Meet Dreyfuss.

I made my first ugly doll!

Ok, so about 10 years ago I got this really ugly green doll made by Scary Stories. I loved this damn doll, for no particular reason other than it was funny looking. And I would always look at it and think "I wonder if I could make something like that".

So then, about a month ago I bought this book called Softies. I was trying to find something I could make that would be just for fun and would at least get my creative juices going a bit. Well, after I started looking into these Softies I found out that there is a huge community out there of folks making these dolls. You can check some out on this blog.

So last night, while I was watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind, I sat and made my first ugly doll. After I was done, I looked at it and giggled. Mission accomplished.

Although Dreyfuss's stuffing is a bit wonky, and the slip stitch is totally in the wrong place, I still like him. I think I will make him some buddies.

Oh, and I figured it out...it cost me about 90 cents to make. If even that. For real.

carey xo

Ariel

With an air of a classical starlet, Ariel Doss's education and adventures have taken her across the globe. She has two degrees, one in English Literature and another in Religious Studies focusing on Buddhism and East Asian religions. In 2001 she left for Korea to teach English, and was there on and off for five years. Ironically, when Ariel is asked to describe herself, she claims she is quite boring since she spends most of her free time reading, watching movies and spending time with her family.

How do you feel about yourself being voted “best dressed” in High School?

I don't even remember that! I remember I wore a lot of clothing from Value Village. I had some pretty crazy vintage stuff, that I wish I still had. I remember I had this gold lame fabric paisley skirt! Grunge wasn't really my thing, so I tried to do my own thing.

Do you think your travels have inspired you?

The interesting thing I found about living in Korea, is that all the things that were really trendy when I got there, are finally starting to filter through to Canadian fashion. I thought is was really interesting that Japan and Korea are ahead of the curve.

You have a very classic, yet eclectic, sense of style. Where do you think that comes from?

I do like vintage things. I like to take different pieces, and hopefully come up with something original. I look back to the styles of the 30's to 50's and really wish people still dressed like that. If I could wear dresses everyday, I would. I used to work in the film industry, and you could wear really casual clothes. But now that I work in the office setting, it's nice to be able to wear the classic clothes that I like. And the thing about classic styles, is that they will never go out of fashion.

Favorite piece of clothing?

A dress that I bought in Tokyo from Zara. A great white silk dress with black silhouettes of flowers on it and a big black sash. I wore it to a wedding in England.

Where would you like to visit next?

Paris. There is a fashion capital for you.

Interview and photography by Carey Shaw for Prairie Dog.

All the fun you can have with a curling iron.

Yearbook yourself...so great. The one on the left...pretty sure that is exactly what my mom used to looked like.

carey xo

update...I called my dad to see if he got these pics that I had emailed him and he says to me "Ya, I opened it up and wondered who the person with the big nose was. And then I realized it was you." Thanks dad!

The ordinary on Garnet St.

Printing By Hand

Ever wanted to learn how to print on fabric? Buy this book! AND...there are stencils in the back of the book. STENCILS! Makes me giddy.

Now I know what to do with that weird fake wood print roll of stickers I bought for no particular reason, other than I thought a roll of wood stickers was a cool thing to buy for a dollar.