Quilt Market Fun

Nancy from Nancy's Notisons stopped by my booth as she was waiting to give an interview next to my booth at QNNtv.com. We chatted about my patterns and she said a rep from Nancy's would be stopping by. She said she loved my things. It was so much fun to talk to her one on one.

Nancy being interviewed next to my booth

The interview

Nancy

Dinky Traveler visits Laura Aldridge

The first Dinky Travler sent out to visit friends on the West Coast, is now missing. We have tried to find him, but to no availe. I only hope he has a good home. This is the new Dinky Travler who just spent some time with Laura Aldridge in Yuma, AZ. It looks like they had a great time. Laura named the Dinky Travler Annie.

New outfit made by Laura, don't I look cute?

Laura and Annie in front of the castle at the Wetlands Park.

Annie in front of the memorial for the Veterans

Highlights From the Houston Quilt Market 2011

I love Dr. Seuss, remember the Lorax?

Starbucks, my coffee haven!

Map of the vendors and the quilts. Can you find my booth?

Three floors, escalators to take you up and down. I think I have walked a thousand miles already

My little pink booth.

The Dinky Traveler Spends Time in Shelby, NC

This Dinky Traveler had a great time with Wanda Fortenberry in Shelby, NC. Looks like tree

climbing was on the list of fun.

A ride on the Merry-Go-Round was loads of fun, especially when you are with Wanda.

Dinky Traveler Visits With Some 5th Graders

This Dinky Traveler was lucky enough to spend time with a class of fifth graders in East Islip, NY. The host for this Traveler was Anne-Marie Orgera. She was kind enough o take lots of pictures and to allow the Dinky Traveler to make lots of new friends and to to learn all about recycling.

Learning to recyle is great fun!

All this stuff can be made into something useful, what can I make?

The Dinky Travler had a great time with the 5th grade class.

Look how many friends one little

Dinky Traveler Arrived in Bowie, MD

Affectionately Nick-named Skipper by Joyce Benjamin, this Traveler looks very happy.

How about a dip in the pool?


Skipper loves all the doggies he has met.

Dinky Traveler Visits Leaha Francis

Just look at all the goodies being accumulated by the Dinky Traveler. Looks like a good time was had when he visited Leaha in Stevensville, Montana. This Traveler even got a special T-shirt from Leaha.

The Dinky Travler in Canada

The Dinky Travler spent some time in Canada with Doris Olthof. It looks like he had a great time and really got into the culture. He even gained a new friend and visited some old ones as in the photo below

The Dinky Traveler loves his Toronto hat and jacket
Catching a few rays
The Dinky Traveler loves tomatoes, especially big one red ones
Spending time with his new friend Sox
Nite nite time with Sox

The Dinky Traveler in Houston, TX
The Dinky Traveler has spent some beautiful days with Linda Fiedler.

Just relaxing on a bench catching a few rays in a stylin hat.
This Dinky Traveler loves his new friend.

The Dinky Traveler Visits Pittsburgh

Sun Minkus and the Dinky Traveler enjoy their visit together. See all the photos below of what a great time the Dinky Traveler had.

The Dinky Traveler with Sue's grandchildren

The Dinky Traveler with Sue's Dinky Baby dolls

Some fun with the Dinky Traveler

The Dinky Traveler loves spending time with Sue's big dogs

A great friend to nap with

The Dinky Traveler Visits Israel

The Dinky Traveler paid a visit to Ofri of Rishon-le-Zion, Israel. It looks like this traveler had a great time and picked up some souvenirs along the way. Not only did the Dinky Traveler visit Israel he went on the family vacation to Italy.

Ofri with the Dinky Traveler

Surprise!

Ofri made me a new sweater and hat

Look at my great little camel

Everyone needs a sneaker keyring

Ask Vicki
Why do I need to add more stuffing to the head, and how do I do it? Joyce-

This is one of the most important steps in Dinky Baby doll making and one that is often forgotten or eliminated. This step will give your doll a better appearance and help it to hold it's shape after lots of play or washings. Here is how you do it.This is what your head should look like after sculpting, kind of wrinkled and unfinished.

Run a gathering stitch around the neck opening as in the above photo. This will help hold the additional stuffing you will be adding. I use a 2 1/2 inch sculpting needle and four strands of thread to do this step. Do not pull it tight but just enough to help hold the stuffing in place.

Begin adding more stuffing to the head, pushing it in as you go, keep adding until the head is very firm to the touch. Insert your finger into the cheek areas, add more stuffing filling out the cheeks fully and firmly. Keep adding stuffing to the cheeks. If you can fit your finger in between the fabric and the cheek you can add more stuffing. Cheeks should be full and firm. Now add a small amount to the chin area as in the photo below and your stuffing is complete. Does your Dinky Baby head look like the picture above? A firm fully stuffed head will keep your doll looking great after lots of play and washings. This IS the most important part of your doll, so take the time to stuff the head fully. Fully stuffed head with nose added

Ask Vicki...

What are the essential supplies needed to start making Dinky Babies?

Christen-

This is a great question and a very important one. The most important thing if you are making a Dinky Baby is the fabric. The patterns were designed to be used with craft velour (only found on the website or any doll supply website). You will not find this fabric in any fabric store.

The other items that will make your experience in Dinky Baby doll making a success are light weight interfacing - used for tracing the pattern. You can use the traced pattern over and over again and will last for years. This also preserves the paper pattern (many of which are printed on both sides).

A set of sculpting needles is essential-the 5 1/8 inch needles are the perfect size for sculpting the face and the body, the 2 1/2 inch needles are great for the fingers and toes and even for sewing on the yarn hair. Embroidery needles are something you probably have on hand, but are also needed to embroider the eyes.

The thread I personally use is called Dual Duty and the color I use is natural (unless you are making an ethnic Dinky Baby). This thread can be found in any fabric store and maybe even at Wal-Mart.

The stuffing is an important part of making a Dinky Baby. The body arms and legs can be stuffed with poly fil or anything similar. The head, since it is the most important part of the doll, should be firmly stuffed. I like using a denser type of stuffing for the head, anything with bamboo in it will work, two other great ones to use are Mountain Mist(c) or Morning Glory(c). These stay put and do not shift and provide a firm feel so the head will hold it's shape.

Just use inexpensive embroidery floss for the eyes and mouth. Silk is not good.

Those are the essentials other then the normal things you already have on hand such as scissors, sewing machine and the usual sewing supplies.

If you have the above items and a Dinky Baby pattern and the other items called for on that pattern you should have all you need to make a Dinky Baby. Good luck and keep making those Dinky Babies.

Vicki-

The Dinky Traveler in the Gold Coast, Queensland Australia

Hi from the sunny Gold Coast, Queensland Australia! It's funny, everyone here calls me "Dinky Di", that is an Australian nick name for a true Australian mate (friend).

Today Janet took me for a ride up to Mt. Tamborine just behind the Fabulous Gold Coast. We had a look at the rain forest and Janet took this photo of me with the city of Surfers Paradise and the beautiful blue Pacific Ocean in the background.

I am getting my things packed up now so that I can get on with the next part of my journey...I am having such fun!

Bye for now the Dinky Traveler International

The Dinky Traveler in Australia

Looks like a fun time was had in Australia with Michelle. This Dinky Traveler is getting into the spirit and fun.

New friends are made

A visit to the location for the movie Narnia Voyage of the Dawn Treader was a lot of fun

The Dinky Traveler in Surprise, AZ

It looks like spending time by the pool in her swimming suit was the best idea of this trip. Looks like this Dinky Traveler had a great time with Cheryl. Working in the garden can be an inspiration with all the beautiful colors of flowers, a perfect place to day dream.

Working or day dreaming?

Time spent with a great friend