All Dolled Up

June is such a beautiful month in the Pacific Northwest. The flowers have been especially lovely this season. I've enjoyed being able to pair tea events for the little plum teapot with flowers from my garden during my month of hosting the traveling teapot.

Today we spent some time crafting. The little plum teapot served as a water vessel and I trimmed,  clipped, and pinned blossoms together to create...flower blossom dolls!

A variety of blossoms were gathered.

Lavender.
Hollyhock.
Pansy.
Chive.

Pinks.

Roses.

Violas.

Carnations.

Sunflowers.

and

Grape Leaves

Lady's Mantle Leaves

Bee Balm Leaves

Creating flower blossom dolls is somewhat like being a fashion designer. Imagine this ruffled model walking down the catwalk.

"Here we have a southern belle who is wearing a ruffled red gown made of double-hollyhock blossoms. Two are stacked and fastened together with a quilters pin. A red rose blossom creates a lovely bodice. Snow-on-the-mountain blossoms make lacy sleeves and a grape leaf accents the ensemble. A sweet pansy is the face of the model wearing this elegant gown."

"Here is a model wearing the gypsy look. A colorful multi-level skirt is features a pale pink hollyhock flower with a rose-colored cosmos blossom set atop. A purple and yellow striped petunia forms the bodice and fragrant lavender blossoms create feathery sleeves. This model is very blond in with yellow rose bud hair. She is wearing a petunia blossom hat with leaves for flair."

"A pink rose blossom skirt is topped with a lady's mantle leaf pinafore. Lavender stems create graceful arms and a pink rose bud the bodice. A ruffled purple and yellow petunia makes a ruff-collar that accents the dainty pansy face so well."

Flowers can even take on masculine features. 

"Here we have Mr. Farmer, who is wearing sunflower overalls and a white blossom hat."

Silly. But fun, just the same.

Flower blossom dolls are easy to make. Find the blossoms you have available and clip them with short stems. I like to use quilters pins for fastening because they are longer than regular sewing pins. Pin through the center or strongest part of the blossom. Do this blossom by blossom. Don't be afraid to turn blossoms upside down or backwards to get the effect you wish to create.

Flower blossom dolls would be fun to make as a craft at a children's tea party.

Or as part of a fairy themed afternoon tea.

They'd also be pretty on a tea tray for one.



Click on the collage to enlarge.

About.com has step-by-step instructions for making Hollyhock Dolls.