Finally feel like drafting….

Sep 262009
 

Over the last 3 years I’ve been swamped with work, kids and college. At the start of summer this year I graduated college and all summer just did not have the energy to sew, draft or design much. I’ve had a couple e-mails lately about Ken, Model Muse and Boy Bratz patterns…. I’m now staring at the first new dolls I’ve had in about 3 years! I also have a partial draft for an outfit for Kitty Collier staring at me so I am going to finish the rework of the website and start on some new drafts! How long this will take depends on how much energy I have each day after work and on weekends still but hopefully I’ll start posting some new patterns later this year or early next year!

I’m off to measure my new ladies and gentlemen and work on some other items!

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Site planning update

Sep 202009
 

I am nearing the complete re-work of my site and actually the pages don’t look like my last post earlier this year. Instead it has a much better feel to it. It took hours of deliberation and experimentation to get what I want for it. I still do not have the photos I want for it but that is a big project that will have to wait.. or it may never get done. At this point I’m not sure. I want to post the new site and the re-worked pattern sets. I am discontinuing some patterns and grouping most into pattern lines or kits. Why, you may ask… to simplify my products, to provide a better value, because the patterns that come in a group already sell better… statistics and economics and time management all play a part in the decision.

For the rest of things I’ll start posting an updated Crash Course on my other blog dedicated to tips, tricks and tutorials… but more on that when I’ve actually started doing it!


Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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On dolls and scales and magazines….

May 172008
 

Wednesday, January 19, 2005


One of the focuses of my business is dollhouse miniatures…. to answer the questions on scale you have several scales that are popular or gaining popularity.

1″ or 1/12 scale is the most common with tons of Yahoogroups for it and other online forums including Small Stuff Digest which is where I got my start… large international list for nothing but miniatures (not just 1″ scale tho)

1/2″ or 1/24 scale is smaller and has gained popularity in the last couple years as the 1″ scale people run out of space for minis This is a niche market that has a growing base… not saying 1″ scale is on it’s way out just that 1/2″ is growing in popularity due to the main body of crafters being retired or *my* elders (I’m not yet 30) and on space and money budgets that are shrinking.

1/4 scale is also popular but I’m not up on it much but I can say it is extremely tiny … if you’ve ever seen the original 80′s Poly Pockets those come close to the correct scale or a Z scale train is right. This is considered a dollhouse scale for inside a 1″ dollhouse!

On the larger end of the scale is 1/6 scale which is Barbie and the number of adult collectors wishing there were more things for her that weren’t Barbie Pink has a huge base. Then there’s the Tonner and larger 15-18″ fashion dolls that would dearly love more items including houses and such for their dolls.

As for places to learn about miniatures or dolls…..Ashdown Inc produces Doll Magazine (I’m a correspondent….Pattern columnist- unpaid except for exposure), and American Miniaturist (used to subscribe and adored it but budget had to give somewhere)

Jones Publishing and Scott Publications produce Doll Crafter, Miniature Collector, Dolls, Doll Costuming and a whole host of other magazines that deal with various subjects within the doll or miniature world. (Don’t ask me which publishing company publishes which I just know that those are the 3 big magazine producers)

I’ve been into dolls since 1988 when my mom started her doll business. I have been seriously into collector dolls and miniatures for about the last 2 years.

I should also add in something about reborn dolls, re-painted dolls and art dolls… there are lots of those out there too who redo, repaint or sculpt their own dolls that need and use props… you might just have a niche in one of these categories.

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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Fun Fun Fun….

May 172008
 

Thursday, September 23, 2004


Well it’s been a few weeks since I last posted and I’ve had nothing but fun. I started out by doing a custom pattern for Tiny Kitty which turned out beautifully and actually ended up with 3 views to the pattern- plain, slight petticoat and poufy poufy princess petticoat. I now have a fascination for double circle skirt patterns due to how much fullness can be put into the skirt and how well it all drapes but how little bulk is at the waist!
I have so much fascination in fact that I also did 3 other dresses with the same style skirt. One is a halter style top for my Beauty B Dollfie and the other 2 are strapless dresses for the Beauty B and also my Super Size Barbie.
I had so much fun with these larger dolls that I’ve recently become hooked on the 16″ fashion dolls as well. Brenda Starr arrived just today and already she has a bodice pattern I’ll be testing tonight!
In addition to the new patterns and new dolls I’ve been busy developing 2 more classes that are running in mid October this year. Stylization 102 which is the next level of the Mini Drafting 101 which ran in August and Cresindel a healer who likes to adventure as well! She has 2 interchangeable costumes and is only 4 1/2″ tall!
Beyond that even I have been in the process of developing a Pattern Club…. not sure how it’ll work out but if anyone has ideas on how to run it drop me a note! I’m also thinking of offering a larger doll special edition 102 with the patterns used being pre made basic blocks so that the basics of stylization can be learned without having to learn drafting first! I recommend learning drafting first but I think there might be a few who would like to get to the fun part faster and Stylization are certainly fun! Both things are still in the idea phase so all input is welcome!
Well time to feed my children so I’ll end now.

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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New ideas

May 172008
 

Saturday, July 24, 2004


Well I have many new ideas and a couple new dolls I’m currently going to be playing with. I bought Tika a Flava who has an unsual body. I knew humans had fit problems but this doll definitely has them. She bends and moves just under the bust making her great for poses that are different from standard Barbies but she also has an “S” curve torso that gives her a long side and a short side along with a high hip and a low hip that are drastically different. Bearing that in mind I plan to use her as a guinea pig in my Pattern Drafting for Lady Dolls 101 class shortly when I start the lessons over in a couple weeks. As for styles for this doll I’m thinking a lot of asymetrical items might be what she needs or some nice tummy show off items … crop tops and hip huggers…. perhaps a hip hugging skirt that flares at the bottom about knee length out of a mock denim (theres a fat quarter blue that looks a lot like denim that’d be perfect!) I’m also thinking a crop top peasant blouse in possibly the light blue silk I found at the thrift shop the other day ( silk scarf that was tossed in as part of a $5 bag sale that still has a new sticker on it priced at $8!) When she’s done she will have patterns and such on the Flavas page
My next doll is a Dollfie from the company Volks which is based in Japan. The dollfies are articulated in more places than most of your average dolls and are based on anime style people who usually have bright color hair with big cartoony eyes. These dolls however, have the ability to use acrylic eyes simular to those used for larger porcelain dolls which is what I opted for along with a honey gold wig. I’m not sure yet what styles this doll will want.. I like to let the dolls set what they will wear… they give me the inspiration to design and draft for them.
The last is another dollfie but this time is an uber buff man… but the poor guy has to go headless until I can order his head and eyes from Japan since the US distributor for these dolls didn’t have any in stock. I’m turning this doll into the comic book version of Wolverine for a friend to give as a gift.. but I have from now till Christmas to play with the doll and make stuff for him… IF I end up liking drafting and sewing for him he’s going to end up with a lot of goodies…provided I can find time for it all!
Other ideas include the development of special items for donation to various groups for prizes or to conventions. I am also in the planning stages of my next book on Computer Pattern Drafting for dolls and minis…. not sure if that is the final title or if it’s going to be 2 books or what yet. I have also in development, special design classes… but I can’t say more on either the computer drafting or the special design classes yet as I need to do some serious work on both projects before I can tell anyone else more!
Ok it’s late and I want to do some other things tonight before bed so I’ll end this here.

Sue Darby
~www.suestinycostumes.com

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