The Whimsy Patch

Carolina Kittie

 

When I visit my parents in South Carolina, I always seem to find some new Whimsy Patch friends hiding out in their garden.  Though it took me quite some time, I was finally able to catch up with Carolina Kittie.  Here I found her inspecting a cute little garden squirrel.  I think they became good pals shortly thereafter.

 

She also enjoyed climbing trees and...

 

hanging out atop the birdhouses.  Though I'm sure she was only there for the view:)

 

My son, on the other hand, was enjoying the garden fountain.

 

Ah, the joys of childhood....

 

His giggles and fun helped me to keep my mind off the ever-lingering pregnancy nausea!

So, now that the announcement has been made, the lack of blog activity is also explained.  I hope to get back in the swing of things and regain my creativity and drive.  The little guy and I make our way back home in a handful of days.  I'm hoping that getting back into routine will help me not to focus so much on how I feel. (And, yes, we are very excited despite the less than easy experience thus far!)

Carolina Kittie will be available in my Etsy shop along with the pattern--though he pattern will not follow for a few days.  I will likely have to wait until I get back home to my scanner. 

Lower Prices And New Pattern Available!

 

First of all, I would like to announce the availability of the Whimsy House Fairy pattern.  With this pattern, you are actually getting 2 patterns in one--the Mod Dollie pattern for the base doll and the supplement pieces needed to make the fairy and the cupcake!  You can make two different styles of doll when you order this pattern.

For those of you who prefer to purchase patterns one at a time, you can still purchase the Mod Dollie seperately then purchase the supplement pack later.

I have also lowered my prices after about a month of feeling out the market.  This is good news for all involved, I'm sure:)

I will be sending out a special thank you email to all who purchased my patterns at the original price so keep your eyes open for that, original buyers!

I also have several more patterns in the works which I hope to publish within the week.  I am hoping to increase the variety within my shop before I begin other plush and sewing projects that seem to be mounting here at home!

Check out my shop to see what is on the shelves right now! 

Whimsy Fairie Pattern Now For Sale!!!

 

You can now make your very own Whimsy Fairies!  I have refined the pattern and created a detailed tutorial and written instructions that follow and explain each step illustrated in the tutorial.  Check out my Etsy Shop for purchase.

In the coming weeks I will continue to release new patterns.  I am completing the Domestic Dreams PDF pattern (the little fairies who hold cupcakes) as we speak and hope to release the Whimsy Giraffe/Mod Dollie Set pattern and possibly the Mod Lovey Dollie pattern later this week.  This might be a little too ambitious but I can at least shoot for the stars, right?!

For those of you who have already purchased the Mod Dollie pattern, you will be able to purchase a Domestic Dreams supplement package for a matter of a few dollars as the base doll for that fairy is the Mod Dollie.  I will also sell the Whimsy Giraffe pattern solo for those who prefer to purchase the patterns seperately.

Keep your eyes on my shop in the coming days.  I hope to have many new exciting items on the way!

Little LolliBlue Giraffe and Amber

 

Today was supposed to be a rainy day but we were actually blessed with some sunshine and a nice breeze.  The air had cooled quite a bit from the scorching-for-April near 90 degree weather to a pleasing mid 70s.  I guess the crisp air encouraged this little pair to go out for a ride.  I discovered them hanging out on my front porch, a popular Whimsy Patch hitching post. 

LolliBlue Giraffe comes from the line of Whimsy Giraffes bred and raised for show riding, hence the lovely saddle and that she sports.  I discovered she is the sweetest giraffe of all that I have met and she treated me to a smashingly tasty blue raspberry sorbet and ice lemon scone.  Yum!  She and Amber have grown up together at the Whimsy Giraffe Hills Ranch and have been perfecting their sorbet and scone recipes for years now.  LolliBlue told me she might give away her secrets for the scones at least before she heads off to Australia.  She's really looking forward to enjoy the outdoors there.

 

Amber is very sweet also though less outgoing than LolliBlue.  She sat quietly while LolliBlue chatted away about her show riding and scone capers.  Once LolliBlue had finished her stories, she began to open up a bit and we discussed the particulars of scone baking.  She promised some hands-on pointers before she leaves.

LolliBlue and Amber were made as part ofa custom order.  The pattern for the Whimsy Giraffe will be available soon seperately or as a set with the Mod Dollie and the Small Whimsy Chap.

Patterns on Sale through Weekend--And Two Cute New Fairies!!

First of all, I want to say, "Happy Etsy Day!!!"  In honor of this glorious celebration, all of the patterns in my shop are on sale for $6.00 through the weekend.  If you have not purchased your first Whimsy Patch pattern, now is a good time.  A few are now available--the Mod Chubby Dollie, the Sweet Dreams Fairies, and the Whimsy Chap with Monster Friend--and a few more are coming very soon: The Original Whimsy Fairie, Domestic Dreams Fairies, Mod Lovey Sized Dollie and the Whimsy Giraffe.  Keep your eyes open for these coming additions.

That said, I have been working up a couple new cuties this week.  Well, I started on them weeks ago but finally made major progress this week.  I think I'm getting my groove back:)

 

Persimmon Pie the Whimsy Fairie was discovered hanging out on my porch.  I've recently hung some new plants out there and these seemed to attract her attention.  She said she would stay for a little while but then she's off to Australia.  Spring is her favorite time of year so she wants to enjoy the new blooms a bit before heading out to the other hemisphere.  Persimmon Pie, Alice the Party Pixie's cousin, designs bracelets like her butterfly ones back in the Whimsy Patch.  She says they are all the rave at dance parties (pun intended) and hopes that she can keep up her business from afar.  I suggested Etsy;)

 

Strawberrylicious Domestic Dreams Fairy cooked up a batch of these sweet strawberry and chocolate cupcakes and decided to join the part with Persimmon Pie Fairie.  She, like Persie, will be heading off to the other side of the world in a few days and she just had to bask in the sun a bit.  She promises me she will teach me how to make her cupcakes while she's here so I'm going to hold her to that!

Whimsy Patch Happenings

Today has been a busy day!  My little guy and I headed out to the zoo with friends this morning.  Unfortunately, we were not aware it was field trip day at the zoo!  Madness!  Nevertheless, we had fun:)  My son loved the giraffes, elephants, zebras, and especially the gorillas.  When we passed through the gift shop, he immediately fell in love with the big-eyed gorilla plush.

 

We then headed home but he fell asleep in the car.  Knowing that he would NOT go back to sleep in his own bed, that walking through the front door would mean "Play Time!!!," I decided to take a little detour to the fabric store.  We drove the long way so that he could get a good nap:)  I'm so used to buying online that I had not been in months, but it's nice on occasion to have the opportunity to see the fabrics in person before buying.  We went to my favorite little local quilting fabric shop Among Friends.  I just love it.  The ladies who work there are so friendly and they even have a toy bin and couches set up for children and bored hubbies;)  My son had a blast playing with the toy trains and cars and was actually upset to be leaving the fabric store!

I will say that the ladies are always puzzled by my fabric selections because I buy fabrics in sets of 3-5 rather than building a stash for a quilt.  I always wind up explaining that, "I am a plush dollmaker" and then my choices make more sense. I think they often wonder if I am color blind....

  

I already have some cute dollies in mind!  I am currently finishing up a fun custom order and plan to work up a handful of dollies so that I can polish some of my other patterns for online selling.  You can look forward to some Whimsy Fairie patterns to be available in my shop within the next few days!

 

I am also very pleased to be featured today on a great blog:

Kristen, who also has her own Etsy shop where she sells some beautiful silver jewelry, uses this blog to showcase all sorts of lovely handmade items.  Check out her shop at Kristen's Custom Creations to see her gorgeous handcrafted necklaces.  My favorite is the "I Heart Cupcakes" necklace. Then hope on over to La Dolce Vita and Friends to check out her great blog and some great handmade finds!  

Up Late Tonight....

 

My husband and I are both going to be up late tonight--he working on a client's server, I on a handful of dolls that are going to be traveling a long way in the not too distant future.  I've been working very hard lately trying to get back into the swing of things.  Taking time off to reorient the Whimsy Patch and spend time with family was a necessary move but it also means that I am having to revisit my daily routine.  Add a cute and rambunctious son and precocious and darling nephew into the mix and I have my hands full these days trying to figure it all out!  My days as of late have been full of things like trips to the playground, Easter egg dying, cleaning up stray cars and trucks that like to hide in places so as to end up under my feet, Play-Doh, crayons, stickers, laundry, dishes, meals, pattern drafting and tutorial writing, cutting fabric and sewing, trying to remember to update Twitter, relisting items on Etsy, attempting to check out other blogs and remain inspired, etc.  When I look at all of that I really wonder how I fit it all into a day.  By God's grace! 

On top of all of this, I have also resolved to post to my blog more often.  I decided to snap a quick pic of the stack of fabric and doll pieces that I am working with right now.  I must make progress tonight!  I guess that means coffee and dragging a bit in the morning....  I think I really need to add sleep to the list somewhere;)

Now Listing!!!

 

Starting tonight, I am listing patterns in my Etsy shop.  To begin, I am listing the Whimsy Patch Mod Dollies pattern which will enable you to make your own Simple Chubby Dollies and Detailed Chubby Dollies--a long standing Whimsy Patch favorite!  I am also listing the Sweet Dreams Fairies pattern--

which will allow you to make lovely fairies with 3 different hairstyles and wingstyles (lollipop pattern included and more accessories to come in the near future)--and also the Whimsy Chap--

 

my sweet boy doll pattern that also includes a Mini Friendly Monster pattern so you can make some cute buddies for your boy dollies. 

Each pattern includes the pattern pieces and a detailed tutorial including both a doodle tutorial and a written tutorial.  Here's a quick peak at part of a doodle tutorial:

 

The doodle tutorials are very detailed and are supplemented by an extensive written tutorial that follows. 

I am very excited about this new adventure and look forward to releasing new patterns on a regular basis.  In the coming weeks, I will be releasing the Mod Lovey Dollie pattern, my Whimsy Kittie pattern, and the Chubby Bird to name a few!

Check out my Etsy shop to find the newly available patterns:) 

Little Miss Tia--Busy! Busy!! Busy!!!

 

With all of the craziness lately--all of the pattern tweaking, the sewing, the typing and the drafting of tutorials--I have been going a little nutty.  I guess I need to note that we have been sick around here for the last couple weeks and hubby has been having to work a lot of extra hours!  This has complicated getting patterns ready for sale and I've not hit the deadline I hoped to hit.  Nevertheless, I've been having fun and I'm pleased with the new accessories I've designed, the changes I've made to old patterns, and the new ideas I plan to put into fabric in the coming weeks. 

So, with all of the nuttiness around here, my new friend Tia from the Whimsy Patch insisted that I allow her to lend me a hand.  Here you can see her working on the new cake pincushion/accessory that I have designed.  The fabrics sitting on the table are waiting to be turned in to an Alphabet Fairy--letter A--a Little Lion Prince with companion Girradragon, and a few Whimsy Fairies.  Tia said I must slow down and catch a breath so she sent me out for coffee while she worked on tweaking the detail work for the pincushion. 

 

Tia also asked for a closeup shot so that you might see her cute little wedge shoes with the cutesy floral detail, her fringed apron, and her cherrie hairpin and broach.  The pattern for this Lovey Mod Dollie will be released along with the Sweet Dreams Fairies as part of my initial pattern shop opening. 

Keep your eyes opened.  I promise the patterns are coming! 

K is for "Kitty"

 

Okay, so I've been slaving away all week working to get a handful of my patterns ready for sale.  Well, "slaving" is not the best word choice.  I'm actually very excited to be very inspired and back into a good creative rhythm--this despite my little guy's case of the flu and my hubby's long hours.  Getting back into a good creative stride has been a high point of the last couple weeks.

As I continued to prepare my Sugar Dream Fairies pattern for my shop, I felt like I needed to continue working with the line and expand on it for an accessories pack.  Aside from a couple sweets that I had already created, I knew that I wanted to add more.  I've always had a thing for illustrated alphabets.  Some of my earliest memories are of looking through A to Z word books with my mother.  I also like the idea of being able to personalize bedrooms and wanted to expand more on this.   All of this came together with my new Alphabet Fairy pattern line.  Beginning with the letter "K"--given that my name is "Kimmie" after all--I will be releasing patterns that for the illustrated letters that the fairies hold and any ammended details like the quick wing design that I will be using for this line.  In order to make these fairies, you will need to purchase the Sweet Dreams Fairy pattern for the base fairy design.  Once all 26 letter illustrations have been designed and released, I will likely release one A-Z pattern pack though that will be far into the future.  I hope to design one new Alphabet Fairy every week or so.

Without further adieu, I would like for you to meet "Kitty," the first of the Alphabet Fairies.

 

Maybe because she likes to cook or because her letter is K, after all, I found her hanging out in the kitchen baking kuchens.  She was being assisted by her sous chef, Katrina, a rather precocious kitten with a kitschy sence of style.  I have to say that the kuchen was delightful and I look forward to sampling more of her work.

 

Kitty told me that she also enjoys designing kaleidoscopes and gave me one as a hostess gift--as though the kuchens were not enough!  I am very pleased to meet her and cannot wait to meet more of her friends.

I will be working on the patterns more over the next few days and hope to start releasing them this weekend!