The "Redhead Connection" presents: Roman Holidays featuring Carla and Valeria

I've been thinking a lot about showing some love to my MM girls, expecially to Carla and Valeria, who are simply beautiful. At first I simply thought of finding inspiration in some of Robert Best's fashions for silkstone, in particular I adore Market Day Barbie

Then I decided that sewing some floral dresses  and photoghraph them wouldn't do them justice. Ok, they are not poseable but they sure can strike that ONE pose....again Silkstone was a great source. As Mattel's latest campaing for silkstone is set in Rome, and I love Rome,  I decided to make an exercise in photomontages.
But, at least in my mind, Rome+lovely girls=Roman Holidays!!!!
I must add that sometime ago I found on e-bay a  wonderful blue Barbie Vespa for a nice price.
Mix everything together with my Redheaded Dolls Obsession, and you have "The Redhead Connection"!!!

I've been in Rome several times, in fact I have to go there due to work duties several times each year, but I never had any time to take pictures, so the photomontages are on stock images.
But I can tell you Rome is a very special place. Each time I go there, even for a few hours for a meeting I feel elated, there's something in the air.

These are the dresses I sew for Valeria and Carla, they are now ready to see some wonderful places and meet interesting people......

Let me introduce you to Orso Maria. He and Carla are in front of the Coloseum, Orso Maria is one of the new guys and soon you shall see him in all his glory, all the girls here are crazy about him. He's wearing a black tailored suit (D&G style, at least that's what I was trying to do) and a piquet white shirt

Borgo Pio is a lovely neighborood on the outskirts of Vatican City

Beautiful redheads posing in front of Fontana di Trevi:

Valeria and Giacomo visiting the Caracalla's Thermae. Giacomo is wearing a nice blue sweater I made out of a sock, and a pair of simple jeans. So far I can tell you he is Samuele little brother. More about him soon!

And before leaving  Giacomo shows Valeria around Rome by night. This is Piazza di Spagna, the atmosphere is pure magic!

Don't know yet if this is going to be the first of a series, but it was real fun!!! Possibly the Redhead Connection should present the "grand tour of Italy": Cinqueterre, Florence, Rome and Venice, let's see if I can keep up with my sewing and photomontages and all the projects around here!!! Maybe a "yearly instalment" LOL....hope you'll be patient enough....

As it took me ages to prepare this, our soundtrack shall be: Morcheeba "Rome wasn't built in a Day"

See you soon
Kisses, Billa

Vittorio: Mad About the Boy 4

Vittorio is an intellectual type, he's an history professor, but after his long journey to come home he needed some rest in a sunny place!
So here he is at the Palms Hotel in Palm Beach, Miami!

A few words about this doll.  I thought about buying it for a while, I wasn't impresed by the Silent Partner Romain pictures I saw around, then I decided when I found a nude doll (with extra hands). I have to say this doll is wonderful in person! The screening is perfect, he has a shadow under his eyes that gives him a very intense look.

And finally some sunbathing on this wonderful beach (I know I have to sew some beachwear for the guys)....Carla (outfit by Mattel) just happens to be here too....

Ok Vittorio, this was funny but I hope no police is around!

His new fashion is nearly ready so he'll be soon be able to go looking around Florida!

Frank Sinatra: I've got you under my skin

See you soon!

Billa

Off to Uzbekistan!!!

Tomorrow Sasha and I shall be leaving for a  tour of Uzbekistan! We will visit Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Urghenk, Shakhrisabz. Here's our itinerary:

So, finally, the boys and girls shall stay home and we will go around the world! LOL

See you all in fifteen days!!!

an editorial line for 2014

anfter two months of random blogging, I've finally set up my mind on the editorial line I wish to give this little brainchild of mine.
I know myself so I know I will not be able to a few selected topics, so random blogging shall continue, but as the travelling dolly project is now well on its way, I took some resolutions for this new year:

Travelling dolly shall continue, and I've planned monthly instalments, I have so much fun revisiting my travels with Odette and doing photomontages, and hope you will enjoy them too!
On this I should go on forever. I've got too many ideas and places, it was very hard to start just because the choice was so hard!

Furthermore, as all the girls love to travel, I've decided I shall do a couple of specials for them.

It seems that reproduction of haute couture designs is interesting (at least I have a passion for it). To begin with,  in the coming weeks I'll introduce a history of the little black dress with designs by Chanel, Madame Gres, Patou, Lagerfeld, Armani, Dior etc. I believe I shall manage monthly instalments for these too and started to work very hard on the dresses!

I've noticed I've been neglecting the Model Muse Barbies so I've got something in store for some of  them too.

Of course I'll keep on posting about the new addition to the collection, some infos and a selection of new fashions I shall sew and some classic hollywood repros.

Some words about the pictures, I'm pretty bored of the staging for the presentation of the models, so I haven't decided yet, but I'm going to set up some sort of permanent diorama or I'm going to do some massive photomontage work.....finally my beloved Nikon came back home from repairing last week, so you will notice an improvement in the quality of the pictures (hopefully).

this backdrop looks ok

Anyway I'll try to post a new entry each week....

See you all!

Billa

vintage dress patterns

Apart from movies and coutourier's collections, the main source of inspiration for doll fashions comes from old dress patterns like Burda, Butterick, Simplicity and McCall's. I understand these publications were hugely popular up until the early 80's. Besides being an interesting way to look at our recent past (a bit like reading advertisements from old magazines), you just has to browse a bit  to find tons of great ideas.

For instance, I instantly was captivated by this one:

and here it is, presented by Maddalena, Carla and Tecla.....it fits all three beautifully, this Liberty fantasy is absolute elegance, and  the Loboutin shoes looks like they were just made for it.U sually Barbie Shoes are pretty awful but this shoe pack was worth every dollar I spent on it.

isn't she the sweetest thing?

yes, I know,  she has ugly teeth but I find her intriguing in a strange sort of way

Carla, AKA Dolly Forever, the queen of MM Molds

A few words of advice if any of you is thinking about starting to sew your own doll fashion (based on my experience): start with this fabric. This is a Liberty Cotton cloth, it is strong (doesn't easily fall apart when cut), easy to fold and press, and comes in beautiful and elegant fantasies. Even the simplest dress looks gorgeous!!!!