Clearance Shopping at Hancock Fabrics

I'd actually never heard of Hancock Fabrics (a US fabric and craft chain) until someone on the American Girl Collector's forum mentioned that they were going out of business - a quick search told me there was one not too far from me, so I decided to check them out.

The place was in chaos, so I actually didn't realize how reduced some of the items were - as it turns out, all of their pattern packets were selling for $1.25.  Not realizing that was the final price I only picked up a couple of things, but now I'll definitely need to go back - and if you live near one, it might be worth checking out!

Two of my purchases: patterns for outfits for AG-size dolls,
and for plush mermaid and pirate rag dolls.

Project Update: Sew Your Own My Best Friend

The final product.

As I mentioned in last month's Projects for Lazy People post I picked up a deeply discounted children's doll-making kit from Studio Girl called "Sew Your Own My Best Friend" a few weeks back.

Last weekend my husband went out of town, so I decided to settle in to a marathon viewing of Black Sails (if you're looking for a solid action series and aren't easily offended, I recommend it!) and wanted an easy and brainless project to do as I watched. Since this kit is recommended for kids 3 and older, I figured it wouldn't be too challenging for an adult devoting less than 10% attention to it.

Dolls of the Louisiana Plantations

Final destination: New Orleans

Back in early December I went on a road trip down to New Orleans with my mother and sister as a way of celebrating my mother's birthday.  That trip involved lots of jazz and beignets, as one would expect.

But on the way there, we spent one night and a day and a half in Vacherie, Louisiana, home to several historic sugar plantations. We drove past several, and did a tour of two of them:  the American-style Oak Alley Plantation and the Creole-style Laura Plantation. And at each of them I was able to do some doll-spotting, so I thought I'd share some of those dolls here. Enjoy!

Souvenir Dolls and Figures: A Travel Journal in Toys

Whenever I travel, I like to pick up a souvenir doll or figure to bring home.  I don't always keep them (sometimes they get passed along to friends), but it's vary rare for me to come home from holiday without one.  These are a few of the ones that are on my shelf now:

Wooden ball figure, Ecuador, 2007

Crocheted family, Ecuador, 2009

Rag doll, Dominican Republic, 2011

Beaded Figure, South Africa, 2005

Plush Donkey, Aruba 2013

Somewhere I probably have photos of the souvenirs that are in storage (which include a variety of airport dolls that were childhood gifts) and of the ones that were passed along as gifts for friends.  But that's a post for another day!

In any case, I hope my US-based friends had a great Independence Day!  And for the folks whose countries are still in the World Cup and are playing today, good luck!