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.