Making stuff & travel

Wow. It's been a while, huh? Anyway, lots of things in the proverbial cauldron: calico puppy progressing strangely, Vanda's doll still on the back-burner, started a sewing machine cozy, got some fabric to make a top and skirt (I'll see what I can do sans pattern), knitting a shawl-collared cardigan from the fall issue of Vogue Knitting magazine:





















Kinda cute, huh? I'm knitting it in a deep, military green, worsted weight yarn, so my cardigan won't be textured like the one in the picture, but the colour is nice and rich. I think I might have chosen the wrong size to knit, though. Mine is looking kind of big... although it is supposed to be sort of a loose-fitting garment, according to the instructions, anyway. Ah well, we shall see.

Went to Montréal this past week-end. Very nice change of pace from Ottawa. So urban, laid-back; artistic and cultural venues everywhere. I could totally see myself living there for a while, although there is virtually no green space, and it seems as though biking in Montréal would be a bit more treacherous than it is biking in Ottawa, plus the BF, who lived there a few years ago, doesn't think he could live there again. The search continues.

Fridays and projections

Yippie. Friday.

Lately, I've been in a bit of a creative slump, which is kind of annoying seeing as I have about nine dozen projects in various stages of completion (a slight exaggeration, but only slight!).

I've moved on to designing my own dolls, rather than interpreting other designers' patterns. It's been several weeks since I've worked on her, but here's a sort of bohemian-esqe dolly that is nearly complete. Excuse the quality of the pic. I didn't get the focus quite right, so I sharpened up her features using Photoshop
Although this dolly is an original creation, her construction is very similar to the classic Rageddy Ann doll construction. I'm not terribly thrilled with her apron top: the skirt is far too clingy, but I am so digging the blouse I made her: it's just a very simple peasant-style blouse (easy to draft out), and the print was designed and printed by moi. I call this pattern "gentle anarchy" and I made it while attending an awesome silk-screening workshop that I took last summer in Toronto. The workshop was held by Kingi, the fabulous proprietress of Peach Berserk, and her wonderful staff. If you've never checked out the site or the shop, you must, must, must. Oh-so inspiring!

Another one of my hobbies is prettying up my old doll collection. I attribute my new-found love of dolls to my former roommate Anne. I recall her reminiscing about her Sindy doll, and I had an epiphany of sorts. I remembered that as a child, some of the happiest moments of my life were quiet times playing in my room with my Sindys, so I started researching on the `net; I became really interested in doll making, which is what prompted me to learn how to sew. Here is a group shot of some of the girls in my Sindy family.
The two dolls on the left are wearing outfits that I sewed from an old Simplicity pattern from 1977. The black Sindy, and the brunette ballerina, I acquired from e-bay auctions. Oh yes, and the second Sindy from the left was once a blonde with a butchered `do. I re-rooted her hair, boil permed it and gave her a rockin' afro. She is also wearing a head scarf: I was aiming for a kind of late-60s, -early 70s Biba style.

So, that's the deal for now. This weekend, I aim to finish a doll that I am making for my aunt Vanda who lives in Italy, and to work on a calico teddy (or puppy - haven't decided) doll that I'm designing.

`Still loving the mp3 player. New favourite band - Gogol Bordello

Have a beautiful day!

First post (how's that for an original entry title!)

Well, I'm so thrilled to finally have one of these things.

First, an intro...

My name is Juliana Del Rio, I live in Ottawa, Canada with a super-sweet boyfriend who is very tolerant of my insatiable need to create. I'm a bit of a slacker, so my creativity tends to come in bursts and I bide my wee time sewing, knitting, crocheting, singing (loudly), playing guitar (poorly), beading, cooking, drawing (I'm currenctly obsessed with crayons... don't ask), doll-making, and loving my brand new Creative MP3 Player.


Not surprisingly, I of course have a day-job. Being a permanent temp, I'm currently working for the Public Health Agency of Canada as a senior clerk, and will be doing this until about mid-August. My long-term goal, however, is to run a successful creative business that will merge all of my passions.

Since this is going to be a crafty blog, and not a sucking up to manufacturers of MP3 players blog, I'd like to show you some of the stuff I do. Or, rather, one of the things that I do. It's 10:45pm (ie, past my bed-time), and being anything but a morning person, I'll make this entry a shortish one.

Here is a little shoulder-bag that I whipped up on my machine. The design is by one of the many wonderful folks at craftster.org. Enter "rounder roomy bag" and you'll find a super-nifty tutorial so that you, too can make a bag of your very own. Or you can buy this bag from me at my Etsy shop (a plug is not a plug unless it is a shameless one).



Anyway, thanks for indulging me. I'm really happy to have this space, and do visit often!!

Love, Juliana