Sunday, February 6, 2011

Pretty matryoshkas all in a row

A few weeks ago I saw this project on Christine's blog. I immediately fell in love and used it as my excuse to finally order the fabric. I spent a bit of time selecting my backing fabrics from my scraps--it was tougher than I thought because for as much as I have none of them were exact matches. But close enough was good enough for this.


I spent a cheery night cutting, stuffing, and sewing, and had a neat little assortment of five dolls (there are five different dolls on the fabric). Then, in typical Bethany fashion, I thought "Hmmm...now what?" I don't know any little girls to foist these dolls on, but I liked them and didn't want to give them away. I do this a lot--I get excited about something and make it, and then it hits me that I don't really know what I'm going to do with whatever it is. My answer lately has been to string it up and make a garland, and this time was no different. Well...maybe a little different... I raided this:


Then I took some embroidery thread and strung them all together, one on top of the other (instead of side by side).


Now it's hanging in my bedroom. I love it. The colors are just right, and it's no secret I love nesting dolls, and I got to use some buttons which I love to collect but rarely use. Here are a few close-ups:




I only used a few buttons because I didn't want it to look too cluttered. I banged in a few thumbtacks at the top and bottom (using a shoe like a good girl--proud of me, Dad?). But because the thread is a bit twisted it has a touch of the twirlies. A touch of blue tape behind the middle three dolls solves that problem:


I made these pretty much the same way Christine does on her blog, except after I sewed the outline I just carefully cut the seam allowance way down instead of clipping curves. I also sewed the bottom shut by machine instead of by hand. To sew them together, I used a running stitch up the center of the back of the doll:


I had bought a yard of this fabric, which means I have a lot of potential dolls left. So I was thinking of appliqueing them onto squares and making a quilt. I'm thinking that might be the best use of the fabric because otherwise it might be a little too much to use in a bag or something else--it would be very busy and repetitive...we'll see. I have a lot of quilting ideas going in my head right now. The other one involves my second favorite--gnomes. Maybe one day these ideas will come out through my fingertips :)

Have a happy Monday!

UPDATE: LOL....my sister says to me at dinner "Are we finished with this obsession yet? I don't feel like reading any more about it." Hahaha! Honesty like that is funny.

29 comments:

  1. If you make the bottom fat instead of flat, you have a potential paper weight. These dolls look like they're your bodyguards, don't they?

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  2. Those are very sweet and really nicely done, plus I like the colours, great! Your house must be absolutely packed with all your handmade creations...? Have a lovely week, Love from London xo

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  3. This is beautiful. I love the addition of the buttons to the garland and the color choices are lovely.

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  4. I love this! I have some Matroyshka fabric, but I think the dolls are too small... And hey, when you're being creative, you don't need to have a reason to make something, or even a use for it!

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  5. The dolls are beautiful and look so bright and cheerful against the pristine white door. I think the leftovers would make a lovely quilt. Great job!

    Sherry @ A Happy Valentine

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  6. I love these! I'm adding this to my "to do" list!!

    Thanks!

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  7. How sweet! I always love those dolls and I know all too well about buying stuff then realizing I have no use for it. That garland wouldn't have been as nice hanging the traditional way, and I love how the buttons are an unexpected punch of color.

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  8. These are super cute, I love the buttons you used between them!

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  9. This is just too cute for words!!
    Lovely, just lovely!
    Ann
    (You are so talented!)

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  10. Your dolls are darling! I'm a new follower from Too Cute Tuesday. Hope you can visit at http://www.lorihairston.blogspot.com

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  11. Wouldn't've know what to do with that fabric. Now I do! I love your garland and that you've hung it vertically. Found you at TCB.

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  12. Really cute and I totally want that fabric now too! Would love for you to link this up to my Craftastic party:)

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  13. Oh! How cool is that? Well done!

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  14. sew sweet! love that you used buttons to link them together like that. adorable!

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  15. CUTE! What a sweet way to use your printed fabric. They'd be perfect in a little girl's room.

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  16. Oh I love these!!! Please come link them to the party here: http://www.bubblynaturecreations.com/2011/02/project-party-weekend-heart-shaped-ice.html

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  17. THIS IS ADORABLE!!! I love nesting dolls too! It reminds me of the little necklace I have in my etsy shop. Not trying to sell you anything, but come check it out if you want :)
    www.oohlalaco.etsy.com
    Thanks for sharing this "garland," I really love it!
    (just popping over from TT&J)

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  18. ...and I'm your newest follower, I love your blog!

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  19. your dolls look great on your door-what a good idea-love how you added the buttons-just the right touch!

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  20. I love these! Soooo cute :) Thanks for posting!

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  21. so cute! I have always loved these! Thanks for linking up!

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  22. how cute is this? I am loving that you made these with fabric. I had no idea that you could even buy fabric with these dolls on them. Thanks for the inspiration! Can't wait to check out the rest of your blog!

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  23. I LOVE these!!! You've done such a great job - i'm in the process of setting up my daughter's toddler bedroom and was hoping to use Babushka's as a feature! Thanks for sharing!

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  24. LOVE this fabric!!! Great job!!

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  25. Thanks for linking these up to Fantastic Friday. You know I love them!

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  26. So cute, what a great idea. I'm going to have to steal the idea for my friends with babies! Thank you for sharing. xx

    www.elegantpaws.blogspot.com/

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