The internet is amazing isn’t it? All the wonderful things you can find out about. I am old enough to remember life without it and the wonder of all of these web sites and blogs that people have made that I so enjoy.

While I was searching for inspiration for my 1940s costume earlier in the year I came across a blog where someone was making their own costumes, but for dolls. At first I thought that it was a Barbie but she looked different and that is how I discovered the Gene Marshall dolls range.

These dolls are larger than Barbie and designed for adult collectors and there is a whole world out there of people making costumes and accessories based on fashion from the 40s, 50s and 60s. There are some amazing outfits being created and some very talented people making them.

One of the first sites I found was The Couture Touch with amazing outfits such as this one. There are some lovely hat ideas on here and some tutorials.Picture from Couture Touch website.

That led me to Daveland’s site, he does official photography for the amazing Sandra Stillwell creations pictured here and all of these beautiful pictures made me want to know more about these miniature fashions. All pictures from his website.

This one is amazing with the beautiful embroidery and beading on it.

This dress would be quite easy to make from the pattern I used for the black and gold gowns in my last post and I have a sleeve option in one of the other patterns. Since I am trying to use up stash it would have to be the purple chiffon that I used in the cocktail dress I made previously but I have quite a lot of suitable black material.

I am not sure if I poses the tailoring skills for this one, look at the tiny buttons! I just love the details in this outfit, it is exquisite.

Sandra Stillwell produces fashion collections every year based on original designs and the dresses are not only beautifully made but amazingly photographed as well, all pictures from her website.

Since making some fab felt flowers orange and pink is one of my new favourite colour combinations.

These flowery ones remind me a lot of Liberty fabrics which of course I love, definitely a lot of Dior New Look happening here.

I don’t know if I will ever be able to afford one of the dolls as they are mainly only available from the US and are about £70 but for the meantime I can be inspired on a smaller scale for Barbie.

I just never knew any of this existed and find it fascinating, I loved playing with my Barbies when I was younger and have really enjoyed making all of the clothes for my cousins so am going to do some more both for them and some for me to keep.

I realised when choosing the pictures for this post that I have scraps of this fabric in the picture above in another colourway.

This is the silk that I made my sister in law Amanda’s wedding jacket from 4 years ago and she very kindly let me keep the scraps. I am thinking a bodice made from this would look lovely with a black velvet skirt. I might even be able to make a bolero as in the first outfit above.

All very exciting stuff and thanks inventors of the internet for access to all this wonder!

I will be back next week with, hopefully, pictures of the completed rabbit for Rosie, I have all constituent parts, just need a stuffing and sewing together session which will possibly happen this weekend.

Have a good week ahead, take care and thanks for visiting.