Posts

Comparing Beforever Samantha with Special Edition Samantha

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  Here are my two Samantha's. The first one with the curly hair is Beforever Sam that I got on eBay for $30. She was released in 2014 and retired in 2024. I'm obsessed with her right now. She has the sweetest face and I love her curls. The second Sam is the latest one that was released. I don't like her as much because her face coloring is so pale. Even her teeth don't really look white to me.

96 Pattern - Tops & Tees

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I know I haven't been posting much lately, but I wanted to stop by with a little update. My leg is doing much better! Although I still can't turn or twist it without pain, I'm making progress and feeling more like myself. I'm still working on patterns and will also begin taking one or two sewing orders at a time. I'm looking forward to getting back to doing a little more! After the overwhelming response on Facebook to keep American Girl dolls with Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, I am happy to announce that I will be combining the two instead of having a separate page. This makes it so much easier on me. I also have a new pattern to share--Tops & Tees! This pattern is perfect for anyone missing the shirt that originally came with some of their doll outfits! It includes three styles of blouses, perfect for Ruffled Overalls or Sunsuits, plus two styles of T-shirts perfect for overalls or the Elephant Romper. Available now in my Etsy shop: cpkdiana.etsy.com Thank you for ...

Hair Experiments with American Girl Dolls

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After designing my Retro Holiday Dress pattern , I thought it would be a great idea to curl Samantha's hair like Courtney's, combining their eras. I found a tutorial on Pixie Faire  that explains exactly how to do it, using perm rods, hot water heated to 165 degrees, and an ice water rinse. I used perm rods from Walmart , size 15.3mm (pink). I found a preowned BeForever Samantha doll on eBay for $30. What a deal! While I was waiting for her arrival, I decided to practice on Blaire. I had straightened  her hair before because it was dry and frizzy. Since then, I had wanted to restore her curls, but wasn't sure how. So I followed the same instructions. Here’s Blaire’s straight hair: I sprayed her hair as I went.  I cut napkins to size and wrapped them around the ends of the hair to keep them straight. I rolled the hair from the bottom up, turning it under. Once in a while, I had to redo it and the curl was already starting to set. I could have just left them in unt...

95 Pattern - Retro Holiday Dress for 18" Dolls

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I am super excited about my latest pattern. I wanted to make something that combined both eras—Samantha from 1904, and Courtney from 1986. I’ve already had some photo shoots that I posted and had many people asking about the pattern.  I wasn’t quite finished with it, as I had a marvelous plan to get another Samantha doll and curl her hair like Courtney’s.  More on that in a separate post. I found the fabric at Hobby Lobby.  It’s homespun fabric, so it already has that vintage charm.   About the dress: Bring two iconic eras together with this charming vintage-inspired dress for your 18-inch doll! Blending the timeless elegance of Samantha's Edwardian era with the bold nostalgia of Courtney's 1980s world, this festive design features a fitted bodice with a delicate white lace collar, long sleeves finished with pretty lace trim, and a full gathered skirt accented with white lace trim. A luxurious black velvet sash with an oversized bow adds a touch of old-fashioned soph...

94 Pattern - Bubble Romper to fit 12" Lullaby Cabbage Patch Kid Dolls

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  Introducing my latest pattern - #94 Bubble Romper to fit 12" Lullaby Cabbage Patch Kids dolls. This one was especially challenging, as Lully dolls are so tiny and have basically no shoulders. Available on cpkdiana.etsy.com .

93 Pattern - Bubble Romper for 20" Cabbage Patch Kids

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 Now available on cpkdiana.etsy.com , this adorable Bubble Romper Pattern is made to fit your 20" BLE/TRU Cabbage Patch Kids dolls!