Maple's How Trendy is Your Doll? Off-The-Shoulder Top Challenge

Yo, peeps.

Maple, here. Long time no harass. ;-)

If you aren't familiar with me, I am the resident PITB.

(Pain in the Butt.)

Last time I talked about Trends to Sew was 

a post about our TtS Pinterest Board:

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2013/08/looking-for-trends-to-sew.html

Which generated ZERO comments.

Glad you were reading. (That's sarcasm.)

And before that I critiqued the MyAG Sweet Spring Dress:

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2013/04/maples-thoughts-on-sweet-spring-dress.html

Which elicited a reaction from some readers bordering on cray cray.

It's as if I insulted their first-born or something.

It's a dress people.

No need to grab the red telephone.

(If you don't know what the red telephone is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow%E2%80%93Washington_hotline

If you don't know what a telephone is, I can't help you.)

If my posts manage to tick people off, 

I feel I am doing something right.

GO! ME!

(And I still think the Saccharine Tinkle Dress is a drag, btw.

If you wanna fight it out, see me after school in the Jimmy John's parking lot.

Just a word of warning, I have a mean roundhouse kick.)

Also, see that post for some great (in my opinion) examples of Trends to Sew -- 

crochet and lace-accented dresses and girly styles.

For today's post I start a new series:

Maple's How Trendy is Your Doll?

That annoying girl of the year, Saige, has cloned herself here in Badger's Wood at 

The DW Headquarters and Lil' Miss Saige 2.0, i.e. Columbia Easton, 

keeps showing up here on the blog instead of me. 

What the?

Oh well.

I will use her to my own ends.

Today's Trend to Sew is Off-The-Shoulder Tops.

We custom-ordered this blue baby from Royal Doll Boutique on Etsy.

The white tunic is also from Royal Doll Boutique.

The yellow shorts are from Liberty Jane Clothing.

The purse is from Fox and Family.

You may be saying, "Off-The-Shoulder Tops? That's sooo 2011!"

Not so.

They are still "in," as are cut-out or cold shoulder tops, and 

boxy, drapey tops that are great for layering.

From Forever21:

So how trendy is your doll?

Our Off-The-Shoulder Top Challenge begins.

Do you own an off-the-shoulder doll top?

Have you wanted to make one?

Do you sell them?

Now is the time to show off 

yer doll's wardrobe or your shop goodies!

If you have an off-the-shoulder doll top or want to make one and show it off 

here at The DW -- Please email Nora your pics!

We'll also accept pics of boxy tees and cold-shoulder items.

You can send up to 5 pics.

nora.demington@gmail.com

We'll post your pics here as your answers to my Challenge.

Feel free to use this opportunity to advertise your shop, 

blog, Youtube channel, etc.

Your pics are due in two weeks: 

So on Wednesday, October 2nd.

In the meantime, 

I'll be offering a new Trends to Sew Challenge each week.

Liberty Jane's Pixie Faire offers a pattern for the Off-The-Shoulder shirt here:

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-shirt-top-patterns/products/off-the-shoulder-tee-18-doll-clothes

There is also the Cold-Shoulder Top pattern:

http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/18-inch-doll-shirt-top-patterns/products/cold-shoulder-top-18-doll-clothes

Some more pics of the Off-The-Shoulder Top:

Some more examples of the Cold-Shoulder Top and Dress:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/CutiePieandMe

Again...if you have an off-the-shoulder doll top or want to make one and show it off 

here at The DW -- Please email Nora your pics!

We'll also accept pics of boxy tees and cold-shoulder items.

You can send up to 5 pics.

nora.demington@gmail.com

We'll post your pics here as your answers to my Challenge.

Feel free to use this opportunity to advertise your shop, 

blog, Youtube channel, etc.

Your pics are due in two weeks: 

So on Wednesday, October 2nd.

Any Questions???

Feel free to ask us in the comments or 

as an email to nora.demington@gmail.com.

MyAG Sugar and Spice Baking Set Review!

Hola! We finally get around to the MyAG Sugar and Spice Baking Set -- 

a new item in the 2012 Holiday Line. 

We just noticed this puppy is backordered to November 23rd. Thank goodness we ordered this first back at the end of August. Phew.

Today our Lottie is modeling the Santa hat and apron that come with the set. It also comes with the gingerbread house, cake stand, bowl of gumdrops, plate of sugar-powdered chocolates, a stuffed tube of icing, three jars/bottles of sprinkles, and a box of candy canes.

Lottie's white top is from Etsy seller Cutie Pie and Me. The gray tank top underneath was made by Liberty Jane Clothing. The white skirt was handcrafted by Etsy seller Sitara at L'Atelier de Sitara.

Her red boots are Caroline's Traveling Outfit boots that we have added chains onto for a modern look. The chains can be added or removed whenever we feel like it. Her socks are baby socks from a dollar store. Her necklace is one we made ourselves.

The hat is awesome, sits wonderfully on the doll's head, and is a darker red than the canvas-like material of the apron. The red of the hat matches the velveteen trim of the apron. The apron also has white fur trim like the hat, as well as snowflake embroidery.

The apron swoops up in the back. It closes in two spots with velcro -- at the neck, like a non-tying halter-top would, and at the waistline.

Here are all four sides of the gingerbread house.

It is very plasticky. Can't avoid that one.

But it is okay. At least they didn't paint it in shades of pink.

And it has sparkly accents.

It does seem a bit small in scale.

The house and cake stand are two separate pieces, fyi.

The cake stand is white plastic. Very plasticky as well.

The gumdrops do not come out of the bowl.

The icing tube is stuffed with stuffing, so it is fun to squish.

The chocolates are stuck to the plate. Ain't coming off.

They kinda look like have semi-melted into one solid chocolate mass.

The bottles of sprinkles do not open. But they do have the shiny stuff inside them. So that is nice.

The box of candy canes has a lid that comes off and on. But the candy canes do not come out of the box. They are in there for life.

Review Thoughts Round-Up: I know everyone is curious as to what we think of this set. There are a lot of pieces to it for $58, and everything is well-made in our opinion.

 If you are obsessed with doll kitchens or doll baking -- this is a set for you. We have a dolly kitchen that we would have loved to set up for this photo shoot. But time was not on our side.

The hat and apron set are super-cute and we love them. But we can't sew. Perhaps someone who can sew can do them justice. But I am not sure how many people would be running out to sew that slippery--almost liquid--velveteen of the hat. And no one wants to sew with white fur. If you do -- more power to ya.

The food items and accessories might be things you could find elsewhere, make or commission yourself. And still do a great job with them. And then maybe you could have treats that are not stuck in their containers.

Overall, we bought this set because we love Christmas and anything having to do with Christmas. We have wanted a doll Santa hat for awhile, but again, the fabrics involved are daunting. I am glad AG finally offered another one with a perfect look and fit. And the Santa apron is a perfect add-on for holiday baking/cooking time.

But for $58 I think most people should really consider how much play time or collector's bliss they will get out of this set before purchasing it.

Thank you for visiting us today!