Doll

I am working on 2 dolls right now and I am getting very frustrated with both of them. This is S. The idea with her is an over-abundance of lacey-ness. I’ve made her a slip and am now working on her dress, but they are not working together the way I want them to…

slip-

bodice-

the dress is reworked from a vintage baby dress. I thought I had it all figured out, but after sewing the sleeves on, I discovered that the neckline of the bodice is higher then I planned- totally hiding the lace of the slip. And there is a lump where the lace is under the bodice. Something is going to have to be redone.

This is B. I want to make a vest, but the design is not gelling in my brain…

Ione and her chair came home from the photographer yesterday. I’ve had some questions about the chair so now I’ve put up more pictures and some close-ups.

I used iron wire. I can buy some types at my local hardware store. Other sizes I have to get at a company specializing in wire. I used 14 gauge for the main structure of the chair. 16 gauge for the filling in wire work.

I used 20 gauge wire for the edge wrapping and also for some of the structural wrapping attachments… does this make sense- I can’t quite figure out how to explain it!

Lastly is this wire “thread”. It is 24 gauge, I think. Or maybe 26 gauge- it wouldn’t matter which I used anyway. It is used to sort of sew or lace everything together.

After I finished the chair, I sprayed it with a clear finish. Otherwise it would rust and I didn’t want to risk ruining Ione clothing.

Wire (Everyday Things) is an excellent picture reference, although it doesn’t have any actual instructions- it’s all visual inspiration.

I am always excited when I see that Scott Radke has posted something new on his journal. Today he has posted some new dolls. Wow!

I’ve started in on 2 dolls-

doll b (my working name) has pants and shirt started-

doll s is still in the fabric sorting stage-

Starting in on a new doll means making lots of piles of fabric and trims, lots of boxes and drawers sorted through. The piles on my desk are getting high. I also pull out fabrics for other dolls as I go through all the bins. Those fabrics sit on top of the doll that they will eventually (maybe) go with.

This is my desk right now… well actually it’s worse since I took the photo.

I dropped off Ione with the photographer today- she gets her official portrait (slides). That meant I had to make a stand/seat for her.

This is the chair in progress. It is made of iron wire- I love working with wire; it’s like 3D line drawing. I’ll post a finished picture when she gets home again.

here is the car before I started unpacking- home from Connecticut-

I now have piles and piles of stuff to read-

yes, that seems to be Brooke Sheilds selling toothpaste…
and to top it off, my order from AmazonJapan arrived! Goodies!

Also, Hanna suggested in the comments that I might use some of my magazines for collage- I couldn’t find her email to respond- so I’m responding to anyone- anybody want some 70’s fashion clippings and/or magazines? If you are interested, email me or leave a comment and I’ll stuff some envelopes.

I was down in Connecticut again yesterday- doing some more clean up at my parents house. I came home with a car full of 1970’s! I think my mom stopped throwing anything away in 1975. I am reliving my youth, looking through all the old magazines. I found most of a year of Ms. Magazine 1975- 76. Also some copies of Better Home and Gardens, Family Circle, Woman’s Day, and Glamour. There are French and English Fashion magazines and Vogue sewing books- those magazines that have all the patterns in them. I also brought home about 50 more Vogue designer patterns, probably 70’s and 80’s vintage- I can’t really tell. I am putting those up on ebay. I’m not sure what to do with the magazines after I look at them. Eleanor wants to have a yard sale to make money for traveling, so that might be where they go.

I also found some really good resource books on fashion history- one that I had been trying to find a used copy of! and buttons, fabrics, trims, family photos, and more. I always come home with some real treasures.

Finally- the pictures! I took this picture of her standing, using a commercial doll stand.

I think I will make her a sitting stand- I think she looks much better sitting-

Getting a picture with the color just right was impossible. These all seem a little washed out to me,

although this one is probably the best.

I am happy with her. Especially…
-her hair
-to have made something new out of a very damaged, moth-eaten coat
-making a doll without a happy face
-and her hat

Okay, for all you who were actually trying to guess- her name is “Ione”. I choose the name from that list and then looked it up in my baby name book. It means violet mineral- which seemed perfect!

She is getting her hair done- her wig glued onto her head- so I’ve taken some pictures of the detail work. I made her 2 necklaces-

Mini frog closures on the front of her coat. They close with a sewed-on snap because I thought it would be impossible to actually button them.

Here are her shoes and socks- I ended up making her a new pair of socks- these are a better color.

I was trying to make her shoes look real for a girl (not too babyish), so I put a heel on them.

She should be ready to photograph by tomorrow. Right now I have to go and glue the back half of her wig to her head.

I take all the fabric out of the closet and the kitty decides the bolt of beautiful black wool is the perfect bed for his orangey self.

Yesterday I was working on shoes-

Today I went to Radio Shack and bought myself some new clamps- doll size. Smooth alligator clips are a great tool- I can’t believe I didn’t discover them sooner!