Surely for many, the phrase “attic toy” will cause very dubious associations. Most likely, in the imagination there will be some kind of doll, shabby by life and time, or a little animal of dubious appearance, completely smelling of mold and mothballs. However, in reality everything is somewhat different ...
History
The attic toy has its own very fascinating story of origin (possibly invented). One woman made a doll for her daughter from an old and unnecessary rag. This toy lay for a long time in the attic of the coffee factory, where the little mistress left her, waiting for her mother from work.
Of course, for all the time that the doll spent in the attic, she managed not only to get covered with a decent layer of dust, but also to grow old, and also absorb all the best smells that were in the coffee factory. Cinnamon, vanilla and, of course, coffee - these aromas, soaked in time and amazing stories, give the toy itself a special charm.
In the manufacture of such dolls, the effect of antiquity is an integral component that makes attic toys the most beloved, warm and touching. It smells of childhood, comfort, holiday and all that brings only pleasant emotions.
Creation Features
Attic toys have their own manufacturing characteristics. For this, soft and “comfortable” materials of natural origin are used. The coloring of the fabric plays an important role: it should be as natural as possible, muffled and homely. As a rule, figures of animals or dolls have asymmetric head and trunk sizes , without hair or with a minimal amount of them.
Buttons, often very large and unusual, take the leading position as additional accessories. By the way, these attributes quite effectively complement the image of the doll. An attic toy, the history of which dates back to the time of the first American settlers, when the aborigines used any improvised materials to create dolls, is the quintessence of handicraft and warmth. She wants to hold in her hands and inhale this unique aroma of coffee beans, which combines so well with subtle notes of vanilla and cinnamon.
How to make an attic cat?
You can make a toy that would remind you of your childhood and give the warmest associations using improvised materials. So, for example, the attic toy "Cat" can be a great gift for family and friends.
In order to make such a souvenir, you will need the following:
- ground coffee (it is possible and instant, but it will not give such a rich aroma);
- vanilla and cinnamon;
- red tea and cocoa powder;
- pieces of fabric made from natural materials;
- filler (it can be a regular synthetic winterizer);
- thread, needle, brush, sewing machine.
First of all, it is necessary to prepare the details. You can draw them yourself by hand. Great skill is not needed here, and art education too. Moreover, it will be much better if the cat turns out asymmetrical and funny.
Next, you need to prepare a mixture for artificial “aging”: mix 2 tsp. coffee and cinnamon with a bag of vanillin. Pour boiling water and put on a slow fire, wait for the mixture to boil and remove from heat, then strain through cheesecloth. The brewed coffee should be thoroughly stained with fabric and allowed to dry. It is necessary to apply two layers. The resulting patterns should be ironed and sewn together. Fill with padding polyester, embroider eyes, mustache and mouth. For showiness, you can sew a bow or bright buttons.
Main characteristics
Some mistakenly believe that the attic toy is a derivative version of Tilda's dolls. However, they have significant differences:
- firstly, specific patterns are not provided for creating attic toys, that is, the author, at his discretion, can create bears, hares, cats, ducks and other bizarre characters;
- secondly, exclusively natural materials are used (cotton and linen are the most common type of fabric that is used to create these cute toys);
- thirdly, in order to make a pretty face or face, you can use acrylic paints, threads or small pieces of fabric;
- fourthly, the attic toy should be dressed in simple, "home" clothes, because it should cause a feeling of coziness and comfort.
Cute animals and dolls will be a great gift, decoration at home and a favorite toy for kids.
Doll workshop
It all starts with patterns: they should be as primitive as possible. One caveat - the legs and arms should be slightly longer than usual, so that later you can identify the elbow and knee bends. After this, it is necessary to determine the material from which the attic toy will be made. The photo clearly demonstrates that the most impressive craft is made of white calico or cotton.
Having cut out the details, connecting them together, it is necessary to sew the parts and fill them with sintepon. It should be filled as tightly as possible, except for the arms and legs. Next, you can begin to stitch the parts and create a pupa.
After that, you can start painting the toys. It is not difficult to prepare the solution (every housewife has coffee, cinnamon and vanilla). To better dry the doll and saturate it with aromas, you can use the oven or batteries. Some people prefer to leave the workpiece suspended for the whole night.
Decoration of the attic doll
Of course, not a single doll can do without an outfit; for its sewing, it is better, again, to use natural materials. Panties, a dress, a shirt with a belt - there can be a huge number of wardrobe options, but you should remember about simplicity and primitiveness. By the way, the dress can also be artificially “aged” by dipping it in coffee solution for several minutes.
It is desirable to draw a face with acrylic paints. Slippers or slippers also work well from paints, but you can crochet elegant slippers. And finally, the most important thing is the hairstyle. Woolen threads, yarn - all this is perfect for creating golden or light brown curls. By the way, there is one simple way to create spiral hairs: soak ordinary threads in soapy water, wind them on a skewer and leave to dry on the battery.
Attic toys are a real decoration for the home, which will help to create an even more comfortable atmosphere and give warm memories.