Monday, 25 February 2013

Red Nose Day Dolls - spreading the word


The Red Nose Day Doll project has been keeping me busy in recent weeks. When Ros and I met up to chat about the idea back in October we hoped that perhaps four or five people might join in to make things with us.

The team of designer-makers is now 20 strong! Good grief. As we started to share what we were up to on Twitter and Facebook the offers flooded in. The sheer number of beautiful tiny items that have been made for these dolls is rather mind-blowing. Miniscule books, quilts, pets, clothes, bags, shawls, baskets,  jewellery, bedding and even a tiny pitch pine blanket box have all been made especially for them by hand. 



The dolls are called Maisie, Blossom, Poppy and Mac. Blossom and Mac are pictured above and Poppy is below in her Little Badger dress. Maisie has wonderful red hair and has written her very own blogpost here.


Each doll will be auctioned separately with his or her respective trousseau on Ebay, beginning next Thursday, 7th March and ending on the evening of Sunday 17th March. I suspect those last few minutes may be rather nail-biting. All the money raised will go to Comic Relief.


Ros and I are now spreading the word about the dolls as much as we possibly can to attract potential bidders. If you'd like to help out then there's a blog button below (featuring Maisie made by Jodie in her red nose, crocheted by Dottycookie) to pop in your sidebar. It would be wonderful if you could link it to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RedNoseDayDollies?ref=ts&fref=ts and a blogpost about it would be even better! Any help would be HUGELY appreciated. Thankyou.


Karen Boatwright, who has knitted some wonderful pets for the dolls and sewn Mac's sleeping bag made this little film of Mac going camping in the living room with his friend knitted cat and Salty, the needle-felted terrier (made by Emma Herian):


I adore this little animation. It has something of Bagpuss about it. Feel free to post it on your blog or facebook page if you'd like to.

The most wonderful part of this project has been working together with people whose work I admire so much. I think the best analogy is the feeling of singing in a choir - SO much better than singing alone at home  in the shower.

The full list of people contributing to this project is below. Ros and I cannot thank them enough. Truly, THANKYOU xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jodie of RicRac - deisgn for Poppy and Maisie, made Maisie, her clothes & Geoff the tortoise
Val of Dottycookie - tiny basket, fishing creel, crocheted red noses
Tracy of Dragonfly - tiny quilt for Mac
Julie of Little Cotton Rabbits - beary smalls, outfit for Maisie/Poppy
Lucy of Attic24 - two crocheted blankets
Ali of Domesticali - little cloud pillows
Alex of LolaNova - tiny blouse in vintage floral fabric and two embroidered & Liberty capes
Annie of Knitsofacto - shawls for the dolls
Sara of OneChurchillsGreen- crocheted dress for Poppy
Celia of Purple Podded Peas - tiny books of butterflies, birds, woldflowers and mammals
Kat of Slugs on the Refrigerator- hats for the dolls
Joanne of NotsoGranny - crochet leotard and ballet cardigan
Scarlett of TeenageGranny - needle felted pet and knitted satchels
Sarah Moore - two bundles of bedding in vintage fabrics
Emma of Sew Recycled - Salty and Chip the needlefelted terriers
Karen Boatwright - knitted cat & dog, sleeping bag for Mac, film of Mac going camping
BoPeep kids - Coat and dress for Poppy
Chrissie Marshall - bag to carry each doll
Steve Handley - tiny pitch pine blanket box
Edwina Ibbotson, milliner - hats for Mac and Blossom
Mikki Towler- donated tiny antique basket for Salty to live in

I have set up a linky at the bottom of this post. It would be wonderful if you could link up if you post about or have already posted about the dolls - then everyone can hop over and take a look.

24 comments:

  1. Did I do the linky thing right? Should there be a picture? Am linking to you, grabbing buttons, facebooking, tweeting, eveything short of wering a sandwich board!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely adorable, hope you raise heaps.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a gorgeous project! I'll spread the word

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The whole project has been amazing, I've so enjoyed watching it all grow. I hope you raise loads of cash!
    I'm off to pop the pic on my sidebar. :)
    V x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Every single thing is exquisite, well done everyone and good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  7. this is so adorable, will be treasured for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  8. So cute! This is indeed a great project. I especially love Maisie. She’s so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really love your project and admire what all the designers have done. It gives a positive feeling.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow Emma. I've been watching on other blogs and the quality and amount of things for these dolls are just amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow Emma! You and all these kind folk who have made the dolls so special have done a wonderful job, I was blown away by how beautifully made the dolls are when I just read this post, and with thier little clothes and accessories :) I will defiantly try to blog about them and will try to include all the links too, will also be watching ebay now in anticipation! love safxxx

    ReplyDelete
  12. Such lovely things,what a great idea!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would have loved to have helped out with this project but thought it was by invitation only! I can't think of anything else tiny these dolls need - everything is so exquisite. I'll try to do my bit by spreading the word.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Have done my linky bit - now to keep fingers crossed for a bidding frenzy!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a wonderful project and I will do my best to spread the word. I've just posted the little film(which is adorable) to my facebook page and will try to do a blog post as well. My two year old has just watched the film over and over about 10 times! Everyone has created some wonderful things. Would have loved to have made something too but like Gina thought it was by invitation. Good luck with the auction. Will be watching with interest. Fiona x

    ReplyDelete
  16. I have never had the wanties so bad!
    The thing is, these dollies are going to raise so much more than I can justify bidding and, although I want them (all to myself) I am equally desperate to see the results of the auction. Edge of the seat doesn't cover it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This was such a great idea Emma and the dolls are ending up being the luckiest dolls on the planet with all of the wonderful things that have been made! I am rather in love with Salty.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congratulations ladies!! I'm certain you will raise a good amount for the charity - I think so highly of your talents!! I've blogged about it (tho am only a newbie) but will offer any support I can. Well done & Good luck!! J9 x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh! This is so cool. I love this project of yours. So cute! Thanks a lot for sharing this idea.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I don't do Twitter or Face Book so I can't find how much was raised with the sale of the dolls - perhaps this hasn't happened yet?
    I'm on tenterhooks!

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a great project! I really love it especially the one in a red dress. It is so cute. I am glad you shared this one.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hey what a great DIY doll project you did. I wish I could make something like, but I just dont seem to have the time.

    ReplyDelete
  23. How adorable! I really love this project. These dolls really look great. I am glad you shared something like this.

    ReplyDelete

I so love reading your comments and will try very hard to answer them but sometimes life gets in the way and I don't manage every time. Thankyou for dropping in here and taking the time to say something - it means a great deal.