Linda October 21st, 2008
I got my copy of Art Doll Quarterly few days ago. My Princess Deer doll is in it (pages 116-117)…sad to say, I was bummed because the pictures are in the back part of the magazine and not the front. I felt that still small voice in my head tell me that some people would be happy and blessed to have it in there at all. I felt convicted and repented of my bad attitude–just goes to show how much of a 49 year old brat I can be—sigh, the price of being human?!
Scott was contacted by Jeff (?!) at Moda Fabrics. He asked him if he would make a lap quilt of thier new fabric line (in time for Houston Quilt Market). They were/are willing to pay him $400-500 for this!!!! Now the down side of this is that Scott has only 4 days to pull this off!!!! Well, he said yes, of course, so he is now holed up in the studio working on this miracle. I will take pictures and post his progress in a few days…the fabric is not in stores yet so I can’t show you, shhhhhhhh!
Linda October 20th, 2008
Well I made it home in time to sign for our new camera. After unpacking boxes and boxes of packing material and instruction booklets (added all up, they are about as thick as War and Peace!!!), the new camera emerged from the box into our happy waiting hands. After the battery was charged, off we went to take pictures. So far it seems that the big $$$ we spent was a worthwhile investment–the pictures seem a lot clearer. What do you think???
This is my mannequin challenge doll. I added paper clay to the head, hands and feet. She has been painted and has “drawers” on.
I was going to make her dress out of old hankies (clean of course!!!) but could not help it, the skulls with the button eyes fabric called to me and when a skull talks, you must listen LOL! Her hair is mohair…I like how her braids stand up on top of her head.
She is sitting in a chair I made out of foam core board–I’ll take final pics when the chair has been completely decorated.
When my daughter and I went to the doll and teddy bear show, I bought an american doll jointed doll-she is a Goodreau with a Rumour head. She is not resin but vinyl and while this makes her cheaper, she still was not that cheap. I have become endeared with these type of dolls because the whole idea is to “customize” them; add different eyes, repaint them (called a face-up), change wigs etc. As a doll maker the idea of a doll that I can constantly change (and is meant to change) is very appealing. I made the wig out of a sheepskin rug I bought as Ikea. It was bugging me, her cold looking bald head. When I am done with the few projects that are sitting on my desk I will make her clothes (I am toying with the idea of calling her Lady Door from the book Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.)
Posing on the cabinet (being her is a Mark Ryden children’s book–believe it or NOT!). I have added blush, eyeshadow and made her lips wider (oh, and added my trademark mole!)
A close up of her lovely head and perky lips, LOL!!!
I can hardly wait to change her eyes to something light blue!!!
Linda September 6th, 2008
(Just wanted to say here that Dh posts my pics to my site and adds the titles..he thinks he is very witty?!)
Above is my latest work. He has been transformed from a plastic Halloween skeleton head to a Satyr. O.k., a blind satyr. He is approx 18 inches tall. I have 2 bone earrings that will eventualy put on his head when I “wig him”. How he is posed will be his final pose–he will be a blind beggar with a pan pipe..how I arrived at this, I truly don’t know. He is done with Das paper clay (as with all my sculpts)…I am very pleased with how he has turned out so far. My question to you gentle reader is…how should he be dressed??? I was thinking of putting a monk’s type robe on him so it would kinda cover his face and make him more mysterious but Dh was horrified. He think he should look more like Mr. Timnus in “Lion, a Witch and a Wardrobe.” He seems darker than that to me…any suggestions?????
Linda July 26th, 2008
Here are pictures of my gypsy doll so-far. Yes, her legs look too long but remember that she will be fully clothed and I have figured out that the “body” doesn’t have to look perfect because it will be completely covered. One foot is bent-so that she look like she is taking a step–it goes along with theme of the doll (and she will have shoes). You can also see a picture of her hand. They look pretty good to me, but again, they will get partially covered up.
I feel that her face turned out good. She kinda reminds me of Julie Andrews. Since this picture I have gotten her pantaloons, slip, shoes and blouse finished. Those pictures will follow later. I am planning on beading the cuffs of the blouse but am having construction difficulties. The blouse is a kinda of raw silk and is a stinker to work with, I am toying with the idea of beading on interfacing “and then” putting it on the cuffs. We’ll see if that work out. The colors for the doll are greens and fall colors (reds, golds, brown, yellows etc). The next two steps are really Scott’s job now–he has some major parts he is to add to the costume. I don’t want to say to much here because it is to go to the Houston Quilt Market/Treasure of the Gypsies show in Oct. When finished she will be approx 24 inches tall. I am thinking I will ask my FIL to make a special stand for her–he LOVES to be able to use all his toys/tools so he digs this kind of request, LOL (And yes, that is a spot/mole on her upper lip. I have one on mine–so I put it on ALL my dolls as kinda of a signature.)
Linda July 17th, 2008
Yes, I know, these are not the best pictures–it is sooooo hard to take a photo of something that is “white”. No matter what I do there is no contrast. Anyway, I wanted to post pictures of what I have been working on. These are the hands for my “gypsy challenge” doll that is due in Oct. Below in my blog, are pictures of two heads that I have made for it. Scott decided on which head to use (he is doing the challenge with me–well actually he talked me into it). The other head is going to me a frog prince ala oriental style. Sadly enough I want to be done with the gypsy doll and move onto the frog doll because I have some great costuming ideas that I want to use. Sigh….I am pleased with the hands. I did them ala Dutch Touch Class, it is Marliene’s technique. And I used an air drying stone clay to give them extra strength versus using an inner armature and using a reg paper clay. I think hands are my weakest spots in doll making and now that I am working on the feet/shoes I think they are too….ARGH!!!!!
Linda July 7th, 2008
I have just posted pictures of my beaded skeleton doll on my “beaded Icon” page. Is it also on etsy for sale.
Linda June 16th, 2008
This is my latest project (I was getting too tense from sculpting these heads–I needed something “fun”.) I found a pattern at the craft store I clean–I am on the look out for the “perfect” little shift dress…I will post pictures when is it done. So far it looks easy, I figure if I can sew clothing for 18 inch dolls I can sew for me!!!
This head is one of two that I am working on for the “Treasure of the Gypsy” challenge. I have changed my method of sculpting and will see if it is any different or turns out any better. I used a Styrofoam egg for the inside versus a aluminum foil ball. The clay instead of Das paper clay is Dawrii air dry clay (both are easy to use and to sand–see my page on various clays). The eyes are porcelain doll eyes. I think around the nose and eyes are better but I am still frustrated by the lips–mine always come out too “poochy”, like someone punched my dolls recently. It will be a large doll–close to 24 inches. Scott and I are working on the challenge together, it is due Oct.
This is the second head..I work on 2 at a time. Scott and I will pick the one we like the best (and the other head may end up in another project.) The eyes protrude but I think of think it looks interesting. Also you can see that I penciled in the ear placement. This is also new for me, I drew roughly where certain features went and them added them. I am struggling with my artistic voice/style. Do I want to do realistic or fantasy/extreme dolls. I long to do scultps that are life like but don’t feel I have the knowledge yet. Ahhh, the pitfalls of teaching one’s self.
Linda May 23rd, 2008
I posted pictures and discription of my doll with antlers. She under OOAK dolls. Please check her out andlet me know what you think. I want to do a set of chilren with duck beaks next but my present project is making a doll for the gypsy challenge. So I may be slow in that process (plus summer is coming and the veggie garden beckons me as well as just messing around outside with the kids.) Homeschooling my kids is a full time job and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!!!!!
Linda April 22nd, 2008
Mimi made a chick doll-after I finished “Chicken Jane” my daughter felt that she needed a “baby” so she asked for some paper clay and went to work. The picture actually turned out better than I expected. The arms and legs move–jointed with wire. She made the littel outfit and painted it. The “baby” is about 2 1/2 inches long. I think I see a future art doll maker!
This is my latest project. Have you ever read the children’s book, “Imogene’s Antlers”??? Well, I did not do it after the book but she kinda reminds me of it. I originaly made the head and the idea for antlers just “popped” into my brain–or perhaps I caught it as it floated by?? I drilled into her head-easy beause it was paper clay (have I said before that I love Dremel tools??) Then inserted wires that I had wrapped with floral tape. I liked how they looked, lumpy and not smooth like a real antler, so I decided to just build up around the base of the anlers to make a smooth transition. Then I put a base coat of acrylic paint, and then did a couple of coats of darker arcylics. I like how they have some give to them and are not as fragile as when it is just paper clay over wire. RIght now I am “dressing” her and have stopped because I was frustrated the the costume (I have the serious love/hate relationship with vintage velvet!!!)
This is the doll house that I found by the side of the road–and it followed me home (see lower in my blog). I now have “squatters”. My daughter has decided that it is the right size for her Web Kinz. I plan on evicting her someday soon…..
