The Doll Making Rabbit Hole

How on earth did I let you all talk me back into doll making?!?

Must. Resist. Temptation.

Oh, I give up.  I'm doomed!!  I know even less about the doll market than I do about the garment market...  I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing...

But I was so excited to just Go and Do and Create that I took what bare minimum knowledge I did have and dived off the deep end...  I have spent the last two days completely obsessed with creating art dolls, and loaded up a slew of bookmarks on my web browser, and my mind is melting out of my ears...

I have no clue how to sell this doll I'm working on.  But for some reason, I just can't stop working on it... It's taking on a life of it's own!!

Albeit, I did use it as an escapist activity to keep my mind off of what was happening near my home...  I'm originally from Missouri, a state known for being in what we call "Tornado Alley", and a town about 2 hours from my home was wiped out by what is now being classified as an F5 tornado a couple days ago... I couldn't escape the devastating pictures on CNN, so I had to run and make something pretty to keep me occupied.  I didn't know anyone from Joplin, but I know plenty of people who do.  My brother-in-law's family is from there, and they lost their house...  Thankfully their 3 newborn triplets were still in the hospital...  Hundreds of people are still missing...

Ack.  I had to turn it off and Make.  To contradict the destruction.

So I dove into this doll.  It's not done yet--it has a lot of finishing to do, and I've learned a lot while making it, for sure!!!  I've had to do a bit of internet research, and discovered some inspirational pictures that I'd like to emulate.  I found some better techniques for making "artsy" hands and dolls.  And doll stands--my poor doll won't stand up on it's own!  It's too top heavy--I have to figure out how to make a stand that clips around the neck under the cape...  

The face isn't painted yet--it's not proportional to the body, and I think I like that.

Judy, from Judy's Fabrications, sent me a couple emails that were brilliantly helpful in pointing me to some doll resources that were incredibly inspirational.  Thank you, Judy!!  I will use her face painting as an inspirational source for my own when I get to that point... Her dolls have such character!  She included a link to some fabric patterns for doll figures--I may end up going in that direction, too!

Anyway, I've included a couple pics of my progress...  Again, not done yet.  Hat still in progress, as well as face, stand, feet...  I also want to add a mandolin or a primitive string instrument.  I want to keep him abstract, so we'll see how far I get into detail.  I also may leave him shoeless.  Hm.

I had constructed a wire frame which I wrapped in muslin, leaving a large circular "hole" in the center of the chest.  I strung copper colored jewelry wire around a rose polymer clay cabochon, which I suspended in the middle and then took wire and wrapped it around the torso a bit...  Then I took tin foil, made a large disproportionate head shape, and wrapped it in muslin strips--looks rather "mummified" right now until I get the fabric painted.  The thin arms and legs are all wire, wrapped in muslin strips.

I have a ways to go.  I'm not sure if I should leave the feet as is or not...  I may invent a pattern and construct a shoe that I like.  There's the rabbit hole again...  Haha!  One thing leads to another, which leads to another... 


I think I may name him Joplin, the Traveling Bard.  If I can't find a mandolin or guitar that's about 13" long, I may have to make something that can pass as a suggestion for one...  I know I'm going to have to make a guitar strap anyway...

I'm going to enjoy this.  A LOT.  It's soft sculpture, lets me use all my costuming knowledge (albeit on a small scale), and demands a "jack of all trades" approach to problem solving.  I've always loved being a generalist.  This could play right into that...

The one downside is the scale... Goodness, doll clothes are not easy to make!  They're so small!  I can't use the knowledge of construction that I have because these pieces are too small for it to matter!  Everything is so tiny!!  Argh!  I'm gonna develop carpel tunnel syndrome, I know it!!

I'd really appreciate all your comments--I'm sorta going out on a branch here...

Anyway, thought I'd keep you updated!  Live Life with Relish!