Speaking Rain

I don't know if you have read Kaya's books, but she has a blind 'sister' who lives with her and is her friend. I've always wanted American Girl to make a Speaking Rain doll when they were making Best Friend dolls, but they didn't.

Recently I had come across a Magic Attic Club Rose doll and after she became part of our dolly world, I still didn't know who she would be. Then it dawned on me -- she could be my Speaking Rain!

I purchased a real piece of suede from etsy and began drafting a pattern for a dress and moccasins to fit the slim-bodied Magic Attic Club physique. That took quite a while. Then hand stitching each piece together with fine hemp cord was an ordeal! I copied her dress embellishments from the book illustrations and the paper doll set.

I found some old buttons that were obviously made from shell, so those became her hair ties.

 
The moccasins gave me all kinds of fits trying to make them fit and closely resemble Kaya's.

I also used a leather tie to hold her dress together on the back at the top rather than the Velcro that AG uses. I thought that was more culturally appropriate. I had an extra belt from Kaya's Adorned Deerskin dress, so I resized it to fit Speaking Rain's narrower waist.

While I didn't have the appropriate shells for the beading, I think her outfit & necklace turned out pretty close!

Kaya and Speaking Rain