In 2011 I received a sewing machine for my birthday…in June.
I was intimidated by it and didn’t use it for months.
Finally, in October 2011, I took a sewing class and learned the basics of my machine and how to follow a pattern.
From there, I started sewing paper…making garland and paper penant banners for Christmas decorations.
I also made some dolls for the kids.
Recently, I found some great vintage fabric at Goodwill and decided to make a doll.
I used the Black Apple Doll pattern, but enlarged it A LOT.
And, this is how it turned out…
I have a feeling I will be making more of these.
Reece already requested one with “fire” fabric.
I think I am going to tweak the pattern and make the legs a little longer, the body a little slimmer, and the head a little narrower.
I’ll let you know how it turns out.
home is…a handmade dolly.
stephany taddeo 
It’s wonderful. I love homemade dolls!
How sweet! homemade is love-ly!
I think it’s fantastic how you make homemade things for the kids, and our home. I believe that as a society we have largely lost connection with this. Kids can easily think that if you want something you just go to the store and buy it, that these things are just created, which leaves them too disconnected from the process. It is the same reason that I like to hunt, and like that the kids are hunting and getting exposed to it. Food doesn’t just show up in a grocery store wrapped in cellophane. I think that as a society (yes, a large generalization here) we need to get closer to creating toys, or “creating” your own food via hunting and fishing, not farther away. What happens if those skills are lost forever? Most of these skills are passed down via family members, and if we don’t teach our children them it is highly unlikely they will ever learn, and will continue to get increasingly more dependent on others to do for them, rather than doing things for themselves.