Every so often I make a doll for me! I have a real affection for Dr Pamela Islay or Poison Ivy as she is know and wanted a baby Ivy for myself. Whilst purist will tell you she only turned green as an adult, I wanted a Poison Ivy Little Girl. I have real sympathy for her aims if not her methods and she is so froglike that she appealed to me even as a child. I have several incarnations of her, including a Barbie Signature Poison Ivy! as well as several hand crafted versions too. They sit well with my extensive frog collection.As soon as I saw this collection of fabrics by Liberty I wanted to make Poison Ivy. She has a patchwork floral dress with lots of different green floral fabrics and is covered in daisies. Leaves and flowers adorn her striking red hair and I love her living green skin. Their is a frog like quality to her which I relish.She as several of my favourite crystals to her heart including malachite and green jasper with rosemary and chamomile to her stuffing. A proper little miss with tiny white socks and boots, her dress is finished with organza ribbon, cuffed sleeves and lace petticoats with a serious pair of bloomers underneath. Loved making her and I love her on my wall with all the other odd dolls I crave!
I have been making and reflecting on frogs. I really enjoyed this pair as in their photo shoot I placed several of my large and expanding collection of frogs. If you peep around the photos you will see a few little treasures. I also enjoyed this wonderfully froggy fabric called Wonder Garden, a Liberty Piccadilly Poplin.Each frog is hand painted and then heavily embroidered with French knots, adding to the grumpy frog feel, These little guys are broad in the beam and look like they don't miss too many meals!I have made a similar pattern for several years but have refined and reduced the size over the years. They are now about half the size of the original design. Much of my Liberty fabric stock comes from a friend who makes ties in Bath. She cuts in such a way that I use many of her offcuts as I need only tiny pieces of fabric. However, I do actively seek out fabric that is specificlly for my frogs and enjoy doing it!
Here is my first frog of Summer 2026 and how I construct her. After cutting out the pattern I paint the eyes with acrylic paints and the begin to embroider her. I use straight stitch with around 100-120 French knots in three different coloured threads for depth. I then stitch, stuff and assemble the body. This little frog has chamomile in her stuffing and citrine as her heartstone for sunshine. I then begin to dress the doll.I always work in the same way for best use of time. I always work the doll in a day. Drawers first and then the bodice of the dress. I then change my needle from a 70 to a 90 to stitch the leather shoes. All the leather I use is less than1mm thick and most is repurposed. I them tie the shoes with complimentary perle thread and tie a bow. At this point I use a little PVA to secure the bow, This is the only time I use any glue as my old arthritic fingers will no longer tie such tiny double bows. I then set her aside to make the tiny detachable brooch and the sampler pillow.
Marcus is a little gentleman fox wearing a beautiful Liberty tana lawn waistcoat in pale blue and yellow with a soft yellow linen shirt. His cravat is the palest blue silk and his smart plus fours carry taupe and pale blue in their weave. He carries a foraging bag in felt and leather with stout leather boots for a walk in the woods. He is finished with cuffed sleeves, tiny buttons and a detachable brooch that you can wear because I like making them!To his heart he a piece of carnelian for warmth and strength with rosemary in his stuffing for remembrance and happy memories. His waitcoat is made from the same fabric as the fox in my first reels, wonderfully she sold before I could take formal photographs of her. It is called Wild Petals and sings of summer to me xx
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