Sasha Doll Style

Kish 4 Seasons Summer... Sold

2011-11-03T21:25:00.002Z

Thursday, 3rd November 2011

Beautiful Helen Kish 4 Seasons doll.

This lovely girl is Summer. I have owned her for several years but she has never been displayed and has been stored in her box. She was only taken out for these photographs to be taken.

If you would like to buy Summer, please contact me .

She is sold. £110.00 plus postage.

Kish 4 Seasons Spring... Sold

2011-11-03T21:20:00.000Z

Thursday, 3rd November 2011

Helen Kish 4 Seasons

This beautiful doll is Spring.
I have owned Spring for several years. She has never been displayed and was only taken out of her box to be photographed. She is in perfect condition and has a very pretty long fringe.

If you would like to buy her please contact me .

She is sold. £110.00 plus postage.

And Knitting Continues...

2011-11-01T00:44:00.000Z

1 November 2011

I am working on the new Sasha doll collection at the moment - Winter Shoreline...

The colours are beautiful... taupe, sand, cream, sky blue, sea green, greys... some are subtle and muted whilst others are strong and dramatic reminiscent of a stormy day...

Child's Play... Puppet Theatre...

2011-09-09T10:03:00.000+01:00

9th September 2011

While my nieces were visiting Belfast, they loved to spend time playing with my Sasha dolls.

I only photographed a couple of their play sessions. This was when they set up the puppet theatre.

They chose the dolls that were going to watch the play.

Decided on the characters and set about the play.

Behind the scenes...

My God-daughter the Young Photographer...

2011-08-17T00:20:00.001+01:00

I was just sorting through my photographs tonight before going to bed, moving most of them to the external hard drive for storage and I came across these photographs that were taken in May. My nieces had been planning what they wanted to do while I was visiting.

In this series of photographs... all the ones showing my niece (who is 6), were taken by me... and all of the photos showing just the Sasha dolls and their toys were the actual photos taken by her with only a tiny amount of cropping. Her grandma bought her the camera she is using for Christmas the year before she turned 4 and she has been taking photos of her teddy bears and dolls (without beheading them) ever since. She was given her own camera after she accidentally dropped her mum's camera.

My niece had been planning exactly what type of photos she wanted to take. Isn't it lovely the way her little sister watches what she is doing with such concentration...

She posed her baby Sasha (sundress baby) crawling towards her little toys...

She posed the dolls and took a few photographs... Each doll is holding its own cuddly toy...

Then she spent ages getting her Sasha dolls to stand up. I think I had to help a little with her blonde girl Anna (schoolgirl). But she succeeded in getting Holly to stand up and I just love how she has posed her baby Sundress... such a lovely composition. This is her actual photograph.

Then she posed Holly sitting on the stump from the old hedge holding a beautiful blue hardy geranium.

And this lovely photo is the result... I didn't crop this photo at all.

For little girls who lost their papa only the month before these were taken, they are a total inspiration to all of us.

(I am known as Dolly Auntie aka Dolly Godmother... she is a fan of my Sasha Stories and has them on her favourites button on their laptop...)

Marmalade Compote Collection...

2011-07-24T23:37:00.001+01:00

The lovely new Marmalade Compote Collection is now available at Sasha Doll Style

It has been an absolute treat creating this collection and I am delighted with the finished outfits.

Tiny Socks...

2011-07-20T23:35:00.000+01:00

I have almost finished knitting all the tiny socks for the Marmalade Compote Collection.

They are a mixture of 4 ply wool and lace weight wool... I love the little striped ones.

Marmalade Compote Preview 3...

2011-07-15T09:21:00.001+01:00

I love these outfits and how they are turning out. The colours are glorious.

Ariel, Sandy and one of my waifs are modelling the outfits.

I love this outfit, it is one of my favourite so far. I love the pretty fairisle yoke sweater and hat. I shall be doing socks to match. Haven't decided on footwear yet. Haven't found the perfect shoes yet.

The outfit that Ariel is wearing is turning into an absolute beauty. I love the fairisle sweater (patterned on back and front), with an edging to the sleeve and around the edge of the hat. I still need to make the trousers and knit the socks. Loving it so far though.

A closeup. Love the contrasting colours in this outfit.

Sandy looks so cool in this outfit. The sweater is a self striping 4 ply wool/cotton mix yarn in apricot, ivory, yellow ochre, grey, blue and brown. I loved the wool that I have used for his hat and scarf.

I have used a lovely tie dye needlecord for his trousers and have chosen laced leather Boneka shoes. Haven't decided which yarn to use for his socks though. Sandy is such a cute gregor.

Marmalade Compote Preview 2...

2011-07-11T10:05:00.000+01:00

This is the second preview set of photos for the Marmalade Compote collection.

I love the colours in this set of outfits. I was very lucky to find the perfect apricot Ugg boots the same colour as the cute duffle coat.

The apricot coloured finewale duffle coat is fully lined with ivory. I used pale coloured wooded toggles and light biscuit suede for the loops. The model is my Gotz Sophie. When she arrived with me she had already had her eyes enhanced but I redid it.

This sweater dress/long tunic is hand knit using a lovely hand dyed 4 ply merino wool. It is truly beautiful. I have used moss stitch for the panel down the centre front and back, the neck, cuffs and the deep hem. The dress has raglan shaping for the sleeves.

I haven't finished sewing in the ends yet and am still deciding what will be the perfect colour for her leggings/tights. The dress looks gorgeous with the Ugg boots. There will be a lovely ear flap hat with this outfit.

This is just the start of this outfit. I have the trousers and blouse made. I shall be using two lovely contrasting shades of lace weight wool for the cardigan, hair tie and socks. I adore these gorgeous pearl leather Boneka shoes. They are perfect with Emilie's outfit. Emilie is a Kelly Wenarksky repaint with pretty blue eyes and has a lovely long auburn hair (human hair wig).

Marmalade Compote Preview 1...

2011-07-07T23:51:00.000+01:00

Preview photos of the new collection that I am working on. These are three of the new outfits. The outfits were not placed in any particular order but I thought you might enjoy seeing them as I am nearing the point of working on all the accessories, hats, scarves, socks, choosing footwear etc.

As you can see they are not finished yet. I was taking some photographs of the outfits to this point to enable me to decide what needs to be done for each outfit. I always find photos at an intermediate stage really help.

I thought a few closeups would be nice.

A beautiful fairisle sweater. I have used a self striping 4 ply wool for the green and a 4 ply ginger wool for the contrast. I love the effect this creates. I have teamed this with sage coloured needlecord trousers and pearl shoes. I haven't decided on the accessories yet. This is Maya. She is a lovely girl from 1970. I repainted her eyes because one was very badly faded.

A gorgeous self striping 4 ply wool sweater. Lovely stripes of marmalade, apricot, amaranth, gold and purple. Starla looks really cute in this lovely polo neck Sweater. I painted her green eyes.

This cute summer outfit is finished. It has a lovely swimming costume, cover up, patchwork bag, shorts, hat and slip on suede sandals. This is Pippy one of my lovely Kelly Wenarsky repaints. She has very vivid hair.

Marmalade Compote Inspiration...

2011-06-23T10:59:00.026+01:00

23 June 2011

I love the way this collection is coming together...

The colours are beautiful to work with from subtle... to vibrant...

When I started planning Marmalade Compote... I hadn't realised what a huge variety of tones, tints and shades of orange, marmalade, ginger, tangerine, gold, rust etc there were...

As usual with a new collection... I started with a few photographs that really appealed to me...

And began collecting together, fabrics, yarns, wools, and buttons that worked with the colour scheme...

And now the outfits for this collection are taking shape and I love how they are turning out...

New Website for Sasha Doll Style

2011-06-18T22:24:00.000+01:00

18 June 2011

The new website for Sasha Doll Style is now online...

It seems to be working but if the old one comes up first please try refreshing the screen...

Let me know if you encounter any difficulties...

The early redhead twins from 1968... Poppy and Peter...

Pretty in Pink Collection...

2011-06-15T16:59:00.000+01:00

15 June 2011

The new Sasha Doll Style website is ready to upload to the web... Intending to do this on Saturday and hopefully everything will go smoothly...

The Pretty in Pink Collection is finished...

There are twelve delightful outfits in this collection...

And two duffle coats...

one a very pale blush pink and the other the colour of summer berries...

Of course, I always end up with a couple of favourites in any collection and the first outfit in this photo is one of those... I love everything about this outfit...

I love how the colours have worked together to create this collection...

pretty and pink... without being 'too' pink...

Pretty in Pink Collection...

2011-04-30T14:24:00.001+01:00

30 April 2011

This collection is in shades of pink...

The outfits in the forthcoming collections will all be "One of a Kind"...

As usual I have been inspired by the beautiful world of nature... grass... leaves... blossoms...

I find a lot of pink a little bit cloying and sweet... yet... pink offset with other colours... greens... blues... paler ice pinks... can be truly beautiful... as we find in nature... this image is of a pink variety of Babies Breath... I love how it looks against the green leafy colours in the background...

I love the pinky tones and beautiful starry blossoms of Astrantia... I used to have Astrantia growing in the garden and it does make a lovely cut flower... the lovely green and pink wool is a unique hand dyed wool... Some of the ideas developed in my sketch book have been used to create the new outfits for the Pretty in Pink Collection while others have not...

I have been trying to do the little bit of work needed to complete the new collection...

which I had almost finished before Easter... we had some devastating news on Easter Monday and it is difficult to continue with anything as all our lives have changed immeasurably... but nor does doing nothing help...

A Nautical Theme...

2011-04-10T12:13:00.004+01:00

10th April 2011

Progress on the new website continues... Creating the new website has given me the opportunity to make changes... to take time to re-photograph the dolls... update sections that I had been intending to add to or change for such a long time...

A Nautical Theme...

My nautical collection of outfits from the Trendon and Gotz eras... I have always thought that it was a shame that there isn't an outfit for Gregor to wear...

Sometimes when I am displaying this collection at home I put Sandy Hikers outfit with it (but without his sleeping bag and ruck sack) as I think it works quite well within this theme. I have two of the Sandy Hiker shirts one with a pocket and one without. I like the shirt without the pocket when he is wearing his rucksack. I like the shirt with the pocket with this grouping...

The outfits from left to right...

Pintucks wearing Trendon "Marina" outfit, Gotz Claudius wearing his own sailor outfit, Miriam wearing Trendon "Sailing Suit" outfit, Sandy Hiker wearing his own Trendon outfit, early Baby Boy wearing Gotz baby "Lena" outfit, and finally, Lily wearing Gotz "Marina" outfit...

I think it is so interesting the different ways in which the nautical theme can be interpreted.

My Sasha Collection is being completely reworked...

I have been collecting the original pieces of Sasha clothing for a very long time. When I first started buying Sasha dolls I often bought nude dolls or waifs on ebay as I couldn't afford the MIB dolls... so after investigation I would start to watch out for the outfit that they would have worn on ebay or for sale on other websites like Shelly's...

I decided that I would like to combine my original outfits collection with the photographing of my Sasha, Gregor, toddler and baby collections... So I have been photographing a few of the dolls each morning... I have been enjoying the process and thinking about the outfits that I am still looking for...

A couple of my outfits have a reproduction element as the doll arrived with part of its original outfit missing... I decided it would be fun to photograph some of the dolls wearing their original outfit but others are wearing a different outfit to the one they would have arrived in... Partly because the clothing collection is larger than the doll collection and partly because I always thought a few of the outfits were cuter on a different doll...

Inspirational Purples...

2011-03-21T18:55:00.000Z

Monday 21st March 2011

Just after Christmas... after some computer troubles... and the discovery that my software that I used for my website was no longer compatible with the new Windows software...

This has meant that although my website Sasha Doll Style is still on the web I have been unable to update it or make any changes to it since early January...

I knew that the time to give my Sasha Doll Style website a complete overhaul had arrived...

I have been working on the colour schemes for 6 new collections...

These are few photos that I took of the fabrics, wools and inspirational images for the purples collection.

I have started work on the outfits for the Pretty in Pink Collection...

I am hoping that the new website will be completed fairly soon... I hadn't realised just how large Sasha Doll Style had become over the wonderful years that I have been on the web...

Making a Sasha Bedroom - The Bed - Part 3...

2010-12-22T09:52:00.000Z

22 December 2010

Planning the step ladder for Sasha to reach the bed platform...

I decided that one of the other book shelf pieces could be "adapted" to this purpose... Unfortunately they are quite well put together and all the dowels have been "tacked" into place so won't be as easy to dismantle as I had hoped...

I wanted to see what gradient would be best for Sasha to balance well. I am also wondering whether to use dowels or flat step pieces.

The round dowelling works well for her to hold on...

Which may be useful when I am photographing the room... I do prefer my doll not to fall off too easily as she could be hurt...

An overall view always helps to see that it is right proportionally. Looking at this photo I think I will probably also need to have a safety rail at the top between the step ladder and the foot/head of the bed.

Making a Sasha Bedroom - The Bed - Part 2...

2010-12-14T10:11:00.025Z

14 December 2010

After much thought...

I measured the hook on the clothes hanger to see what gap would be needed between the bed platform and the clothes rail...

Then I looked at the eye parts of my hooks and eyes. Initially I thought of using the hooks but when the dowelling fitted through the eye part perfectly, I thought it would be the better choice.

By screwing the eyes in but not completely I was able to have the correct space for the clothes hangers... I used three hooks so that the dowelling wouldn't sag in the middle with the weight of the clothes.

I hung up a few dresses to see how they would look. I was wondering how best to put shoes underneath and decided that some of the miniature plastic crates would work perfectly for this purpose. Either that of the shoes could be a jumbled mess underneath the dresses which would probably be closer to my own method of shoe care as a child...

Sasha took a look to see how her dresses looked hanging up... allows me to see that the rail and wardrobe area is in a nice proportion to her...

She is wearing a sweater that I finished knitting a while ago but only recently sewed the seams. It is reminiscent of the beautiful sweaters designed by Kaffe Fassett.

Sasha Pintucks ... Sold

2010-12-13T19:21:00.000Z

13 December 2010

Beautiful Rhoswen is for sale on Sasha Doll Style...

Rhoswen

Limited Edition Sasha "Pintucks" (Blonde Wig), #182A (1982) #151 of 4600

Rhoswen (Welsh name meaning White Rose) is a gorgeous blue eyed pintucks. She is very photogenic as all the limited edition girls are. Her stringing has been replaced. She stands and poses beautifully. She has incredibly good hair, very thick and well conditioned. Her wig is human hair and I have always conditioned it every few months to prevent it becoming brittle. She is wearing a turquoise finewale corduroy dress with matching pants, white socks and black Mary Jane Shoes. She has a pretty butterfly clasp in her hair. She is a very pretty girl and I am sure she will be cherished by her new owner.

Making a Sasha Bedroom - The Bed - Part 1...

2010-12-12T14:08:00.002Z

12 December 2010

I thought it would be fun to do a series of posts about the making of my Sasha Bedroom... the photos will be taken as I am actually creating the room, so it will be an ongoing project for a while...

I had actually started making the bed. I have an image in my head of a modern bed with a bed on a platform above a desk area and initially I thought it would be nice to have a comfy sofa section or space for the bean bag but then I decided it would be a wardrobe area for hanging dresses...

As working with wood isn't really my forte... I started off with a little flat pack pine 3 shelf bookshelf unit that I bought a couple of years ago in Au Naturale. This gave me the pieces to create the basic bed structure. I had already thought about the dimensions required for the bed so I knew when I bought the bookshelf that it was roughly the correct proportions for my needs.

I am wondering how best to attach the rail for hanging the clothes as on this side there isn't a flat edge to attach it to... not quite sure what to use for attaching it, but I do have some fine pine dowelling that was left over from making the class room which I am intending to use.

I made an upright using some of the pine that was bought for making the school desks.

It slots into the bed platform at the top and also supports one edge of the desk beneath the bed...

Sasha is interested to watch the way her bedroom is being made... I often find that I decide who will be in the story while I am actually making the room setting.

I needed to find a way of attaching the desk on the other side to the round piece of dowelling (strut actually attached to the original book shelf side). These two soft metal hanging attachments (from a small cork notice board) were perfect.

As the metal was soft I was able to bend them to fit.

Sasha standing beside the basic structure of her new bed. I bought some perfect sized clothes hangers last year which allowed me to be able to plan for the wardrobe section of the bed rather than making it into a lounging area...

Although that would also have been cute...

Even though I have decided to use the hangers for the wardrobe part of the bed it still helps to see how my original idea might have worked...

So Sasha moved her bean bag and quilt in and the kittens quickly followed her...

Sashas ... All Sold

2010-11-23T09:21:00.000Z

23 November 2010

It is always a wrench parting with my Sasha dolls...

For once I actually have the dolls on Sasha Doll Style as I put them onto the Dolls For Sale page last night.

Amelia

Amelia is a beautiful mid-70's blonde who was repainted by Kelly Wenarsky and given a lovely hair colour. Her hair was originally a light tawny brown but has over time become a beautiful honey blonde colour. She is a gorgeous girl. When I bought her she was wearing bright yellow dungarees which I felt was too strong a colour for her so I made her an outfit that I felt accentuated the colour of her eyes. A truly beautiful one of a kind Sasha doll who will make a lovely addition to a Sasha family.

Robbie

Robbie is a handsome Gregor from 1968 who I bought this year. He is a very cute boy but I have two other brunette boys from early 1968 and Mark who is from 1970 (who I like to take out on location) so I am parting with Robbie. He is gorgeous with perfect hair (none falling) and the most amazing dreamy eyes.

Raven

Raven is a truly beautiful Sasha. I think she is from the early 80's made by Trendon although she doesn't feel as large as some of the other 80's dolls I have owned. She has a beautiful face and gorgeous very dark brown almost black hair which is glossy and thickly rooted and perfect (none falling). Her only flaw is at her hair line (near her left ear) where the factory left a few rooting holes with no hair. It has never been noticeable. She will be a beautiful addition to someone's Sasha family.

Jalia

Jalia was created by Kelly Wenarsky in Sept 2006 and I bought her then. She is a beautiful girl. Amazing depth of colour in her eyes and the shade of pink used for her lips really suits her. I loved this fabric on her and made her the smocked dress soon after I bought her. She has been on display. Her wig is not glued on (Monique Navajo in black) as I have had her wear the very straight Peggy Sue wig before but I always preferred the lovely wavy hair of this wig on her. I have always liked that Kelly gives well loved dolls a new lease of life and this is one of them. I think she was probably an early Caleb and she has some puppy nibble marks on her hands. She is a stunning one of a kind girl.

Gotz Sasha Maria... Sold

2010-11-19T17:06:00.001Z

19 November 2010

Beautiful Sasha Doll Sold...

I have decided to sell my lovely Gotz Maria. She is in beautiful condition. She has no neck caving which is a problem many of these girls can suffer from. I have never had her hair out of her pony tail but she doesn't have her original hair tie or clothing and I have not owned her from new so she may have worn her hair loose at some time in the past.

She has a wonderful long fringe and a beautiful face and lovely eyes with eyelashes. A gorgeous addition for your Sasha collection. I shall be putting her onto my website at the weekend along with a couple of other Sasha dolls who are also looking for new homes. I have dressed her in a modern loose style dark red Rowan 4 ply tweed wool hand knit polo neck sweater and fun floral corduroy trousers. She has white socks and black shoes with bows on the front. A very cute girl...

Amethyst Dreams - Part 2

2010-11-09T14:44:00.002Z

9 November 2010

I have finished all the photography for the new Amethyst Dreams Collection of Sasha and Gregor clothing. The website should be updated by tomorrow morning. The first half of the collection was placed on Sasha Doll Style website last night. Amethyst Dreams Collection

(Inspiration for Amethyst Dreams)

Group 3

Sasha (fringe girl circa 1968) is wearing a richly coloured wide rib sweater knitted in Araucania hand painted wool. I used the same lovely wool to knit her ear flap hat. Her scarf and socks are knitted using a dark indigo wool. I used the same wool to knit the edge on her hat and both wools are used for the plaits. Her bootleg style trousers are made using a lovely Amethyst coloured finewale corduroy. Gorgeous outfit.

David (my 1972 gregor) is wearing a cute outfit. I used crazy zauberball sock wool for his sweater and hat. I loved the long repeat in this yarn which gave a very modern look to the graduating colours. His socks are knitted using a lovely lace weight shetland wool which picks out one of the colours in his sweater. His straight leg trousers are made from mid blue denim. The trousers have pockets at the front. The outfit really suits David.

Sasha (Jeans 1968) is wearing a lovely striped sweater dress. I have used the same lovely Araucania wool and indigo wool to knit the dress in fine stripes. I used the indigo for her cuffs, polo neck collar and welt. Also used the indigo to knit her modern style hat. I spent a lot of time looking for fabric to make her tights. Couldn't find the right colour anywhere and then I saw a woollen sweater in a shop that was just the right colour. I brought it home and cut off one sleeve. Perfect. The outfit is completed with chestnut Uggs.

Group 4

Sarah (mid 70's brunette) is wearing a beautiful outfit. Her sweater is a gorgeous mix of purples and magentas. Wonderful depth of colour. Her earflap hat is made using a Lorna's Laces Sock wool. Her bootleg style trousers are made using a gorgeous mauve needlecord. Her socks are made using the same wool as her sweater.

I used this outfit for modelling the duffle coat which is a wonderful magenta needlecord lined with a darker contrasting mauve lining. Mauve leather thong used for the loops and wooden toggles. Beautiful duffle coat.

My brunette Sasha re-root is wearing the cabled sweater. It has two cables at the front and double moss st for the background and sleeves. A polo neck collar and rib cuffs and welt. I have used the same lovely 4 ply dusky pink wool for the double moss st socks. Her bootleg trousers are also mauve needlecord. I have used a lovely Fyberspates hand dyed sock yarn for her hat and scarf. Very soft.

Katie is wearing a beautiful sweater dress with polo neck and front pocket hand knitted using Lorna's laces wool in Black Purl colourway. Her earflap hat was knitted using the same wool and edged using a lovely pinky/mauve bamboo yarn. I has a gorgeous sheen and the colour sets off the dress and hat perfectly. I used both yarns for the plaits on the earflap hat. Her leggings are made from pinky/mauve cotton jersey. A very attractive outfit. She is wearing black slip on shoes.

Amethyst Dreams - Part 1

2010-11-08T16:31:00.000Z

8 November 2010

It seems like a long time ago that I began choosing the colours and looking for inspiration for my new Amethyst Dreams Collection of new clothes for Sasha and Gregor...

These are some of my very favourite colours and I have found it very difficult to stop...

In the end the collection has 12 knitwear outfits... I do have several other outfits that were started and are in various stages of completion but I realised that I found this collection so inspiring that I could continue working on it forever... so a halt had to be called...

I shall revisit it at a later date with the other outfits when they are finished... but for now I have some very patient people awaiting their commissioned outfits...

I had intended most of these outfits to have little black ankle boots with them... then I realised that I had forgotten to order them... oops... ordered now but will take a couple of weeks to arrive...

GROUP 1

I couldn't resist photographing these two outfits together. Sasha waif who is as yet unnamed - used to be a 1972 Gregor but his falling hair became a real issue so has been rewigged with a lovely Trendon Sasha Princess Wig. She is wearing a White Horses in Starlight sweater with a matching hat and socks... Her bootleg style trousers are a lovely mid blue denim. I love knitting this sweater... Fairisle is such fun to work.

Greg (from 1970) is wearing a sweater knitted using the same lovely Trekking sock yarn as the background yarn used for the White Horses sweater. I teamed it with a contrasting pale blue 4 ply wool for his hat, scarf and socks... He has straight leg mid blue denim trousers. A gorgeous outfit on him that brings out the lovely colour of his eyes.

Sasha is modelling the 3rd outfit in this group. I was inspired by the lovely 4 ply multi colour sock wool... As it was quite a "bright" wool I wanted to tone it down so teamed it with a gorgeous dark teal 4 ply wool... This has been used as the main colour for her sweater. I also used it to edge the fun ear flap hat and for the plaits... I decided that it would be cool if her hat and socks were bright and cheerful... I couldn't find the right shade of teal corduroy so opted for a very dark green needlecord for her bootleg style trousers. A very cute combination.

GROUP 2

I love this group of outfits... It has the two pale coloured outfits within it...

Ffyon my lovely Trendon Pintucks from 1982 is wearing a gorgeous Fair Isle yoke sweater... The main colour is worked in a 4 ply ivory wool which sets off the light blue, denim blue and pale pink used for the colourwork. She has mauve/pink lace weight hand knitted socks. Her trousers are mid-blue denim bootleg style trousers. Her outfit is completed with a lovely ivory hand knitted hat. A lovely outfit.

Gregor (from 1968) is wearing one of my favourite outfits from this collection. I really love how this sweater turned out and the gorgeous colour combination... of the mauves, purples, lavender, denim blue and zesty green. I used the same sock wool for his hat. His trousers are sewn from lavender coloured needlecord and have pockets at the front. His striped socks are knit using two colours of lace weight shetland wool that pick out colours from the sweater.

Natalie looks very pretty wearing this sweater that features a pretty multi coloured fairisle zig zag edging pattern worked in a lovely Jitterbug sock wool... I love the ivory setting off the pretty colours... It works really nicely... I made a hat to match the sweater using the lovely fairisle rib for the edge. After trying the sweater with a few different colours I settled on a strong magenta needlecord for her trousers. They are straight leg style with pockets at the front. Her sweater fastens at the back with two buttons that are exactly the same colour as her trousers. This allows for the sweater to be worn with the buttons to the front for a different look. I waited until I had chosen the trouser colour before choosing the buttons as I thought it would be nice to have them matching. She has pink and white track shoes.

Sewing trousers...

2010-11-06T22:33:00.000Z

6 November 2010

I don't usually take photographs of my workspace as I am not the tidiest creative worker on the planet... the boxes contain custom orders in progress and the beginnings of future collections while I collect together colours, fabrics, threads, buttons, shoes and inspirational images...

The last pieces for the Amethyst Dreams Collection are under way... cut out and in the process of being made... It has been a wonderful collection of outfits to work on and I have really enjoyed the process...

Work would have been finished today... but I had a stressful day so the sewing will be finished tomorrow and photography will start on Monday morning... I like to take photographs in natural light... so most photos are taken in the morning... I shall be putting this Collection onto the website in a slightly different way... hopefully about 4 outfits per day over the middle of next week.

Selling Sasha Dolls... All Sold

2010-11-05T10:33:00.002Z

5 November 2010

I always find it enormously difficult to part with any Sasha dolls from my collection... but I have come to the conclusion that I have too many to be able to enjoy them all properly...

I have decided to sell some of the dolls that I never use for modelling clothes or for the Sasha Stories...

They are all sold.

Elke

Gotz - Sasha Toddler

She is a beautiful little toddler that I bought a few years ago... I never liked her wearing the pink toddler outfit that I thought was very old fashioned for a toddler and the pink really didn't do her justice... I think she looks so much prettier wearing pale blue as it enhances the colour of her pale blue eyes... This toddler is a beautiful little girl that I have owned from new. She was the first toddler that I bought. She has only ever been on display. Her dress and pants were made by me.

Julia

Trendon - Sasha Short Blonde "Sweater" made between 1982-1984.

I have owned this lovely girl for a few years. She has a beautiful expressive face and lovely longer length hair that is nicely styled. The ends of her hair are slightly dry. She is a very pretty Sasha and I will be sorry to see her leave. She has original stringing. I knitted a pretty sweater using cotton and wool mix sock yarn and teamed it with a lovely pair of trousers which match the burnt sienna coloured stripe in the sweater. She also wears a pair of red track shoes.

Juliet

Trendon - Sasha Honey Blonde "Silk Dress" made between 1981-1984

A gorgeous honey blonde girl with expressive brown eyes. Her honey blonde hair has a lot of factory curl remaining. She has a lovely long fringe. I have always liked my Sasha dolls to have a longer length of fringe and it is something I always looked for. She still has her original stringing. She is wearing a pretty sweater hand knit from sock wool in shades of russet and terracotta with flecks of ivory. Her scarf and hat are hand knit using ivory wool with stripes of the sock wool used in her sweater. She also wears warm brown finewale corduroy trousers and a pair of track shoes.

A beautiful girl who will make a wonderful addition to your Sasha collection.

Happy Halloween...

2010-10-31T18:59:00.000Z

31 October 2010

Hope you have a wonderful Halloween going trick or treating...

Eating freshly baked apple pie like my mum used to make...

And having loads of fun at your Halloween Parties...

When we were children my mum used to have amazing Halloween Parties... I based the Sasha Halloween Party story on what we used to do as children... It was so much fun...

Socks... Socks... Socks...

2010-09-27T17:03:00.000+01:00

27 September 2010

I have been knitting a lot of socks recently... in the evenings, I have been relaxing in front of the tv or an anime dvd, knitting socks for myself... very enjoyable...

However, the outfits for the new collection were also at the stage of needing their socks... so now I am knitting lots of pairs of Sasha sized socks to match the outfits...

Tiny socks are so incredibly cute to work on... when I finish the next 3 pairs I will be moving onto hats...

Amethyst Dreams Collection in Progress...

2010-09-16T07:30:00.000+01:00

16 September 2010

This collection is still very much at the in-progress stage... but is coming along pretty well...

Isn't this the cutest Gregor? He is so handsome... bought him on ebay a few months ago... I need to restring him but haven't had the time yet. He has beautiful eyes and dates from 1968...

I haven't decided upon the socks or accessories to go with these outfits yet but I definitely know the yarns I am using and have thoughts and rough ideas sketched out in my notebook...

I love the colours I have used in these outfits. I adore using textural patterns. The hand dyed wool used for the scarf and hat is truly beautiful and very soft...

Baby's Bedroom...

2010-09-15T10:05:00.001+01:00

15 September 2010

I have taken quite a lot of the photographs for the baby's bedroom... Although I still need to take some additional shots hopefully at the weekend when there may be the opportunity of having similar light conditions... I hope...

I have loads of ideas for the story and even know what the title will be... for a change...

Amethyst Dreams Collection in Progress...

2010-09-14T17:59:00.003+01:00

14 September 2010

The new Amethyst Dreams Collection is coming along nicely...

I am at the stage of knitting little socks... hats... bags... I love the hand dyed Lorna's Laces Shepherd sock wool that I used for the earflap hat... it complements the wool used for the sweater so perfectly...

In the case of others... sewing trousers and choosing footwear...

For some of the outfits I have finished the jumper and am deciding on the best choice of contrasting yarns to create the accessories to go with the outfit...

Need to start sewing the dresses soon as I have completed the smocking... I have loved working with these colours they are a dream to work on... hence the name...

Samples for Amethyst Dreams Collection... Part 2

2010-09-05T09:37:00.002+01:00

5 September 2010

It never ceases to amaze me how ideas seem to keep arriving... I start off collecting images within a colour family for my inspiration noticeboard... a photograph of the noticeboard is in my samples sketchbook on the page above...

Then the fun starts as I start going through my huge collection of wools, yarns and fabrics... choosing colours that work within my chosen colour theme...

At which point I am ready to start sampling... I am thinking all the time about different weights of fabric and yarn... different textures... how the colourway will work together as a collection...

In my notebook I think about the different shapes and styles that I want to create in the collection... how they will look on the different Sasha dolls... which Sasha dolls I want to use for modelling each of the outfits...

and suddenly the collection is taking shape not just in my imagination... or on the page of my notebook... but on the Sasha dolls lined up on my shelf wearing beautiful outfits at different stages of development... and in my minds eye I can visualise what the new collection will look like when it is finished...

Samples for Amethyst Dreams Collection... Part 1

2010-09-04T10:25:00.003+01:00

4 September 2010

I have finished my sampling for the next collection of Sasha outfits...

But my mind is an absolute blank at the moment for a name. Technically the colour scheme is analogous colours using the purple/blue/magenta colour families but I think I want to have something nicer for the name like Starry Nights... or... Purple Daze... or...

I always find that seeing the colours and samples together with images that inspired me really help to focus my mind on the final look I am visualising.

This is a two page spread of some of the samples... I am still deciding on the accessories for some of the outfits such as styles of hat, scarf, bags, mittens, socks... etc... But which I choose is dependent upon whether the outfit is for a Gregor or a Sasha.

A closeup image of my thoughts for the hat/sock combination to go with the boys sweater that co-ordinates with the White Horses in Starlight outfit... I try to choose colours that will enhance the colours that are in the trekking maxima wool that I chose for the sweater... At the moment for this outfit I think that the light blue used for the main colour works beautifully...

Resistance is futile... part 2

2010-08-31T10:38:00.002+01:00

31 August 2010

Continuation of the Mini Mochi sweater is coming along... slowly...

The first sleeve is finished... As I like my sleeves to match and the colour variation in the ball of yarn were not going to allow me to get a repeat without a lot of wastage if at all...

I carefully unravelled the yarn and cut it at the end of each colour repeat (tricky as the colours blend through each other beautifully) and then divided each of these exactly in half so that I get the movment of the colours on the sleeves to match each other as perfectly as possible. I just like them to match and if they don't I am not as happy with them.

It is turning out to be a very pretty sweater.

Sasha Doll Pattern - Slip Stitch Striped Sweater...

2010-08-30T09:17:00.011+01:00

30 August 2010

A lovely new free knitting pattern for Sasha and Gregor dolls.

I have created a page for the knitting patterns so they will be easy to find.

I hope you will enjoy knitting it.

The Sasha in the photographs is Sarah the first Sasha doll I ever bought for myself and the second Sasha doll I have ever owned. She is a pretty brunette girl from the mid 70's. When I bought her I had never even heard of falling hair. I was incredibly lucky that her hair is perfect. Probably because she had been played with and not stored in an attic. She has beautiful eyes and her fringe likes to flick over to the side. Her other main attribute is that one leg is quite a bit shorter than the other so she stands rather nicely.

When she arrived in time for Christmas, I brought her down to show my mum and we placed her on the mantel piece beside Jane and just sat looking at the two of them together...

This pattern is for the 3 colour version.

I used a similar pattern knitted using 2 colours for the sweater that is photographed with the other free pattern on the blog for the scarf and hat.

Socks...

2010-08-29T16:47:00.000+01:00

29 August 2010

My apologies that I have not been in touch with anyone over the past week by email.

I lost my beautiful black and white cat called Beryl (aged 8) unexpectedly and did not achieve much through the week. I did write a list of everyone I needed to contact on Friday 20th but didn't turn the computer on. I have taken to writing a few blogs on a weekend and then I schedule them through the week.

I was in shock on Monday and needed something to keep my hands busy. Brain was not in gear at all.

So I started knitting myself a pair of socks... I have knit many tiny Sasha sized socks with the turned heel and grafted toes but never actually knit a human sized pair...

I was not in a pink/purple or even a blue mood... So I lifted out the Jitterbug in Salted Caper... When this colourway arrived in the post a couple of months ago, I knew it was not right for the Sasha dolls and vaguely wondered what on earth to do with it. Not really a colourway I liked... actually... I have no idea what possessed me to choose it... I think... I thought it would work with a forthcoming Sasha collection...

I cast on and started work... watched a couple of my favourite Studio Ghibli movies... ended up surrounded by tissues... and knitted... and knitted...

By Wednesday I was able to wear them. On Thursday I cast on for a new pair of socks but this one is a more complicated pattern and unfortunately my brain still is not quite in gear so I am only 2/3rds of the way down the leg in the first sock in the new pair... knitting them in Noro sock wool...

Thank fully...

My brain doesn't feel all clogged up with damp cotton wool anymore and I am re-entering civilisation again...

The Cat Garden

2010-08-22T18:28:00.018+01:00

22 August 2010

Every day we walk in the grounds of Belfast Castle and the Cavehill Country Park...

It is beautiful and most days at this time of the year we pass visitors to Belfast looking at the sights...

that we just take for granted as we look at them most days in all weather...

Wrought Iron Cat...

Through this week on my other blog Nicolette's Notebook

I have been writing about the Cat Garden at Belfast Castle...

The wrought iron cat on the seat is particularly cool for this blog as it is doing what all knitter's cats do...

Yep... you guessed it...

Chasing a ball of wool...

Resistance is futile...

2010-08-20T16:09:00.000+01:00

20 August 2010

I know I should be working on the duffle coat... and I have been working on it...

but Murder She Wrote was starting on BBC1...

and this ball of Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns was just calling to me...

it arrived before I went away and it has been sitting waiting for me to come home...

sitting on top of my stash, I hadn't even put it away in the appropriate storage box... (yes I have 26 storage boxes full of gorgeous wool all wound into balls and sorted into colour families awaiting use)

but the colours in this ball are just so beautiful that my resistance melted away...

the yarn is unusual... very little twist in it but incredibly soft to the touch...

and everytime I looked at it I could visualise a warm cosy polo neck sweater for Sasha...

it was just waiting to be started... so I just did... even though I should have be knitting the ear flap hat...

But oh, this is going to be really beautiful...

if it didn't have the brown tones it would have fitted rather nicely into the new collection I am working on.

Gorgeous Hoodie...

2010-08-15T09:52:00.000+01:00

15 August 2010

I knitted this cute hoodie for my nieces while I was in Kent... The main colour is a lovely multi coloured hand dyed Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock wool...

The contrast colour is a rich mauve colour... that matched the trousers I had made them previously...

I don't usually use such a wide wale a corduroy for the Sasha dolls but it does look nice in this colour... and is perfect for the children to play with...

This hoodie is based on the pattern by Suzanne Lewis... I can never knit anything without changing it and I have changed a number of things in this garment... can't help myself... the tweaking designers bug just takes over...

I thought it would be fun and up to date to use the contrast colour for the front pocket... adds some interest and helped make the stripe on the hood and the top of the sleeves stand out in contrast...

It was a huge amount of fun knitting this garment and it really suited the brunette Gregor...

Zig zag Fairisle Sweater...

2010-08-14T10:08:00.002+01:00

14 August 2010

The coloured wool I have used for this fairisle pattern is one of the beautiful Colinette Jitterbug colour range... This snap was taken by my sister Pip when she was visiting Kent from Wales...

Pip loves work in progress photos... I took a quick snap to see how the hat was turning out to go with the sweater... Love using the fairisle rib... always shows the colours up rather beautifully as an edging...

Sasha looks very pretty wearing the sweater that features a pretty multi coloured fairisle zig zag edging...

I love the ivory setting off the pretty colours... It works really nicely...

This is one of my favourite Sasha dolls... She was an ebay purchase a couple of years ago... She was wearing an early Sasha outfit that I really wanted although Sasha herself dates to 1970 according to her string colour, neck bar and shade of vinyl as well as her height... When she arrived one of her eyes was very faded and barely visible... The other eye had very heavy eyelid painting which didn't suit her but the eye paint was similar in style to the other Sasha I had from the same year. So I took out my acrylic paints and cleaned off the eyes and spent a couple of days painting eyes on a paper pad until I had the look I wanted. I wanted her to look like her eyes had never been damaged and used a grayish blue colour...

Natalie's New Sweater...

2010-08-13T08:58:00.001+01:00

Eek its Friday 13 August 2010...

In June I had one of those crazy weeks when I splurged big time on hand painted wools. There was the Colinette Jitterbug in several colours... Artist's Palette wools in such a range of colours it was hard to choose... (kid in an old fashioned sweet shop sprang to mind)... Claudia's hand painted sock wool... Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock wool... Fyberspates... and the Natural Dye Studio... I have probable forgotten another... They duly arrived and I spent much time putting the skeins onto my swift and turning them into lovely little balls on the yarn winder... I wind them quite loosely so that the wool can rest and not be stretched...

Natalie's sweater is a new pattern that I created using one of these balls of hand painted wool... I started knitting this sweater before I left to visit my mum and while I was away the label got thrown out by Neil while he was tidying up... so I cannot remember which wool this is... It is beautiful though. Very subtle colours in dusky pink, lilac and light tuquoise...

The collar fastens off centre with one button to allow the sweater to slip over her head... I love the combination of the textural double moss stitch with the smooth stocking stitch. I liked the idea of the wide welt at the bottom edge of the sweater with the double moss stitch continuing up the centre front and centre back into the collar... I knew as soon as the body was finished that the sleeves would be in the double moss stitch too... I had thought it would look nicest this way when I was planning the sweater but I usually keep my option open until I see the sweater on Sasha...

I finished the sweater last night as I want Natalie to wear the new outfit while I am photographing the Baby's Room/Nursery today... I have finally finished the room setting and planned the story (roughly) so it is time to take the hundreds and hundreds of photographs...

When I came home from Kent... Neil had taken a surprise week off work... so we have gardened... walked... and I have taken the opportunity to do complete a few Sasha related things I just never seemed to have time for...

Back to work on Monday morning...

Sweater Dress in Mauves...

2010-08-12T10:18:00.012+01:00

12 August 2010

This fabulous hand-dyed wool is called Black Purl from Lorna's Laces...

Gorgeous shades of purple, lavender and mauve... Love the colours in this dress...

Sasha of course grumbled about having bare legs... Haven't decided what to put with the outfit yet... probably leggings and planning a earflap style hat...

The colours are very dark, deep and rich...

The dress has long sleeves, polo neck, and a little pocket at the front...

Modern and fun...

Murlough Bay... A New Sasha Story...

2010-08-11T15:28:00.000+01:00

11 August 2010

I took these wonderful photographs in July a couple of years ago when my mum and I visited friends in Dundrum. I have been intending to create the Sasha story using the photographs for such a long time...

Finally... it is finished and on my website Murlough Bay...

For once I actually went prepared... Sasha's and Gregor, all their accessories and beach toys... camera... water and a rug for me to lie on (plus one for mum and her friend who preferred to sit a little further up the beach from me... but who also answered loads of questions from walkers who were interested in what I was busy doing... which was really helpful...)

The view of the Mourne Mountains sweeping down to the sea are (I think) the very best from the beach here... it is amazing and really stunning.

It was very funny doing this setting... I am not really one for photographing the Sasha dolls in public (or at least where people walking past can see me...)

Anyway, mum and her friend and I had walked down to the beach and I chose the perfect place to set up... near to the sea... everything ready to photograph... when I realised the tide was coming in (very quickly) and I and my Sasha dolls were quickly sinking into a sand bank.

While I had been busy... I hadn't noticed the sea surround me... Mum and her friend had to paddle out to help me move everything further up the shore... It was funny afterwards!!!

Mum said wistfully that she wished she had taken a photograph... but there wasn't the time...

Short Sleeve Cardigan...

2010-08-11T09:35:00.018+01:00

11 August 2010

Beautiful short sleeve cardigan... k2 p2 rib used for a deep cuff and also for the edging.

Beautiful multi coloured hand dyed wool made by Artist's Palette...

After I had finished knitting the cardigan I washed it and let it dry flat...

Now I need to choose buttons that will suit the cardigan and look pretty...

Haven't decided what this cardigan will go with for the outfit... possibly a dress?

The colours are warm and summery... like a rose garden...

I thought the colour of this cardigan looked beautiful on Tara's pretty redhead Sasha...

Long Sleeve Cardigan...

2010-08-10T10:35:00.000+01:00

10 August 2010

This was the first garment I created while I was in Kent... I used a variation on a slip stitch pattern I read about in a knitting magazine a few months ago... The cardigan will have a few buttons at the top front...

The yarn used is a beautiful wool rich sock yarn in a variation of colours... Loved these colours together...

Sasha travelled to Kent with me... She loved modelling in the warm weather in the garden... The garden is large and beautiful... the quintessential cottage garden... the border in the background has only just been created in early June after the removal of a heavy evergreen hedge...

The picket fence made a gorgeous backdrop... A very pretty cardigan... just need to choose buttons now...

Knitting in Kent...

2010-08-10T10:24:00.000+01:00

10 August 2010

I have had such a lovely visit with my mum in Kent... Along with reading... relaxation... and walking... which I have started blogging about on my other blog Nicolette's Notebook with photographs of the garden...

I have found inspiration in the beautiful new art yarns... hand painted... hand dyed... sock weight or 4 ply... in beautiful fibre combinations... I so love knitting...

My Favourite Gregor...

2010-08-09T18:45:00.000+01:00

9 August 2010

Sasha World Issue 12 Summer 2010...

I was so busy before I left for England that I did not have time to read the new issue of Sasha World when it arrived with me... other than a cursory glance...

Mark... the first Gregor I ever bought... is featured as my favourite Gregor...

I love the Gregor dolls... they are so cute... huge fun to dress... and buy toys and props for...

Mark and Sandy playing table football in the lounge...

Benone...

2010-08-09T18:12:00.000+01:00

8 August 2010

Neil and I spent a wonderful day on the North Coast... We drove to Limavady and then followed the Scenic A2 route along the coast... Stopped for a walk at Benone Beach...

Then we travelled on to Portrush... where we ate fish and chips... and went for a long walk along the East Strand... We sat on the edge of the sand dunes and relaxed looking out to sea...

Inspiration for New Collection

2010-07-11T13:33:00.001+01:00

11 July 2010

I thought I would add a photograph of my new inspiration wall for the next collection. I have been choosing the wool colours and beautiful fabrics which I will use to create the collection.

I absolutely adore the rich colours included in this selection from the blues of the delphinium to the star like purples of the allium and the rich magenta colours of the parrot tulip. The colours that I am working with are gorgeous and blend through each other wonderfully well.

Blues, pinks, mauves, lilac, iris, lavender, deep dark purples, magenta, cyan, and a hint of green.

Thinking of options for a hat, scarf and mittens

2010-07-08T16:51:00.002+01:00

8 July 2010

I have been thinking about colours that would look beautiful with a very dark green corduroy duffle coat.

Some of the options I have thought about included the beautiful Araucania Ranco Multi hand dyed wool. The colours are just gorgeous when knitted up.

This option includes a lovely araucania ranco multi yarn which would be used for the hat and mittens.

The dark green, blue and softer grayish green are lace weight shetland wool. I have photographed them with the duffle in the background.

The original colour scheme which I used in the Evergreen collection. I have been thinking of different options to give a bit of choice. It has been fun looking through all my boxes of wool.

This option shows the selection of lace weight wool that I think would look lovely for the scarf with the araucania ranco multi wool that is shown in the first two photographs. The mauve and blue tones along with the dark greens look striking with the duffle coat.

This option shows a lovely chocolate brown, dark green and blue shetland lace weight wool for the scarf and a gorgeous richly coloured Lorna's Laces shepherd sock hand dyed wool as the multi coloured option for the hat and mittens.

In this option I thought that the natural tawny, turquoise and dark green shetland lace weight wool looked gorgeous as a foil for the araucania ranco multi option for the hat and mittens.

The original scarf and hat that I knitted to go with the dark green duffle coat.

On the Needles...

2010-06-11T12:31:00.002+01:00

Friday, 11 June 2010

I am busy busy busy at the moment...

In the morning I am photographing all the outfits for the new collection... The sweater on the needles was to be part of the Step into Spring collection but I felt that on reflection... the colours were not quite right for this set so it remains on the needles... along with a number of other projects... I have used three yarns for this fairisle stripe pattern, a lovely teal, a natural white and a multi colour yarn in yellow/turquoise/teal/green/ivory. The sweater looks lovely with the fabric that it coordinates with...

Anyway... back to sewing duffle coats...

Sun Lounger for warm Summer Days...

2010-06-11T12:17:00.001+01:00

I was delighted to find this wonderful sun lounger for Sasha. Build-a-Bear has it in stock in the blue and white stripe version that I liked or pink stripes. It is perfect for Sasha in size.

Step Into Spring Collection Preview - Part 1

2010-06-08T17:13:00.001+01:00

Initially when I started work on the Step into Spring collection I wondered how the colour scheme would work translated into outfits. I really enjoyed planning the new styles and thinking about the look of each outfit.

There are 3 swimming costumes as part of this collection. They are part of the outfits and can be carried in the Sasha dolls shoulder bag when not being worn. The yellow swimming costume is part of the outfit that Gotz Anna is modelling.

I designed several new items of knitwear for the collection. One of my favourites is the pretty yellow top worn by Anna knitted in lace weight shetland wool.

Another favourite is the lovely fairisle cardigan with 3/4 length sleeves. The five colours of lace weight shetland wool blend through each other beautifully.

I found it difficult to find sandals that were right for some of the outfits so made my own. They are made completely from leather and are based on the style of my Frido white sandals. The pale blue leather is very soft.

I shall photograph the outfits over the next few days.

Step Into Spring Collection Preview - Part 2

2010-06-08T16:59:00.001+01:00

I have just finished the Step into Spring Collection and am now ready to take photographs of all the outfits for Sasha Doll Style. The light quality is awful this afternoon so I have just taken a few preview photos to let you see the new outfits.

I have had a huge amount of fun planning new styles for this collection.

Some of the outfits have several different ways in which the doll can wear them. The outfit that Keira is wearing is an example of this. She can wear the dress with the jumper tied at the front and carrying the swimming costume in her bag. Or she can wear the dress without the sweater with just the bag and her bead necklace or she can wear her swimming costume. The pants that go with the outfit are my usual style that can also pass as shorts and they look very cute worn over her swimming costume.

Sasha Dolls looking for new homes...

2010-06-01T17:09:00.001+01:00

Two very diffferent Sasha girls who are looking for new homes.

The first girl is a pretty 1960's Gotz girl. A really beautiful doll.

The second Sasha is a waif wearing a Global auburn wig.

She dates from the very early 70's. Beautful blue eyes and features.

Additional photographs and information at Sashas for Sale .

Helen Kish Dolls...

2010-06-01T17:01:00.000+01:00

My collection of Helen Kish Four Seasons Girls are looking for new homes to go to.

They are for sale on my website. Helen Kish Dolls for Sale

They are truly beautiful. I always intended to create clothes for them but just never had the time so they have spent their time for the past few years stored in their boxes which seems a shame for such beautiful dolls.

Original Sasha Outfits with a Twist...

2010-05-13T15:20:00.008+01:00

As I collected most of my collection of original Sasha and Gregor outfits a separate items and it often took me a while to have a complete set, I had the habit of using the items in different ways...

Olwyn kindly wore the Honey blonde "Party" outfit from the 80's. We don't have the blue eyed honey blonde girl in our collection but Olwyn thought the outfit looked pretty.

Of course, my 70's waif who has a bit of a rebellious streak had to try the outfit too but she added a few other items of clothing to make it more her own style.

This is just a preview of one of the outfits which I have featured.

This is a new series of photos on http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/ which will be ongoing for a while. I hope you will enjoy it.

Making of a Sasha Rose Garden - Part 1

2010-05-10T15:15:00.009+01:00

A New Sasha and Gregor Story

I have just finished a new photo story, called Gardening, which I have put onto my website, Gardening . I hope that the link will work.

I thought it would be fun to write a bit about how I went about creating the Sasha Rose Garden.

The Making of a Sasha Rose Garden

A few years ago I created a tranquil evergreen garden, with moss, rocks, bamboo, miniature azaleas and rhododendron, ferns, decorative grasses and heather. I photographed the Easter Egg Hunt in it a couple of years ago.

Since then it has become a little wilder as the ivy works hard to take over. I used a small leaved ivy which is sold for hanging baskets. I should probably trim it but it is very pretty.

A couple of the decorative grasses out grew their space and were moved to another part of the garden.

At the time that I first designed the gardens in my raised vegetable bed, I divided them into two separate gardens with a low fence inbetween. This year the separating fence was falling apart and I decided it would be much nicer to have a pebble path leading from the first evergreen garden to the rose garden.

The focal point of the rose garden at this time of year is the apple blossom on the wall trained apple tree. I have been thinking about having a swing from one of its lower branches but haven't made up my mind yet. The other thought is for a miniature bird table.

Mark and Sandy kindly volunteered to do make the changes to the garden after I had done the initial ground works, clearing grass and weeds. Initially I had thought of a lawn, but it was difficult to keep neat and to have Sasha dolls stand on.

When it comes to planting sometimes I have been able to find miniature versions of plants that I like such as the bamboo which grows to 1 metre tall. With other plants I make something else "stand in" for a larger shrub. An example of this is the common thyme that Mark planted which is supposed to look a bit like a hebe. I couldn't use a real hebe as they grow too big for my space. Hopefully the thyme will give the impression of a hebe when it is in full blossom.

When it came to the fine gravel... there are, thankfully, other miniature gardeners in the world, so I was able to buy attractive fine pink pebble gravel and solent gold. I really wanted it all to be solent gold but I couldn't get enough of it (rather small bags, aimed at topping a miniature garden in a Belfast sink or a pot, I think) so I bought the pink gravel and mixed the two colours together. It worked reasonably well.

Making of a Sasha Rose Garden - Part 2

2010-05-10T15:00:00.004+01:00

Of course, both of my camera batteries ran out of charge and by the end, I had switched to the camera on my mobile phone as I really wanted the same quality of light throughout the story.

I love the miniature accessories that can be found wandering around shops, online etc, while keeping an open mind. The great little outdoor garden heater is actually a citronelly candle so they shouldn't be bothered by midges! Its plinth is a small brick pavier that has been set into the ground.

The wooden and cast iron bench was an ebay auction purchase nearly 4 years ago.

It wasn't expensive to buy but cost a lot to post from the US as it was very heavy and quite bulky as it did not come flat pack.

The red wheelbarrow is a radio flyer one, which also arrived from the US.

Some of the wonderful garden tools were a gift from my friend Robyn when she came to visit Belfast a few years ago, others were bought online.

It always amazes me how long it can take to collect what I need so that I can create a miniature Sasha setting. Often I don't even realise that I need an item until I see it in an auction.

Of course, the Sasha gardens are a more permanent addition. Since they were created in one of the raised vegetable beds at the end of the garden, the bed on one side has since given way to a green house and the one on the other side is the salad bed.

Making of a Sasha Rose Garden - Part 3

2010-05-10T14:39:00.005+01:00

Miniature Roses

I was looking for miniature roses and found these for sale in a florists shop. There were several little roses in each pot and I carefully divided them up.

I have always loved the fairy tale Snow-White and Rose-Red so I chose red and white miniature roses for the Sasha rose garden.

A few years ago, my mum planted out miniature roses she had been given for mothers day. She described them, after they had been growing in the garden for a few years, as insignificant and weedy... this to my purposes sounds perfect, so I do hope they will grows well for me in a similar "weedy" fashion.

I have trained a couple of roses "Ballerina" as climbing roses against the trellis. It has beautiful clusters of pink and white flowers in the summer.

I love how different the garden can look depending upon the camera angle and whether I photograph it as portrait or landscape. This can be used to give a sense of width, depth and perspective.

Beautiful as the rose garden is, it only truly comes to life when the Gregor dolls are included in the photograph.

Walk from Carnlough to Cranny Falls

2010-04-25T09:48:00.005+01:00

I thought I would put a few photos of my day trip yesterday. I was supposed to have been visiting my sister Pip in Wales and attending Wonder Wool but the flights were so uncertain in the end I was unable to go.

The view of Carnlough from the old limestone quarry. The path we walked to the quarry was very straight as it followed the old rail line which was used to carry limestone from the quarry to the harbour.

The fields were full of sheep and lambs who seemed to dance in the fields, and sound so like babies when they call for their mothers.

The quarry was beautiful, clothed in gorse and ivy and fabulous white cliffs.

Neil took a photograph of me after we had had our lunch. It was relaxing sitting listening to the birdsong and sheep and the sound of the river.

It is a small harbour at Carnlough with a different types of boats from yachts to fishing vessels.

The water fall was beautiful, the atmosphere was cool and damp from the water vapour in the air around us.

Sasha at Cranny Falls

2010-04-24T19:59:00.004+01:00

We went for a lovely day trip today. It was overcast but warm. We drove to Carnlough on the Antrim coast road and then walked from Carnlough through Glenlough to Cranny Falls. It was beautiful countryside. I took a photograph of Sasha in front of the waterfall.

Step Into Spring

2010-04-21T17:13:00.005+01:00

Step into Spring sample pages in my sketchbook. A great way of comparing fabrics and colours and wool to help choose which combinations to use for the outfits.

I wasn't sure how I would get on with yellow. It has never been a favourite colour of mine although I do love it in nature from the cheerful daffodils to the winter jasmine. Lovely tones of yellow.

From my notice board I chose several images that particularly appealed to me for this colour scheme.

There is something particularly elegant about the yellow and blue combination particularly when ivory or white is included. Very fresh and clean.

With this selection the fabrics are mainly pretty cotton prints but there are a couple of fabrics which are silk/cotton mix.

Many of the knitted samples use lace weight shetland wool as I wanted light weight knitwear for this collection.

Evergreen Collection

2010-03-16T21:19:00.004Z

The Evergreen Collection has been such a pleasure to work on. I have loved the myriad of greens that were gleaned from my inspiration photos and sampling in my sketch book. When I stopped to look around me I realised just how many shades of green there are from the greyish greens, yellow greens, greens with a hint of turquoise, very dark forest greens, emerald green, jade, olive green, the list could go on. Which reminded me of the lyrics of the beautiful song by Johnny Cash...

"I close my eyes and picture the emerald of the sea ... the moorlands and meadows and their forty shades of green".

I have been working hard to finish this beautiful collection of outfits for Sasha and Gregor.

I had planned a toddler and baby outfit but ran out of time as I am flying to England early on Thursday morning. This is why I have put the collection onto the blogspot.

I shall update mywebsite http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/ with the Evergreen Collection and the prices on my return in early April. It would not be possible to post any packages before I leave as tomorrow is 17th March, St Patrick's Day, and a public holiday here in Northern Ireland.

I had hoped to finish the collection earlier than this but it always takes longer doing the finishing touches than I expect.

Evergreen Collection - Part 1

2010-03-16T20:03:00.014Z

The models in this group are 3 gorgeous girls. Sasha is my 1968 blonde fringe girl with beautiful grey blue eyes, Katie is a 1969 Kilt girl and loves to wear her hair in plaits. Emilie is a beautiful Kelly Wenarsky repaint who wears a real hair wig in a lovely auburn shade.

Sasha is wearing a beautiful traditional style dress outfit. The dress has a very dainty leafy tendril pattern with dainty red flowers on a two toned ivory and cream background. I chose an ivory and cream patterned cotton for her collar, cuffs and pantalettes.

I chose a lovely greyish green polka dot fabric for her slip which perfectly matches the colour of the leafy tendrils on her dress.

Her socks are handknit using ivory lace weight shetland wool. She is wearing cream leather Boneka shoes.

Katie is wearing a beautiful sweater dress with a polo neck collar and a pocket at the front. It is hand dyed merino wool. There are many shades of green, aqua and grey in the dress. It is truly beautiful.

I teamed this dress with grey leggings and a beanie hat. This mid grey just seemed to make the colours in the dress glow. Beautiful combination.

It looks particularly stunning on my early blonde girl Katie. I think that is why I chose to put the cream coloured ugg boots with the outfit. I had been thinking of the chestnut coloured uggs but decided that the cream ones were the best choice.

Emilie is wearing a beautiful green flecked sweater and hat. They are knit using sock wool where the shades just seem to drift through each other from light to dark.

The green is ivy coloured and had a bluish tone which I used in the scarf which is knit using an ivy green, a blue and a very dark forest green lace weight wool. I have finished the scarf with a little tassel fringe.

Her trousers are a lovely shade of dark green needlecord.

Her hand knit socks match her hat and sweater and the outfit is completed with a pair of laced ankle boots.

The duffle coat is made from the very dark forest green with a toning lining fabric. It looks beautiful with the sweater outfit.

The duffle fastens with brown suede loops and darker toned wooden toggles.

The duffle is fully lined.

Evergreen Collection - Part 2

2010-03-16T18:47:00.019Z

The models in this group are Keira (a rerooted brunette from 1969 - beautifully rerooted as a sidepart redhead by Lisa Hartley), an early 70's Sasha waif wearing a light ginger Peggy Sue wig, my beautiful and as yet unnamed puddle eyed brunette reroot (again by Lisa Hartley), and Greg my blonde gregor from 1970.

Keira is wearing a beautiful dark green leaf print cotton dress. The dress is drop waisted with a gathered two tiered skirt. Her contrasting belt is decorated at the front with a lovely white enamelled flat bead. Her pants are made using the same contrasting cotton fabric used in her belt.

Her socks and hair tie are knit using a pale green lace weight shetland wool.

The shoes are dark green leather Mary Jane shoes that I bought on ebay a few years ago but which I thought were perfect with this outfit. I felt she needed dark green shoes.

This sweater was based on a sweater pattern that I saw in a knitting magazine.

I loved the style of the cable detail and the rib detail at the neck that became her collar.

Her dark green leggings are a lovely contrast to the colour of her sweater.

Her sweater is knit using a loving sock yarn in sage, grey and a spring green. The colours drift through each other.

She has chestnut uggs which are perfect with the outfit.

Her earflap hat is knitted in a striped fairisle pattern using the same sock wool as her sweater, a plain dark green wool and an ivory wool. Plaited ties.

A beautiful traditional style dress outfit with peach/pink coloured flowers with darker sage green leafy tendrils set against a pale green background colour.

I chose a lovely contrast cotton fabric for her slip and pantalettes. It is a peachy/pink fabric with ivory polka dots.

White ribbed socks and cream leather laced Boneka boots.

She has a lovely matching fine ribbon tying her hair.

Greg is wearing a cute hoody, another new sweater pattern. I used a lovely sock wool. There are 3 different shades of green in his sweater.
His trousers are a forest green needlecord. They are a new straight leg style.
His track shoes are black and white.

His mittens and socks are hand knit using pale green shetland lace weight wool.

Evergreen Collection - Part 3

2010-03-16T18:08:00.012Z

The models in Group 3 of Evergreen Collection are Natalie (a 1969 brunette waif wearing a Dollsmane wig), Rowena (Limited Edition Kiltie) and Lisa (a rerooted blonde Side-part girl).

Natalie is wearing a beautiful traditional style dress outfit. Her dress is made using two lovely contrasting cotton fabrics. The yoke is a deep red with gold spots. The rest of the dress is made using a lovely two tone green with little red and blue birds eating deep red grapes. A soft ecru lace collar.

Her slip is made from the same fabric as the yoke on her dress. Her pantalettes are the same green fabric as her dress.

Her socks are hand knit using ivory lace weight wool.

Her shoes are laced leather Boneka shoes.

Rowena is wearing a new style of hand knit cardigan using a hand dyed merino wool with 5 buttons on the front. I saw a cardigan in a magazine with a matching scarf which I loved, so I knit the cardigan with a small upright collar and a matching scarf. The cardigan has pockets. I matched the colour of the jacket to the brown tendrils on her blouse.

I used the same wool for her socks.

I found a lovely modern style clasp that looks lovely with the outfit.

Her trousers are dark green needlecord that matches the ivy leaves on her blouse.

Lisa is wearing a beautiful cotton dress with olive sage green leaves and tendrils and dainty red flowers. Her scarf is made using a fine sage green and ivory check cotton. Her sash is made from a pretty leafy patterned sage and ivory fabric. The same fabric was used for her pants. She has a fine ivory ribbon tying her hair.

Her socks are knit using ivory lace weight wool. Her shoes are cute red shoes reminiscent of the style I wore as a child.

Happy Sasha-Mother's Day

2010-03-14T08:37:00.003Z

I came downstairs this morning to find that the Sasha dolls had been busy. They had secretly made me a beautiful Sasha-Mother's Day card.

Very cute and completely unexpected!

Have a Happy Sasha-Mother's Day everyone.

Step Into Spring Notice Board

2010-03-08T09:13:00.005Z

The notice board for a forthcoming collection develops before I start work on the sketchbook and sampling.

For Step into Spring, I have been collecting images of spring narcissus, primroses, tulips, wintersweet, magnolia, cherry blossom. I have been particularly attracted to the sky blues, whites, and shades of yellow with hints of spring green.

While the images on the noticeboard keep the new theme in my mind while I am working, it also helps me with choosing colours and collecting the fabrics and yarns. I collect fabrics and yarns that work with the colours like a magpie until I have a whole box full (see photo 2), then when I am ready to start work on the new theme, I start on my sampling, to see how the materials work together with different textures, patterns and designs.

Evergreen Collection Notice Board

2010-03-08T09:03:00.005Z

Alongside my sketchbooks where I work with colour schemes, inspirational images and sampling of fabrics and wools for my new collection I also use my noticeboards. I have three "Gripping Stuff" noticeboards in my workspace.

This is a photo of my noticeboard for Evergreen Collection. It is a wonderful way of keeping the colour theme that I am working on constantly in mind.

Directly below the notice board is my shelf where the Sashas are modelling the outfits for Evergreen as I work on them. I find it helps me to see if the fabric and yarn choices are working within my theme.

Ballintoy Harbour

2010-03-06T23:12:00.011Z

Ballintoy Harbour is one of my most favourite places. When I was a child and my family were holidaying in Ballycastle we used to come to Ballintoy Harbour when the fishing boats came in and we could buy fresh fish to take home for our tea.

We loved to swim in the natural pool, jumping off the rocks into the deep water, climbing back up onto the warm rocks to dry off. Swimming in the water with fish darting around us. Glimpsing the odd crab lurking in the seaweed.

The rocks have created amazing shapes, arches and sea stacks. There are narrow paths where walkers have climbed to the top to see the wonderful view.

Hannah wanted to follow the children into the cave but she was not wearing wellington boots and her uggs would have been no use. The children were well attired with torches and equipment to see into the back of the limestone cave.

Hannah with the old fishermen's cottages in the background. The tide was out so we had the opportunity to clamber over the rocks.

Hannah climbed up one of the sea stacks to see the view. We went with her to make sure she did not fall.

There was a wonderful view of the rocky islands and the harbour from the top.

Hannah sat down on a rock to have a rest after her climb.

My ever patient husband Neil sitting on the stile waiting for me.

Hannah was at it again. Clambering up another hill.

There was a wonderful view between the rocks of the islands and Rathlin in the far distance.

After all her rushing around, she finally posed for me so that I could take a couple of photographs of her with the boulders and sea stack in the background.

Then it was time for home.

Ballycastle

2010-03-06T22:45:00.004Z

Hannah is standing on the beach with Ballycastle in the background. I spent many happy hours on this beach as a child. We used to spend every summer staying in a caravan in the caravan park situated on the top of the cliff in the background. Every morning, whatever the weather, we would set off down to the beach with buckets, spades, books, sandwiches and our dog Cindy bouncing along at our feet.

The waves from the Atlantic break on Ballycastle beach and we loved to play in the water. In the background behind Hannah is Rathlin Island.

I loved to collect pebbles on the beach an assortment of quartz, limestone, basalt and flint among others.

The bridge reaches between the rocky headland and a small rocky island so that anglers can reach the deeper water. There are wonderful hollowed out sump holes deep into the rock where the waves gush in and then sweep out to sea again with amazing suction.

Beyond the rocks are rockpools that we loved to search for all sorts of sealife that had been trapped by the receding tide.

An even clearer view of Rathlin Island.

Hannah is wearing a sweater dress, tights and matching ugg boots. Her favourite outfit at the moment.

Hannah is a Sasha waif from the mid-70's who is rewigged with a Peggy Sue wig in a lovely shade of golden blonde.

Snowdrop Wood

2010-03-06T22:38:00.008Z

We stopped for lunch in a carpark beside a pretty wood.

After eating our sandwiches we went for a walk and were amazed to see that the woodland floor was a carpet of pure white wild snowdrops. They were everywhere.

Stunning.

The Scenic Route

2010-03-06T22:32:00.003Z

It was a beautiful day today, sunny and even reasonably warm. Such a change from the cold winter we have had. So we decided to take a day trip. We drove along the scenic coastal road heading for Ballycastle.

We passed Torr Head on the Way.

Hannah climbed up the bank on the opposite side of the road so she could get a better view of Scotland in the distance.

The clear blue sky was reflected by the Atlantic Ocean.

Lisa - blonde sidepart reroot

2010-03-01T14:28:00.007Z

I couldn't resist taking a few photographs of the beautiful rerooted blonde side-part from the late 60's.

I was up late one night in January and thought I would browse Shelly's website before heading off to bed and there was this beautiful doll. I was utterly smitten and had sent off an email to Shelly immediately.

Luckily for me, I was the first person to email her and she was soon making her way to me courtesy of the Royal Mail stork delivery.

I was even more smitten by her when she arrived and I held her in person.

This doll is now called Lisa. She has lovely deep blue pinpoint pupil eyes. She has obviously been loved and has a few grazes on her face. These give her character.

Lisa is wearing an outfit from my new Evergreen Collection which is nearing completion.

I thought it would be interesting to show the doll who has been the inspiration for having some of my lovelier waifs given the opportunity of becoming beautiful rerooted girls.

This doll is the epitome of sheer elegance.

Sasha Beauty

2010-02-26T12:50:00.015Z

My beautiful blue eyed brunette girl has arrived home. Lisa did such a wonderful job on the full head reroot. She is stunning. I took Kendal's thoughtful suggestion and have a little bit of the same hair stored incase I decide on the fine fringe but the more I look at her, the more I love the look of her hair just as it is.

I just adore the texture of her hair. It brushes beautifully. Then if I give her a little shake, it has a great tousled look.

This lovely girl was once a blonde gregor from the early 70's. He had a nasty hair cut when he arrived with me and spent a long time wearing various different wigs. Such beautiful big grey blue eyes.

I had often thought that this doll deserved to have a new head of hair as she was so pretty. Then after the arrival of my lovely rerooted side part girl, I decided to take the plunge and she went to Lisa for a makeover.

Her hair is stunning. But not too much of it. I sometimes feel that some of my 80's trendon dolls have a little too much hair and curl. Having said that, this look is exactly what my two nieces love about their Sasha dolls.

This dolls hair reminds me more of the lovely hair on the Gotz Sasha dolls from the 90's.

She is wearing an outfit that I made a while ago, but had never finished. Inspired by the arrival of my beautiful girl, I knit her had and scarf while relaxing infront of the tv. The outfit is knit using a lovely fluffy sock yarn and two strongly contrasting colours of 4 ply wool. Her shoes are the dark red dollfie shoes that look a bit like the Clark's startrite shoes that my sister and I used to wear when we were children.

Thank you Lisa for all your hard work turning my waif into a stunning one of a kind Sasha.

Now I need to choose a name that suits her.

Yamka's Moccasins

2010-02-26T10:53:00.003Z

I have always felt that Yamka was missing something with only her bare feet which I suspected were probably cold.

Thanks to a wonderful gift from Jackie, she now has the most gorgeous pair of hand made pink moccasins that look wonderful with her dress and picks up the colours in her bead necklace.

She is so proud of her lovely new shoes.

Thank you Jackie.

Sasha Doll Pattern - Hat and Mitten-Scarf Knitting Pattern

2010-02-21T21:13:00.002Z

For a while I have intended to put a knitting pattern for Sasha onto the Sasha Doll Style Blogspot.

This pattern is one that I created several years ago for Sasha.

It is not a "polished" pattern like I used to produce for selling but taken from my Sasha Knitting Pattern Notebooks. But I thought people who like knitting for Sasha might enjoy knitting it.

I shall add a new knitting pattern from time to time.

Hat Pattern

3 mm needles
3 mm 12" circular needle or set of 3 mm double pointed (dp) needles
4 ply wool in Main Colour (MC)
4 ply wool in Contrast Colour (CC)

This pattern also works beautifully using the self patterning sock yarn in which case you don't need to work the striped pattern but can use one yarn. The hat can be worked flat in which case the seam at the end should be at centre back. When worked in circular manner there is no seam.

Cast on 66 sts in MC, join into a round, being careful not to twist the sts.

Round 1: k1, p1 rib using MC
Round 2 & 3: k1, p1 rib using CC
Round 4 & 5: k1, p1 rib using MC
Repeat rounds 2, 3 and 4.

Working in stocking stitch (using dp/circular needle this is all knit sts) continuing in MC work until work measures 3 1/2" from the start of work.

Turn hat wrong side out. Divide sts onto 2 dp needles and cast off using 3 needle cast off or the seam can be joined using kitchener stitch on the right side.

Darn in any loose ends and turn hat right side out.

Knit 2 lengths of 3 stitch I-cord, 60 rows long. Sew onto outside corners of the hat in 3 loops.

Mitten-Scarf Pattern

Using 3 mm needles and 4 ply wool in MC and CC or a self patterning sock yarn.

Cast on 15 sts in MC

Row 1: p1, k1 rib using MC
Row 2: k1, p1 rib using CC
Row 3: p1, k1 rib using CC
Row 4: k1, p1 rib using MC
Rep rows 1-4

Keeping continuity in rib continue using MC until scarf measures 25" in length finishing with a k1, p1 rib row.

Rep Row 3
Rep Row 2
Rep Row 1
Rep Row 4
Rep Row 3
Rep Row 2
Rep Row 1

Next: cast off using MC.

Turn up ends so that the stripes are fully showing and making sure that enough of the scarf ends has been turned up to allow the sasha hands to fit in and to be covered. Sew the side seams and darn in loose ends so that they will be hidden inside the "mittens".

Introducing Robbie

2010-02-21T14:27:00.002Z

For a long time now, Pip has complained that she needed a brother.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I won this beautiful 1968 brunette gregor (on ebay) who we have named Robert, Robbie for short.

He has lovely brown hair cut in the 60's style, short above his ears with longer bits in front of his ears. His eyes are really beautiful and very similar to Pip's with the fine darker outline around the iris. His lips are a little faded and rubbed but he is a wonderful played with Gregor who has an exciting past as a much loved child's friend.

Pip is really excited at Robbie's arrival and couldn't wait to show him her panda. We spent ages looking for a panda that was the right size for her as she is quite fussy about the type of toys she likes and the panda was on her wish list for a long time.

Pip is a cute 1968 side part girl with beautiful eyes and lovely natural looking wavy hair. Her hair is falling so we take care of it by not washing or brushing it so she always has a slightly tousled look about her.

Pip is wearing a long belted cardigan that was part of the Winter Frost Collection. The rest of the outfit was sold but the Sasha who was buying the outfit didn't want the cardigan as she liked the dress without it. So Pip was very quick to tell me that she wanted the cardigan and that she thought it looked very cute with her jeans. She is wearing later Gotz blue shoes with her jeans.

Robbie has a cable sweater that I made a long time ago and a new pair of needlecord trousers with pockets. This is teamed with a pair of black laced leather shoes.

They look so cute together and make a gorgeous brother and sister. Their hair is just the same shade of rich brown.

Fondness for Gregors

2010-02-16T17:43:00.001Z

There is something about the Gregor dolls that fascinates me.

They are quirky and fun with very strong personalities.

From the arrival of my first gregor (the brunette gregor wearing the school uniform and holding the giraffe glove puppet) I have loved photographing them doing things.

The boys are personable. They play board games, kick footballs, ride bicycles and leave their bedroom untidy. My gregors always look like they are about to do something active, catch up with their friends and be mischievous boys creating a hideout.

To Fringe or Not to Fringe

2010-02-12T08:54:00.002Z

I am having a beautiful blue puddle eyed doll rerooted by Lisa Hartley at the moment. When I first sent her off I "knew" that I wanted her to have a single row fine fringe. Then Lisa sent me a photograph of her at the point now that I need to decide if she should have a fringe or be left without one. I thought it would be an easy decision but it is not. I love the single row fringes on the early dolls. But this doll also looks beautiful at this point without any fringe. It is such a difficult decision. Hasn't Lisa done the most amazing job. She is so very tallented. The doll in question was originally a lovely early 70's gregor who arrived with a nasty haircut and has been part of my "waif" collection for a number of years.

Photo taken by Lisa Hartley http://www.sashahospital.org.uk

Winter Warmth Collection

2010-01-27T23:13:00.001Z

This beautiful collection was started late in the Autumn and has been a pleasure to work on. I loved working with the lovely warm colours through the chill of the winter while it was icy and snowy outside.

There are a few new styles featured in this collection including the lovely alpaca sweater dress with the pocket on the front worn with leggings, the modern ear flap hats, my white lace weight gansey and I made the bolero cardigan with long sleeves for the colder weather and the cute shoulder bags.

The image of the witch hazel in its full autumn glory was so inspirational because there were such an amazing range of colours to choose from.

I shall be photographing the Winter Warmth Collection over the next few days so that I can put the new collection onto my website http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/

Winter Warmth Collection - Part 1

2010-01-27T21:14:00.001Z

The models are Kathleen (my beautiful green eyed early 70's girl), her green eyed baby sister (early baby girl with raised eyelids), Rowena (my lovely LE Kiltie) and Katie (my gorgeous Kilt girl from the late 60's).

Kathleen is wearing a fabulous outfit. Her bootleg trousers are a lovely dark green needlecord.

She has cute green socks made from the same sock yarn as used in the green fairisle stripes in the sweater.

Her shoes are laced black leather Boneka shoes.

Her hat and scarf are knit using the dark coloured sock yarn used in her sweater. The scarf is a lovely long length which is wound twice around her neck and allows for many different ways of wearing it.

Her sweater is knit using two contrasting sock yarns. This gives a beautiful colourful feel to the fairisle pattern.

A truly lovely outfit.

Rowena's beautiful striped sweater is knit in random stripes of a wide range of shades of red, from pinks, rusts, reds, purples and browns. Sumptuous.

Her moebius scarf, hat and bag are knit using the deep plum 4 ply wool used in the sweater.

Her bootleg trousers pick up the dark red in the sweater. Initially I visualised this outfit with the lighter coloured trousers but I changed my mind and decided the outfit looked more elegant with the darker colour.

Her socks are knit using the ginger colour used in her sweater. To complete the outfit she is wearing brown ankle boots.

Katie really suits the colours used in her outfit. Her polo neck sweater is knitted using a ginger coloured 4 ply wool and the lovely green toned sock wool used in Kathleens outfit.

Her socks are knit using the lace weight cream coloured shetland wool. Her shoes are pretty cream leather Bonika shoes with fine leather ties which tie behind her ankle.

Rather than making a skirt for this outfit, I decided to make a sleeveless dress which gives the option of being able to be worn in the summer as well as colder times of the year. Her pants match her dress.

Her hair ties are a lovely lime green which match the main colour of her beautiful floral dress.

I chose to use the lovely ginger and lime green wool for the baby outfit. Her hat is a cute little earflap one, gathered at the top with a ginger tie.

Her cardigan is knit using the same lovely contrasting 4 ply yarns with the ginger used as the main colour this time and the accent stripe in the lime.

It buttons at the front with six ginger coloured buttons.

Her sleeveless dress is made in a similar style to Katie's using the same beautiful floral cotton fabric. Her pants match her dress.

This outfit would also look lovely in the summer with just the dress and bootees.

Her bootees are knit in the same colour combination as her hat.

A very cute outfit for your baby Sasha.

Winter Warmth Collection - Part 2

2010-01-27T19:12:00.001Z

The models are Annett (Gotz Sasha), her sister Anna (also by Gotz) and Matthew (my early 1968 Frido Gregor with beautiful eyes).

Annett is wearing a fun dark red tweedy knit ear flap hat with plaited ties.

Her gorgeous richly coloured polo neck alpaca sweater dress with long sleeves and a pocket on the front. Beautiful shades of red, gold, gren and chocolate brown.

This modern dress teams perfectly with the chocolate brown leggings.

To complete the outfit she is wearing chocolate Ugg boots.

Beautiful russet needlecord duffle coat fully lined with russet lining fabric. The coat fastens with suede loops and wooden toggles.

This coat also looks beautiful with the other outfits in the collection

Stunning floral cotton dress with a golden ochre background with a pattern of deep red roses and olive green foliage.

Gathered skirt.

Dark red peter pan collar. Short puffed sleeves with dark red piping accent and cuffs.

Hand knit lace weight ankle socks which tone with the background colour of the dress. The same wool was used to make the hair tie. To complete the outfit she has lovely dark red Mary Jane shoes which match the roses beautifully.

The warm brown cashmere yarn used for Matthew's hat and scarf is wonderfully soft to the touch. I used the sweater yarn for the stripes.

The warm brown draws out the lovely brown colour of his eyes.

His sweater is knit using a lovely sock yarn in many shades of russet and warm brown drifting into each other. The needlecord trousers are straight leg with pockets at the front. His socks match his sweater. The outfit is completed with a pair of laced black leather Bonika shoes.

Winter Warmth Collection - Part 3

2010-01-27T17:35:00.001Z

The Sasha models in this section are Sasha (a blonde fringe girl from 1968), Pip (a pretty brunette "Party" side part girl from 1968) and Pippa (a pretty early 70's brunette girl who I rewigged).

Sasha is wearing a beautiful Kilt outfit. A warm woollen red tartan skirt. The gansey is hand knit using whie lace weight shetland wool. Her hat is knit using 4 ply red wool, the edge and scarf are knitted in seed stitch.

She has white knee socks and fun red shoes with cute little cat faces. An adorable ensemble to keep your Sasha warm and cosy.

Pip is wearing a beautiful smocked dress in rich colours. The smocked dress is made from richly coloured cotton fabric. The background is a pretty peach tone. The pattern is in rich reds, gold and green. The smocking picks out these shades and her pants match the dress.

Her bolero is hand knit using fine 4 ply dark red tweedy wool. I chose a pretty peach lace weight shetland wool for her ankle socks. It matches the background colour of her dress. I used this wool to knit her hair tie. Her boneka t-strap leather shoes finish the outfit beautifully.

Wonderful tunic sweater in the rich colours of a Noro sock wool. Autumnal colours of rusty orange, gold, gren and rich deep reds. The neck fastens with a pretty silver clasp.

She wears dark red bootleg needlecord trousers. Her socks are knitted using 4 ply dark gold wool. Her bag is made using the same gold wool. The flap has a modern style large rust coloured button on the front.

On her feet she wears black leather laced Bonika shoes which complete the look perfectly.

Snow in January

2010-01-27T16:57:00.001Z

The early part of January has been so beautiful here. I just wish I had been able to enjoy it better as I was suffering from an awful cold that just wouldn't lift! In the end I just had to stay in and stay warm.

We don't often get much snow or frost in the Winter and this year we had weeks of very cold frosty weather.

Treacherous under foot and truly stunning.

In these two photos Belfast is hidden beneath the freezing fog. I thought it was going to be very foggy on the hill but when I walked up beyond a certain level I was suddenly through the fog and looking down upon it.

The mist made the old Ballyaghagan Ring Fort look very eerie.

Winter Warmth Collection Preview

2009-11-23T15:13:00.001Z

Winter Warmth Collection

Inspired by the cold weather outside, venturing out for walks wrapped up in scarves, mittens and cosy coats, and snug indoors in woolly sweaters and sitting by cosy open fires toasting our toes...

As Christmas approaches, I am putting up my Christmas tree but I love the old traditional Christmas decorations, the dark green holly with shiny red berries, little bunches of mistletoe hanging from the kitchen door frame, the contrast colours of the Golden Heart Ivy by the door, the last of the autumn colours clinging to the Japanese Acers and Witch Hazels.

These outfits are the start of the Winter Warmth Collection. I have been working on this collection for a while, although the custom orders are at the moment placing it on the back burner.

I loved working with these colours in my ideas book and have ended up with 4 pages of ideas for this Collection. The colours are such a pleasure to work with. I love the huge range of reds, plum, greens, golds and browns with the touch of ivory contained in my inspiration images. I enjoyed collecting the beautiful selection of wool, silk, tweed and bamboo yarns and the beautiful cotton fabrics and colours of corduroy.

I have not decided on all of the outfit styles yet so some of the colourways do not yet have notes beside them.

New Sasha and Gregor Story

2009-10-29T18:42:00.002Z

A New Sasha and Gregor story in Sasha at Home at http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/

http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/twelfth_night_of_christmas.htm

Hope you enjoy it.

New Sasha Collections

2009-10-26T23:56:00.002Z

I shall be working on taking photographs over the next couple of days of each of the outfits for updating http://www.sashadollstyle.co.uk/ and hope to have the website updated with the new collections by the end of the week.

Winter Frost Collection: Part 1

2009-10-26T19:57:00.002Z

Winter Frost Collection for Sasha, Gregor and toddlers.

Some of the styles I have made before in different colour combinations but several such as the two toddler outfits, the knitted jacket with the belt, the waistcoat, the striped shetland wool jacket and v-neck blue cardigan with drop waist dress are new to this collection.

My inspiration for the Winter Frost Collection came from a photograph I found in a gardening magazine. It was of yew berries on a yew tree covered in sparkling silvery white frost.

The colours were exquisite and I found myself putting together a collection of materials and wools that worked well with the theme. I love blues and Winter Frost has been a pleasure to create.

Winter Frost Collection: Part 2

2009-10-26T19:54:00.003Z

In this group of Sashas are: Sasha (1968 Frido fringe girl); Katie (late 60's Kilt girl); Esther (my brunette version Gotz toddler).

Sasha is wearing an elegant outfit. Her party dress is made using a fine floral cotton fabric and features a tiered skirt.

I thought the longer style shaped jacket looked elegant with the belt.

She is wearing matching pants and little white socks with navy leather boneka shoes.

Beside Sasha is my little brunette Esther. When I bought her her hair had already been coloured but in night light it looked salmon pink instead of ginger so I took the plunge and coloured her hair again.

Her smock is made using the same lovely bamboo sock yarn as Sasha's jacket. It is a new toddler outfit and the smock features a pretty textural bramble pattern and little turned up cuffs.

Her trousers are made using the same floral fabric as the dress sasha is wearing.

I completed the outfit with little shetland wool lace weight bootees tied with I-cord made from the same wool as her smock.

Sasha's knitted jacket is made using a beautiful bamboo sock yarn which has a fabulous sheen and drape when knitted with a lovely silky feel.

The colour of this outfit draws out the blue tones in her eyes.
I love this outfit on Katie.

The drop waist dress has a gathered skirt, v-neck and the short sleeves have a little pleat at the cuff. I matched the buttons to the beautiful green colour of the leaves. The buttons took a while to find but are really gorgeous.

The blue lace weight shetland wool cardigan has a v-neck style that fits perfectly beneath the collar of her dress. The blue is exactly the same colour as the blue flower on her floral dress and her blue shoes.

Her socks were knit using natural white lace weight shetland wool with a fine blue stripe.

As usual her pants match her dress fabric.

Winter Frost Collection: Part 3

2009-10-26T19:51:00.002Z

The Sashas models in this group are: Annette (Gotz Sasha and sister to Anna); Maya (blonde Sasha from 1970 with eyes repainted by me); Pippa (a lovely early 70's brunette Sasha who had developed falling hair and was rewigged by me to look like a brown eyed version of my sister).

Maya is wearing a beautiful outfit that I think looks really cute on her.

Her cardigan is hand knit using a pretty sky blue lace weight shetland wool. Yet again the buttons were hard to find. I kept looking for the right size and colour everywhere I went.

Her blouse is made using a pretty dainty rose bud pattern cotton fabric which fastens at the back.
The buttons I chose are really cute little sky blue flower shaped ones. Very dainty. In this style of cardigan, I think the design of the buttons are a really important feature.

Her hair is tied back with an I-cord hair tie knitted in the same lace weight shetland wool as her cardigan.

Annette is wearing a cute outfit. Her waistcoat is hand knit using 4ply hand dyed wool. Its colours coordinate beautifully with the colour of the blue flowers on her dress. The waistcoat buttons at the front with pretty grey pearly buttons and features a lacey pattern on the front.

Her dress has a gathered skirt with a narrow pleat just above the hemline.

The bodice is fully lined. The sleeves are puffed with a little cuff and she has a contrasting colour of blue for the collar.

Her pants match her dress. The outfit is finished with white ankle socks and navy blue leather boneka shoes.

A truly beautiful outfit.

Pippa is modelling my favourite outfit from this collection. It is a beautiful v-neck jacket knitted in 2ply sweater weight shetland wool. The jacket is in the main striped with little speckles of contrasting colour in some of the stripes.

I loved the dark blue buttons which have a couple of tones in them.

She has a crew neck short sleeved sweater on underneath her jacket. It is knit using a lovely blue and dark green sock wool, (the same wool as I used for the background of the sweater with the white horses).

Her trousers are denim bootleg style. Her outfit is finished with hand knit socks made from the same sock wool as her short sleeved top. She has little track shoes to finish the outfit.

Isn't Pippa just the cutest doll?

I so love the look of this wig on her with the beautiful little fine curls.