Vintage Vibes & VDC Travels: A Look at the "Walnut Grove" Pattern and Our Ohio Adventure
Welcome to the Designs by Jude Monthly Blog
Hello and welcome back to the Designs by Jude monthly post for the Virtual Doll Convention! We're excited to share what we've been up to this month.
We have two main highlights we're excited to discuss. First, we'll be shining a spotlight on Tamara's beautiful work in the sewing and design realm. Second, we're giving you a fun recap of our recent travels to the Ohio National Doll Show, sharing some of the great moments and inspiration we found there.
Let's get started!
Focusing on the "Walnut Grove" Pattern
We want to take a moment to highlight the great work by Tamara and her pattern release last month for the Grace Monthly Subscription: "Walnut Grove."
This pattern was very well received by the community. It presents a charming vintage farming dress featuring key details that collectors appreciate: a structured front yoke, a rounded collar, and long, full sleeves cuffed neatly at the wrist. The floor-length skirt finishes with a subtle row of ruffles.
The design is designed for versatility. By adding the coordinating pieces—a fully-lined short cape and a wide-brimmed bonnet—the outfit transitions easily from a simple farm setting to a church or potluck gathering.
Community Creations
The "Walnut Grove" pattern proved to be a true hit. The best part of a successful pattern release is seeing the diverse fabric and styling choices made by the community.
Learn to Create "Walnut Grove"
If you were inspired by the beautiful renditions above and would like to try making this outfit yourself, we have great news!
Tamara has provided a fabulously detailed, step-by-step tutorial video on her YouTube channel. This video walks you through the entire construction process, covering both the main dress and the bonnet. It’s an invaluable resource for anyone attempting the pattern for the first time.
Road Trip Fun: Recapping the Ohio National Doll Show!
What a weekend! This month, the VDC team was thrilled to hit the road and participate in the renowned Ohio National Doll Show. Making the event even more special, Tamara joined the Virtual Doll Convention team in Ohio for what turned out to be a truly magical time.
The weekend was a whirlwind of activity and connection. It kicked off with a relaxed team dinner to strategize and enjoy some doll talk. This was quickly followed by the busy work of setting up for both the main doll show and the highly-anticipated Gala event the next day. Everything culminated with a full day of excitement at the main doll show on Sunday.
We must take a moment to acknowledge Tamara’s incredible contribution. She worked extremely hard all weekend and is such an energetic and valuable member of our team. She truly "rocked the show," and we were absolutely thrilled she could attend!
For Tamara, the highlight was the invaluable face-to-face time with the community. She mentioned how wonderful it was to meet so many of her customers in person, hear direct feedback about her sewing work and her helpful YouTube videos, and feel that amazing energy of a busy show floor. She even told us it was one of the most fun times she has ever had at a doll show!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Virtual Doll Convention booth!
What’s Next: Exciting Designs on the Horizon!
As we close out this month’s blog, we’re already looking forward to everything that’s coming soon!
Tamara isn't resting for too long after a busy month and a successful doll show; she is currently channeling her energy into several new and exciting pattern projects for her website, Designs by Jude. We know her upcoming designs will be just as inspired and popular as "Walnut Grove," so be sure to watch her site for new releases.
And for those of you who love the subscription patterns, we have even more good news! The Virtual Doll Convention team is thrilled to continue collaborating with Tamara on future subscription boxes and patterns.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates and collaboration announcements! We are certain that the partnership between Designs by Jude and VDC will continue to bring you some of the most beautiful and well-drafted doll patterns available.
Thank you for joining us this month! We'll see you in the next installment!
