I’ve got his arms and legs sewn on and am trying out this piece of Teddy bear mohair for his hair.
I have these postcards that I got some time ago that I am using for costume thoughts. The original inspiration for this baby was late medieval paintings of Madonna and child, at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA. Lots of gold, dark reds and olive greens.
Hi Mimi,
Did you design this pattern? I love the 3-D quality it has. Do you give classes? Sell kits?
I’m just beginning on this journey of doll making what advice would you give? Run, and don’t look back or enjoy the journey. I feel that right now this is what I’m suppose to be doing.
I also read your notes on Helen Pringle and I have an article that says she uses Gutcheon Patchwork Natural. I haven’t been able to track it down. This article said that she would share her recipe but not her pattern if a SASE was included. I have also read on another website that her husband is in poor health and that she is no longer making dolls.
I hope I’m not asking too much of you.
Thanks in advance.
Yes, this is my own pattern… it is a basic 4 piece head. I have gotten better at needle sculpting the noses (lots of practice!) and I think that makes a big difference. A lot of the 3-d is also the painting.
I haven’t taught any classes… or sold patterns or kits. I really just work on dolls, and if I’m lucky, sell one once in a while. Sometime I might get a pattern together. I started working on one but got stumped when it came to describing the directions for painting.
The best books I ever found are the ones by Susan Oroyan. They cover all the basics and have great photos for inspiration. I’ve been making dolls since 2000 or so… before that I did pottery for about 20 years… and I have an art school background- that said, I have taken very few doll-making classes, but I am in a cloth doll club. The first class I took was with Gail Wilson… in it I learned what a well stuffed doll should feel like. I don’t think I could have ever learned that from a book. The doll club is good because they are so full of information about resources that are available. Also, we do a lot of mini-workshops to share information with each other.
I don’t have much info on Helen Pringle- it is hard to find. There is at least one woman in my doll club who took a class with her. I use a mixture similar to hers when I prep my doll heads- I know it is similar (but not the same) because somewhere along the way I remember seeing the recipe. I paint the fabric with a mixture of 1/2 gesso and 1/2 modeling paste. I put two coats on, sanding lightly in-between. As for what fabric- I’ve never heard of that fabric. I use something called Southern Belle- it is a tightly woven, high thread count cotton. My recommendation is to try several types of fabric, see what you like and stick with it. I am a great believer in limiting the variables… different fabrics act very differently when sewn and stuffed.
Good luck with your dolls!