Vintage Thingies Thursday -- Polly Pal

Today's Vintage Thingie is my Polly Pal doll. I was 8-9 in this photo. I loved this doll. I can't remember if Mom made her or if she had her made...regardless, she was one of my favorites. As was Ballerina Barbie who is in my other hand!I have searched and searched and my parents have searched and searched for Polly Pal, but alas, she has gone the way of most of my childhood toys and simply disappeared.

After I began my adventures in sewing I decided to see if I could find a pattern for Polly Pal. I scored this one on ebay!

Decided to try and make her. I've not made it very far. I changed her face a bit 'cause none would ever replace my own Polly. The body wasn't so hard. The clothes and the hair are a much more daunting task. Perhaps I will finish her someday. In the meantime, if y'all come across MY sweet Polly Pal w/her red hair and polka dot dress, send her home, please.

For more Vintage Thingies, head on over to Confessions of an Apron Queen.

A Winner and a Rag Doll

Grey Cat Quilts was the winner of my Merry Mushroom smock. It's on it's way and I hope she will enjoy wearing it!

Thanks so much to all of the 280+ folks who dropped by during the Sew Mama Sew giveaway event!

Not much craftiness(or cookery) going on around here lately. It seems like every day of my Christmas break thus far has been spent running around. But I'm not complaining...I've had the chance to hang out with family and friends and that has been awesome and most excellent!

Last week(about this time), I was cutting and wrapping caramels and sewing like a mad woman trying to finish everything up by the last day of school.  This year at the school where I work, each staff member has been assigned a child to mentor. I wanted to do something for the little girl who is my partner for Christmas, so I decided to make her a rag doll, something near and dear to my heart. I didn't really play with "baby" dolls much as a kid, but I had two handmade rag dolls and a Holly Hobbie doll that I adored.

I have been wanting to try and complete a rag doll since I started this one (using a vintage Polly Pal pattern) a couple years ago.

Sadly, she's been tossed into the closet, naked and bald for far too long because I didn't think I could tackle the clothes or hair with any degree of success.

I knew finishing Polly Pal wasn't an option, so this time around I followed the instructions in Wee Wonderfuls and made this little doll called Patchwork Penny. She was surprisingly easy to make!

I am happy with the way she turned out for my first completed attempt and I think my little friend liked her as well. After she opened her and asked if I made it, she said "She's pretty" and "I like her boots". Sweet!

Now that I've had some success, I think I may return to Polly Pal before too long!