Rainbow Pony

Hello lovelies!!  I've been elbow deep in felt and embroidery threads lately working on an exciting project for The Land Of Nod.  Though I cannot tell you anything about it at the moment, I will definitely post a sneak peek once I'm able!
Whilst working on the aforementioned project, I had an overwhelming urge to create a little pony that could easily be adapted into a unicorn or pegasus.  I must say, it just kills me when I get ideas for other things when I'm already busy working on something, especially something that has a deadline and requires all my attention!  Anyway, I finally got to try out my idea and here's she is!

   A little Rainbow Pony!

Next on the list, a unicorn with a mane and tail made out of wool roving and a pegasus with cute little wings.
I got a lovely surprise in the mail on Friday - a copy of my new book, My Felt Doll!!  It's now available for pre-order and due to be released this October.

 I'm just so happy with how it's turned out!  Here's a look inside:

  The little Schoolgirl is my favourite!  She wears a traditional uniform, very similar to the one I wore in High School, complete with frilly socks and satchel!

 This is the Woodland Maiden.  Her little bonnet and cloak were probably the hardest outfits to design!  Oh my goodness, I cannot tell you how many different versions of them I made till I was happy with the outcome!!  There's also a dear little hedgehog (you can spot her in the bottom left hand corner) that fits perfectly into her little basket!  The Bedtime Doll and Little Mermaid are shown below.

The book also includes an illustrated stitch guide and a list of supplies and where to get them.

 Last by not least, I've had a couple of amazing weekends with my hubby so far this summer!  We spent one weekend on our little wooden boat in False Creek and another camping at Bridal Falls.
~Shelly xo

Summer Sale!!

Happy Summer to all my Northern friends and happy Winter to all my Southern friends!  I'll be having a SALE this weekend (Saturday and Sunday) in my Etsy shop - 20% off EVERYTHING!!  Please type in coupon code SUMMERSALE2015 at the check out to receive the discount.

See you there!
~Shelly  xo

My Felt Doll Book Available for Pre-Order!!

Hello dear friends!  I have some fabulous news to share with you all!  As most of you know, I've spent most of the last year working on my very first book of doll patterns.  Well guess what?  It's now available to pre-order for October 2015 from Stitch Craft Create - please click here for the link.  This has been such a wonderful experience and I'm so excited to finally share some sneak peeks with you!

These are just a few of the 12 different dolls that will be featured in the book - from left to right above:  Little Traveler, Schoolgirl, Ringmaster and the Bedtime doll and below, a sweet Prima Ballerina!

A wonderful opportunity came my way a few weeks ago when I was contacted by Margreta, a British film student who asked me to create 5 identical dolls for a mini film called 'Trash' based on child abandonment. 

 If you'd like to watch the 3 minute movie, please click here and if you like what you see, please show your support by voting for it.  Thanks!!

Have a happy week! :)

~Shelly xo

Pocket Prims Pattern Winners!

Hello dear friends!  I just want to say a very big' Thank You' for your lovely comments and all the entries in the Giveaway post!!  I'm so glad you like the new dolls and I'm excited to share the pattern with you all!

So, the winners of the Pocket Prims pattern are:

-  Ashely Franks
-  Giane
-  Sabrina Halliwell-Walsh
-  Jacquie Sprunger Hartman
-  Mokkie

I've sent each of you an email along with the pattern.  Have fun making them!  The patterns will be available in my shops later on today:)

Have a happy weekend,
~Shelly xo

Pocket Prims Pattern Giveaway!!

Hello lovelies, how are you all?  I hope you're ready for another pattern giveaway!!  I've been working on a new cloth doll design reminiscent of the old fashioned Prim or Raggedy style dolls with a delightfully sweet Anime twist.   

 Because I love the cute style of Japanese Kawaii, I wanted to design the doll to look as adorable as possible.  Though not very tall (doll measures 9 inches), the head is quite large in comparison and showcases big button eyes and charming facial features. 

 Included in the pattern are a number of different tops and bottoms which can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfit combinations, including a simple top which closes in the back, a sweet little tunic, a pretty dress, a pair of capri's and a pair of shorts.

If you'd like to enter to win one of the new patterns, please leave your name and email address in the comments section below, or on the Facebook posts that I'll have up.  To help reduce the risk of  spamming, please don't leave your email address in its proper format, but use this example instead:  md1911(at)shaw(dot)ca.

Five lucky winners will be drawn on Friday, May 29th, and I will send the patterns to them via email.  The pattern will be available in my Etsy shop directly after the draw :)

Best of luck to you all!
~Shelly xo

Free Tutorial - Snuggle Bunny and Kitty

Hello there!  I have a lovely surprise to share with you all today, it's a free tutorial to make a Snuggle Bunny and Kitty!  Not only are these little Snuglings quick and easy to make, they're bursting with cuteness, soft and cuddly and plump and squishy too!!   Perfect to make for baby showers, little ones or anyone who loves the cute loveable style of Japanese Kawaii! I've used a super soft woven wool felt for mine, but any type of felt should work nicely.  Finished bunny measures about 8 inches tall with ears pointed up and kitty measures about 5 inches tall. 

What you'll need:
:  6x8 inch felt for main body                                         :  4x4 inch felt for kitty's ears          
:  6x6 inch felt for bunny's outer ears                             :  6x6 pink felt for bunny's inner ears
:  3x4 inch felt for bow                                                  :  Scrap pink felt for kitty's heart patch
:  Pom-pom for bunny's tail (3/4 inch)                            :  Embroidery thread/floss
:  Polyfil                                                                        :  Pink coloured pencil
:  Disappearing ink marker and ruler                              :  Scissors, sewing needles and pins            
:  Clear drying craft glue                                                :  Q-Tip
:  2x 12 inch pipe cleaners for bunny's ears                    :  Wire cutters
Download the pattern here.
.: Print pattern onto regular printer paper - no need to re-size the pieces.
.: Cut out pattern pieces and pin each piece onto your chosen felts.
.: Carefully cut around patterns.
.: To mark the grid onto the felt, keep the paper pattern piece pinned in place and gently lift its outer edges, using your disappearing ink marker to mark the beginning of the lines onto the felt. Then remove the pattern piece and use the ruler to connect the lines. The grid will help with the facial features and arm placement in later steps.  (It's only necessary to mark the grid lines onto the front piece of felt.)
.: Transfer the dots onto bunny ears with your disappearing ink marker.
.: Use two strands of thread/floss to embroider the eyes and arms and one strand of embroidery thread/floss for the snout, whiskers and all seams.  Try to keep your stitches small, neat and evenly spaced as this gives a nice, clean finish and prevents the stuffing from escaping from the seams.
.: Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.
Ok, lets begin!

.:  Embroider details onto face using stem stitches to outline the eyes and snout.  The eyelashes are straight stitches at the outer corners of each eye.  Fill snout in with satin stitches.  Embroider whiskers with straight stitches.  Stitch the outline of the arms with evenly spaced running stitches.

.: Now fold the front piece in half, right sides facing, and whip stitch the darts at the top of the head. Repeat on the back piece.
**The darts are the cut out 'V's at the top and bottom of the head. Once the head is folded in half vertically the two sides of the 'V' should meet at the center. Whip stitch the edges of the 'V' together. This will help give the head a more rounded appearance.
.: Position heart patch onto the back piece of the kitty's body and applique in place.

 .: Position front onto back, wrong sides together and pin. Starting at the bottom, blanket stitch all the way around, leaving an opening for stuffing.
.: Stuff firmly and blanket stitch opening closed. As you close the hole, add more stuffing to the bottom area if needed. The snuggle bunny or kitty should be full and plump and quite firm, but not to the point of bursting at the seams.

To make the bunny ears, position an inner ear onto an outer ear, wrong sides facing.  Blanket stitch around sides of ears, leaving the bottom edge open.  Next, you'll be making a pipe cleaner frame for each ear.  This will allow the ears to bend.
1. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and lay it onto the ear as shown.  Trim ends of the pipe cleaner with your pair of wire cutters so that they're about an inch longer than the bottom edge of the felt ear.  
2. Fold the right side of the pipe cleaner so that it forms a right angle just above the bottom edge of the felt ear.  Please notice that I've allowed a bit of room at the very top and bottom of the felt ear so that once the pipe cleaner is inserted, the frame will fit nicely.  You don't want it to be too big or small for the area.
3. Twist the end of the piece you've just folded around the straight piece on the left, making sure that the tip is laying flat and not poking out at all. 

4. Twist the end of the left side of the pipe cleaner around the piece at the bottom, making sure to tuck the tip down so that there's no sharp, poky edge sticking out.  Your frame should be just wide enough at the base so that it fits between the two dots marked at the bottom edge of the felt ear.
5. Slide the pipe cleaner frame into the ear.  Blanket stitch bottom closed.
6. Fold the bottom right hand corner of the ear so that it aligns with the right hand dot.  Blanket stitch the bottom edge down.  Fold the bottom left hand corner of the ear so that it aligns with the dot on the left and blanket stitch the edge down.

.: Pin ears onto head seam and ladder stitch front and back of each ear in place.  If the ears seem to be a bit wobbly, do another row of ladder stitches to the front and backs to anchor them in place.

.: To make the kitty ears, position front ear onto back ear, wrong sides facing.  Blanket stitch around sides of ear, add a few pinches of stuffing to plump them up and blanket stitch opening closed.
.:  Pin ears onto head seam and ladder stitch front and back of each ear in place.

 .: To attach the bunny's tail, turn the bunny over so that the back of the body is facing you.  Determine where you'd like to place the pom-pom and mark a dot in that spot with your disappearing ink marker.

.: Squeeze a blob of glue (or, use a Q-Tip to apply it) onto the marked spot and position the pom-pom on top.  Gently press the pom-pom down into the glue for a minute or two to set.

.: To make the little bow, fold bow in half lengthwise, right sides facing. Make a few tight stitches at the center on the wrong side of the bow to create a permanent pinch.
.: Fold bow in half width-wise, wrong sides facing. Blanket stitch the two short ends together.
.: Fold bow so that the blanket stitches run down the center.
.: Position short edge of Bow Center onto the center of the blanket stitches. Whip stitch short edge onto center of blanket stitches.
.: Wrap the bow center around over the front of the Bow, and overlap the opposite short edge onto the stitched edge. Stitch in place and keep your thread attached for securing onto the bunny or kitty's head.

.: Pin bow to bunny/kitty’s head and sew in place with a few stitches.

.: Gently rub your pink coloured pencil into the cheek area adding layers of colour. Use your finger or a Q-Tip to gently smudge it in for a softer look.

Aren't they just the cutest??   So, what you waiting for?  Go grab your supplies and get started!  ｡◕‿◕｡

You're welcome to sell these little darlings, I just ask that you offer GINGERMELON design credit in any written description please.  And I'd love to see how they turn out so please share your pics on my facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/gingermelondolls?ref=hl

Happy sewing everyone!!
~Shelly xo

A Sweet Pigling Pair

I've been spending some time revising a few of my older patterns lately and have recently completed the new pattern for Flora:   http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2015/03/a-new-look-for-flora-explorer.html and the design of the Pocket Bunnies (still working on re-writing the pattern for these):  http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2015/03/spring-sale.html. With each one, I've created what I hope is a cuter, more detailed design as well as an updated version of each pattern that includes a new grid for easier placement of facial features and lots of close-up photos to better show how to make them.  Here is my latest addition, the Pocket Piglings!

I'm having so much fun re-doing these little sweeties and it really is fun to see how they compare to the originals once they're done!

That's the original piggy in the middle!  As you can see, the new piggies are a bit smaller in size and I've designed a new ear and snout shape for them. 

Here's a look at the pocket piggies and bunnies that are now complete.  Next will be the fox...

Just so you know, the new versions of the patterns will be available once all the Pocket Pets have been re-done.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover dear friends!  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend! 
~Shelly xo

Spring Sale!!

Happy Spring to all my northern friends and happy Autumn to all my southern pals!  To celebrate the season, I'm having a big sale this weekend in my Etsy shop!  If you've been wanting to stock up on patterns, felt, safety eyes and buttons, now's the perfect time to get everything you need!  Please enter SPRINGSALE in the Coupon Code area once you get to the checkout to receive 20% off your entire order!  Sale starts Saturday, 28 March, 12:00am Eastern time and goes till Sunday, 29th, 11.59pm Eastern time.

Just a quick note about the little bunny in the above photo - she's a re-make of my original Pocket Bunny pattern.  I've tweaked the pattern pieces a bit and the new pattern will include step-by-step photos, a grid for the face pattern piece (to make it easier for facial feature placement) and the bonus part is that it will also include pattern pieces, photos and instructions to make a little boy bunny wearing a cute pair of shorts! 

 Aren't they a cute pair?

   Here's a photo of the original Pocket Bunny (above right) and the new one on the left.  As you can see, the new bunny is slightly smaller in the body, her little ears are different as is the placement of her facial features.  I've also included a tiny bow accessory.

I'm planning on re-doing each of the original Pocket Pets (below) and will share photos of their progress as I go through each one.  I hope you like the new version of the bunny so far!

Have a fabulous weekend!
~Shelly xo

A New Look for Flora the Explorer!

Flora the Explorer has had a make over!  I've tweaked her pattern here and there and I hope you'll agree that her new look is much cuter than before! 

 The newest version of the pattern includes a slightly different face grid for facial feature placement, bigger eyes, shorter legs, a brand new suitcase and a sweet little bow!  I've also completely re-written her pattern and have included many photos showing how to make her.
I've made a bunch of these sweet kitties in different colours and each one is available as a kit in my Etsy shop.

Below is the original Flora which I created a couple of years ago - you can read more about her here:  http://gingermelondolls.blogspot.ca/2012/02/flora-explorer.html

And then I re-did her pattern a while later and created the ones below:

They are positively beady-eyed and unfriendly looking in comparison!

I hope you like her new look!
~Shelly

Pocket Fairies

From as far back as I can remember, I've always loved playing with dolls.  When I was little, my Nan would turn plastic margarine tubs into the most wonderful little doll bassinets, complete with tiny hand sewn pillows and blankets made from scraps of wool.  Back then, the tubs were rectangular in shape which was perfect for making into dolls' beds.  She would poke holes all around the top rim and then attach colourful little skirts which she'd crocheted to hide the outside of the container.  Oh what fun we had putting our little babies to sleep in them!!

 I had an idea of creating a teensy baby doll to fit inside a little tin.  Well, as the doll progressed, she had a bit of a mind of her own and she ended up becoming a tiny fairy instead.  And once she was made, she told me that she needed a little friend who could come for sleepovers.... 

  So, I made two tiny fairies, each just big enough to fit snuggly into an Altoids tin bed which I decorated with pretty papers.  Each wee bed contains an embroidered pillow and a colourful patched quilt which keep the fairies snug and warm on chilly nights.

 Don't they look cozy in their little beds??

I wanted to create a pretty little bed, reminiscent of the ones my Nan used to make, so I chose papers with tiny patterns and prints in soft colours to decorate each tin.

The pillows are embroidered with tiny lazy daisy flowers and the quilts are reversible - cute, tiny patches on one side and a solid colour on the other.

These tiny girls measure just over 3 inches tall and their dresses and wings are removable.  I've used a tiny press stud closure to connect their wings directly onto their backs, so they can easily be removed for dressing.  Their hair is made from Tussah Silk roving, so it can be gently styled or tied back with narrow ribbon.

The pattern for the little fairies will include instructions and pattern pieces to make the doll, her little dress and wings, the bedding and the templates needed for decorating the tin.  And it should be available soon!!

Wishing you a wonderful week :)
~Shelly xo

Li'l Sweetheart Bear Winners

 Hello dear friends!!  Thank you very much to everyone who entered my giveaway here on my blog and on my Facebook page!!  Your wonderful comments are such a delight to read and I'm really glad you love the new little bears!  I've done a random drawing for the winners through Random.Org and the two lucky ladies are Cheryl Crawford Sanders and Joanna Simpson!!  Congrats to you both!!
Patterns for the Li'l Sweetheart Bear are now available in my shop! 

Have a lovely weekend!

~Shelly xo