New Tassel Doll in process

After taking the on-line sculpting class I'm getting braver and trying my hand at other sculpting projects. In the past I've used a mold by Cyndi Mahlstadt for the heads on my tassel dolls. I decided to sculpt my own this time and while I was at it I also sculpted some feet. Here are some pictures of the parts and pieces I will be using to make this tassel doll. The tassel pictured here is a vintage tassel I found at an antique store. I'll be painting the face and feet today. Keep watching...more to come....shoes, hands...maybe a hat. I need a name....any suggestions?

Pictures of Colts' Pin and Chloe Pins

Here are pictures of the Colts Pin and a couple of Chloe Pin Dolls that will be for sale at Robert Goodman Jewelers in Zionsville from October 7 - 31.

Sculpting class heads

Well, after 4 weeks I have completed the on-line sculpting heads class. It has been a great experience since I could fit it in between caring for my sister as she recuperates from knee replacement surgery and getting inventory ready for Wamm Fest. I am satisfied with my first attempts but have lots of room to improve. I used Super Sculpey which tends to have more surface issues when baked than Pro Sculpt. Some of the class attendees say that Living Doll is the same as Pro Sculpt so I'll try that next. I struggled with the paint....it wanted to dry too fast to blend well. I've since learned that there is a "retarder" which I can add which will slow down the drying time. I am anxious to design 3 dolls around these sculpts. Hopefully, I'll get at least one done for the November show and sale.

Clay sculpting class update

We've had our first week of work in the on-line sculpting class. We are using super sculpey to make the faces. Our first lesson was to make 3 heads and make the eyes only. It was suggested that we try to make the eyes different in each head. My eyes are Caucasian, Asian and one where she is looking up and to her left. I am enjoying this new medium a lot. If you make a mistake all you do is blend it in or cut it out and start again. I have never tried to sculpt before so with each head I learn a little more about how to use the tools and the medium. They are really bumpy now but our instructor tells us that we will "magically" smooth all those bumps away later. This week we will be adding the rest of the facial features. Wish me luck.

Clay Sculpting a Face

I'm going to try something new--sculpting in polymer clay. I'm taking an online class and hope to be able to incorporate this technique in future dolls. The teacher is Marilyn Radzat and she makes beautiful sculpted dolls. If this goes well I may also take the session on sculpting hands and arms. I'll take pictures of my progress so that you can share my learning experience. Wish me luck!!

Vivian's Masquerade

I started this doll at AFIC this year with Leta Benedict. I finally have her finished. Leta's design called for an all white doll made with vintage handkerchiefs but I wanted more color so I made my own "handkerchiefs" for her skirt and boosted the color quotient by using turquoise and lime green. I also made her pantaloons slightly different from Leta's design. I used a decorative ribbon for the last part and then let is stand out like a ruffle instead of drawing it in against her leg. The mask and boots are made from paper clay and then painted. This was something new that I hadn't done before. The hat is made from fleece, watercolor paper (for stiff top) and wire. I had a lot of fun combining all the ribbons and fabrics to make this truly fanciful masquerade doll. I put sateen over a cloth sculpted face and then painted the features. This eliminates the seam lines on the face. I hope you enjoy my latest creation.

New Doll-Aquarius

Every year the Indy Cloth Dollmakers and the River City Doll Club in Cincinnati have a joint meeting and share a challenge. This year's challenge was to create a doll based on a sign of the Zodiac. I chose Aquarius, the water bearer. For this challenge I decided to create my own original design. The doll is 19" tall and has a wire armature so that she can stand alone on a base. I used Mimi Winer's that needle sculpting technique to sculpt her face. I used real hair eyelashes to complete her realistic face. The water urn is made from paper mache and then painted. The water is a cascade of beads flowing into the river bed of tiny pebbles. Her beaded gown features moon and stars on the bodice. Her sleeves and bottom of the gown were made from strips of polyester organza which has crinkled using a heat gun and then attached with beads to her gown.