Fashion Doll Patterns: Dolls love Halloween...

Don't we all love Halloween?  It is genuinely a time to be a kid again ourselves.  I have often used one of these dolls as an original dinner or party centerpiece (You probably want to keep it out of reach of grubby little fingers).

Here are the various Halloween costumes I have shown over past years; I would be using them at the craft show next Saturday, but Halloween will be over!

Cher is dressed in Lord Perry's version of a vampire

(Queens of the Night #3004)

Lord Perry version of  a lady Druid.....(Festive Femmes #3002)

LordPerryPatterns.com

Our Country Classic (#3001) lady is delightful in her orange gingham, and our Pumpkin Princess is from Magic Moments (#3003).  I have shown her two ways because she looks marvelous in each.

Each of these holiday collections contain a design for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.  I will post each season's costume as it arises (I know, I know, that means I should be doing Christmas NOW, but I just can't get into celebrating one season before another arises.

All Lord Perry patterns for fashion dolls can be viewed on LordPerryPatterns.com

Fashion Doll Patterns: Release of Gran Bellas

Reminder: You can view all of the Lord Perry Patterns @ LordPerryPatterns.com

Lord Perry is now releasing the long awaited arrival of its first Gran Bella pattern designed specifically for the larger fashion doll such as those produced by Tonner, Odom, and MME Alexanader.  This first release is one of our popular patterns in the Chateau series; "Versailles", Gran Bella is now available for the larger fashion doll as well as the 11 1/2 inch doll. (No, you cannot get the same result by just increasing the size of the pattern pieces in the patterns designed for the smaller dolls; the proportions are not the same, etc., and you will not get the same result.)

The photograph in the top left hand corner is Alexa Fairchild Ford, the photo in the middle is Gene, and the bottom photo is the ever popular Tyler Wentworth. As you can see, the gown's fit each doll perfectly based on the design strategy used by Lord Perry Patterns.

The next release will be a Medieval Princess available at the beginning of the new year.  

As I mentioned in the last post, previous posts are all available on the LordPerryPattern.blogspot.com site.  I will be transferring some of those posts to this website as I believe they will be of interest to those of you who may not be familiar with the old site. 

Fashion Doll Patterns: New Blogsite

Administrative Aggravation

Dear Lord Perry viewers;

Sorry for a little administrative inconvenience, but as you may know, this is a resurrected  site that has suffered some of the changes that occur with newer and sometimes better inconveniences.  This one is somewhat minor, but necessary.  

Several years ago I opened the LordPerryPattern.blogspot.site with  the "s" missing from the word Patterns.  I was told that I had no choice because of the availability of that name, etc., etc., etc.  I have now been trying to establish a link with my website LordPerryPatterns.com and for whatever reason it would not recognize the blogsite.  Without going into boring detail, I have now opened a new blogsite, LordPerryPatterns.blogspot.com that is linked to the website.  I really like the convenience of having the same name, and I suspect my readers will also, however, it does mean that I have two blogs, LordPerryPattern.blogspot.com and LordPerryPatterns.blogspot.com.  All the posting I have done over the years is on the old site (patterns without the s), and a new one begins today.  Over time I will move as much of the pertinent tips, etc. to the new site, but in the meanwhile, you can look at both sites.  The latest additions will only be to this new site.

Fashion Doll Patterns: Accessories for your OOAK

Just like styling for your your body, your fashion doll needs just the right accessories for her (or his) costumes or fashion ensembles; often finding them can become quite a challenge. Of all the accessories, I believe the most difficulty is in finding just the right shoes and jewelry.

Most of the shoes are much too trendy for historical costumes, and much too cheap looking for historical or couture OOAKs. 

I have been learning to make a lot of my own jewelry for unique fashion ensembles for both myself, and realize now how easy it is to make for my fashion doll (s). Actually, one has and advantage making it for the dolls because so much design can be adapted  from jewelry that is already made.

Today's post is going to apply to making your own special doll jewelry.  Fortunately, you really do not have to have either a lot of experience or to look very far to find jewelry that you can de-construct (adapt) for your doll, and you really only need a very few tools.  The best part is that you need NO experience and can usually make it for very little cost.

IN mall shops such as Icing or Claires you can usually find many earrings that simply need a snip or two, insersion of a jump ring (found at any craft shop,) addition of a small chain and clasp using the small wire cutters and needle nosed pliars found in most home tool boxes (or craft store), about 10 minutes, and voila!! a necklace for your fashion doll. Frankly, I can make most of mine for less than the cost of purchasing them (IF I can) at doll shows or doll supply outlets.

Nigerian Princess in the upper left hand corner is adorned with a small pair or circle earring that simply were replacements for the tacky plastic earrings originally worn by the doll.  The plastic ones were removed with needle nosed pliars, a small dab of instant glue was applied to the hole and immediately the metallic round replacements were inserted.  The necklace is 1/2 of a pair of adorned metal earrings that had the ear wires  cut off, the ends cut off, and inserted around the neck. The necklace has been resting comfortably on the dolls neck for fourteen years (part of my own personal collection).  

A versatile pair of earrings work wonderfully as a base for many items of doll jewelry; I have used them for earrings, bracelets, and especially necklaces.  The second picture shows one earring with four dangling featherlike designs; I snipped away at one of the dangles until I got the correct amount of neck space, added jump rings at each side, attached chain and clasp using the needle nosed pliars (btw, two pair work best when separating the rings and closing after working in the chain, etc.)  

I have enlarged the picture to your left so you can more easily view the placement of the pieces. in these necklaces.   Remember to leave enough space for your fingers to close the clasp.  (You usually need at least three inches of neck space for an 11 1/2 inch doll such as Barbie) If you do not plan on removing the necklace at any time, it may work best just to fasten with very thin metal wire and tying it.  You can usually find metal thread of .010 mm that is virtually invisible and quite strong.  I have added spring ring clasps to my examples as I will be selling some of them at a fund raiser craft show for my home owners association.  


The picture of the necklace to the left does not do it justice.  The necklace was created from a brooch in a glitzy arrangement of silver toned metal and immitation amythest.  It is made for a Tonner doll that requires a four inch chain.  

In the picture on the lower left, I have shown a selection of the necklaces I am making for the craft show (and also for some of the new proto-type dolls I will soon be adding to the Lord Perry Patterns collection. All of the items that I have shown have been easy to find (a Lord Perry tradition); I purchased all the original jewelry or jewelry products at 50% off sales (frequent in all of these types of stores). 

As always, the success of your creation depends upon the choice of materials, the correct proportions, and suitability of the material used.  It does require a little patience and imagination.

TIP:  You can often find great pieces at thrift stores for very little money that can be de-constructed to make original art for you OOAK.