Monday, August 31, 2015

Rag Bag Diva

I belong to a very creative group on Facebook, the Rag Bag Gals, who use lots of recycled and vintage materials.  I love old lace, doilies, embroideries and have been collecting pieces to use on my dolls.  I finally got one done!  These ladies also demo'd using tea (it seems we all fixated on the Hibiscus) to dye the fabrics so I tried some though I started out with rose hips, no pink there so added some Procion Fuscia and got great results.  I dyed vintage eyelet fabric, lace, and trims.  The color difference based on the fiber content was amazing and I loved them all.   I am also trying to create a new pattern so of course I needed another sample.  I still don't have the shape of the face exact and can't seem to put my hands on the original pattern but I'll get it to my liking next I am sure!  So enough babble, here is her story.  I have named her Rag Bag Diva and she is holding a bag made from an old cotton runner with a crocheted edge dyed with Hibiscus tea from Panera (did this while I was away in Carlisle Pa this weekend!) Who knew?????  That fabic and the lace in her bag were finds this weekend at an Antiques Market.  Her hat is a doily from my mother's Hope chest that I stiffened then added wire to the edge.  She is also holding an ankle bracelet with my Dad's initials my Mother wore while he was overseas in WW II.  Her shoes are from an Ultra Suede remnant I purchased years ago at the now defunct Fabric Outlet of PA (I am broken hearted!!!)  I made them in my hotel room-had to go outside to hammer in the eyelets!  Her hair is from a skein of yarn I got a few years ago at the Punk Rock Market in Trenton.  Crocheted a large swatch, hit it with Victorian Velvet Distress stain, let it dry, ironed it and unraveled then made her wig.  Her bloomers are from overdyed sheer curtains from my Parent's house.  They started as cream/yellow but after hitting the rose hip/fuschia water, turned a lovely shade of faded old rose.  Pic of the dying results is at the end. Forgot I did a doily too.  I think it is too big for the hat though!






4 comments:

Shashi Nayagam said...

She turned out beautiful. Love the colour and her hair and all the details. As always your dolls are gorgeous

salvage chica said...

She is just spectacular and I love the story of her creation! She is just a "Perfect in Pink"
Rag Bag Diva! SEW happy you are a member of RagBagGals!

Mary Ann Tate said...

So pretty:) I've used rose hip to dye stuff but I must try hibiscus. The results are beautiful.

Lisa said...

She is just beautiful!