What happened to the first half of September?

How did this happen?  We are almost 1/2 way thru the month, and I haven't posted even once?!?!
I guess I must have been busy.... :o)

Here's a pic of the last batch of girls....

Lucy is going to live in NY with Lea and Daisy

Mary Ellen is going to live in MI with Melissa and Astrid

Susanna ( I can't announce where she is going to live yet!)

For this week, the first things I will be finishing up are Vira's custom (an adorable brown eyed girl) and the Vashti doll inspired by the character in one of my favorite kids books, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds in celebration of International Dot Day.  If you haven't ever read this book, I highly recommend it, the message is so powerful and good for people of all ages!  The custom dolls for Mary and Amy are also nearing completion... it would be so hard to part with these cuties if i wasn't sure that they will be oh so loved in their new homes.   I will post pics as the dolls are done.

In honor of International Dot Day (see the Facebook page for more details) and the spirit of creating something,   I will make 3 more 10 inch doll making kits available on Wednesday, September 15th at 10 pm EST.  Kits require some sewing expertise and even more patience.   Please have an idea of what you want for skin, hair, and eye colors so I can get the kit together and shipped ASAP... I will send you a convo shortly after purchase to discuss details.  I will be placing my last yarn orders this week!

Now, on to a subject lots of you have been asking about...  customs!  I will reopen a few more slots for   10-11 inch custom dolls on Thursday, September 16th.  Since the last upload went so nicely, I think I will try something a little different for custom doll slots this time... e-mail me at appletreehouse@att.net

 between 4pm  and 8 pm EST with the following info:

1. 
   
   Your Name
2. 
   
   Your Etsy Name
3. 
   
   The skin tone you would like (light, medium, or dark)
4. 
   
   The base hair color (blonde, light brown, dark brown, red, black)
5. 
   
   All curly, no curly, or curly bits (Apple Tree house Style)
6. 
   
   Eye Color
7. 
   
   Favorite Colors so I know what colored bits to put in the hair and what to look at for clothing
8. 
   
   If there is anything you absolutely MUST HAVE or  DO NOT LIKE

I will not be able to make any changes, changes take a lot more time than you would think and take me away from doll making, so think it over before you send your e-mail! 

At 8pm EST on Thursday, I will print out all the e-mails then randomly choose some to make.  Reserved Custom Listings will be set up in the shop that evening with a $40 deposit (the balance will be due on completion, custom dolls will be $115-$135)  The dolls will be completed by November 15th. 

You will have 24 hours to pay for your Reserved Custom listing...if it goes over 24 hours, your spot will be offered to someone else. 

I would also like to say Welcome and give a very special Thank You to Kristina...

She is the new page moderator on my Facebook page!  Many of you have greatly enjoyed the pics and fun things that Kristina has posted about Tatiana, now everyone can enjoy her adventures. 

Tatiana loves sparkly things...

Have a great day!  XOXO Debra

Upload 8/27

Sorry for the last minute notice....but I am planning an upload for
Friday, August 27th  at 8  p.m. EST.  There will be 5 Mooshy Babies and hopefully a little brown eyed red head.

Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway!  You can enter one time each day...click on the bag pic on the right to be taken to the right spot to enter.

Thanks for stopping by!  XOXO Debra

Giveaway!

It is time for a giveaway! Since we just started back at school here last week, school bags have been a big topic here.  So, here is the prize:

It is a super special one of a kind hand knit bag from Tia at http://www.bittybags.etsy.com/

It was made as a full size bag for the 10-11 inch dolls, but will work well as a smaller bag for bigger dolls as well.  I just love the apple she put on it :o)

To enter the giveaway, simply be a Fan on Facebook, follow the blog, & leave a comment here...each person can enter one time per day.  The winner will be drawn randomly on September 1st at 2 p.m. EST.

Also, thanks for an amazing upload on Wednesday...all three dolls (shown below) sold in under 30 seconds.  As a doll maker, it is truly overwhelming to see my dolls so loved by so many people.                                    If you missed out, please do not despair...I am always working on another batch, and the uploads are announced here first. 

FYI...there will be a couple more doll kits available Tuesday, August 24th at 8 p.m. EST.

XOXO Debra

Upload Wednesday, August 18th

Ok, you heard it here first!  The next upload will be Wednesday, August 18th at 10 a.m. EST...I know that is a little earlier than most uploads, but I am hoping the west coast mamas will get a chance before their day gets too crazy.  Here is a peek at a dark skinned beauty that I just finished....

There will also be a light tan skinned doll with blue eyes and rainbow hair and a medium tan skinned doll with black, purple and pink hair....

XOXO Debra

Next Upload

Just a quick note...there will be an upload next week, either Wednesday or Thursday depending on when I finish this batch.  There will be a dark skinned gal with natural colored hair, an asian beauty with pink and purple dreds, and a rainbow haired lovely that I am having a hard time parting with!  I will announce the exact date and time this weekend.

I am also planning another giveaway!  It is a Bitty Bag in honor of school starting here.  Tia of Bitty Bags made the most beautiful little sack with an Apple on it...I will announce the details in the next post.

XOXO Debra

Zoe

Here is the doll I am entering into the Li'l Blue Boo / Dharma Trading Ugly Upcycle Challenge!

http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/2010/05/lil-blue-boo-dharma-trading-ugly-knit.html
 
You might remember her a little differently from an earlier post...she had lighter eyes and lips and was called Hope.  Well, not too long after that post, another doll maker decided to name a dark skinned doll she made Hope.   I was not 100% satisfied with her face, so I decided to re-do it and give her a new name to go with her new expression, and hopefully some good new energy.  I am thrilled with the way she turned out!  My family thinks she looks like a dark version of Li'l Sally, which really made me chuckle as I spent a lot of time looking at Li'l Blue Boo's photos when I was piecing the dress.  I am also sure you have all noticed the dress, and yes, that is my special doll portrait from Stephanie Corfee http://www.stephaniecorfee.etsy.com/ printed on the front of it!  I am not licensed to sell Li'l Blue boo doll dresses so you will be seeing this design show up on doll t-shirts at first, and maybe some kid sized stuff too, along with my slogan "individuality is healthy" :)  More details soon!  Please take a second and stop by the Facebook Fan Page and vote on your favorite picture of Zoe...the winning pic will be submitted to the challenge.
 
Thanks!  XOXO Debra

Summer is over here...almost!

It is so very, very hot here, but summer must be almost over.  School started here yesterday...can you believe it?  I have mixed feelings about this.  It is nice to have time to sew (and take care of my other "real" job) without interruptions, but I have to admit that I miss my girls!  I am so very proud of them, they are growing up so very fast and are such nice young ladies, so kind and confident.  Now I am tearing up again!

The last few weeks have been full of neat things.  I have to say that my favorite was a collaboration with Stephanie Corfee.  I heard about Stephanie first on Li'l Blue Boo's fan page.  I loved the whole idea of Stephanie's "When I Grow Up" print, the idea that kids can be encouraged to imagine.  I contacted Stephanie and asked her about a custom print.  I wanted a picture of a doll with my new trademark "Individuality is Healthy".  Stephanie looked thru my album at pics of the dolls I have made and this is what she came up with:

Stephanie did such a fantastic job!  It came out better than I could have imagined.  I was very surprised when Stephanie asked about a doll for herself...she wanted one that evoked her personality without being a total lookalike.  We decided to use her fabulous "Baby Bohemia" print as the inspiration for her doll's hair.  I contacted Syrendell on Etsy about having a custom yarn done in the correct colors, and this is what happened:

Don't you just love her outfit?  Li'l Blue Boo was so very kind to send a super special OOAK dress with Stephanie's artwork on it for the doll to wear.  We thought it would be nice for Stephanie to have something as she doesn't have a little girl to dress (yet!).  When you get a second, stop by Stephanie's Etsy shop

http://www.stephaniecorfee.Etsy.com

and look at her wonderful artwork...I have several things hanging around my house now :)

I have gotten a lot of enquiries about custom doll orders lately...I am still working on the last batch, so as soon as I have an idea of when they will be finishing up I will re-open custom orders for fall.  I am thinking of opening a bigger number and promising delivery by the end of November, but it will all depend on my sewing help and the loads these mamas  are able to handle.

Also, there will be a giveaway soon!  I am hammering out the final details....

XOXO Debra