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Rachel Linquist dolls and art

Laura And Mary Ingalls Dolls

6/14/2015

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Every once in a while I get a custom doll order that gets me even more excited than usual.

When a mom contacted me about making Laura and Mary Ingalls dolls for her little sweetie's birthday, I couldn't wait to get started! As a little girl, I loved the show Little House on the Prairie, and even more close to my heart are the books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I started with red calico and brown braids for Laura and blue calico and blonde braids for Mary.
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Another essential piece was going to be the bonnets. I made these from some really pretty Liberty of London-esque vintage cloth napkins.
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I modified the bonnet from a vintage Holly Hobbie doll pattern to fit these dolls. Isn't this sweet?
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The dolls also needed some little white pinafore aprons over their prairie dresses, and then faces painted. Laura with violet eyes and Mary with soft blue.
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Here they are completed and in their bonnets.
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And here they are in their special winter cloaks, a sweet extra my brilliant customer added on.
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I enjoyed this project so much and was so inspired by it that I've decided to reread the Little House books this summer, starting with this one:
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If you are interested in a custom made doll of your favorite book character, click here for doll options, and here for costume and outfit extras.
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Summer projects

7/1/2014

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This summer is almost half over, but it has already been beautiful and rich with tiny joys. (Minus the lost of our sweet doggie Skully to old age and a horrible flu/cold/hacking cough I just can't shake.) But let me focus on the many positives.

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Kindergarten: level complete!
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Quilt #2 complete. It's Queen size, and the perfect weight for summer.
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom doll by Hen and Chick
Athena, Goddess of Wisdom special order doll.
Custom Made Small Doll Family by Hen and Chick
Tiny doll family special order.
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Before.
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After.
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Winning at yard saling.
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Nature adventures at the river.
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And other nature-y places nearby.
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A summer selfie, pondering hair options (I'm thinking of growing it out and going blonde for awhile).
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LOTS of reading in the shade.
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Free fishing day. (No bites.)
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Our last sweet days with Skully.
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Music making (mixed with a little grief release).
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Our best year yet for berries.
Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
Mary Poppins special order.
In-progress dolls by Hen and Chick
And more special orders!

How is your summer going? Are you enjoying heavenly weather where you are as we are here in Boise? Any fun summer projects you've accomplished? Let me know in the comments below!

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Jane Austen Art Dolls

5/13/2014

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I recently got the most fun order from a fellow who wanted to order some Jane Austen Art Dolls for his wife for their wedding anniversary. Their favorite Jane Austen book/movie is Persuasion, the 1995 version with Amanda Root as Anne Elliot and Ciaran Hinds as Captain Fredrick Wentworth. This is my favorite version, too! It is always really fun to work with people who have the same level of enthusiasm that I do for a particular subject.
Jane Austen Art Dolls by Hen and Chick - Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion
I've made Jane Austen lady character dolls before, but not a Regency era gentleman, so I was a little nervous. But I had done an Edgar Allan Poe doll before, and I knew that would be a good starting point.

When I told my sister about the order (she is a huge Jane Austen fan as well), she insisted that I make Captain Wentworth's cool hat. I knew I had to attempt it, but I wasn't quite sure how to pull it off. But after a great success with the jacket, I had the confidence I needed to try my hand at millinery once more. I was pleased with the results.

Here are some in-progress shots of the process.
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Jane Austen Art Dolls by Hen and Chick
I used a vintage hankie for Anne's shawl. Also some of the trim I used for Wentworth's coat was antique trim that I bought at an estate sale.
Anne Elliot Jane Austen doll by Hen and Chick
Captain Wentworth Jane Austen Art Doll by Hen and Chick
Jane Austen Persuasion Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth Art Dolls by Hen and Chick
Thanks for taking a look! What favorite book or movie character would you love to receive in doll form as a special gift?
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A Peek Into My Studio

10/3/2013

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One of my favorite places on earth is in my little studio. It's where I create all of my handmade cloth dolls, stuffed animals, and develop my PDF patterns. I work in a spare room of my house, and it is packed to the gills. It is seldom neat as a pin, but usually at least partly tidy.

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I usually have company, and my company usually brings his toys.

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Things get a little stacked up sometimes. It's hard to have room for all of my inventory, ongoing and current projects, fabric, stuffing, packing supplies and everything else in a ten by ten area! But I shoe-horn it all in somehow.

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I am seldom without tunes of some kind (okay, I admit to an inordinate amount of Journey) and I often stare out the window at the trees in my yard when I take a tea break.

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Thanks for stopping by the Hen and Chick Studio for a visit!

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Come back soon!

4 Comments

Mary Poppins Doll

4/26/2013

4 Comments

 
I have been wanting to make Mary Poppins doll for a while, so I was really excited when a sweet mama from Winnipeg contacted me about making a custom Mary Poppins doll for her little one.
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
This is the outfit from the "Spoon Full of Sugar" scene. I knew she needed a lacy blouse, red bow tie, navy skirt, and of course, the magic carpet bag.
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
Blue eyes and brown hair with buns and pin curls, too.
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
Here's a peek at what she looked like in-progress:
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
Her skirt is made from the pant leg of a pair of shorts.
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Her carpet bag was made from this gorgeous designer sample from my sister.
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At some point, I want to do another version of this doll, but with the cherry-festooned hat and parrot umbrella.
Handmade Mary Poppins Doll by Hen and Chick
I'm dying to know: what story book character would you like to see me make next? Let me know in the comments!

UPDATE: 7/18/13 I now have a special listing in my shop for custom Mary Poppins Doll! Check it out!
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    Rachel Linquist, creator of Hen and Chick

    Rachel Linquist

    Hi there! Welcome to the world of Hen and Chick! My dolls and art are designed and created by me for you to bring a bit more beauty to your life. Shop at HenAndChick.etsy.com
    and
    HenAndChickArt.etsy.com

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