I'm on FaceBook

Oh my mercy, I did it, I figured out the beginnings of FaceBook- HA!! I have a page set up for Lightning Bugz dolls- here's the actual url: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-US-West/Lightning-Bugz/390194831969?v=wall For some reason, it is easier for me to post there. I will still post on the blog, but sneak peeks and custom photos will go up there. I hope you will come on over and become a "fan"- we're getting close to me doing a giveaway doll :)! Working on customs this week and next and then hopefully a couple of ready to go dolls before April too :) Only 2 more April slots- hurry and grab it before they're full :)

Spring's in the Shop (and working on customs)

Here she is... Miss Spring! I love her to pieces. She has "yellow" hair with mostly pink highlights- love love love her! She's ready for sale in my shop, and ya can't beat the darling strawberry shirt :) Too sweet! I called her Spring because I am so ready for it to arrive, and she personifies all I love about the season, the happiness, the warmth, and the smile!


I've also been really busy on customs lately... Here's two that are done. Candy and Lolli. I am so thrilled with how they both turned out. They have on "cover-ups" because they get to be doll clothes models. They had to have something warm to go home in though :). So the swimsuit or towel cover-up was born! They just ooze sunshine to me :) Perfect for Spring fever people like me...

Candy

Lolli

Have a great one everybody- I'll touch base again soon! Working on lots more customs for the next week or two! Then hopefully more ready to go dolls before my April customs begin, we'll see how it goes :) May every moment be filled with Lightning Bugz :)

A Make Way For More Dolls SALE!!

All the stuffed animals in my shop, all originals and one of a kinds, have been marked down to $15 OR LESS!! Hurry on in to see if there's one you "have to" have :)

Holy Cow Catchup!!

Oops, as you can see, I get making dolls and the blog goes to the bottom of the list :) Here's the latest, all of my ready to go dolls, except one, are sold. WOWSERS! My custom fairy shipped out today- you should see her, just divine! Pop over to flickr to see the Ladybug Fairy Ellie :)! And I now have all of my March customs slots full, well almost, I have one left- if you hurry you can grab it :) Then we start April openings :). I want to be able to make some ready to go dolls too, so I am trying to weigh the time I have for part customs and part ready to go. If you are interested in a custom, this is what I need:

eye color

hair color, length, style

hair mixin color, if any

skin color

So easy peasy :) The less info you give me the more fun I have, and I betcha the cuter the doll turns out! Somehow they just have a way of getting their own personality! A favorite color or something that simple and we're off :)! So there you have it. I got more dolls cut out today- now off to sew. Tata everyone- have a day filled with sunshine and Lightning Bugz!

Close...

Getting really close on 4 dollies (and a custom)! Ready for heads- working on those today :) I am so anxious to get these beauties listedin the next few days- I was hoping for tomorrow, but with the holiday yesterday (and our dejunk party :)) it might be Thursday. There will be one fair skin, one light tan, and two brown. I have crazy funky fun hair planned- so excited to see them come together! I have one outfit ready, and three others to work on. Will be a busy day to get my list done- I'm off! I'll post Flickr photos as I get each one ready :) Have an awesome day :) - and may it be filled with Lightning Bugz!!

Busy, Busy, BUSY!!

Sorry that I haven't gotten more dolls in the shop, ready to go, yet! I have been so busy, and am working soooo hard to get everything done. I am currently working on 4 custom Waldorf dolls, a custom doll outfit, and a custom doll blanket and pillow set. So once I get these all finished, there WILL be some dolls in the shop :) I am just giddy about these dolls- it is amazing to watch their personality come as I make them. It makes me smile, and giggle too! The face and hair is my favorite part- it all comes together and I can sit back and think of the child that will love it so much! So, there's the latest, just busy here! I am shooting for mid next week to have some ready mades in the shop (unless I get more custom orders before then)! Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping to need less sleep- HA! Have a terrific day and may it be filled with Lightning Bugz :)

Sweet Anna

Well, I thought I would have this little girl in my shop tomorrow, Monday the 8th. But she got sold to a visitor today that came by the house. Along with another that I have yet to make. I just had to put up some photos, 'cause I LOVE carrot top red heads and I think she turned out so stinking cute :)!!! What a sweetie!!

My Doll Giveaway "DEAL"

Ok, here it is. I've been wanting to give away a doll, but I gotta have something to make me work toward it. This is what I have created... The day I sell my 10th Waldorf inspired doll in my Etsy shop, I will open my very first doll giveaway on my blog!!! Exciting, isn't it?!? Well, now this is what I need you to do so you can get closer to winning that gorgeous doll. Tell everyone you know about Lightning Bugz's Waldorf dolls so that the first 10 are snatched up super duper quick (and make sure to grab one for your own little ones or yourself too), and then the giveaway can begin!! I can feel it coming...

In the SHOP- Miss Summer!!

When I think of summer, I think of fresh, juicy strawberries and I LOVE aqua, red, and pink. They make me smile. So between the fruit and the colors, Miss Summer was born :)! I love her personality and her smile! She is the first doll to go in my Etsy shop- I am so excited for her to find her forever home :)! I can picture her making a little child's day as they open her box :)!! I get warm fuzzies all inside just getting everything ready to go... So without further ado, here's Miss Summer...

VOILA!!

Here's Marissa!! I LOVE her- I am so excited to make another to start selling to others who will love them as much as me :). This one if for my little one, and she's totally "her"! Hmmmm...What color hair next? Sew fun!!

Ready for HAIR!!!!

I got the "wig" all crocheted yesterday and was dying to put the hair on, but had a meeting to go to last night with dh. I dreamed all night long of attaching hair and how BEAUTIFUL it would be!! I can hardly wait! Got the arms attached and she's all ready to go- Also thought of a name- Marissa! Gonna get going on the GORRR-GEOUSSS hair right now- Toodles!

WoooHooo Supplies

The rest of my supplies got here on Thursday! UPS had an oops and botched getting it here for Wed. I was dying to get it and get going! But they redeemed themselves and found a way to deliver it on Thurs! Wooo Hoooo! Material, needles, stockinet, and wool- lovely things! So I got busy really quick!

I first made "dummy" dolls to tweak the size of arms and legs and head. I made 3 of these beauties before I finally hit what I wanted. My kids thought they were a little weird with only 1 arm and leg, but they were a whole lot faster :)

Then I worked like crazy and got the whole body (besides the arms) done and attached. Just need more thread to attach the arms. I LOVE the way the face turned out :) What a cutie!! It was so late when I got done, but I wasn't even tired! Too excited!!

Leg Dilema

There are two leg options I have been debating between. (Wouldn't it be nice to be able to pick our legs? Just a side note that made me smile- I'd love the chance, but I am grateful for the legs I have and that they get me around.) The one on the left is the "regular" leg for a Waldorf doll, but I just don't think I like it. First off, the seams runs right down the front. Second, the shape is just not as pleasant to me. The second is obviously my favorite, but also a lot trickier. There is no set pattern, it is just sew it as you feel the right spot. So getting two legs exactly the same would be very impossible. And it takes a lot longer, but darn it, it's the one I like. The seam runs down the side- much more "human" looking to me. So I guess I gotta start practicing to get the legs as close to exactly the same each time as possible :) So I think the one on the right WINS! We'll see once the doll starts being pieced together! (My supplies come tomorrow, then I have to go grab thread to match, and I'm on my way!! YAY!)

Come visit me in the Giveaway!!

I'm in a giveaway- follow along each day from the 25th to the 29th and see what goodies there are. You have a few days after each post to enter! Enjoy

Eye Candy - yummy yummy!

This is what I went searching for the past two days- hair! Fun and funky, dreads and all :). And I have two more awesome skeins coming from Etsy sellers- both awesome hand-dyed mixtures, dread style! I can hardly wait to get my other supplies here so I can attach the hair to a body - I get giddy thinking about how cute they will turn out :)! I got hair for the brown and blonde colorways- of course I need red, copper, auburn, black, toehead blonde, and a million other colors. But it would take a million dollors- or at least a thousand- to buy all the ones I wanted :). I have to start somewhere- and Little Miss has brown, and the boys have blonde, so there ya go! It was so fun getting wools, alpacha, silk, mohair, boucles, organic cottons, and every amazing kind. Such a difference from the big box store's yarn- no acrylic or synthetic here (the price tags can prove that- HA!). They are so fun to look at and think of all the fun personalities I can create with these beauties. Now I have to be patient and wait for the other stuff to arrive!

I did, however, crochet a "shawl" for the dolls. I just am guessing on the measurements though- hope it's not way too off because it's aqua and darn cute- great big button closure and all! So excited to try it on once I have a body constructed :). Now on to figuring out what kind of clothes I want to sew- dresses, tops and pants, hmmmm... The decisions go on and on. But they are fun, so it's all good :). Let me know what hair colors you'd like to see on dolls- they can be normal or crazy fun colors or both (I'd love specifics) :)...

My dream...

I have always loved dolls- any and everything associated with them! Less than a year ago, I started teaching myself to sew. I could do straight lines, no prob, but curvy lines scared me to death (and interfacing still scares me :))! But I practiced more and more and started getting the hang of it! I wanted to make things for children so started with lovey security blankets and toys. That didn't feel right, so I began experimenting. I found some easy doll patterns and began designing my own after a while. Then I branched out to include animals. Then accessories, my favorite being skirts and blanket and pillow sets. That's where I am right now. It feels more "right", but it feel like I need a little something more...

Then I got hit with the Waldorf doll craze :)! HA! It's the truth though- those dolls become sooooo addicting :). I remember my mom making me a doll similar to Waldorf when I was young, and how I loved it! I knew I had found "IT"- the something I was looking for! I recently feel in love with Bamboletta and also found a lovely doll maker, Janel, on Etsy who I purchased a doll from (it is smaller than Bamboletta's) since Little Miss is still small and it would fit her better. She gave me some wonderful insight and I have begun the journey to make and create my own pattern and Waldorf dolls.

I have purchased most of the supplies- just waiting for them to arrive! I can hardly stand the wait :). Today I am going to the biggest yarn shop in the West to see what kind of yarn I can find. That's the thing with me - I gotta have awesome, fun, funky yarn- not just drab, normal stuff. Like dh said, "The hair is the crowning part of the doll." So it's gotta be good :)! I am giddy to see what they have. I have tons on my Etsy wish list, but I want to see what I have local first- and I don't have to wait on it while it's being shipped ;). That's the best part- instant gratification. Wanna feel it with my hands :).

So then on to a doll. My dream is to have my dolls be as cute as Bamboletta's- cause they are just absolutely darling. They will be different, 'cause they will be mine. But I want people to go "Ooouuuuu- I gotta have one!" when they see mine too! So that's where my dream is--- now to work like crazy to make it a reality. Along the way, I'll post about dolls, my journey, and life in general. Enjoy the ride- I know I will, and may each of your days be filled with Lightning Bugz!