Strength

I have been working on two art dolls with polymer clay faces.  The first of these dolls that I have completed is titled, ‘ Strength.’  I tried to approach the theme on many levels.  Her torso is hand printed Kona cotton, from my gelatin printing session.  I have embroidered the rune, strength, on her abdomen and have sewn garnet and agate beads, historically aligned with physical strength along the base of the torso.  I speculate that garnet and agate were symbolic for physical strength based on their likeness to blood and bone.  Her limbs are created from a stick pruned from one of the trees here.  I used the tree to represent the rooted quality and flexibility of a tree despite strong winds and rains.  The stick also doubles for her backbone.  A strong backbone is crucial for any character of strength.  I used a beaded fringe around her lower leg with green hearts for growth, love and compassion; all additional ingredients for strength. 

The figure’s face and feet are sculpted of rose colored clay and painted with opaque and translucent acrylic paints.  Her eyes and lips were then painted with high gloss varnish.  I felt the feet were a very important feature, not only to serve as a base for the doll to stand by but also as an expression of strength.  Feet are muscular, they connect directly to the earth and move us through life.  Feet do a lot of work and so are very representational of strength to me.  Strength’s hair is handspun wool that I picked up in Virginia at a fiber shop that is sadly now out of business. 

I really enjoyed creating this figure.  She is much more abstract than most of my art dolls. 

Tree Topper Doll

This has been a good year for catch-up.  I have been completing many projects that were put on the back burner last year because of moving and a new baby.  The most recent project I have completed is Leta Benedict's Tree Topper.  This doll is made with no legs but has a way to attach the doll to a tree or her stand.
I have significantly changed the costuming of the original pattern and added wings.  Her costume is an amalgamation of Medieval and Renaissance elements made from silk, velvet and bits if lace and trim.  I have also beaded a crown over hair made of soy roving.  All of her costuming is hand sewn.  I haven't decided what she will hold in her hands yet and welcome suggestions.  I hope she will become and heirloom of our family's holiday decorations.

Willow Wisp 3, at last!

Here she is, the third of the Willow Wisp dolls made from the Becky Holloway pattern, this time in peacock colors. I love the body on this doll. The pattern for the body is challenging but worth the effect. After the work on the body, clothing and beading the doll is pure joy. I have made some minor alterations to the pattern this time, particularly with the wings. Her 'hair' is made from feathers, as directed in the pattern, however, I have been using feathers from a trim rather than larger feathers. I used organza as well as tulle for her skirt and tulle for the bodice.


Here you can see the beading on the bodice. I did it free hand with no particular pattern, just a selection of colors. Her face is drawn in color pencil with some pigma pen accents. The wing shape is designed and painted the wings based on pictures of butterfly wings but not intending to mimic any particular insect.
Here is detail of the back of her wings. I tried to make them a little duller. I used Pebeo Setacolor acrylic fabric paints in translucent and iridescent colors. The doll has taken me about three years to finish, but at last she is done. Please go to my January 15th, 2009 and March 25th, 2008 entries to see the previous versions.

Dotee Dolls

I belong to an online doll making club know as Dollstreet Dreamers. The Street hosts a friendly and helpful list serve, doll competitions and sometimes swaps. The Dottee Dolls above are made for a swap coming up on Dollstreet. They basic idea for the doll was started by Dorothy Christian (Dot) and the dolls have really taken a life of thier own. A pattern to make the dolls can be found on eHow. Or you can watch a video on Youtube. If you want to take part in a swap check out swap-bot, last I looked, there were 16 Dotee Doll swaps.
I really enjoyed making my Dotee Dolls freehand. I took some fabric scraps and just began sewing a little shape. These quicky projects really make one feel good and are nice in betweens. I took mine to the doctors office and handsewed the bodies of three of them right there! I did the stuffing and beading at home. I predict more of these dolls in my future.
Congratulations to Donna, she won the blogiversary giveaway. My son drew her name randomly from the list of commenters from his lucky leprechaun hat.

Becky Holloway's Willow WispTake 2

It has taken me ages to complete my second doll from Becky Holloway's Willow Wisp pattern which I have been working on since the summer. I have plans to do a third as well. What I love about this pattern is the form of the body, beading and the chance to play with shear layers. It is such a romantic pattern; look how those legs peek out. I skipped some of the sculpting suggested in the pattern because I like to look she has with out the sculpting. I also changed the shape of the wings to more of a moth shape. She is an evening fairy after all. If you get inspired, the pattern can be picked up from Dollmaker's Journey.

Santa!

I made this Santa while living in Ithaca, NY and have never posted a photo of it. This Santa is of my own design and his body is a modified stump, that is, a stump body with boots attached. His skin is dollskin (a kind of polyester knit) and his beard Tibetan lambs wool. His hat is an infant sock. Santa measures about 1ft tall. I may try to do another of these Santas soon. Or maybe a troll version? Photos taken by Annie Zygarowicz. Doll copywritten by Penney Hughes.

Egyptian Fairy Doll Finished!

Finally, this weekend I was able to deliver the Egyptian Fairly that my young friend and I have been collaborating on. She was great to work with and came up with the design for the hair, features, belt, wings and jewelry. We used Barbara Graff's Woman pattern and I designed her shift (dress) after the Kris Waldherr picture I posted earlier. I also provided the technical expertise and materials. I am quite pleased with our collaboration!

Finished Ithaca Doll Artist Show Entry

I have finished my entry for the Ithaca Doll Artists annual show at the Tompkins County Public library. While I no longer live in Ithaca, I am please to continue associating with the wonderful people in this club. http://www.ithacadollartists.com/About_IDA.html The challenge for the library show is to base a doll on a character from a children's book. I have chosen The Merbaby written by Teresa Bateman and illustrated by Patience Brewster. I used Arley Berryhill's Minerva Mermaid pattern for the doll. Her hair is mohair, her body craft velour and cotton painted with various acrylics, her face is colored pencil. I have also added wire, beads, and fibers to the ensemble. Her rock 'throne' I designed myself using floral foam, glue and paint. I have named the doll Vellamo after a Finnish Sea goddess.

Becky Holloway's Willow Wisp

Whew, I just finished a new doll. I started her the end of December. The torso has nine parts, so the body is much more tailored than with some patterns. I just love this pattern and may do another with purple and blue color scheme. Willow Wisp is not a good pattern for beginners but an intermediate dollmaker would find her a challenge.

I am donating Willow Wisp to a charity ball silent auction for Open Hearth Foundation. Per usual my images are copywritten.

Placed in online challenge!

I am excited to report that I have won 3rd place in the online doll club, Doll Street Dreamers, Winter Blues challenge.

Instead of doing her projects, my doll is still in her nightgown and robe with her favorite romance pulp fiction in her hand. She is taking a break from reading and is just daydreaming right now. This doll has a wire armature, needlefelted stuffing and was 'skinned' with strech nylon. Her socks come from my boys toddler socks, her robe from an old towel.