Bratenella made the paper!

Bratenella's new space at Ivy House made the paper this week!  In case you didn't know, we will be in a great antique and gift shop in Columbia, SC.  I spent a lot of time with my partner, The Bloomin' Idiot, creating our space complete with pink walls and great stuff!  You can find all of your favorite Bratenella cards, dolls, signed artwork and other goodies like repurposed itmes with an artistic flair.

An Indian Inspired Wedding

I love custom orders.  They allow me to be creative and it allows my clients to receive a one of a kind gift to give or keep as an heirloom.  I get to know some of my customers really well when we collaborate.  Brides are usually very specific and very involved in the process.  This flower girl doll was for an Indian inspired wedding.  The bride shared pictures of the actual flower girl dress, some of their plans for the ceremony such as Mendhi or henna.  They are planning to do this as part of the celebration.  So, she wanted me to draw Mendhi on the doll's hands.  I was a little scared to do this, but I love a challenge.  I've never had a request for anything like this.  It turned out to be really fun.  She wanted the dress to be as close to the actual dress as possible.  So, I ordered a handmade doiley in gold and cream.  I spent a lot of time taking it apart to piece together the doll's dress.  It was so worth it!  It came out just the way I hoped.  This dress was very detailed and personalized embroidery wouldn't look right on the front.  So, this time I embroidered the tail of the bow on the back.  I am really looking forward to seeing the pictures from this wedding and hopefully will be able to share them. 

I enjoyed working with this bride and hope she loves it!

Customer Feedback:  "Paige was wonderful to work with, she went above and beyond to make a doll to match my flower girl dress. My wedding is an indian theme and she even put Henna on the doll's hands!! I can not wait to see my little sister's reaction to the mini me flower girl doll! Now if I can just hold out untill the wedding before I give it to her!"

The store is open!

The store is now OPEN!  Bratenella and her partner in crime, The Bloomin Idiot, have opened their shop at Ivy House Antiques and Gifts in Columbia, SC.  We've been working really hard.  You'll find everything southern girl could need or want....a vintage Lilly Pulitzer shirt, anything pink, handmade cards & gifts, Bratenella art dolls, Bloomin Idiot jewelry and coozies.

Bratenella art prints, handmade dress forms to display jewelry, cards

Goin' on a fabric hunt

A little excursion to Charleston, SC for an Elton John concert was a great excuse to check out the local fabric shops since I'm new to the South.  The concert was amazing, as Elton always is. 

The next day I searched a quilt shop and found one just down the street from the old market. 
People, Places & Quilts has two locations.  One in Charleston and one in Summerville (which was on the way home...YAY!).  The Charleston location was a cute little shop, but more on the small side.  They carried a lot of the Kaffe Fassett collection.  I saw a lot of historical reproductions, too.  I was told about the Summerville Shop (which is their sister store) and decided to check out it.  Wow, I'm sure glad I did!

The People, Places & Quilts is located in an old hardware store and has cute painted rocking chairs outside on the front "porch"...okay, sidewalk.  Right when I walked in the door, I was really excited.(I haven't been in a quality quilt shop since I moved to South Carolina.)    Creeky, old wooden floors with many rooms and long hallways. This looked like a much larger shop and had tons of fabrics to look at.  I could touch and feel everything.  Fabric is my crack.  I love it.

The one thing I really liked about this shop was the fat quarter selection.  They had almost everything ready to go, which is great when you just want to pick up some new fabrics to play with or collect.  There were sofas and a nice reading area (or a place for the men to wait) with tons of patterns and books.   My little stash (below) was a collection of different periwinkle and green fabrics.   They had several cutting tables and people to help.  I loved the pretty baskets they gave you to carry your fabrics up to the antique cash register.  A sweet touch :)

Glad I stopped....really nice shop.

http://www.ppquilts.com/

Summerville was a really cute old town.  When you get off the freeway, there's the normal stuff like chain stores and restaurants.  Drive down about a mile or two and you'll end up in the old downtown.  I stopped in a large antique shop.  I found a few things, that I still regret not getting, but drove the car (instead of the truck) that weekend.  Can't wait to go back.  I'll let you know when I find my next place :)

Pinterest Terms are Alarming!

Hmmm....this is interesting.  I just saw this when I was out "pinning".  Now, this has me a little concerned.  I'm especially concerned about the part where it says they own your property (which a lot of time, I post my artwork or things I made).  And that I pay their legal fees? Really? 
I don't know what to think.  Maybe if something's too good to be true, it probably is.  And pinterest IS really good...like cupcake good!  Everyone should read this....the only way to change this is for everyone to say we don't agree.

http://www.knoed.com/thewindowseat/pinterest-change-your-terms-or-were-leaving/

How could I not be inspired by this big baby?  This is Manny.  He's a huge cat.  He stretches to just over 4 feet!  Really!  But, he thinks he's a baby.  He always wants to be carried around like a baby and falls asleep in our arms.  He also jumps up in my arms if I snap my fingers.  Maybe I'll make a video of it and post it.  (I know you probably came here to see sewing tips, dolls or a tip on refinishing furniture...but, I can't help it.  He's so cute!)  On this day, he was howling and howling to be held.  So, Alex had him on her hip while she was on the computer.  He was happy as can be.  And oh ya, he's so cross eyed....I don't even think he can see straight.

I am "unveiling" a really special doll and cards.  The story of Sadako really touched me because I am a cancer survivor and love how the story gives people hope.    It's an opportunity to learn about history, but it's also a story of hope. We all need to have hope, no matter the situation.

I created these dolls with intricate pieced paper cranes.  There's also a card with origami birds and instructions to make your own. 
The handmade Bratenella Paper Crane doll was inspired by the story of Sadako.
Legend says that anyone who folds one thousand paper cranes will have their wish come true. The origami paper crane has become a symbol of peace because of this legend and because of a young Japanese girl named Sadako.

* The dolls I have created have an intricately designed origami crane pieced together and quilted. Each doll represents Sadako and her wish for world peace and hope. Each doll comes with the story of Sadako, origami paper crane instructions, a piece of real Japanese washi paper and an origami charm necklace. This makes a wonderful gift. Special order one and it can be personalized.

* As with all of my dolls, I have created the fabric for her face from my original paintings. So, she's not only a cute little cloth/rag doll. She's a one of kind art piece that's washable! (gentle washing is just fine.)

* Each doll measures approx. 14 inches tall. Dress is made from 100% black cotton and gold "frosted" dots. The paper crane is pieced with various patterned authentic Japanese fabrics. Her hair is a buttery soft black fleece. She has the signature Bratenella bow on her head, too.

Sadako was exposed to the radiation of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as an infant, and it took it's inevitable toll on her health. By the time she was twelve years old, in 1955, she was dying of leukemia. Hearing this legend, she decided to fold one thousand paper cranes so that she could live. When she realized that she wasn't going to survive the disease, she wished for world peace instead and to put an end to world suffering.


 The dolls I have created have an intricately designed origami crane pieced together and quilted. Each doll represents Sadako and her wish for world peace and hope. Each doll comes with the story of Sadako, origami paper crane instructions, a piece of real Japanese washi paper and an origami charm necklace. This makes a wonderful gift. Special order one and it can be personalized.     

Purchase a doll in my etsy shop   http://www.etsy.com/listing/93322922/bratenella-1000-paper-cranes-sadako