I’ve had a hard time with the winter holidays for a while now, mostly since I lost my father in 2003. Holidays–like Christmas & New Years are times that I have always associated with family, friends & a general getting together of folks. Warm times. Friendly times. Suffice to say that it’s not felt like that for a while, and it’s something that I desperately miss. I do really look forward to spending holidays with my family & friends again–but until then I have to make a concerted effort each year to remain positive about them–and get them over as quickly as possible.
This is where the diversions come in!
Diversions are things that for me–force me out of a general mode of thought or action. For instance, This Christmas season I’ve been pretty blue. I haven’t really felt like making doll clothes (except as gifts), painting doll heads or generally customizing. I haven’t felt much like writing either. When I hit this kind of wall I have to break out and find something that interests me, but also isn’t something I know a hell of a lot about. I like learning new things–and new crafts are especially desirable to me. Of course, a lot of crafts require money & an initial investment to get the supplies.
You lump it or find alternatives.
Anyway, this sort of goes hand in glove with my Christmas season. We were doing low-to-no budget xmas gifts this year (the job situation being what is is) and I asked for a new 1:6 bedroom set. Yea I know, you’re thinking what do I need one of those for? Don’t you already have one erica?? How often do you do room scenes with beds? Huh?
Well the thing is, that the 1 bedroom set I have (which consists of a bed & 2 barbie bedside tables) is nice but it’s a particular style & belongs definitively to Alison. Alison loves Art Nouveau. I designed it specifically with her in mind. So no one else is ever going to claim it! 
below: Devra is house sitting & borrowing Alison’s bedroom
The other problem with that bed is the size.
It’s scaled smaller than the 3rd generation Fashion Royalty dolls & to be fair it’s a pretty tight fit for the Hot Toys guys. Which limits who can pose in it (and be naughty) The older Dragon/BBI bodies will fit but it’s tight.
So, I thought a new bed set would be nice. And it might also nudge Mark into the right direction–C’mon folks, I know when you see what he can make you’ll want to get him selling! (I’ve told him we can set him up an etsy shop if he makes stuff) Anyway–back to the diversion issue– Bed incoming right?
Well it’ll be in need of bed linens & stuff. (I guess I also have to make the mattress for it too LOL)
I’ve always had an interest in quilting. No experience other than making a 9 patch block once. Lost patience real quick (I’m not a big hand sewer). But I thought eh, I’ll try doing some 1:6 quilting. Why not?
(Um, maybe because I don’t have a large amount of patience?) I decided I’d give it a-go with some of the fabrics I had. It was sort of hard coming up with some combinations that I thought worked together. Right now it takes me about 40 minutes to do a block.
The blocks look crummy in the pic, but they haven’t been squared off or trimmed down to size yet.
5 Responses to “Holiday Diversions…Quilting”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I can sympathize with how you feel about the holidays.
You associate the holidays with the feelings that you once had, and you don’t feel you can have those again, so you block out (or try) anything that you feel would bring up those memories of a time you can’t get back.
My father passed away the week before Thanksgiving when I was 17, so I definitely know why you feel the way you do around the holidays.
Sorry about your holiday blues, Erica. It’s awful to lose someone, especially around the holidays. It changes everything. *hugs*
Diversions can be good– but I’m like you, it has to be something I have basically zero knowledge of, that way I don’t get bored! I really like what you did with that Barbie bed, and I am BEYOND impressed with your patience to be able to quilt sixth scale. I mean, are you freaking kidding me
!? I’d be tearing my hair out trying to do that 1:1! Can’t wait to see this finished! I’m just curious, are you working on it for a specific doll, or just wanting to add variety?
ps- nudge nudge nudge to your hubby- I’ve seen some of his work here on your blog, it’s awesome!
Thanks Will. Glad to know someone knows where I’m coming from with this post
C Thank you for the hug
“I am BEYOND impressed with your patience to be able to quilt sixth scale. I mean, are you freaking kidding me”
hehe well, it’s something to keep me busy & to try to help me decompress. I’m not entirely sure that I’ll finish it (I should have started with something simpler I guess). But I’m trying so that’s good, right!
I’ll also be sure to pass the nudge onto Mark. He’s so talented but I can’t get him to see that people (besides me) want 1:6 furniture! *grrr!*
About the bed shown–it’s not a barbie bed, it was made completely from scratch.
The only barbie bed I’ve had re-made is this one:
Which had the barbie pink plastic mattress/base removed & replaced with …
to finish up like this (to be used in the dorm room dioramas)
Lol, okay, good, I’m glad you posted that about the bed. I just misread your original post. I didn’t THINK it looked like any Barbie bed I’d ever seen. I was sitting here trying to figure out which one it was, and what on earth you did to it. Did you make it?
Your actual Barbie bed remake is great. I always though that bed was kind of cool, and dorm room is the perfect use for it. (Much nicer than the bed in my dorm room, lol)
I do hope you finish your quilt, it really does look terrific!
Oh, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. I can’t even imagine! Good for you to turn your grief into something creative!
I’m a quilter, but I *only* do larger scale projects. The log cabin blocks you are doing look absolutely amazing! I love your color choices–they really compliment each other, and I can’t believe they are in 1/6 scale! Terrific job. I can’t wait to see the finished project!