It works!!!! Don't ask me what I did originally, but the link now works for the free pattern. Boy! What fun. I've checked it in Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer. All work. Firefox requires Adobe Reader, but Internet Explorer and Safari do not.
Have fun making Natania. Now that I know, kind of, how to add free patterns more will be uploaded over the next few months.
Thanks for your patience.
In my first website I had the ability to have a newsletter in which I included free patterns. Blogs have pretty much taken the place of those newsletters and websites seem to have become more complicated. Not sure why.
What I'm going to start doing here is adding some of my older free patterns, plus creating new ones. Recently I've had requests for Natania, a Name Tag Doll. 
She's only 4-inches high, not including her hair!. The name tag can be beaded, or make a fabric name tag. Meaning, the part she's holding with your name on it.
The doll herself is quite easy. You'll find the instructions and pattern pieces on the link in the Sidebar. It's in .pdf format so you can easily download the pattern.
As with all my patterns you can make as many of these as you want. Sell them, give them away, keep them. Most importantly, have fun.
Do send me photo's as I'd love to see what you come up with.
It has been awhile since I posted pictures of the grandchildren. Our daughter, JB, sent pictures of the girls at a pumpkin patch.
Kieran, almost 4 years old, and Kayleigh, now 15 months, enjoyed their time picking out the best pumpkins for their mom and dad to carve.
This past week and weekend found me in Las Vegas with a wild, and wonderful group of women. I arrived Thursday evening at Yvonne Nathanson's and we drove to Maureen Adrezin's home for a reception. Maureen is a fabulous weaver and felt artist. I'll have to have her send me some photo's. I didn't take my camera. The next day 15 women arrived at the most amazing facility. A club house that houses large rooms for wood working, fine arts and we were in the quilt room. It was lovely having room to spread out. The photo shows several of the gals having fun dyeing their lace for their versions of Viviana from my newest book.
That evening Las Vegas' sky didn't disappoint with a beautiful sunset.
The first day included finishing the face, sculpting various body parts, dyeing the lace. The next two days were spent mostly beading. Dolores was showing how fun it is to thread a size 12 beading needle.
Winnie is consulting with Marianne as to which beads to use with her shoe. Actually, I was blown away at Winnie's enthusiasm. I won't tell you how old she is, but we all hope to be as adept at beading as she is when we are close to her age.
I can't thank these women enough for inviting me to come teach a 3-day workshop. It was a delight being with them.
Watch for my next post on my trip to England. It was another incredible 3 weeks where I met more amazing people.
I've been remiss is letting everyone know about a fun event happening next week in Iowa. The PCM Expo group is having one of their Creative Festival's in Council Bluffs, Iowa. For those of you who don't know where Council Bluffs is (like I didn't) it is across the river from Omaha, Nebraska.
Julie McCullough, elinor peace bailey and myself will be doing lectures and classes. Joining us in Doll Alley will be Ute Vasina with her Trolls. You can check out the classes at the website:
http://www.pcmexpo.com
One of the really fun events is the Make It Take It. I'm madly working away at my bookmarks. I'm providing a kit that includes the body already made and backed with Pelmet Vilene. In the kit is a rubber stamp of your choice so you can stamp the face, along with the pattern for making more. I'll have colored pencils and heat set crystals to finish the bookmark.
The Festival starts on Friday, Sep. 21 with classes starting on the 20th. Both elinor and I are teaching classes that day. I'm doing my popular Facing Faces at 9am.
Hope to see some of you there!
In looking at my purses, after years of washing them, wearing them, loving them they needed to be replaced. And, since I've been playing around with my rubber stamps I decided to make a new purse. The end result was really lovely. 
I started by stamping 3 images onto white cotton. Using Lumiere and Pearl EX powders (by Jacquard) I painted the background. I used Copic markers to color the faces, hair and some of the chothing. Then I used Prismacolor pencils to add shading and highlights to the faces and necks.
While this was drying I gathered my collage bits and threw them down onto a pinkish cotton batik. I decided where to place the painted fabric and ironed a bonding sheet to its back. This set the paints and pencils. I do wash my purses, so needed to make sure everything was set.
Using decorative threads in my sewing machine I free motion sewed randomly all around the fabric. First, though, I placed fine netting over the colllaged bits to keep them in place.
Hand dyed trim was added and the purse sewn together. I'm still embellishing it, but did add some beaded flowers along one edge. The strap hasn't been added yet. I'm using a Lucet to create a strong strap and will machine sew it in place.
I've also made more bookmarks. These are simply too fun, and so easy, to make.
Thursday, July 19, our youngest daughter, Heidi, and I drove up the highway to meet with some other family members. One of the hardest things for me was giving up my maiden name - Medaris. I come from this incredible family. So, those of us who are out here in California try to get together as often as we can. Which isn't often enough.
The picture shows, from left to right, me, Aunt Willie, Heidi, Bob(Aunt Willie's husband), Don and Brenda in the wheelchair. Brenda had her ankle rebuilt and has the most amazing hardware attached. She' s truly the Bionic Woman.
As you know, I love showing pictures people send me of dolls they've made from my patterns. Here's a couple more.
Debra Durkett made this stunning doll in pinks for a lucky young lady. And, this is Debra's first doll that she's made. This woman has major talent.
Jane McGowen, from New Zealand, interpreted some of the patterns from my books, but Jane has definitely found her own style of doll making. These are stunning pieces!
Please do send me photo's. I love seeing what you do with my patterns and books.
For those of you in the midwest there's a new event starting. Interweave Press is one of the sponsors of the Fiber and Folk Art Fair in Crystal Lake, Illinois July 20-22, 2007. I'll be one of the teachers. They have a full line-up of teachers, plus a merchant mall, exhibits and a gallery showing. It really is going to be a wonderful event.
The classes will be up on their website later in the month (April). You can check out the schedule and other stuff at:
http://www.FiberandFolk.com
I'll be teaching two classes - Facing Faces
And, A Journey with Fabric Paints
I'm really looking forward to this event. I know it will be fun and educational. Inspirational, too.
Two of the teachers have submitted pictures of the projects they'll be teaching on the Creative Beading cruise Feb. 19, 2008. Annie Hesse will be teaching a stunning lariat.
I'll be teaching beaded flowers that will fit in a fun basket. Or, you can make them into a bracelet, or put them on a doll, or a quilt, or a vest, or............
Keep coming back to see what the other teachers will be teaching. Nearly all the supplies will be provided, which makes it so easy. You'll not have to carry much but your clothing and personal items.
Most of you know I don't do many workshops here in southern California. May 11-13 I'll be at Piecemaker's Country Store in Costa Mesa, CA teaching the cover doll from my new book "Creative Cloth Doll Beading". Today I finished another sample doll in different colors. The doll doesn't have her Haku Lei, nor her basket of flowers but you can see how lovely she is in greens, purples and salmon.
I think with her red hair the Haku Lei will show up really well. I'll be making the lei as I teach showing how the various flowers fit on the vine. There's still two spots left in the class. If you are interested contact Piecemaker's at: 714-641-3112, or classes @piecemakers.com
Many people seem to fear drawing a face on a doll. Several doll makers have come out with rubber stamps that can be stamped on dolls faces. I decided to join them. My newest pattern "Jiliana, a 21st Century Boudoir Doll" now has a stamp you can use on her face. Strictly optional.
The doll has two options for clothing. Silk or velvet. But, you can make her in any soft fabric of your choice. She's designed to sit on a pillow with her full skirt covering the pillow.
As most of you know, I don't have a website with a shopping cart right now. If you are interested in purchasing Jiliana ($9.00) or Jiliana with the stamp ($15.00) or just the stamp ($7.00) email me your phone number (if you live in North America) and I'll call you. If out of the U.S. I'll email you with options.
No. I'm not neurotic. Yes, this is the 2nd time I've been at TypePad. I tried another blog system, but came back here because it is easy for me and easy for you.
The MerMiniTome shown is the project that we'll be doing at the Creative Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio in June. But, first, I'll be at The City Quilter in New York City at the end of April and at the Manhattan Doll Guild in early May. You can check out my web site for that information.
This is a short post just to let everyone know I'm back blogging away. There will be more added soon so come back often.
