Photo a Week

Finally..... here she is.  I originally was hoping to have her done for Valentine's Day... to post her on the Cloth and Clay doll site.... but... she missed her date.  So...I did away with any idea of making her too, too Valentine-y.  Then, she was also late for her date on Monday as Photo of the Week.... a gal with a mind of her own I guess.

I think I will name her Tina... short for Valentina ....

Her face is paperclay over cloth.... painted with acrylics.   Her "ruffle" was the excess I cut off after attaching the waist band to her skirt.  Not that I am short of a stash of fabric to use...but, it just popped into my head to use it as soon as it dropped to the floor after cutting it off.   I added a bit of trim to cover the white stitching line.  I always find it strange how ideas just happen....  .. 

Paperclay on bodice painted... arms are just fabric gessoed and painted...  the trim is some selvedge from a lovely piece of burgundy velvet.   I didn't have any ribbon or trim that I liked and then I spied this bit of lovely...it's perfect to my eye.... love the three little copper threads running through it....

Here....a little experiment in how the search for a background fabric is so important to the photo..  ...

The fabric for her skirt was so snowy white that I dipped it in weak tea to tone it down ever so slightly....

These dollies are such fun to do ... it could be addictive, because unlike most of my other projects... they really could be done in a week... and just to have fun playing with colours and making up little costumes is great.

Here they are ... the two little friends....

Emma ? ....

I'm sure that's what she has been whispering whilst we've been working together..... well, somebody is whispering... maybe it's me ... but, usually I'm whispering other things.  Sometimes very rude things.

Paperclay and me.... well, I've only used it a time or two in the past...and we just don't really understand each other yet.  But, it can't fool me forever.  I wasn't thrilled with her first eye area.... so out came the sandpaper.  We had a "face-off".  Then, off I went to the craft store and got new Paperclay.  The other stuff didn't seem exceptionally dry...but, it didn't seem to be co-operating at all... I'm sure it was past its prime.  The new stuff was lovely. .. ...very soft and manageable.  Of course, I was still not really managing to get exactly what I wanted .. but it was a lot more fun.

 I was waaaay too slow to keep up with Jane on the tutorial...so had to keep pausing it and rewinding etc... all while trying to keep my fingers damp and smooth here and tweak there and...  ...well, needless to say...I had clay stuck to a lot of things.  Good thing Mr. BV didn't come home early and see the office and desk !  Gotta figure out a better way.  I should have been in the craft room...but, for some reason I seem to end up in the kitchen or the office......

Oh, look....she has hair  .....

Then, we wrestled on some arms and legs.  OH EM GEE !! I didn't use muslin as Jane instructed.... and ... brother......was this stuff tough to get a needle through!  Never again.  Tomorrow I look for muslin for the second dolly.  Yes, indeed... an easy little make and I should do a second for sure.

The other thing at this stage?  Don't stuff this high on the thigh... leave some flat area so that she sits properly....she keeps falling backwards due to her puffy thighs.... on those spindly legs?...yep.....

hahahahah.... steps to looking good indeed ! that's just silly.....
the dark undercoat helps make things look weathered once the top coat of paint is on.  The idea is not to paint it too thoroughly so that some bits of it show through the flesh colours here and there.

Mixed up a green that I liked to go with the fabric I chose for her skirt.... painted her face... making more mess.... what fun!

Tidied up a bit...but, not too much.  I was having a hard time not making it too neat ...  I so wanted to put in a white highlight on the pupil....I love doing eyes on all my other dolls.  But... in the tutorial... there isn't one...and I do want to make it just like Jane's.

First doll of the new year...

I finally began a new doll.  This one I signed up for months ago on the Cloth and Clay dolls site,  but, couldn't really make a start on her because of the wrist problems.  I'm trying to take it easy and trying my darndest not to have a death grip on her...... seems I do it with everything.... oh, well, I ain't waiting any longer.  Resting it, using anti-inflammatories, splints, etc..   hasn't accomplished much.  Time to move on regardless ....

So far she doesn't look like much.... and I am not having an easy time with the paperclay...but...it is fun just to be doing something again....

hopefully once I get the face more to my liking.... I'll feel a bit happier with her....

check out the web site if you'd like to see some of the other dolls... lots of amazing dollies there!

like I said... not much to look at yet.... and those are supposed to be her upper eyelids....oh, groan...... we'll see what happens once I get some eyeballs..some cheeks, jawline, etc.... and if I don't like it...out comes the sandpaper and I try again.  I have to keep reminding myself...she is supposed to be a primitive doll...

her limbs....yeh... strange, I know.  This is a totally different type of dolly for me.