Leah's Experimenting with Doll Making

Leah with her new purse made by Terry Mann Scott

Terry, Leah loves the little purse you made for her. Her friends at school will be envious. Leah tends to be somewhat of a trend setter at her school. She filled it up and began using it immediately.I think she wants to try her hand at purse making after seeing your pattern and the way you matched the fabrics.She loved the idea of using the ribbon for the strap. I have some pretty ribbon which I ordered when I was making the pin cushions. Possibly she could use some of that in her projects. I have lots of fabric to choose from, but the bright and colorful pieces, usually catch her eye, quickly.

I am so glad she is finally taking interest in craft making for real.I have always tried to get her involved and she would, because I insisted, but now I think she really wants to make things on her own.We are working with dolls for now, and she is enjoying that.I would love to help her make a book like mine,someday. I know she will really enjoy that, once she sees her actual writings in print.

For now, she is interested in doll making. The idea came to her when she and her brother,John, both bought a coke in the glass bottles. She decided she wanted to save the bottles for something,not really sure just what,but then she decided on using them to make coke bottle dolls.I tried to persuade her not to limit herself to glass bottles, but to branch out by using various materials for the main part of the body,which would,for the most part, be covered with fabric,etc., anyway.I made a little doll of sorts to show her what I meant.We are both beginners, so hopefully, we will improve, if we continue on with this little project for awhile,but knowing how we both operate, this too, most likely, will pass.

my try at showing her other options

For this doll, I used the top half of a plastic cola bottle for the base of the skirt.Then I glued one of Pop's eye drop bottles on to the top of the base.Then a wooden ball for the head. I wrapped the entire doll frame with a pretty yarn, Fabric would have been nice,too. The arms are made from a pipe cleaner wrapped in the same yarn.I debated on whether to make her some hands, and I may yet.The hair is made of crochet thread. I painted the face with flesh colored paint.I'm doing a bit of research on painting pretty doll eyes.Nothing fancy, but I wanted her to see the possibilities.

Leah's first 2 tries at doll making.She is so proud of them.

These are her first two dolls. I'm sure if she had the materials at home she would be making many others, but for now, she only works on her doll making when she visits Meemaw and Poppy.