The Witchy Web Costume

Our storybook, witchy doll costume.

         To make this witchy web costume, you will first need to acquire a simple A-line or tunic doll dress pattern or you could make one yourself. See more links here... and see "how to make a doll dress mannequins for 18" dolls" to help you draft patterns too.

Popular Pattern Collections Including 18" Doll Tunic(s):

• 8536 Simplicity for American Girl
• 7790 Simplicity Crafts
• 5661 Butterick 18" Doll Costume Collection
• 9663 witch costume for 18" dolls by Vogue Craft

       Remember to check your patterns to insure that American Girl sizes are included if you want to dress one of these 18" dolls. American Girl dolls have thicker proportions all around compared to those 18" doll proportions found with Magic Attic or BFC dolls, for example. See chart here at Pixie Faire.

       I layered two fabrics together to get this ''look'' for the dress. The black tunic was sewn using an inexpensive polyester. The outer garment made slightly larger with gathered sleeves is of a mesh red/black fabric. I want to say that the fabric is made of spandex because it has so much elasticity to it. It was purchased over 5 or 6 years ago, but it is still available on the web from many different vendors. 

       Her transparent apron is borrowed from another doll but it suits this costume better, I think.

       The cone shaped hat is also made of the same fabrics found in her dress, but I used black felt alternatively on both sides of the brim. To get her hat to stand up properly, I stuffed the inside upper parts with cotton batting before firmly attaching it to our doll's head. 

       The red satin ribbon and mother-of-pearl buckle are very vintage and came from my old sewing stash.

       This look is made complete with patent leather shoes and bright red socks matching the ribbon about her cap.

Left, the traditional, storybook witch here has her own unique tastes. Her spider web motif on both
her hat and dress is unique and the fact that it is red and black instead of black purple or black and 
orange make it further stand out in a crowd of witchy costume creations!

Left and displayed on our doll sized park bench is our storybook witches hat, broom and painted
pumpkin cat. Right, are the pieces of her costume: her dress, hat, broom, apron, shoes and socks.

Pottery Barn Kids tutorial for "witchy-web" makeup. 

Now you can look like a little Halloween doll!

Hispanic and Latino Heritage

Far left, poster celebrating Cesar Chavez. Center left, Justice Sonia Sotomayor as a
young girl. Center Right, cover from children's author, Alma Flor Ada. Far Right, award
winning actress, dancer and singer Rita Moreno.

 

       "National Hispanic Heritage Month is a period from 15 September to 15 October in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. 
       Hispanic Heritage Month began as Hispanic Heritage Week. Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. In 1988, the commemorative week was expanded to a month (September 15 to October 15) by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Edward Torres (D-Pico Rivera), amended by Senator Paul Simon and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the commemoration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Hispanic countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, who all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile, Belize and Puerto Rico celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, September 21, and September 23 respectively.
       Hispanic Heritage Week was first proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 in Presidential proclamation 3869. Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan gave annual proclamations for Hispanic Heritage Week between 1969 and 1988. National Hispanic Heritage Month was first proclaimed by President George H. W. Bush on September 14, 1989 in Presidential Proclamation 6021. Since 1989, all Presidents have given a Presidential Proclamation to mark Hispanic Heritage Month." Wikipedia

Internet Educational Resources:

• Listing from the NEA or National Education Association
• Hispanic American / Latino American History
• Overview and Ideas from Scholastic

Doll Play Artifacts:

• Learn About Early History of Colonial Latin America with Josefina Doll
• Learn About Exploring Space With Luciana Vega Doll
• BFC Club dolls: Noelle and Aliesha are twin, Latino sisters

Famous Latinitas For Girls To Read About and Study:

1. Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz - The First Great Latin American Poet at EDSitement
2. Juana Azurduy de Padilla - Fought for Bolivian independence...
3. Evelyn Miralles - Engineer from Venezuela who inspires...
4. Policarpa Salvarrieta - The Revolutionary Teen Spy from Puppet History 
5. Susana Torre - An Argentine/American Architect
6. Rosa A. Gonzales - An exemplary nurse from Puerto Rico 
7. Teresa Carreno - A pianist and opera singer
8. Hermelinda Urvina - A pilot from Ecuador
9. Antonia Navarro - A topographic engineer and teacher from El Salvador
10. Matilde Hidalgo - First girl in Ecuador to graduate from high school. She became a doctor...
11. Eva Peron - First Lady of Argentina
12. Julia Alvarez - her biography from Chicago Public Library
13. Gabriela Mistral - She won a Nobel Prize in Literature, 1945.
14. Juana de Ibarbourou - important Uruguayian Poet
15. Dr. Ellen Ocha - works for NASA, astronaut
16. Pura Belpre - an award named after the first Latina librarian who worked for the New York Public Library
17. Mercedes Sosa - famous performer, singer, musician...
18. Sandra Cisneros - story writer and author
19. Mirabal sisters - "the Butterflies" who helped topple a dictator
20. Gumercinda Paez - Elizabeth Mischke reads about this beloved teacher...
21. Isabel Allende -  Acclaimed author, visit her website here...
22. Sonia Sotomayor - Supreme Court Justice
23. Frida Kahlo - famous portrait painter 
24. Julia de Burgos - Puerto Rico poet
25. Rigoberta Menchu Tum - a hero for Native People's Rights
26. Gloria Estefan - a famous singer, here is her foundation's page: The Gloria Estefan Foundation
27. Chavela Vargas - performer, musician and singer 
28. Alicia Alonso - Cuban Prima Ballerina
29. Victoria Santa Cruz - Professor of Drama PH.D.
30. Mercedes Doretti - a Forensic Anthropologist 
31. Claribel Alegria - a poet and novelist from Central America
32. Celia Cruz - The Queen of Salsa and Good Morning America and Latin Grammy Award Winner!
33. Sonia Solange Pierre - a Human Rights Activist
34. Dolores Huerta - Political Activist, Her Foundation
35. Rita Rosita Moreno - from Puerto Rico - actress, dancer and singer
36. Veronica Michelle Bachelet - Executive Director of UN Women
37. Maria Auxiliadora da Silva - self taught, 'outsider' painter from Brazil

How to make dress mannequins for 18" dolls...

Finished dress mannequins.

       The sample dress mannequins shown here are for an 18" American girl doll and an 18" BFC club doll. 
       Dress forms or dress mannequins are used when sewing for people or dolls. It is much easier to size, drape and remove fashions from these forms than it is to do so directly onto a doll or person. Plus the pins won't stick, ouch!

 Supply List:

• scrap sheets of quilter's batting
• wide masking tape
• cotton batting filler (stuffing)
  
• the doll that the dress form is made to fit
• a wide dowel rod
• a wooden candle stick
• acrylic paint for the candle stick
• old, tissue sewing patterns recycled
• Mod Podge
• aluminum foil
• wood glue or hot glue with gun
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

       To make an accurate, life-size dress form you will be shaping the mannequin directly on top of a doll to begin with. Lay the quilter's batting flat on the floor and roll the doll on top of it to form a tube beneath her arms. Using masking tape close the tube, making sure that the tube is snug about the doll's figure. This tube should be cut short just above the doll's knees.

       Now wrap the quilter's batting about the doll's shoulders and neck. Cover all of this shoulder wrap with masking tape to and overlap some of the tape down onto the torso. (see pictures below)

Left, you can see the quilter's batting sheet is wrapped snugly around our doll's nude torso.
Center, above the batting sheet is also wrapped about the doll's shoulder and includes her
collar bone as well. Right, the entire wrapping of the doll is done with two layers of
masking tape.

 

       Next you will need to remove this form carefully with a pair of scissors. Slip the scissors up the front side of the doll, between the masked cotton and the torso of the doll. Do this slowly and carefully without cutting any of the original body or hair belonging to the doll.

       Gently stuff the shape of the dress form with cotton batting around a wooden dowel rod that should be suspended in the middle of the dress form. This rod should be as long as the torso and stick out at it's bottom at least an inch.

       As needed, pack the neck and arm openings with cotton and then neatly tape across the holes closing these permanently with the tape.

Left, cup all the way up the front of the dress form between the doll's body and the inside
of the wrapped quilter's sheeting. Right, tape together the dress form at the seam where
 you have cut it away from the body of the doll.

 

             The photo above on the right shows that I have suspended the dowel rod through the center of the dress form with tape on it's end. Pack the cotton fluff around this dowel, keeping it suspended in the middle during this process.

 

Left, see how I taped the inside of the dress form shut. Right, the dress form next to the doll.

       Above you can see how I stopped stuffing the dress form approximately one inch from the end. This is because the bottom of the doll dress form was completely filled and packed with the stuffing and I wanted to hide the dowel from view inside of my wooden candlestick opening. You many need to line the inside of the candle stick with aluminum foil to make the opening narrow. 
       Mask on top of the foil and around the upper portion of the unseen candlestick. Fill the hole with wood glue or hot glue and firmly insert the end portion of the wooden dowel inside, attaching the dress form to the candlestick.

       Finally, after the glue has dried and the candle stick firmly attached, the dress mannequins are ready for decoupage. This end step will harden the exteriors of the dress forms further and give them slick finished surfaces that are easier to fit and drape over during sewing. I chose to recycle old sewing tissues for this final step. Layer these between Mod Podge applications and let the mannequins dry overnight. See pictures at the top of post for the finished result.

• aggirl411 makes a version of a dress form for her American girl doll using duct tape and plastic bags for filler
• Lomi's Playground shows how to make her version of a doll mannequin for sewing purposes...
• Sewing a smart doll dress form with Dollymake here 
  

Left and Right, here you can see that I've wrapped the torso of a BFC doll using the same method.

       I also made a dress form for our Best Friends Club Dolls. It was much easier to cut the dress form away from the doll because her body is made from hard plastic instead of canvas. 

Left, the dress mannequin is wrapped and ready to decoupage. Center, one of our BFC dolls
stands next to her dress form. Both mannequins side by side to compare the doll body types.

Dress forms or mannequins decoupaged with old tissue sewing patterns. As seen
 left, back, center, details and right side back. The front views are at the top of this post.

Best Friends Club Dolls

BFC ink doll review from 2010. These dolls

 have been retired but you may still find them at resale,

 auction and on Amazon.

       The Best Friends Club were originally sold by Target but now are available at Amazon or second hand markets like Ebay. All of the dolls come in both 18" and 11" sizes. The following descriptions belong to the 18" versions:

1. Kaitlin - has light blond hair with green acrylic eyes.
2. Addison - has light brown hair and dark blue eyes.
3. Calista - has wavy dark hair and dark eyes. She is the African American doll of this series.
4. Aliesha - has very dark brown hair and brown eyes. She is the twin sister to Noelle and a Latino doll.
5. Noelle - has very dark brunette hair and eyes. She is the identical twin sister to Aliesha and a Latino doll
6. Gianna - has super dark auburn hair, dark blue eyes and freckles. 
7. CJ - has hazel to blue acrylic eye color and dirty blond hair . He is the only BFC boy doll. He love sports and keeping busy.
8. Yuko -  has long black hair and dark eyes. She is the Asian American doll of this series.
9. Carmen - has green eyes and reddish auburn hair. BFC doll was the Hispanic pen pal doll from Mexico. (2010)

       "The Best Friends Club (BFC, Ink) helps girls deal with the real life challenges facing them today. It's about self-development, and the importance of friendship. 

       Through the lives of its diverse young characters, girls gain insight to relevant issues, from helping the local community and environment to dealing with friendship fallouts, family issues, bullying and first crushes. 

       BFC, Ink teaches our daughters about teamwork and friendship as well as giving them the joy that comes from belonging to a group of amazing friends." quotes from former website 

Every 18" doll shares common body features and accessories:

• 15 points of articulation
• rooted hair
• pierced ears
• acrylic open eyes
• painted lips, eye-brows and eye-lashes
• painted on underwear
• a journal with a lock and key
• two changes of clothes

Doll Clothes Patterns for BFC Dolls: Because BFC dolls have very thin body types and their clothing cannot be shared with other 18" dolls made by Mattel or Alexander Doll Companies. There are also 11'' doll versions of the BFC Ink Club Dolls that have painted features and far less articulation. 

• BFC Ink Doll Clothes and Doll Patterns at Etsy
• Find BFC Ink Doll Clothes at Pixie Faire

Best Friends Club Doll Fan Videos:

• Original Toys R Us Ad
• Ruby Red Doll Review of the BFC Inc.
• Froggy Stuff large collection of Best Friends Dolls
• BFC Dolls Inc.: Gianna, Yuko and Calista
• BFC Ink Doll Rescue
• Talking About BFC Ink Dolls Gianna and Yuko
• Clothes for BFC Ink Dolls

  Return to the Doll Guide Index Page 

Learn About Classical Dance With Isabelle Palmer

"Isabelle" and "Designs by Isabelle" books
 by Laurence Yep.

       Isabelle Palmer is the twelfth Girl of the Year released in 2014, making her debut on an episode of Good Morning America. Isabelle is an inspired dancer who lives in Washington, D.C.    She is excited to attend Anna Hart School of the Arts where her older sister, Jade, has been studying ballet. Her hobbies include dancing and fashion design. She designs leotards and other clothing.

       She is the first Girl of the Year to have three books – Isabelle, Designs by Isabelle, and To the Stars, Isabelle, all written by Laurence Yep. A mobile app for iOS platforms entitled Isabelle's Dance Studio was also released in line with her debut. A port of the game to Android was also released in July 2014.

       She also is the fourth Girl of the Year to have a movie about her. Erin Pitt portrays Isabelle in the movie Isabelle Dances Into the Spotlight.

       The Isabelle doll has light skin, hazel eyes, and long blonde hair with detachable pink-tipped highlights. She comes in a pink shirt with a girl in a ballet position with sequins, grey capri pants, and sparkly gold shoes, her face mold is the Classic face mold.

• Interview with Laurence Yep author of Isabelle's books
• Trailer for "Isabelle's Dances Into the Spotlight" (movie)
• A Learning Guide to Isabelle's World (PDF)
• Learn the meaning of the name Isabelle

Our Artifacts for The Isabelle Palmer Doll:

• How pointe shoes are made...- in the real world
  
• Paper ballerina finger puppets
• How Misty Copeland Became a Ballerina
• Diaghileff's Russian Ballet, 1916
• Vintage Needle Book Covers - These are life size printables for your own sewing kit!
  
• My Top 10 + 10 + 8 Toddler Dance Time! - good listing for older kids too, includes Choreography links for kids, tweens and teens...
• Fad Dance Links from 1950 through the 2000s
• How to make dress mannequins for 18" dolls... - one example for American Girl dolls and another for BFC Club Dolls 
  

Research Themes Found in Isabelle Palmer's Books:
Ballet Academy for Girls:

• A day in the life of a Bolshoi Ballet Academy student
• The life of a White Lodge student
• Day in the life of a Ballet Student
• A Week in the Life of a Ballet Student
• North Shore ballet students perform in 'The Nutcracker'
• Discover Ballet: A day in the life of a ballerina
• 15 year old girl wows the ballet world
  

Modern Dance by Young People:

• Contemporary Kids Dance - Choreography Sabrina Lonis
• Murrieta Dance Project - Hideaway
• Kids warming up in the dance studio

Designing For Dance:

• How I Made My DIY Lyrical Dance Costume by Judi 
• New York City Ballet - Recreating a Tutu
• What's in a Ballet Shoe
• The Sleeping Beauty - The Lilac Fairy Costume
• Top Ballet Dress Designs from The Style Corner

Fan Video for The American Girl Doll, Isabelle: 

• Dizzy Izzy tries on a wardrobe of clothes 
• Learn Each Move! Dance Jam from American Girl
• American Girl Doll Isabelle's Room - Ballet Theme & Design Studio

Isabelle Palmer Books by American Girl

• Isabelle
• Designs by Isabelle
• To The Stars
• Isabelle in the City

Chinese New Year Dresses for 18inch Dolls

I paid 10 cents for each of these novelty wine bottle covers at a garage sale.
They were wrapped and in like new condition. I kept them for 10 years,
thinking I might dress a doll with them some day.

With just a few snaps and some ribbon, I recycled these
two Chinese silk dresses.

       It is the custom of many Chinese Americans to celebrate the Chinese New Year by dressing up, lighting lanterns and exchanging cash gifts wrapped in red envelopes.

        Because American Girl Doll, Ivy Ling, has a dress made from a brilliant red silk that she wears during this holiday, I thought that our twin 18inch dolls, Aliesha and Nowelle, could come to her party dressed in a similar fashion.

       As you can see, on the right, all I needed to do in order to transform these bottle covers, was to cut a six inch opening in the back of each dress. 

       Then, I folded a yellow, silk ribbon in half and attached it to the raw edge of the red dress, using a whip stitch on both the front and back sides. I alternatively attached a gold lame ribbon to the navy silk gown. And then I sewed on metal snaps to act as closures to each finished dress.

• Read more about Chinese New Year's celebrations
• Teaching about growing up Chinese American in San Francisco...
• Celebrating the Lunar New Year
• American Girl Doll - Chinese New Year Fashions

Why dress a wine bottle, when you can dress a doll instead? Our BFC dolls, Aliesha and Nowelle,
 have small enough bodies to wear these recycled gowns to their friend's party.

The yellow silk details on each dress are exquisite!