be on it's way to your home?

This is Snoopy as a balloon being held by 4 Charlie Browns. This cute creation is by Margaret Williams. How lucky this new mom will be to get these wonderful dolls.

Look out for the Steelers as this little guy shows his true colors. This wonderful doll complete with logo blanket is by Sue Minkus. The lucky mom to receive this little guy will have her hands full!

Dressed in winter blue and white and caring her very own matching pocket doll, this little one is ready to make someone very happy. This wonderful creation is by Meridith Morton.

Direct from Jamaica is an amazing little girl complete with Love Certificate. She comes with a change of clothes and will soon be making some new mom happy. Created by Lisa Davis.

This little Canadian doll is by Kim Petroff. She looks like she is ready to help celebrate the holidays. She comes with a puzzle and a map to show where she is from. New moms watch out she could be coming to your house to stay.

Across the seas and ready to come to your house this little darling is waiting to make a new friend and find her new home. Could it be yours. This beautiful baby is by Jemma Bailey of Australia.

So pretty in her little outfit and ready to party comes Azona May. A little book and CD of photos will help you learn all about her. She even has a bottle of syrup to give to her new mom. Such a beautiful little girl, whose home will she go to? Azona May was created by Debbie Davis.

This little one is ready to make any new mom happy. She is dressed in blue and is so very happy just knowing she will soon be in a new home. She could be coming to your home very soon. She was created by Crystal Powe.

Direct from Brazil and ready to share her love is this cutie. She may need a little help with English, but could also help you understand her language. She is from the loving hands of Nilda Maia.

Vicki Gilbert Joins Dinky Baby as the Newest Distributor

Vicki is from Lisbon, OH and says she has a passiuon to sew! She loves to create using fabric and thread. She loves to create Dinky Babies because she says, "the are so much fun"! She says that everyone that she makes them for loves them.

"They each have their own personallities. I feel this company has a true desire to make children happy with these adorable baby dolls. In my area we do not have anything like this! I know the people around here will love these dolls as much as I do. Vicki Gilbert

Octobers Pattern of the Month is "Barry the Pocket Bat"

This is the newest pocket doll, "Barry the the Pocket Bat". He is just 5 inches tall and quick and easy to make. He is made of black craft velour and his wings are made of black felt. Order him as a download from the website at http://www.dinkybaby.com/.

Winner of Octobers Dinky Baby Scholarship Award

Winner of this months Dinky Baby Scholarship is Tanya Beavan of Australia. She will receive the Beginners Guide and Kit. To nominate someone you know or yourself just take a look

September Scholarship Winner

This months winner of the Dinky Baby Scholarship is Rita Leach. Rita is the grandmother of 7 and loves making dolls but cannot afford the supplies. Your kit will soon be on it's way so you can make Dinky Babies while the grand kids are at school. Have fun Rita!

September's Pattern of the Month

Marvin the Pocket Mouse

This is Marvin the pocket mouse. He is fun and quick to make and will make a great addition to your pocket doll collection. He will be available in a kit or the email pattern and instructions. He measures 7 inches from the tips of his ears to the bottom of his body.

"Dinky Doodles" Are Coming Your Way

Remember rag dolls? They are so soft and comforting to hold, the perfect sleeping companion. We all had our favorite doll or toy that we took everywhere when we were children. This doll was inspired by those memories.

These dolls are make completely of minkee and lightly stuffed so that are ultra soft. Their dresses are a part of their bodies so they are super quick and easy to make.

This pattern is for two dolls, 21 inch and 14 inch, they are made completely of minkee fabric.

This is the 21 inch "Dinky Doodle"

This is the 14 inch "Dinky Doodle"

Winner Of August Dinky Baby Scholarship

This months winner of the Dinky Baby Scholarship is Alicia Petroff. She was nominated by her mother. Kim. Alicia's Beginners Guide and Kit will be mailed to her so she can begin making Dinky Babies. Congratulations to Kim. If you know of anyone you would like to nominate to receive next months Dinky Baby Scholarship award, just let me know. The details on how to nominate on the left side of this blog.

The Long Beach International Quilt Festival

This is the carpeting that covers the entire floor of the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach. It just makes you feel so special as you walk the booths and look at all the wonderful quilts.

This is a look down the aisle at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach. If you look to the right you will see the Dinky Baby booth. Lots to look at and what a great time, the crowds were wonderful. This picture was taken just before opening.


This is the Dinky Baby booth at the Long Beach Quilt Festival. I had a great location and wonderful neighbors.

This is me, at the end of a very long day. This show starts on a Thursday evening at 5 pm and goes until 9 pm. It then opens on Friday and Saturday at 10 am and closes at 7 pm. Sunday the hours are 10 am to 3 pm. If you have not visited this show, you are missing out! It is WONDERFUL!

How to wash Dinky Babies

I love making the Dinky Babies from craft velour because you can wash them right in the washer with a load of towels.

I wash them on a regular wash cycle and use warm or cold water. The towels help agitate the dolls clean. If you Dinky Baby has yarn hair, slip a pantyhose over their hair to hold it in place while she is being washed.

Once the wash cycle is complete, just put your Dinky Babies in the dryer with the towels for a fun ride. For the doll with yarn hair let her air dry on top of the dryer.

Add new blush and your Dinky Baby is ready for more fun play.

Meet "Penelope P. Piggins"

This is Penelope in her diva hat

This is Penelope, so cute

See Penelope's piggy tail?

Which hat to wear?

A New Pattern Coming From Dinky Baby

To find out more about this new pattern join my VIP email list, just go to www.DinkyBaby.com

Stuffing Ams & Legs

Here is a question about stuffing arms and legs from Ann, thank you for the question Ann.

I'm not sure if I'm over stuffing my legs and arms, do you stuff the whole leg and arm till firm? my dolls are starting to look like the Pillsbury dough boy or as my mother says that Michelin tire guy Thanks Ann

Stuffing is a very important part of doll making. I use two different types of stuffing for making my dolls. Crafter's Choice® Polyester Fiberfill for the body and Nature-fil™ Bamboo Fiberfill for the head, these are both manufactured by Fairfield Products©. When your doll is stuffed properly it will keep its shape for years to come and wash after wash. (If you do not have access to the Fairfield products, use something similar.)

Since Ann asked about the stuffing of the arms and legs we will focus on those two areas. This information is for the 14 inch size Dinky Babies, for smaller or larger dolls this will differ.

Using a stuffing tool (pencil or chopstick) stuff the hand and thumb area fully with polyester fiberfill. There is no need to make this too hard or packed too firmly, just stuff it fully.

Stuff the hand fully

Continue to stuff the arm up to about two inches from the end. This allows plenty of room to be able to insert the arm into the body.

Leave about 2 inches unstuffed
Arms ready to be inserted into the body

Legs are stuffed just like the arms. Fill the foot area fully with polyester fiberfill using a stuffing tool if necessary. Continue to add stuffing to the leg area up to about two inches from the end of the leg. This allows plenty of room to be able to insert the arm into the body.

I hope this helps in your doll making. A doll’s arms, legs and bodies should be huggable. Over stuffing will make it difficult to do proper sculpting and distort the look of your finished dolls.

Please email your doll making questions to Vicki@DinkyBaby.com

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FABRIC


Have you ever purchased a doll pattern and became very disappointed or discouraged when you tried to make it? You followed the pattern and the instructions, but somehow your doll did not turn out like the picture on the pattern.

The reason may be the fabric. We all want our dolls to look just like the pattern we have purchased. Some times we just use the fabric we have on hand or fabric we think would work, only to find out that all the time we put into our doll was for naught! The doll you made did not turn out like the pattern. It is very important to use the proper fabric in doll making. Most designers recommend the correct fabric to use for their patterns. Each Dinky Baby designed is made with craft velor with the exception of the mini's, they are made with Windsor or Doll Skin.

Craft velour is found on my website, www.DinkyBaby.com, unfortunately you will not find craft velour in any store. I do wish you could, it would make our lives so much easier. As this is not the case, please do not frustrate yourself; purchase enough craft velour when you purchase one of my patterns. Since I have designed my patterns using craft velour the use of any other fabric will not produce the same results.

When first designing dolls well over 30 years ago, finding fabric was the most difficult thing I ran across. Since soft-sculpture dolls were relatively new, the fabric was non existent. At that time I purchased a white nylon backed flannel fabric and took it home to dye. This was not an easy process and required a lot of trial and error. Getting the right shade of light pink was not always easy and each dye lot was always just a little different. When I made dolls I had to make sure they were all made from the same bolt I dyed. I won't even mention what it did to my washer.

Craft velour is 60 inches wide and comes in the perfect shade of pink, called "Doll Face Pink" and sometimes referred to as light pink as well as a variety of other colors. One yard will yield about three 14 inch Dinky Baby dolls with some scraps left over.

Always save your scraps for the small projects. I have designed patterns just for this purpose. My mother taught me to save scraps and to find a use for them. You will find the newest pattern "Dinky Dots" and the "5-little monkeys" a great way to make use of any of your craft velour scraps. The "Pocket Dolls" are also a great way to make use of any of your craft velour scraps.

To help you get started I am offering a discount coupon that you can use on my website for 20% any of the light pink craft velour, minimum purchase $20. All orders will ship in one week.

This is a great time to stock up and start making all those Dinky Babies. Just use the coupon code in all caps CRAFT VELOUR, this offer will end July 19, 2010.

www.DinkyBaby.com

My Booth at the Denver Show

The "Dinky Dots"

Inside the quilted booklet, see all the clothes.

Two little dolls with four different faces.

What could be more fun?

My First Dinky Baby by Ann Soper

This is what Ann had to say about her first Dinky Baby: I just finished my doll, she's not as great as yours, but I wanted to tell you your instructions are great! I have never had any pattern that I could follow as easily as yours. Each time I did something on the doll I would have to show my husband. I love her, and plan on keeping her for myself.

Ann did a great job on her first doll, I am so happy for her!

Another Fashion Design Just For "Dinky Dots"

How do you like this dress?

Sneak Peek at "Dinky Dot" Clothes

These little dolls will be coming soon. Remember paper dolls? I have based these on the same concept. A padded book with a pocket in the front and the back to hold two little dolls. The inside will have pockets to hold the wardrobe of clothes.

Each doll will have two faces, one awake and asleep, the other happy and sad. The clothes will be removable and easily stored in the padded books inner pockets.

Ruffled pants

Cute little dress

"Dinky Dots" are Coming!

A Wonderful E-mail

Hi Vicki,
I just wanted to share a quick story with you to tell you how much I love your wonderful dolls. When I was 8 years old, my best friend was given a set of boy/girl twin Dinky Dolls that her mother had purchased from a craft fair in Phoenix, AZ. It was from that point on that I was determined to adopt one of my own.

Two years later, my family moved to Prescott and I came across your dolls at craft fair.. Oh, I wanted a doll so bad, but my parents would not buy one for me. They told me that if I wanted one, I'd have to earn my own money and buy one at the next fair. Every time a fair rolled around, I excitedly went with the anticipation of buying a doll. Unfortunately you were never at any of the fairs I attended.

Just as I was about to give up hope of ever getting my own Dinky Doll, my Gram and Gramps came for Christmas bearing the best gift that year. You guessed it! I finally got my Dinky Doll! I named her Holly since she was a Christmas gift.

For the next several years I continued to look for your sales tents at the craft fairs, but never did come across them. I had hoped to add one of the smaller dolls to my ever growing doll population. I thought it was a cute touch to embroider the little heart on their bum next to your signature. I have always wondered what happened to you and your Dinky Dolls, and as I was looking up doll patterns, I stumbled across your website. I just wanted to say thank you for having been a part of my childhood and all the happy memories with my Dinky Doll.

I have since passed Holly down to my daughter who also loves her. I am a native Arizonan who has been displaced in Oregon. Currently trying to move back home to the Phoenix area.

Tabitha Little

"5 Little Monkeys"

the newest pattern and a must have

5 little monkeys with their bed, ready for travel

5 Little Monkeys is the newest pattern from Dinky Baby. Make these cute little 4 inch monkeys and dress them in your choice of outfit. They are complete with a little bed for jumping and for storage. Make one or all five and create your own memory. "5 little monkeys" is the second in this flat doll series of patterns. Coming soon "Dinky Dots"....this is going to be a fun one.

Two New Distributors Join Dinky Baby LLC

Meet Michelle Wash of Queensland, Australia. Michelle currently works in childcare and wants to turn her love of arts and crafts into a profitable business.

This is Deborah "Lovie" Rogers of Elberta, AL. Deborah wants to teach doll making and to sell what she makes at the local shows.

"Poppie" the puppet baby coming soon!

Security Bankies

new from Dinky Baby for your babies

This is my newest pattern and one that has been suggested several times. It wasn't until I saw how much my granddaughter enjoys these that I realized why not? This new pattern contains 4 different head designs that are quick and easy to make along with 2 cuddly blanket ideas. This pattern will be available on my website May 7, 2010.