Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

Thanksgiving 2016 is now in the memory file. Preparations for the joyous Christmas celebration are underway!

~ Decorating ~

~ Shopping ~

~ Wrapping gifts ~

~ Baking ~

~ Giving ~

What an exciting time of the year!

Tomorrow is CyberMonday!

I don’t usually “plug” my shop on this blog, but I do hope you stop by my online shop, Lanetta’s Creations, where you’ll find unique, one-of-a-kind items Handmade in Texas!

On CyberMonday, use coupon code CYBERMONDAY

and receive 20% off!!!

I just loved creating this Red Cape (and accessories come with!) that fits 18” dolls like the American Girl, Springfield, Our Generation, Gotz, and the vintage Chatty Cathy!

Oh, and rather than calling it a “bib” – I have created “Wearable Napkins” for adults! This is just one that’s available in Dallas Cowboy print:

Cowboys are doing fabulous this season! We may even get to the Super Bowl! Wouldn’t that be amazing!

Don’t forget, classy aprons make wonderful gifts! And, tomorrow’s savings is a good time to think ahead for Valentine’s Day! I just love Snoopy…  

Although I love everything I create, the most special item I produce is the Action Quilt, also known as Fidget Quilt.

Time and time again I hear heartwarming stories of how these little lap quilts covered with doodads, bibs and bobs provide activities to help those with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, or Traumatic Brain Injury keep once busy hands occupied! As Martha would say, “It’s a good thing.”

So….

Don’t forget me ~ and other small handmade businesses ~ tomorrow!

I/We need your support!

Thank you in advance!

Christmas in July!

Yes! It’s "Christmas in July" at Lanetta’s Creations! All items in my studio are 30% off! This is just a small sampling of the Handmade in Texas products I create!

An item available are the Apron Oven Door Towels. This is one of my favorites:

If you’re familiar with Lanetta’s Creations, you know I love making clothes for the 18 inch doll like American Girl and Chatty Cathy and the Gotz girl! Although it’s over 100 degrees outside right now (because it is July and it is Texas), this Dress Coat is one of my favorites:

Oh, and once I received a Kindle Fire, I began creating e-Reader Covers to fit it and the NOOK, or smaller devices! I currently have one for Cat lovers, Dog lovers, a Sassy Zebra, Coffee lovers, a Camo, from re-purposed jeans, Texas Bluebonnets, and – of course (because it’s my High School Mascot!) – the Leopard:

I also have a nice selection of aprons at Lanetta’s Creations! Some are for children, for women, or for either man or woman! One waist apron also has a matching bonnet! Bonnets aren’t just for Grandmothers!

Stop my studio before the end of July and take advantage of the Christmas in July Sale!

Re-Thinking the Business Side

There are many things I love to create, and much more items I want to learn how to make (and will!), but I need to re-think the business side of Lanetta’s Creations. So, a couple of weeks ago, I came to a decision. Then while driving home yesterday from the *Lampasas Mystery Book Club gathering, I became more and more excited about the decision to concentrate primarily on creating doll clothes, and all things associated with dolls, like the American Girl, Vintage Chatty Cathy, and Gotz!

*Email me if you would like more information about the Lampasas Mystery Book Club, i.e. upcoming books we’re reading, where/when, etc.

Although I will still make aprons – as I love creating aprons – I plan to focus on only special requests/orders rather than creating “spec” aprons. Email me!

To make shopping for aprons easier, I have three different sections in my ArtFire Studio:

Aprons for Children

Aprons for Either

Aprons for Women

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

All bead work will remain listed in my shop; however, I will not be creating any new designs.

Beaded Bookmarks

Christian Beads for Prayer

Eyeglasses Leash

Zipper Charms

 And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

The e-Reader Covers and Apron Oven Door Towels will also remain at Lanetta’s Creations. Although I can’t see making more in the near future, I welcome the opportunity to create special orders in specific colors/prints and sizes! Simply send me an email!

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

I already have a nice selection of American Girl inspired 18” doll clothes and for the 15” dolls (like Bitty Baby) in my ArtFire Studio!

Some of the clothes pictured here have already been sold!

And, right now, everything in my shop is on sale!!!

It’s Christmas in July, indeed!

Anyhoo… must get busy marking things off my “to-do” list!

If you’re looking for me, I’m out in the barn building a doll bed to showcase more doll quilts! My dear husband’s helping me and we’re considering offering doll beds in the future!

Would you be interested in a doll bed for 18" dolls?

Saturday Sewing

Saturday sewing, or any day spent sewing is a good day! Indeed! Who’s with me?! What sewing projects are you creating? I would love to know!

Where is the pocket?

I mailed off the special order Mardi Gras chef apron yesterday! It took a bit of time to match the pocket to the print, but got it done! During today's Saturday sewing, I should finish a Bitty Baby’s Valentine’s Day doll outfit!

I don’t know about you, but I take short breaks during the sewing process and explore the online world a bit ~ after setting a timer because I have no self-control when it comes to surfing the net! I so enjoy seeing what others are doing!

I'm very excited to find Lillie Mae’s Crafts!

This sweet kind lady offers some lovely FREE patterns to use in creating cute cute items! Great ideas found on her site! If you’re into sewing primitive folk art, check her out! Not only does she have precious designs, the tips she provides will help tremendously as I begin working on my own soft cloth lovelies!

Enjoy the day! Enjoy sewing! It's back to the machine for me!

Raise Your Hand if You Collect Dolls

Saturday Sewing –

Vintage Chatty Cathy and her cousins are getting a new wardrobe! Yes! Today begins a new and exciting focus at Lanetta’s Creations:
Creating handmade doll clothes for the adult Doll Collector! I did a Google search on “doll collectors” and got back over a million hits!

I knew I wasn’t the only one who collected dolls!

But it was news to me when I read what the United Federation of DollClubs, Inc. wrote on their home page: “Doll collecting is one of the three largest hobby groups in the world…” Their 63rd Annual Convention is scheduled for July 24th to July 27th, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana! Would love to be there!

OH MY GOODNESS! I just did a Google search with “Who Made Chatty Cathy” … I thought it was Mattel, but wasn’t sure & wanted to confirm… anyway… on the FIRST page of results (out of “about 3,740,00 results”) has “Images for who made Chatty Cathy” and MY CHATTY is shown in her pretty red, white, and blue dress that I handmade! Cool!

The Complete Guide To American Girl Doll Collecting hasn’t been updated in a while, but the information it does have is worth a read.

I love the tagline found on the American Girl Playthings! website:

“Where little girls who play with dolls grow up and become collectors who still play with dolls!”

Join me, along with hundreds of others, in the different Yahoo!Groups of like-minded doll collectors!

Chatty Cathy’s Corner

18 inch Vinyl Dolls

All About Doll Clothes

Scenes-n-Things

Doll Clothes 4 Sale

Don’t be shy! Raise your hand if you collect dolls! You won’t be alone!

Fourth Day of Christmas - Doll Clothes

Oh, my, goodness…the love for creating handmade doll clothes must be a genetic thing! Between my mother and paternal grandmother, they made all the doll clothes my Chatty Cathy ever wore. If I recall correctly, a great-aunt also made some doll clothes for her! When Barbie came on the scene, they made those itty bitty clothes, too. I’m very fortunate that both dolls, and their handmade wardrobes, are still in my life!

My two nieces played with my dolls whenever they visited. I don’t remember them having much interest with Chatty Cathy, but they thoroughly enjoyed playing with Barbie and her two best friends. As I did while growing up, both nieces took excellent care of the dolls and their doll clothes. This tender loving care is why my treasures are basically in the same condition as when I first received them as Christmas gifts.

Although I will admit, Chatty Cathy’s hair is a bit unruly and I’ve tried rolling, but it remains the same!

After a long absence from the machine, in 2007 I started sewing again. I decided to make Chatty Cathy some new doll clothes. The simple act of sewing, of creating handmade clothes for my first doll, became a passion I’d not ever before experienced! Many times I wonder if the generations before had the same passion. I know they had the same love, as it showed in their faces when they presented me with their handmade gift.

This is one of the first dresses I made for Chatty Cathy when I began sewing again. Made with seer-sucker, cotton, and a bit of trim, I just love this dress!

Sometime in 2008, I realized the American Girl doll wore the same size clothes as Chatty Cathy. I became so excited and shared the news with my sister ~ not that I could afford to buy an AG doll! One day, during chat time over the Internet, my sister & I both looked at the AG site and she asked me which one was my favorite. I couldn’t decide between Mia (2008 Girl of the Year) or Nellie (Historical Character Samantha’s best friend).

Low and behold, a week later, both dolls arrived! I was so SHOCKED and pleasantly surprised at the GENEROUS gift my sister gave me! Trust me, I know how blessed I am to have such a supportive, loving big sister!

See how cute Chatty Cathy's dress looks on Mia:

(I like the red ribbon belt better than the white that Chatty had on in her picture.)

It wasn’t until 2010 that I decided to open Lanetta’s Creations and take a stab at selling my Handmade in Texas doll clothes for 18 inch dolls. I've created special studio section "Doll Clothes - American Girl inspired" but it's Chatty Cathy inspired, too!

Just recently, and thanks to my lovely, generous mother, I now have an American Girl Bitty Baby! I named her Wendy, after a character in one of my favorite childhood stories, Peter Pan. She wears 15 inch clothes that I'm slowly adding outfits to the studio section, Doll Clothes - Bitty Baby Inspired.

This was her first outfit I made:

Then the next one...

 

More are coming!!!

I’m so thankful that between my online store, Arts and Crafts Shows, Trunk Shows, and custom orders, doll clothes handcrafted at Lanetta’s Creations have become a huge success. It warms my heart knowing girls (of all ages!) are dressing their dolls with the Handmade in Texas doll clothes I’ve created, and playing with dolls like the ones I love.

Use coupon code 4thday at checkout and receive 15% off American Girl inspired doll clothes for the 18 inch dolls until 1/6/2012 (one coupon per customer)!!!