the girl with the tattoo makes a dragon - part one

I anticipate that the time between starting this post and publishing it will be quite extended, but I guess if you are reading this you would be none the wiser had I not just mentioned it.

Trying to explain how I stumbled across this project may make little sense to non-doll crazed individuals but I have never cared whether things make sense to others if they do to me. I belong to a Facebook group where I waste hours drooling over dolls and shooting the shit with other doll-loving mamas. One of these women is a super talented mama who makes adorable little dragons that are so cute you will actually puke rainbow sparkles. You can find her on Etsy (where else?) at http://www.etsy.com/shop/NimblePhish.

You just puked rainbow sparkles right? I told you so.

Anyway, she has very recently ventured into patterns and I am proud to be one of the first people to have bought her sleepy dragon pattern to make this little love muffin.


http://www.etsy.com/listing/111420562/how-to-make-a-dragon-14-sleepy-baby

She said it was so easy that a beginner could do it, a twelve year old even, which I rather suspected would make me feel even more of a noob than I already did amongst these crafty moms that all seem to make as many dolls as they buy. But I bought it anyway, I mean, look at that thing. There was quickly a Facebook spin off group dedicated to discussing how we were all progressing with our dragons where the only rule instated at it's creation was "don't be a dick". I got a good laugh when I commented that I hoped to sew the tail on the right end so it didn't look like a massive cock. You can see why I like dolly mamas.

The first thing I did was look at the pattern and realize that I am whatever comes before beginner, and that my craft age is clearly under twelve. Luckily nobody seemed to care that I have super stupid questions and they indulged me with their patience and advice.

I dragged my husband to Jo-Ann's on a Sunday which I will never again be so foolish as to do. The good news was all the fleece was on 40% sale, the bad news was there were some complete idiots in front of us that squabbled with each other and the assistant about how many yards of fabric they needed for most of the first half of the Steelers game. I was ready to jump in front of them and strangle them with their ugly blue fabric but the power of my unhatched dragon held me back. I agonized about the color choices which was ridiculous. Clearly the color is not going to be the thing that makes my dragon worse than everyone else's and more likely to make Ryleigh cry than love it. In the end I settled for a turquoisey blue with a colorful pattern for his wings and feet. I was determined to at least excel at selecting cute fabric and I think I succeeded. I bought four times more than I need because I know that I will screw up and I never ever EVER want to get back in line at the fabric cutting counter at Jo-Ann's.

Next was printing the pattern, which would have been easy if I had any printer paper.

To reflect the dramatic pause in my dragon-hatching project as accurately as possible I am going to publish this now. Why should you get to seemlessly enjoy the various stages of my craft when I cannot?

Don't hold your breath for the finished product, you and I both may never actually see it :)