Some More BJD Dresses

Three More BJD Dresses

Time to get the sewing machine out again I can feel my fingers itching to start new projects again. So once again Leya my Dream of Doll BJD is the lucky recipient.

I love whitework, so once again I used some of my dwindling stock of lovely white swiss cotton. (I checked the price of it from my usual stockist and got a shock at the price now!) Spent some quality time matching up lace, Broadaire Anglaise, and some lovely new silky french seam binding that I have just got.

And here are the results. The first is similar to one I made a while ago. Slightly different laces and colours but I loved the "kitten ears" last time so had some fun making them once again.

Then again I used the white cotton but this time edged and decorated with some dramatic contrasting black lace and purple ribbon.

I loved making the top hat and thought next time I could try to make a more "Gothlike" outfit. Maybe make the dress in grey and use black and purple trims again. And I think that a Top Hat would be right for a Goth outfit too.

For the next one I decided on a change and used some silk material.  I recently got some pieces of "Sari Silk" which is so soft and light its lovely but so difficult to work with. It slips about a lot and it will fray if you just look at it sideways! So I had to work carefully with it but the resulting dress I am pleased with so it was worth the effort. I again used some silky seam binding but held off using any lace, other than on the underskirt, as the material is patterned I thought it would start to look too busy. Less is more so they say.

But I could not resist a bit more decorativeness so made a mulberry flower and lead headdress.

Two New BJD Outfits From Antique Materials

Two New MSD Sized Outfits

I have finally finished a couple of OOAK outfits that I have been doing for a number of weeks now. I find I start a things and then get to a point where I am not sure of the next direction to go in.  Should it have more embellishments, should it have less? Is it finished? So I am inclined to just leave it for a while then come back to it with a fresh mind and can seem to see it clearer again.

So the first one I have done is a white dress which I used the bottom and other parts of a christening gown. I added some new lace and used part of the old lace.

The sleeves are separate from the bodice and have elastic top and bottom.  The bodice which fastens in the back is also elasticated at the waist.

The separate underskirt is made from a lovely piece of old soft lace material with added lace.

The hat is crochet out of cotton with some felt flowers.

Each wig seems to give it a different look. The white makes it look like a historical costume were as the pink makes it look much more modern in style.

The outfit is finished off with a lace and ribbon neck ruff. And a pair of lace wrist warmers. Which caused me no end of bother to get them to fit nicely on the wrist but be able to get them over little sticking out fingers that do not move!

Second BJD Lace Costume.

The second outfit is made from an old silk dress, I am not sure if it was a baby dress or a doll dress. The silk was very delicate and quite worn in places but I think it gives the dress a nice sence of age. I made the bloomers and patched and darned some of the holes so she now looks like a grand lady who has fallen on hard times but is trying to still live life in her former splendor.

I used the original silk and the wonderful cotton lace to make a bodice, skirt and bloomers using mostly the original lace. And an underskirt out of a fairly new piece of netting and ecru lace.

The hat I have made out of a brown hat straw which I think gives it a 18th Century look. 

I only took photographs using one wig this time. I liked the colour which seemed to suit the outfit colour and tone, even though it is only a shorter bobbed type.

In the end the model seemed to enjoy this photo shoot.  No more tantrums this time.  In fact she seemed extremely relaxed over the whole thing.  Dressing up like a lady of leisure has given her the idea that she is one

Vintage Material and Lace BJD Dress

I wanted to start a new project for my Dream of Doll Leya. I thought something vintage would be interesting. I thought of something floaty in white.  I knew I had a vintage brodeire anglaise christening gown in my stash. The top half was not much use but there was a lot of useable material in the skirt. So I took the seams etc apart and took off the lace to be carefully pressed ready to be reused.

One of the joys I have in life is taking things apart! Give me some old dress, bonnet, or tablecloth and I will work away at it for hours. Carefully discovering how it was originally put together and deconstructing it into useable pieces again. Then the gentle washing, if needed and pressing to make something beautiful out of it again. 


This new trend of "make do and mend" is nothing new to me. I have been doing it and loving it for years.

The skirt more or less spoke for itself as the bottom of the dress was a perfect size and scale for a doll dress just had to select a section of it. The bodice I hummed and harred over for a bit.  I decided to do a separate bodice and unattached sleeves. I used a bit of orignal lace from the dress and some new lace I had in my stash.

I don't mind mixing new with old sometimes. As the dress was still pristine white the laces matched very well.

I found a nice piece of "drapey" lace material but have not as yet decided just how to use it. I don't want to make a veil or headress out of it as the whole thing might end up looking a little too much like a wedding dress which is not my aim.

I have made the sleeves so far and started on the bodice and skirt.

At the moment I have not got a wig which I think would be suitable but I will finish the wig then see how that looks.

BJD Hats and Handbags

I thought I would make a few more hats, well a girl/doll just cannot have too many shoes I know but I think that this might also be true of hats.

So a few evenings and the occasional afternoon later.

Blue Bobble Hat

Smart City Shopping Hat

Casual Sunny Day Hat

They make up so well and of course the best bit is the trimmings. And as my ribbons, braids, beads and flowers are in such good order now.

Boho Hat

Understated Elegant BJD Hat

Another Boho Style BJD Hat

Sunny Sunday Hat

But the story does not end there. If a doll/girl cannot have enough shoes and hats well perhaps a few new handbags would be in order.

So another few evenings and afternoons and whollah....

Smart Handbag

Casual Shopper Handbag

And once again I could lay may hand on any ribbon or bead I wanted.  Well I'am just bragging now of course.

Jade Green Shopping Tote

Pretty Pink and Coral

Pink for a Lady

Roomy Yellow Handbag

I think I must have covered every occasion or need by now!