The Etsy listing wasn't even up for 12 hours before it sold!
Movember is "an annual month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. Charitable events are held to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues." (Etsy Merchandising Desk) "A related event, No Shave November, has participants not shaving at all for the month, for the same cause. Generally one is to shave on the night of October 31st to participate. Both men and women participate in the month-long event, with men abstaining from shaving their beards, and women their armpits or legs." (from Wikipedia)
I am actually in charge of the monthly challenge posts now. I took it over from another member who is going to be a new mommy. So I get to pick the theme and write up the post. But that doesn't mean I can't participate in the challenge! I got the theme from Etsy's Merchandising Desk post for November. The Merchandising Desk posts usually have a list of trending topics that we pick from for the challenges.
I entered more than one item in this month's challenge (we're allowed to do that!), but the one that has the most votes so far is Iggy the Sweater Monster...with his notes of kelly green and turquoise (ah yes...LOVE the turquoise!). I'm in second place as of now. Please take a second to pop over to the RNEST Blog and vote in the poll on the upper right of the page. You don't even have to register or anything, just click! Voting ends at midnight tomorrow!
I enjoyed staging the photos here. I took two of my scarves and arranged them to look like a striped carnival/circus tent.
I originally didn't start making Barnum with this month's challenge in mind. I had the body made with the limbs and ears attached, and had him set aside for hand-sewing the eye and heart on, and stitching up the stuffing opening. It wasn't until after I knew about the challenge that I decided he was a good candidate for a Carnival-themed monster, and I added the hat, moustache, and bow tie (because...you know... bow ties are cool!).
Voting for the challenge starts today, so be sure to check out all the entries on the RNEST Blog and vote for your favorite! (there will be a poll in the top-right corner of the blog.) I won't guilt you into voting for me if you like something else!...but it would be nice if you liked mine best!
This piece was inspired by the "Panda Buns" project in the Wee Wonderfuls book I got from the library a few months ago. I actually used the pattern as a base for this design, and (as usual) tweaked it to suit my vision and make it my own. 
I feel extremely accomplished after finishing this (it took me most of yesterday afternoon/evening to complete). This is the most sophisticated piece I think I've done to date. I've never made removable clothes for any of my plush before, (with the exception of that skirt I tried making for Mika the raccoon.) so this was a big challenge. I'd also never worked with bias tape before in this way. It was a challenge, but I definitely prefer using the bias tape over dealing with trying to hem raw edges.
I improvised the hair and designed it myself.
Here she is without the kimono. I felt the need to give her a modest, sewn-on undergarment so she wasn't naked underneath. 
I wanted the obi to be attached to the kimono itself...since I know how little girls are, and if I'd made it a separate piece, it would ultimately get lost. Although...the shoes will probably get lost. My dolls were always barefoot when I was little, unless the shoes were sewn on. For my next geisha doll (yes, I will be making more!) I want to get a little crazy and actually make little wooden sandals out of balsa wood (that was my husband's idea!).
The original "Panda Buns" project has "pajamas" instead of a kimono (and I believe is intended to be Chinese instead of Japanese). To make the kimono, I just lengthened the pajama top pattern and improvised for the obi (the sash around the middle). I also give my husband credit for suggesting how to do the obi.
The obi wraps around and is attached in the back with snaps. (this was my first time using snaps too). 
Here is Kiyomi with my very first geisha doll that I made about 4 years ago. I had thought about entering the "Sock Geisha" in the Team Challenge, but was insecure about the stitching...since I made her back before I had a machine, when I sewed everything by hand. Plus...she is one of the pieces I'm attached to and want to keep for myself. But I also didn't want to put something on Etsy with inferior stitching.
I still have a ton the blue asian brocade fabric...so one of my next geisha dolls will definitely have a kimono made from it! Even with as much work as Kiyomi was, I am really looking forward to making more of them with different kimono, learning from my mistakes and honing my skills. Practice makes perfect right? :)
