1. Where you can find me
2. Materials I use
3. Inspirational Teachers & Books
4. More Great Websites & My "Non-doll" link

Where you can find me

A Break in Time Shop & Gallery located on Hanover Street in Manchester, NH.   This wonderful shop is located across the street from the Palace Theater.

Please visit:

Tamdoll's Etsy Shop - one-of-a-kind brooches, pin dolls and smaller pieces of art.

Tamdoll's Flickr Photos - photos of dolls entered in contests and knitting projects.

Tamdoll's Workspace - My blog! Where I keep things updated weekly.

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Materials I Use

Everyone has their own preferences for materials, these are mine...experimenting is the best way to find out what works for you.

Fabric:

I tend to use whatever fabric colors and patterns I like without regard to stretch or weight... Tightly woven cottens are good and tough when stuffing bodies firmly. If I must use a stretch or light-weight fabric, then I iron on a light-weight interfacing to the fabric before cutting out the pattern pieces.   Working with a stretch fabric is always fun and can add new dimensions to a doll. (I love to break "rules!")

Stuffing:

I only use Fairfield's Soft Touch Poly-fil Supreme because of the consistency in quality and smooth silhouette it gives my dolls when stuffed firmly.

Tools:

The only tools needed to make my dolls are a basic sewing machine and a pair of "hemostats" (to get stuffing into small spaces.)  The "hemostats" I use are 6" Locking Pliers found in the fishing department at Wal-Mart. That's where I can also find 1 oz. Bullet Weights, Egg Sinkers.  A Turn-It-All is also a great tool to help turn tiny points - since mine have disappeared into the twilight zone, I have efficiently substituted a coffee stirrer and a smooth chopstick.  [Gently insert the straw into the point, nestle-in the chopstick from the outside, and gently push/pull the fabric until the tube has turned right-side-out.]

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Inspirational Teachers and Books

A class with Nancy Laverick at The Academy of American Doll Artists WOW 2001 unleashed my pattern making skills, when I created my first completely original doll, Dudley:

Before I even learned how to use a sewing machine, I admired the character and personality that shone in elinor peace bailey's dolls.  Her book Mother Plays With Dolls was indeed"...an important key to unlocking creativity," as it is subtitled.  Soul Mate Dolls by Noreen Crone-Findlay made me realize that I don't have to be in a good mood, or even make happy dolls all the time, in order to use my free time to create.  I have also taken fun and inspiring classes with Judy Skeel and Julie McCullough.

I have found no better instructional book that covers so many aspects of doll making than Anatomy of a Doll by Susanna Oroyan.  And to jump-start creativity, I have enjoyed: Creative cloth Doll Making by Patti Medaris Culea, Making Creative Cloth Dolls by Marthe Le Van, Soft Dolls & Animals magazine, and the new Art Doll Quarterly magazine.  There are so many fantastic books and creative sewing magazines available today, I could spend all my time looking at pictures and coming up with new ideas!

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More Great Websites

These are just some of my most frequently visited doll sites ... enjoy!

• http://clothdollpatterns.com/***
• http://www.dollmakersink.com/
• http://www.dollstreetdreamers.com/
• http://www.thedollnet.com
• http://www.bighornquilts.com
• http://www.epbdolls.net/
• http://barbspencerdolls.com
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