Introducing JOY, mannequin door stopper chapter 3

 

One of our ragdoll cats loves to open doors and then closes them behind him and we go searching for him only to hear his cries to get out.......So in comes door stoppers, we have a few of them to keep doors open and here is our newest model for the Holidays called JOY.

Here is Gaston, who does not seem amused that we are taking away one of his daily adventures. He has so much personality.

This Mannequin is approx 18 inches tall and is weighed down with bags of white play sand.

I made some cloth bags with string pulls and filled them with sand, I added 5 more bags of white sand, around the base to keep it from toppling over. 

Another purpose too, it gives her dress some fullness.

                                                                     

I cut a background piece of fabric approx 18 by 24 and folding down the top by 3 inches for her bodice of her dress and added some lace on the bottom that will look like a slip under her dress.

Next I chose 4 pieces of fabric ( 2 bottom ones 6" and top 4") in width and 24 inches in length, fold over both sides and stitch. Gather by hand or machine. I prefer ruffles by hand, here is

my tutorial on how to do both.

I start adding ruffles from the bottom up... make them all first

so you can pin them before you stitch to backing.

Centre them and pin, then stitch, not to worry if they don't go to the ends as you want some fabric with less bulk to sew up her back seam.

Once completed choose a 1.5 ribbon for her sash, I chose one with JOY on it and cut 4 inches and  handstitched her on her waist.

Stitch your back seam, and add a double bow...

and to be sure it is festive for the season add

some shellys buttons, ( I chose snow, candy canes, santa, hat and stockings, and some christmas bulbs) 

Joy is now ready to take on her seasonal role....as a door stopper extraordinaire! ( and a crusher of 'Gaston's daily adventures)

Because you matter