Doll Kits

The first batch of doll kits are almost ready to be listed in my shop... lots of caps have been made, heads have been rolled, bodies have been cut.  I will be offering the kits a little differently this time compared to how they have been offered in the past.  There will be several listings to purchase to get the different parts. 

Thank you M.H. for the lovely photo... you did a wonderful job with your kit!

There will be a listing for the actual doll making kit which will include the pre-sewn body (2 choices for color), pre-made head, wool stuffing, and the complete instructions.  There will be listings for crochet caps for hair, one listing for each color available.  There will be listings for each base color of mohair available. 

There will be many listings for different art yarns for you to choose from.  That is going to take me a little while to get together... I have over 20 yarns I would like to make available to you, so there is lots to photograph.  I plan on having weights listed for the yarns as that is usually how I put a doll together.  Different thicknesses of yarns will have different weights and yardage. 

For the kits, I recommend you get one mohair and at least one art yarn, this will make sense after you get your kit and look over the instructions.  You want your yarn total weight to be about 4 or 5 ounces.  There will be extra yarns, but it has been my experience that extra yarn is always a good thing.  Sometimes it is nice to add a little more over time, and sometimes your little one might give dolly a haircut and you may need to do a bit of repairs. 

The kit instructions are getting a bit of an overhaul, CORFEE style!  I am super excited about this.  I know Stephanie will do a fabulous job and I can't wait to share a peek at the final results with you all.  You can see more of Stephanie's artwork at her Etsy shop.  She is the one who created my fabulous dolly art that I love so much.

Lastly, I realized this morning I am getting awfully close to 2000 likes on my fan page!  If you haven't already liked Apple Tree House on Facebook, please take a moment and do so.  When I reach 2000 likes, I will offer a special doll making kit for $1... think rainbows....

That's all for now!

xo Debra

Ssssshhhhh.....

Ssshhhh.... I have a secret....

I am offering 15% off of Harmony for my blog readers until the end of the year.  To redeem this offer, simply go to the Etsy shop and enter the coupon code "Secret"!

I want this special girl to find her forever home :)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88681700/harmony-12-inch-apple-tree-house-doll

I will have some custom doll listings available in my Bigcartel Shop on Tuesday.  Just a few at first, and hopefully more later.  I am also working hard gathering materials for the 10 inch doll making kits and hope to have those available after the beginning of the year.  More on that later.

Have a wonderful Monday!

xoxo Debra

Big Plans

It is hard to believe that another year is coming to a close.  This is my second winter selling my Waldorf styled and inspired dolls, and boy has time flown by!  I just finished up the last 2 custom dolls for the year, both boys:

As I was preparing to send them off, it got me thinking.   I had forgotten how much fun custom dolls could be.  The end of the year seems to be a great time for reflection :)  I think it is high time to start taking some more custom orders.  There will be just a few spots at first, but as I get back into the swing of it there will be more.   There are currently 2 skin tones I have to chose from (peach and mocha - I have found these 2 colors clean up nicely from the smudges that happen during play) and you will be able to chose 8 or 12 inch. 

Harmony, in the shop now http://www.appletreehouse.etsy.com

That also got me thinking about my 10 inch doll making kits.  I really miss getting the excited notes and photos of mamas making dolls for their kids.  I am going to spend some time the next couple weeks getting supplies together and there will be kits in January in my Bigcartel shop.  I will put supplies in listed as  "Coming Soon" until I have everything together.  This time, kits will be offered a little differently.  There will be a listing for a kit with your choice of skin colors (based on what I have on hand).  The kit will include the pre-sewn body, head, thread to match, and instructions.  Then there will be separate listings for crochet caps and yarns for hair.  This will benefit us all... I will have choices available and you will be able to see and plan for yourself without trying to convo back and forth and not really knowing what you will get until it arrives.  I am still working out all the kinks, but that is the plan for now. 

"My mama made her just for me!"

Finally, I want to make more of my 15 inch baby dolls.  I do love this doll so much.  She has been wonderful company on my shelf as I set up the new house.  This size will eventually be offered as a custom doll option after I get a few more made as ready to go home dolls.  And there will be ready to go home dolls, just maybe not quite as many as you have been used to seeing, at least not in the beginning of the year. 

So, those are my big plans for 2012... I think I will be very busy :)

I hope wherever you are and whatever you do
That someone special can spend time with you!

xoxo Debra

Upload 12/14/11

The last shop upload for the year will be today, 12/14/11 at 10 pm EST in my Etsy shop.  There is a link on the right side bar.

Here's some pics of the 2 girls I just finished, both wearing their Melamoose Co. outfits.

First up, we have Harmony.  She is 12 inches, has mocha skin, grey eyes, and some really amazing hand spun yarn in her hair.  It has sparkles and some of the original curly lamb locks in it!  It is predominately blue and silver, but there are some purpl-y and darker bits as well.   I have been dying to use this yarn for the longest time.  When I put the face on this little girl, I knew right away she was the one to have it. 

She will be $175 plus shipping.



This is Addie.  Addie was named for a very special little girl that believes in doing random acts of kindness.  She is also the daughter of the creator of Paint The Moon Photography  http://paintthemoon.net/  .  I use a lot of Annie's PSE actions to process my photos.  I was so moved by her story of Addie trying to give balloons away and though of her while I was making this sweet little gal.  Addie has over 500 strands of yarn in her super soft head of hair.  Much of it is a hand spun yarn. 

She will be $160 plus shipping.



Speaking of shipping, I normally use USPS Priority Mail.  This time of year, the timing can be tricky.  If you need a guaranteed delivery date, please convo me immediately at the time of purchase and I will send you an invoice for either Fedex or UPS shipping which will be about $35 for shipping within the U.S.  For other countries, please contact me before you purchase to make sure it is feasible. 

Thanks for all of your support this year, I can't wait to share what I am working on for next year!

xoxo Debra

A December to Remember

I know, real original.  It has been that kind of month!  With the move, renovation, homeschool, and day job my life has been hectic to say the least.  I am working on a couple more dolls to upload either Wednesday 12/14 or Thursday 12/15 depending on how long it takes me to get them done.  I will post more pics here as the girls are completed.  One will be peachy and one mocha.  One will have pink hair :)

I built that fire myself.   No gas starter, the old fashioned way.  Living in the woods is agreeing with me lol

Here's something else that has taken a lot of time and patience... my home schooler decided she wanted to try her hand at quilting.  The front is done, time for a break before we bind it.  It is a great way to teach math and geometry :)

Also, when you get a chance, pop over and see what adventures we are having with Lunette, the travelling Moonchild Doll.  She is such a special little thing and I will be sad to see her go, but happy that she is going to another friend for more adventures.

http://travelswithlunette.blogspot.com/2011/12/anna-ruby.html

xoxo Debra

Upload 11/11/11

I made 2 special little Apple Dumpling dolls this week.... so cute and tiny.  The upload will be today, 11/11/11 in my Etsy shop at 4:07 pm EST (sorry for taking the 11 thing so far, but I love the symmetry in the numbers lol)  Each doll is $88 US plus shipping and handling.  They will probably be the last of this size for the year. 

This is Margaret... she has peachy skin and deep blue eyes.  I dyed her curly boucle hair myself, with some help and encouragement from a few of my doll making friends.  Margaret is a bit shy but she is begging to be picked up and hugged.  She is wearing a sweet halter dress and bloomers made especially for her by The Melamoose Co.   http://www.themelamooseco.etsy.com

This is Harlow Applestocking.  My girls decided all dolls with braids are Applestockings :)  She is the first Dumpling I have done with almond shaped eyes.  Her hair is the softest fuzzy black mohair and will do best if kept in braids or buns.  Harlow Applestocking is really good at listening to secrets and she is always ready to keep you company with her sweet little smile.  She too is wearing an outfit by The Melamoose Co.   https://www.facebook.com/#!/themelamooseco

And here is a nakey pic of both dolls together on my kitchen counter :)

I am toying with the idea of doing just one more upload towards the end of November with more dolls instead of doing a couple with just 2 dolls each.  My hope is that this will give folks a chance to select the doll that is right for their family.  There will be 12 inch dolls and hopefully some 15 inch babies if I can get the pattern exactly the way I want it.   I will post more about this as we get closer to the date, as well as some preview pics along the way. 

Hope today is a good one, and thank you for supporting my mama made business :)

xoxo Debra

Lunette

I am not sure how many of you are following Lunette, the Travelling Moonchild Doll, but her journey has brought her to the Apple Tree House!  I just contributed my 1st blog post:

http://travelswithlunette.blogspot.com/2011/11/visit-to-apple-tree-house.html

Please take a moment and read all about this amazing little doll.  You will get to know some fabulous doll makers in the process and get a peek at my doll collection :)

xoxo Debra

P.S.  Upload tomorrow 11/11/11 at 4:07 pm EST, there will be a new post with preview pics tomorrow a few hours before the upload!