vintage

Doddi Bear #4 by One Red Robin.

Jhoanna Monte Aranez is one of those women with so many talents that you could spend hours browsing through her blog, her flickr in awe and admiration at her skills and seemingly endless inspiration. But then, of course, this is what inspiration should always be about, an endless round of springing ideas and creations.

I had wanted to blog about that Doddi Bear for quite some time now - every time I came across it in my favorites it really stood out, it has everything I love - and when I settled to write about it yesterday I realized it was no longer available, and couldn’t find it in the sold items either. It turns out that Jhoanna “recently sent her off to someone as a thank-you for a wonderful thing they did for her”!

She has made 5 Doddi Bears and only one is still available in her shop :

Doddi Bear #3.

But - among other things - she also makes the most amazing doll-girls such as this one (sold too) :

Woodland Girl Ayumi.

I could go on and on and post many of her creations and really had to stop myself from posting more photos for I tell you she is such a creative woman, so I beg you, check her blog, check her flickr and of course her Etsy shop for there are wonders ahead…

I LOVE NY 3 piece Weekend Outfit For Blythe + Black and White Chanel type Dress by RLKATAJA.

I was not too much in the mood for writing in this blog these days, but as I was browsing through Etsy last week for Blythe stuff I entered rlkataja’s shop and the beauty and coherence of her world made me want to devote an article to her creations alone. I had already made a few of her outfits my favorites, but seeing now more of her talents it seemed obvious that what she is really doing is more than just “sewing dresses”.

The great majority of people who make doll outfits - even the talented ones - will usually have a limited number of patterns that they will decline in a variety of fabrics. Such is not the case with Robin Kataja. When we enter her shop we discover what can be called a “Collection” in the Couture or Pr?t-?-Porter sense of the word. It seems as if her Blythe girls were nostalgic for those days when fashion shows took place in the cosy atmosphere of Parisian salons where someone would introduce every outfit by its number and an evocative or presumably poetic name, thoses days when women - some women I should say - would wear something different for every occasion, so that wardrobes included cocktail party dresses, afternoon dresses, evening dresses, interior gowns, outfits for the countryside and so on and so on, and “Oh my, but what shall I wear for that barbecue the Johnsons have just invited us to ?”…

Vintage Fabric Farmer Country Girl Dress 3 piece + Chevron Striped Sporty Dress

I love rlkataja’s sense of fashion. I used the word “nostalgic” because her photographs bring to my mind images of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly and those wonderful movies by Vincente Minelli and Douglas Sirk, but her creations seem to be very modern to me. She is not trying herself at the “retro” or “vintage” imitation of clothes that we so often see in the world of Blythe. Her Blythe girls clearly state their love of fashion and style and let’s be elegant no matter what but it could as well be in the way a Carrie Bradshaw does. They have learned from the past and have retained their lessons in how to be chic and stylish at all times but they are from their time.

Indeed, her choice of fabrics is outstanding and definitely modern. I was wondering whether Robin Kataja got the idea for an outfit from a particular piece of fabric or if she decided on a certain pattern and went on to find the perfect fabric for it, but the truth is every one of her creations seems to be made for one and only one fabric. Look at that “Dots Candyland Party Dress” for instance. Polka dots are a great classic among Blythe dressmakers, however hers is so very nice and so unique. And what she makes of it is divine. And the “Black and White Striped Pleated Dress” on the left is perfection itself.

Black and White Striped Pleated Dress + Dots Candyland Party Dress

You may have noticed I did put some images of “sold” items like that “Black and White Striped Pleated Dress” just above but she says she can make some of her “sold” outfits again providing she still has the fabric of course. And anyway I did want to show a fair amount of her creations so that it would be obvious to anyone how imaginative and creative she was. She has the most wonderful tee-shirts with Marimekko prints on them, a very cute Pink Lace Babydoll Mini dress, and even though lace is definitely not my thing I like the dress as well as the Celery Green Garden Party one. I particularly liked the two dresses below.

Grey Mod Mini Dress For Blythe + Red Stripe Cafe Dress For Blythe

She has very recently added some new creations that are a bit more glamorous like that Hollywood Glamour Leopard Dress Fur Shrug and that OOAK Raspberry coat with an absolutely beautiful interior lining (click on the link to see a photo of the lining) :

Brilliant Raspberry Mod Wool Ruffle Coat OOAK

Now I am not sure just how many people actually read what I write but it has been such a pleasure writing this that I know I will look forward to rlkataja’s future creations for Blythe.

RLKATAJA’s fashion for Blythe

Starry eyed blues, Greg, Yams in space & Poppy love pillow-covers by Absoluut on DaWanda.

Check out those gorgeous vintage fabrics !

The quality looks really nice and heavy - you can see detail views for every item - but only one side of the cover is with a pattern, the other side is made of cream cotton fabric. Zipper closure at the back.

Sizes : 20″ X 20″ or about 50,8 X 50,8 cm.
Price : 20 Euros each not including shipping from the Netherlands.