When I go fabric shopping I’m always on the lookout for the piece that seems to just call my name...one that I can not leave the store without buying. Sometimes the fabric will immediately inspire a doll to me...when I saw this piece I knew exactly what doll I was going to create with it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSP4Pqedi6IPMSDFnv4T_IKAva31EON0Og-MWL8h9LAoIlIW_3VgFZQpEjxpWqTSAze92uUtEj-JQZeakF2njUgWqkHtfdbceRqKKXIxzur-sInzqzm7Nmj_u1itjI2StGtUe9ZEt0d4/s640/IMG_1525.jpg)
It just shouts summer pixie, right?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1DuGE2IR8SXT7dB6Q4hyphenhyphenMhTgcmrSCU41i0BOMXvt2gg3bZEpKGQlqQbnMu_sUrfThrm5gWrYk5JquhncW6p22f3GoRYjEljEHFvfWc9l2GALJ_i8Z4k5Urw4vFzdFTrL8-S30hT635Y/s640/IMG_1503.jpg)
Other times I will find one that I know I need but I just won’t “see” the doll for it yet. Eventually though it will be exactly what’s called for. I’ve had this little piece for ages, I loved it but never quite saw who it was for.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjesNvK0Rz4Uh73czRjBHUhO81Ek4WSN761dZrQlcgj6mAfMTEOiJ9HxpZpPwDebNZwE0Dhuunv1FE1nU1N-u_PhF0k817u3ssbed30skWz9ncSBS0TsDSSL2PFGOONwlwLkaaaBtzz3DI/s640/IMG_1524.jpg)
Then recently I came across it in my stash...while looking for something else...and knew right away that it was destined for an Alice. I mean look at those Wonderland-esque tea cups!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZbgPln-Yq1K2-e-W6jUBuggIypiDEQ0g87mPucbcXpbyp7DP_EM8utInCCQxr2gSRxEUgh_MIdztTZXKLoH0Rxi4DUbuzQMQU8FA_tFcXmuF3UHSYSPpTR9bLtDhgRu_TyVSEBwaY_Y/s640/IMG_1485.jpg)
It’s not always as easy as those two examples though. Most of the time finding the perfect fabrics for a doll I have in my head is one of the hardest parts of the process. I’m actually kind of fanatical about it, it’s one of the only times I have to have complete quiet. I’ll start by just pulling out the boxes with the colors I think I’ll be using , but before long they’re all out and the room is covered in fabrics. Eventually, after trying many different permutations of color, I’ll come up with a few fabric groups that I think will work. Then I sit down and I guess “listen” to which ones really seem to speak for that doll. I know, kind of crazy, right? But it works for me!
So how do you choose your materials?
And last I'll leave you with a bit of comic relief. This doesn't look like a comfy place to sleep to me...but of course it's right in the middle of all the action!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oTiuXxcC_aDKY4_WBXs9GK_BVgPFoKzPF86arbhp05sDol436crRwhdNyE9OnJbLvPG0FJ3svEc1X8KnM1myxmwW2u1328u8h6xcZ2eTyN41LTad1GRWMdaraghb-fp-7x-g5SXIc54/s640/IMG_1522.jpg)