Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Wool Tunic

Here is Tamarita looking surprisingly like a lady in a simple every-day wool tunic and shift. It's deep into winter so she wears thick leggings, heavy undergarments, and a long sleeved shift finished off with the wool tunic laced up the front. Her shoes are heavy clogs with a thick sole to keep melted snow out.

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I've been thinking for a while of updating the Tamarita doll. I would keep the same pose (so I don't have to redraw all the dresses), but her face and hair keeps bothering me for some reason... This project will probably go on the back burner, but sometime in the next six months she may get a complete make-over!

Monday, September 27, 2010

Here is Amelia sporting a simple wrap dress with rose and sash. Again, there are no shoes!

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I've finished compiling a full PDF of Mandie. You can find that on the new "Print the Dolls" link above, or click: Mandie Shaw.

Friday, September 24, 2010

I Put Your Picture Away

Here is Winifred with another song-inspired dress. Have any of you heard the depressing "I Put Your Picture Away" sung by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow? Even though the lyrics are so sad I can never switch the station when it comes on. Something about the song makes me like it (my husband says I like depressing things, and maybe that's true). So this is a dress sketched while listening to that lovely, depressing melody.


The dress is a strapless silk mermaid-style skirt. The bodice falls sleekly to an off-center point at mid-thigh, below which the skirt flares into pleats. A loosely draped knit bolero completes the outfit.

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Margaret comes to Milton

Margaret and her family have travelled from lovely Helston, in southern England to the cold and industrial northern town of Milton. She goes with her father to help secure an apartment that will do for their small family and one servant. Even if they are in reduced circumstances the Hales are very concerned about their class. Milton is a place where classes have almost been done away with. Instead of upper, middle or lowers class you are Master or Hand. Hard work gets you ahead, laziness could buy you death. It is a hard world for Margaret to enter, but she tries her best.

Here she is dressed in an old silk visiting gown with buttons down the bodice, a straw bonnet, and a large india shawl. 
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Introducing...

These two are the newest addition to Modern Mondays!
Say hello to Silvia (on the left) and Leslie (right). Both are seniors in High School. They have been friends for practically forever (okay, they met in 7th grade). Silvia is hoping to go into graphics design while Leslie is applying to every art school she can find. Keep watching for these two to show up on Mondays!
(I have shoes sketched for them... I promise! They will soon be shod!)

Tea Time

Here is a simple day dress for Cora. She has plenty of gorgeous ballgowns, but for everyday uses she needs a basic gown that, while asthetically pleasing, will be practical. It has a loose fitting bodice, high neck, 3/4 length sleeves. A wide laced belt pulls the waistline in according to fashion. The hem is elegantly trimmed with a large swath of lace.

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Just for fun, here is an excerpt of Cora's story:

Several days later Cora returned to her room after the noon meal. A letter addressed to her was set upon her pillow.
“Gillian?” She called, “Has a messenger been by?”
“I don’t think so.” Replied the maid from the adjoining room. “I haven’t heard his knock, at least.” She entered the bedroom, “I think I’ll lay down for a bit if you don’t need me, Cora.”
“That’s fine.” Cora said absentmindedly, she picked up the letter. Her name was written in fine cursive on the front, but there was no indication of the sender. The wax seal was impressed a blank circle. Cora carefully pulled the wax from the paper and unfolded the missive.
My dear Cora, (it read)
I learned of your new appointment with great misgivings. There are things happening in the palace that are beyond the understanding of either of us. I must meet with you so I may speak candidly! I will wait on the eastern ridge; please come as soon as you can.
Your brother, Daenar
Cora re-read the letter. How had he gotten it on her bed? Had he been in the room? Her heart beat quickly at the thought of her brother going to such dangerous extremes.
Cora grabbed a thick cloak from her wardrobe and ran downstairs.
Lord Viharet was in the hallway, shaking rain off his hair. It dripped into muddy puddles on the wood plank flooring. “Going somewhere, Lady Cora?” He inquired.
“Oh, I- that is- I was, but- is it raining?” She fumbled.
“Quite the downpour.” He assured.
Cora walked into the east parlor and stared out the window. Sure enough the rain came from heaven as though the sky had been torn and all the waters above were let loose.
Lord Viharet sneezed behind her. “May I call a maid for tea?”
“Oh! I beg your pardon. I am being inhospitable. Let me take your cloak; tea will be along shortly.” Cora gathered his wet over-clothes and hung them in the hall with her own dry cape.
A few minutes later she re-entered the parlor with a tea tray.
Lord Viharet glanced up in surprise. He rose and took the tray from her. “Allow me, my lady. Is there no servant to do this for you?”
“Gillian is napping, Cook is visiting family, and the maids are busy cleaning elsewhere.” Cora replied with a sunny smile. “But I am used to serving; it is more comfortable for me to serve than to be served. Would you like milk or sugar in your tea?”
“Both. I keep forgetting your prior employment. You have assimilated into a lady of means so well I must remind myself that I have hired you to play the role.” Lord Viharet graciously accepted a teacup and saucer from her.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Cleaning Lady

Here's Amelia, we haven't seen her in a while. Today she is busy cleaning. She's dressed in uber comfortable jog pants, cotton Tshirt, and an apron. A feather duster will help get rid of cobwebs.

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I'm trying something new with the PDF files. I'm not going to post individual outfits, but an entire series. So, instead of doing single dresses for Margaret Hale (for example), I will post the entire series in a PDF booklet once the series is completed. That way I can save room on my hardrive, and you don't have to print only one dress per page! If you prefer having separate PDF's instantly available with the post, let me know. I can always switch back to the old way!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

"Holy Water" from 2006

Here's a little treat for all of you. I was going through a bunch of my old drawings and founds this series that is made back in 2006. The doll's name is Winifred and each of her dresses is inspired by a different song. Most of them are country songs (which is mostly what I listen to). They were sketched in pencil so the quality isn't as clean-cut as my more recent works.

This particular dress was sketched while listening to "Holy Water" by Big n Rich. You can watch the music video of it at http://www.cmt.com/videos/big-rich/37570/holy-water.jhtml if you haven't heard the song before. It used to be one of my favorites. Here are some of the lyrics:

"And she says...take me away,
And take me farther
Surround me now,
And hold...hold...hold me like holy water holy water

She wants someone to call her angel,
Someone to put the light back in her eyes,
She's looking through the faces and unfamiliar places
She needs somone to hear her when she cries.

And she says...take me away
And take me farther
Surround me now,
And hold...hold...hold me like holy water."


For the dress:
Click for full-size image
Click for PDF to print


For the doll:
Click for PDF to print

Friday, September 17, 2010

Dinner with Lennox

  It is springtime and the roses are blooming, but a cool breeze still chills the air, reminding you that winter isn't very long gone. Thus, Margaret wears long sleeves as she dresses for dinner with an old friend from London. Her mother has stressed all day over the properness of their country fare; she is worried that Mr. Lennox, a lawyer of high standing, will think their hospitality 'quaint' and not up to London standards. But Lennox cares little for the food (which is very good) or the smallness of the room (which is cozy), but saves his attention and compliments for the young lady he came so far to visit.
  Margaret, dressed in this simple silk afternoon gown. A ribbon and cameo adorn her elegant neck, while the neckline modestly comes up to meet the choker. The skirt is full and without adornment. In her hand she carries a small bouquet of roses from the garden.

read the book to find out what happens next!

Just out of curiosity, have any of you read (or even heard of) North and South? Or any of Elizabeth Gaskell's other works?


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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Dinner Gown

Here is Cora wearing a charming long sleeved dinner gown. It is trimmed with satin ribbon, punctuated by little bows. The sleeves and apron have a berry print. The bodice/neckline/sleeve cap are sheer chiffon. A choker made of ribbon and lace finished the ensemble off.


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Click for PDF to print


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I went to the Farmer's Market this weekend and bought a bunch of blackberries (I need to find a place to hand-pick them). I love fresh berries! Today I'm trying out a tart-recipe, but I made the wrong dough recipe so now I'm creating my own blackberry tart-of-sorts. Hopefully it tastes good!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

New Scanner!!!

  I have a beautiful new printer/scanner thanks to my wonderful husband! It arrived today and is just lovely. I scanned in seven pages in less time than it used to take me to do one! I am so excited!
  In celebration of this new scanner comes this ghastly colored sari for Cleo. I was bored the other day and for some reason decided that coloring would be a good idea. The results are not very pretty. Clearly I need to work on this area of art... but who knows? Maybe with practice I will improve and some day be as talented as Liana!
  I used Dr. Ph. Martin's ink for this. The colors are Grass Green and Golden Yellow, your basic green and yellow. I also have a turquoise which I'll have to experiment with soon...
  Hmmm... I'll have to make a colored version of Cleo so she doesn't look quite so white! lol


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Monday, September 13, 2010

Monday Morning Scramble

This morning is a lazy post :) The jeans are from last week, but today Tansy is wearing a sweater. Summer's heat has given way to chilly Fall and it's time to cozy up in those nice, warm, soft, wonderful sweaters.


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Friday, September 10, 2010

Here is Margaret in an elegant silk gown that has been died black in respect of a distant relation's death.


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Exciting news!
  Today my husband and I are going house-hunting. It will be our first house, and I'm so excited! We've found several possible homes online (it's so fun to look through the photos and choose which one will suit your needs best), and today we get to tour them.
  And, a second news bulletin, my husband just purchased a new scanner/printer! I'm almost as excited about this as I am about the house! The old scanner was big and bulky, took forever, and couldn't be connected to a new computer. I'd have to hook up the old desktop, switch monitors, untangle cords, find a mouse, and the process was so long. But soon I will have a fancy new one! Hopefully my scanning rates will increase. My current process is to draw and ink a large stack of dresses, then scan them in all at once while watching a movie. Which means all the dresses you see are several weeks to months old. Perhaps with the new scanner I'll be motivated to get dresses up as soon as I have them finished.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Another Ballgown for Cora

Here is Cora wearing a charming formal gown. Stripes and bows seem to be the theme for this dress.




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Blouse and Jeans


Here's a simple and comfortable outfit for Tansy. A basic button-up, shortsleeved blouse, and a classic pair of jeans.

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Friday, September 3, 2010

Sorry!

I'm sorry there wasn't an update on Monday/Wednesday! I'll try to make up for it somehow...

Here's Margaret Hale again. Today she is wearing an afternoon dress for tea with an old friend who has come visiting. If you're curious who is coming to visit, read chapter three of North and South.
The book she is reading is The Divine Comedy, by Dante Aligheri.


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