~Third~Street~Studio~

It’s all happening... again?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 02:32:00 +0000

I finally have my own craft room! I had come to accept that this would never happen - not so much in a “poor me” way but in a make do sort of way. I’ve had great success as a sewer set up in a cupboard, a dank cobwebbed cellar, a cordoned-off sun room space, a stolen bedroom, and the go-to dinning room table. I’ve accumulated tons of stuff worthy of a sewing room and packed it away - literally for years - waiting for this very moment in time when the stars are aligned and things are finally falling into place to allow for this mavelous realization.

Do What You Love

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 14:24:00 +0000

It's always such a treat opening a new bag of dolls after Sonia and I have a hand off. She gets to see the dolls she's put together start to take form now that they dolls are closed and ready for stuffing. I get to see the new dolls she's constructed - all the clever fabric combinations and hair styles that will help to shape a final persona and inspire their unique embroidery and embellishment. So much fun!!

Next comes the hand off stage where the dolls are stuffed and ready for their final transformations. This is the part where each doll gets a face!!

Followed by the awesome hand off when we get to share in the joy of the final products and meet all the new little friends we've brought to life.

We love making dolls!!

Love's a Gift that's Truly Handmade

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 01:39:00 +0000

Well, it's about time to get back into it. We haven't done much sewing since last season so we may need to oil the old machines and say a little prayer in order to get going again! I've picked up knitting since last year, so I'm hoping we can incorporate a bit of that into our new editions. We're also gearing up to start our new collection of mature dolls - I won't say much as they are only yet an idea waiting to take form - but I will share
this preview of Sonia's most recent cutting escapade...

Can't be What You Want Because I'm Free

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 02:11:00 +0000

We are very pleased to announce that we've completed the very first installment of our new cloth doll collection Corduroy.

As I've probably mentioned once of twice before, I'm a fan of Pearl Jam. Corduroy is the title of a B-Side track on Pearl Jam's third album, Vitology, and is about the band's exposure to fame. I've actually quoted lyrics from this song in previous posts, because I love it so much. The song speaks to the importance of maintaining integrity in the wake of social pressures and expectations. This is what Corduroy Cloth Dolls by Third Street are all about - staying free in your choices and having the courage to stay true to yourself.

Incidentally, November 22nd marks the 20th anniversary of Pearl Jam's Vitology album, making the introduction of our Corduroy Collection all the more exciting. You can read more about the 20th anniversary of Vitology here, and of course I recommend that you do.

The Type of Hats That are Not a Mistake

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:05:00 +0000

If you follow us on Facebook, earlier this week you were treated to a glimpse of my doll fashion designing endeavors. Inspired by a cloth basket pattern I found on Pinterest (courtesy of A Spoon Full of Sugar Designs), I created some chic new hats for our Third Street cloth dolls.

And they're reversible!

This is the part of doll-making that I especially love: designing and embellishing. The art of transforming each cloth doll into a unique, one of a kind entity. This is when their personality takes shape, the moment when the "thing" that will draw someone to them is fully incorporated.

Daytripping

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 16:21:00 +0000

Out with my mother-in-law to visit with the neighbors! Had a lovely pumpkin spice latte and sandwich bagel at the beautiful Just Us! Coffeehouse followed by a drop-in to Tangled Garden in Grand Pre for some great jelly tasting. Picked up a few things to add to the "shop local" Christmas baskets I'm planning. After a tour of the Grand Pre outback complete with a precarious near-miss with a farm ditch full of muck (with wide-eyed cattle looking on) we meandered over to the Gaspereau for an eyeful of fall valley delight. The trees are all so vivid and rich right now!!

Snapped a picture of these little friends down the road at Gaspereau Valley Fibres and managed to snag some fall-coloured wool felt for my stash!!

Thank You, Teacher

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 13:39:00 +0000

We've all had that one teacher who touched our hearts - who recognized our unique qualities and helped us bring them to light. My daughter's second grade teacher was one of these people in Julia's world. Jules grew under Mrs. L.A,'s guidance, coming out of her quiet shell to display a confidence and fortitude that only her family had yet seen. Many of the insecurities and anxieties common to earlier school life began to abate and our caring and sensitive girl seemed to blossom!

Just before the end of the 2013-2014 school year, Mrs. L.A. announced that she would be leaving classroom teaching to pursue a mentorship role with the regional school board. This was both disappointing and exciting news - sad that she would no longer be a day-to-day presence in our school but excellent for all of the teachers, schools, and students who would benefit from her as a mentor involved with program development.

Determined to show our appreciation for the role she had played in Julia's educational, social, and emotional development, I began work on an embroidery picture for Julia to give to Mrs. L.A. as she embarked upon the next adventure of her teaching career.

I chose fabrics that held sentimental value in Julia's world - one that I used in her bedroom decor when she was a baby and another I used in her first cloth doll.

I re-purposed an old frame to fit the dimensions, and affixed the applique using HeatnBond.

I used pencil to lightly write on the A.A. Milne quotation I had chosen for the embroidery.

Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart - A.A. Milne

Next, I embroidered the script using a narrowly spaced back stitch in a mossy green floss. I added some chain-stitched petals in blue and peach, filled with a deep violet satin stitch to fashion a decorative flower. The center is composed of clustered french knots in a fuchsia floss. I embroidered the year using a chain stitch in the same blue and peach from the flower.

Then finished the project with the frame for mounting and safekeeping. Please excuse the glare.

Julia helped me with the colors and the design and served as support and motivation as I hustled to complete the project in the short time frame allotted by the late confirmation of Mrs.L.A.'s appointment with the Board. We used a piece of scrapbook paper to finish the back of the frame with a handwritten note from Jul thanking Mrs. L.A. for being "the best."

A big fan of all things handmade, Julia was super pleased to present Mrs. L.A. with this gift on the last day of school!

NEVER underestimate the sewer in your life

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 18:37:00 +0000

I've watched this scene from Batman Returns a dozen times on You Tube and on various sewing blogs over the years and I just can't get enough of it! I've loved Michelle Pfeiffer since Grease 2 and find that the frightful influence of Tim Burton in Batman Returns shapes her transformation from meek Selina Kyle to vengeful Catwoman into an awesome display of unleashed psychoses. This scene is further shaped by the chilling notes of composer Danny Elfman, working to enhance the darkness of both the scene and the movie overall.

I don't think the poor sock monkey saw it coming!!

Works in ... Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:52:00 +0000

We have a few things in the works here on Third Street, so I thought it would be helpful to make a list - sort of a social contract - to keep us on tract. A little self-manipulation never hurt anyone and let's face it - I probably won't even notice that I'm manipulating myself anyway... And it's for my own good whether I know it or not...

Sonia is working hard to get our new collection of dolls onto the production line. Remember this post...

The VERY FIRST of this new, yet-to-be-named line has made it to my sewing table and will be constructed and brought to life very soon, so keep an eye here and on our Facebook page for updates on that work.

After a recent stuffing frenzy, Sonia has passed along these little friends for their finishing work.

I sewed for a bit last night and am fairly confident that I have attached all of the proper limbs to their intended doll. Sorry, no alien-limb B movie endeavors for TSH this time around. We unfortunately don't have that much time on our hands these days...

Also, much of my time has been spent "researching" various Internet sites like Pinterest and Instructables for tips on how to sew panels into jeans to create bell bottoms. My daughter has been cast to the chorus of a local theater group's upcoming Christmas production and I get to work on her costume for the 1970's portion of the show. How exciting is that!!

And, I've begun a doll restoration project in my "spare" time... A friend was recently downsizing a storage unit in preparation for a cross country move and she asked me if I would be interested in some of her old dolls. She had 4 dolls stored from travels as a child and was looking to offload - being a GREAT friend and a celebrated "off-loader" (hoarder?), I eagerly accepted the offer.

This little pretty particularly grabbed my fancy.

She's button jointed with braided black yarn hair, felt facial features, and a prim little stitched nose. This is her as she came to me, well after my daughter had fully disrobed her! She came fully attired in cotton bloomers and a crochet-fringed cotton slip, with an emerald green dress shirt paired with a bright pink skirt and purple apron, to boot. She's wearing a red beaded necklace and has a lovely woven scarf for finishing accessories. All are photographed below drying after a preliminary hand washing (disregard the upper middle and left pieces, these are for other dolls).

I've begun with the doll's body, tidying up her hair, cleaning up stray threads, and mending some open seams. The shirt need a little repair at the shoulder so some hand stitching was employed - although I'm not overly pleased with the result and may have to revisit this part. Once I have the other pieces mended and pressed and get the poor dear re-dressed, she will make a beautiful decorative piece for my daughter's bedroom. I'll have to get Dad to fire up the workshop and make her a fancy display chair.

More pictures to come!

Why I Need to Travel More...

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 19:04:00 +0000

Just spent some time looking at various handmade dolls on Pinterest and stumbled upon this picture from the Brooklyn Museum's 2010 exhibition Healing the Wounds of War: The Brooklyn Sanity Fair of 1864.

Doll and Wardrobe, Sanitary Fair. United States, circa 1864. Mixed media, doll approx. 12 in. (30.5 cm) high. Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ira B. Downs, 24.311mn

The photographed doll and her elaborate trousseau were made by Eliza Lefferts and sold at the Brooklyn Sanity Fair in 1864 in support of the Civil War war efforts.

How awesome would it have been to see this doll? I want to see her in all the different outfits! I need to get out more...

Craft Fair Encounters of the Endearing Kind

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 14:20:00 +0000

In addition to creating fun things with our hands and imagination designed to delight and entertain children... it is highly enjoyable observing people's varied reactions to our dolls. On occasion, someone will exhibit a rather captivated persuasion ... a child in a stroller exhibiting an inherent need to hug every doll they can get their hands on, even if that induces near-strangulation from their stroller harness ... adults fluttering excitedly from one doll to another conjuring memories and emotions deeply rooted in childhood innocence ... elderly ladies who tell us stories about dolls they made for their children years and years ago ... or the quiet observer who smiles to themselves while running their finger along the cheek of a doll.

It is these fully invested reactions we especially enjoy.

One of our fondest craft fair memories is of a young man who came to our booth to buy a doll for his wife a short while after they had been to our booth together. His lovely wife had fallen in love with our Third Street dolls, moving frantically from one to another and showing them to her husband excitedly. He too was lovely, returning her enthusiastic reaction and pointing out others he thought she would like. They spent a lot of time looking through our display, with the young wife cradling various dolls in her arms as they perused. They eventually moved on, leaving us feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

A while later, seemingly out of nowhere the man returned to our booth with a gusto. He was a wee bit panicked, his movements erratic and his presence radiating energy within the booth. He was searching through the dolls and spouting gibberish - strange craft fair behavior to be sure! We derived that he had wandered away from his wife and hurried back to our table to get her the doll she liked for a surprise Christmas present - he was rushing in fear that she would come looking for him and discovered what he was up to. He frantically flipped through his wallet for cash because he couldn't use credit for fear that she would see the purchase on the statement. "She watches the accounts like a hawk!" he told us. Before we could get the doll in a bag he jammed her inside his jacket and sprinted off. We saw his wife a minute later obliviously admiring the wares of a booth further down the isle, completely unaware of the mayhem ensuing on her behalf.

We still laugh about that strange craft fair encounter, using the memory to lift our spirits during slow shows and periods of intense deadlines.

This is one of the many reasons we do what we do!!

Fall Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 21:58:00 +0000

One fall show down... East Coast Mama Collective Fall Pop-Up Fair was this past weekend here in Wolfville. Check out my brave girl working at the door as a greeter handing out fliers and apples. She did an amazing job!!

Setting up our display with a single table is always a challenge, but I think we managed to pull it off. On the flip side, setting up a table instead of a booth usually doesn't require extra lighting which can be tricky to manage. While we weren't able to get all of our available dolls out for display, this was the first show we've done in early fall - before Halloween - since adding our Third Street Witch Dolls. It was nice for them to get some time front and centre.

Next show is the ECMC Holiday Fair

Alderney Landing, Dartmouth

November 22nd – 23rd, 9am – 3pm

More to come as the date draws near!

Missing the Good Old Days?

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Thu, 22 May 2014 20:32:00 +0000

When sitting down to sew, it is essential to have all affairs in order.

Or is it?

Saw this on Hancock Fabrics' Facebook page and nearly peed my pants.

Test

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 14:11:00 +0000

Trying to fix something that\s not quite broken is always fun...

The waiting drove me mad...

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 19:57:00 +0000

... I'm finally here and I'm a mess ... Well, my sewing room is anyway. Just closed the first two dollies for 2014. I definitely have the sewing fever now - Jul has been drawing doll designs for me left, right, and centre; I completely deconstructed my old black wool coat last night and am plotting ways to usurp Sonia's red wool coat to subject it to a likewise state of fabric rebirth.

Made this little cutie with scraps out of my old coat.

I love wool felt!! It is my favourite fabric for embellishments and all things stitcher-y.

Tea and Crossbones

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 18 Apr 2014 19:56:00 +0000

Letting you in on a little secret. We're up to something here on Third Street... and it involves this fabulous skull fabric we recently nabbed in Avonport.

With ... a little tweeking involving two tea bags and some boiled water ...

... a few minutes of meaningful contemplation ...

And an even greater result ...

Just wait till you see what we're going to do with this ...

Hope you all have a great holiday!

Playing with Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:16:00 +0000

Took a run out to Mahone Bay yesterday with some family for a girls Sunday drive. Dropped into Old Maders Warf Emporium while we were there and fell in love with the collection of antique toys.

My favourite was this circa 1940's Spears Picture Stitching game.

Filled with gorgeous vintage pictures for kids to further embellish with stitching!

How sweet is that? Wanted it for my ever growing sewing memorabilia collection...

Maybe on my next trip out.

Tied Shoelaces

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 21:10:00 +0000

Third Street is doing its part to combat the untied shoelace epidemic that has long plagued childhood. Stitched laces, embroidered with a uniform straight stitch and a relatively steady hand, are guaranteed to remain tied throughout the most vigorous play times. And these shoes won't get stuck in the mud causing you to have to walk home in a socked foot, much to your Mom's dismay.

Now, if only we could stitch laces to our actual children's tootsies.

To Sew or Not to Sew

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 00:47:00 +0000

Sewing makes me happy. It makes me feel good the way a cup of tea and a good book do. It is satisfying to the soul. So why don't i do it more often? Why do we so often let the things that make us feel complete become forgotten or set aside. Same could be said about my writing and this gravely neglected blog. But that message would merely be redundant in this format. I am sorry for that. For the multiple sorries. Sorry.

Yup. That about sums it up.

Maybe next time I'll have some pictures of something awesome I've sewn.

Sigh.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 15:30:00 +0000

We hope everyone is getting into the

Christmas spirit!

We wish you all

joy and peace

throughout the holidays

and long into the upcoming year.

Be happy and safe.

TSH Doll Invasion

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Busy, busy, busy! Added 10 more dolls to the Facebook album today for upcoming shows. MANY more to follow, if I don't succumb to the invasion of faceless severed-limbed dolls that Sonia sent to attack me... Wish me luck!

Had to Share...

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:47:00 +0000

How sweet is she? Making clothes for her dollies.

Hand-Frosted Third Street Doll

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 01:11:00 +0000

I recently had the pleasure of reuniting with a Third Street doll we sold at last winter's Acadia Winter Craft Expo here in Wolfville. This little doll is presently residing with her best friend Leah who takes her everywhere! Talking with her mom, I was so delighted to hear how much Leah loves her doll. We laughed over the Knuffle Bunny-esque prospect of a distressed midnight call proclaiming that a dolly was missing and a little girl was in dire need of an immediate replacement. Well, nervous laughter...

In August, Leah celebrated her first birthday and her mom was kind enough to share a photo of the special cake she made for Leah's big day.

How sweet is this??

We spend so much time bringing life to these little sweets. We have the luxury of evolving gorgeous bolts of fabric into unique dolls thriving with personality and character. Each doll means so much to us it's hard to see them go off into the world, so it is a great comfort to learn of their lives after they've left Third Street. Like so many of us who have made this move, Third Street dolls are filled with a love and happiness that is best shared with a friend. We are glad to see that this dolly shares that with Leah.

Have a picture you'd like to share? We'd love to see it (and brag about it on the blog, permission pending). Email us if you're interested (link in the right sidebar).

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 01:41:00 +0000

Starting a new relationship is often made delightful through the carefree re-explorations of everyday things. But different, of course, because it's with someone else. Being the reclusive introverted loner that I am, my experiences in this area have often been shared with books - or rather, authors. I love to learn how other people view the things I encounter daily, and how passing thoughts and encounters are interpreted by other minds. I find it rather captivating.

Yesterday I courageously embarked on a new friendship with Canadian author Ann-Marie MacDonald. For many years I have seen MacDonald's books in libraries and new and used book stores, yet I have only now gained the courage to walk across the room and metaphorically break the ice. She's always seemed so cool and refined and is unfailingly surrounded by her impassioned and loyal friends - surely she wouldn't care to meet someone as Andrea as me. And yet I found myself intrigued and, as is often the case, temptation won out.

With a few hours to myself the other day, I decided to take a walk down to The Odd Book, a great used book store here in Wolfville. Having recently ended my torrid affair with Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin and mysteriously misplaced my used copy of John Irving's The Hotel New Hampshire, I was in the market for a friend with a bit of guts and a certain degree of witticism who wasn't going to wonder away when someone more happening came along. Accordingly, as one is inclined to do in search of fellow intellects, I meandered over to the Canadian Literature section.

It was there that I made my move. I affixed a disinterested expression, introduced myself, made a stupid comment on the summer heat and the underachieving culture of air conditioners ... and done: new best friend! I think she was drawn to my clever banter and irresistible charm, but I could be wrong.

Right away I bonded with MacDonald's narrative in The Way the Crow Flies. Her descriptions and impressions - it was as though she knew just what I'd always been thinking. Scary, what with my fascination concerning the mundane and ordinary. Hey, it takes special talent to make peeling paint entertaining, and those of us who thus thrive - regardless of our achievements and failures - need to stick together.

It has just occurred to me that I may be discrediting MacDonald's talents as an author. This is not my intention. I am merely trying to highlight the essence of a good storyteller: someone who can captivate others with their recount of the everyday world, sometimes with very little to work with aside from their imagination and articulation.

I especially love when you find a passage from an author who succeeds in describing otherwise unremarkable experiences or situations in a way that truly captures their essence and 'speaks' to you. As you would expect from my well documented track record as an intellectual hoarder, I've collected a few such excerpts from The Way The Crow Flies for your pondering.

A moving automobile is second only to the shower when it comes to singing. P. 2

Your imagination is the best entertainment of all, writing is the best technology known to man, and your teeth are more precious than pearls so look after them. P. 21

Bikes and trikes and red wagons, sprinklers going, the distant roar of a lawnmower, the smell of freshly cut grass. Kids glance up, mildly curious, strange adults wave casually at the car... P.34. Brings me back here.

The following passage left an especially personal impression (see why here):

... Everything about an air force station is new. And it will stay that way for its entire operational life. Each house, each building will be freshly painted in the same colours they have always had... The families of the PMQs will always seem like the first families to move in, they will always have young children of about the same age. Only the trees will change, grow. Like reruns on television, an air force station ever grows old. It remains in the present. Until the last flypast. Then it is demobilized, decommissioned, deconsecrated. It is sold off and all the aging, the buildup of time that was never apparent, will suddenly be upon it. It will fade like the face of an old child. Weeds, peeling paint, decaying big-eyed bungalows... P.24

As you can see, my engrossment with Ann-Marie MacDonald is only still beginning. I fear there may be more literary hoarding - and sharing - in the days and weeks to come. Lucky you.

Wait for it....

noreply@blogger.com (Andrea on Third Street) — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 03:37:00 +0000

Stand by - the sewing table's open and the machine has been dusted following a long and quiet winter ... and spring ...

It's about time we attended to those lost souls and severed limbs ...

Poor dollies.