Monday, July 28, 2014

The Hoffman Challenge Results are in!!

Avant Garde Indigo won Best Incorporation of Challenge Fabric.  

You can go to http://hoffmanchallenge.com/2014challenge/winners14/dolls2014.html  to see all the other doll  winners.   

I assume that she will be part of the traveling exhibit but that list is not available at this time.  





Monday, July 21, 2014

Hoffman Fabric Doll Challenge--Avant Garde Indigo



Avant Garde Indigo

As promised here are pictures of my doll for the Hoffman Fabric Doll Challenge 2014.   I was inspired for this original doll by the fabric.   I wanted to create a design the used the features of the fabric as part of the costume design.   I also loved the colors and since I love fashion, I decided that I wanted to do an avant garde runway design....thus Avant Garde Indigo was born.  She is ready for the runway.  

I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.  



Her platform wedge shoes were molded from polymer clay and then covered with fabric.  The shoe straps were created by braiding 1/8 inch ribbon in colors that matched the fabric.  




Her hat was created by beading the fabric and then using a covered button form.  I left the "petals" sticking out from the form to make the hat look like a flower.   I used memory wire for the beaded "feathers" on her hat. 


Her hair is hand dyed Tibetan lamb died to match the fabric.  That was quite a process....mixing dyes to come up with a match that I was happy with took over 12 hours.....but I was determined!    

Her head is a needle sculpted cloth overlay  that I gessoed and then painted with acrylic paint.  The flowers on her face are hand painted to resemble the flowers in the fabric.  


I hand beaded the circles and then added tulle under them to make mini crinolines so they would stand out from the skirt.   They are slightly curved to add more dimension.   

The flowers on the bodice are fussy-cut from the fabric and then hand beaded.  I then hand sewed them to the bodice.  






  



Friday, July 18, 2014

Hoffman Fabric Challenge

Hoffman Fabric Doll Challenge
This is the first time that I have participated in the Hoffman Fabric Challenge.  I looked at the fabric in previous years but just couldn't find the time to participate.   I have shipped her off to be judged . If she is selected she will be traveling for a year so I took lots of pictures.   It was really hard to put her in a box and ship her off.   The deadline for the dolls is July 18th so I'll post pictures of my completed doll  very soon.   I really like her and as with each doll I was surprised at the final result.   Here is a photo of the challenge fabric.   It really presented many opportunities for creativity.   Enjoy.....more to come soon!!!