Sewing Peek

[eastofthemoon]

I've been doing a lot of sewing the last couple of days because I thought I would try my hand at actually selling some of these online. No idea if it will be successful, but I figured I wouldn't be off any worse for trying.





First off, a Battler doll (one of the main characters from Umineko). He has a fairly simple design and I thought he would be good to experiment my new design on. I'm debating if I want to take the smile off of him or not. I would love to hear opinions.



Next, a Mad Hatter had keychain. My question to you guys is, is it better like this...



Or like this with a teapot button I had lying around sewn on to it. I would love to hear opinions on this.

And finally some Zelgadis fanservice!



Poor Zel, I do plan on making clothes for him. XD This is a Zelgadis keychain and I'm about halfway done. I also have plans to make an Eat Me cake (haven't decided to make that into a keychain too), possibly do some more Slayers keychains, a Drink Me bottle keychain and some other ideas that are bouncing around in my head.

Comments

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

The mouth really depends on you. I prefer having mouths on my dolls since they look scary (to me) otherwise. I'd also be wary of sewing a button onto the felt. It might be okay, but felt's not the strongest material. (It's just loose fibers pressed together. It's not woven at all.) The button could potentially damage the keychain if it gets caught on something and rips off.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*nods* I think I'll take Isa's suggestion and try it on the ribbon.

Also, I've been reading about applique and thinking it looks really cute. I read about satin stitch and how to use it, are there any good tutorials or tips that you would recommend. (Granted, no idea when I would try this, but it's been intriguing me.)

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Are you intending to handsew when you try appliqué? If so, go for something basic since satin stitching is really just really close zigzag stitches along the border of what you're appliquéing on. As far as tutorials... I've not really looked online much. I have a book with various ideas and things, but I've really just experimented. (You could have appliquéd Zelgadis' eye and rock pieces onto his face as an example of where it can be used.)

[secondlina.livejournal.com]

The keychains are going well! I think the teapot button should be added. But add it on the ribbon, at the base of the 10/6. It will look like a hat decoration.

I agree with Diane that felt is a tricky material. Maybe you should look up websites on how to work with felt.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*nods* Thanks, I was wondering if adding on the hat would be too much. I'll try the ribbion.

I've been looking up site, but I might trying getting books from the library too.

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

I'm with Isa - add the button to the ribbon so it looks more like a keychain charm. Keychains are great for clay stuff if you have any clay around - and also cell phone charms! I should dig up my books later and scan in the felt phone charms for you.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*nods* I actually have been wanting to try clay for awhile, but I didn't know which is the best one to use. Any recommendations? And the cell phone charms is a good idea. There are a lot of cute ones!

[dqbunny.livejournal.com]

Sculpey III is fairly popular and should be easy to find at the Michaels near you. It has a wide variety of colors, but is a bit soft. I use Fimo and Kato clays, but have started incorporating some Sculpey as well.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Do you need to bake sculpy in the oven? Also, what is the best method for baking? Putting it on top of tinfoil on a try, etc..

[ichiban-victory.livejournal.com]

Clays like Sculpey and Fimo do need to be baked. I prefer just baking them in a glass dish as metal can actually melt the clay. Above all else, read the directions on whatever clay you use.

[pharoah999.livejournal.com]

zel is turning out great!!

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[auriga]

Zel looks like he's going to make an adorable keychain!

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The style of it works for a keychain.

[noseless-wonder.livejournal.com]

Zel looks really cute so far! His mouth and eye almost make it look as though he's shocked at his own lack of clothing. =) It's unintentional, I realize, since you're going to add clothes at some point, but I just thought it was funny.

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*laughs* The fact that he has no clothes probably doesn't help in that regard. ^_~ I'll post a full photo once he has clothes.

[brendala.livejournal.com]

Those are awesome. But the Battler doll freaks me out a bit because the button eyes remind me of the villain from Coraline. >_

[earthstar-moon.livejournal.com]

*laughs* You're not the first one. I made a Gen doll and posted it in the sounis community and just about half of them thought of Coraline because of the button eyes. Coraline has ruined buttons forever.