Sunday, May 24, 2009

Homework

Yesterday I began making Verity sample dolls for an upcoming class in Arlington, Washington. I decided to make four bodies, to demonstrate various steps in making the doll.Today, I'll apply Messy Mix to all but one of the dolls. That one will remain as-is (the doll on the left), in order to demonstrate the needle sculpting. The doll on the right will be finished up to the facial features, which will be done in class.

I hope two long days will be enough to complete most of the dolls in class. The last class was a bit pressed for time, as the days were only about six hours long - not quite enough time.

Now I'm off to find a small jar with a tight-fitting lit...

Addendum, 6/1/09: Check out this blog link for information about Helen Pringle's Messy Mix:

7 comments:

Magee said...

Deanna,

I have never heard of "Messy Mix." Do you mind explaining to me what it is? Thanks! Blessings and a wonderful Memorial Day,

Charlotte
Berkshire, Upstate New York

Orice said...

I know you'll have a wonderful class. As always, you are so splendidly prepared and will inspire each of your students to make a lovely doll. Have fun, Deanna!

Dixie Redmond said...

I wish I could be in that class!

Dixie

Carla said...

Thank you for your wonderful comment on my blog. :) Love your dolls always. I don't comment much but always look. You are also set to no reply so I couldn't email you back :)

Deanna Hogan said...

Thanks, Carla! I've updated my profile, too. I'd thought everything was ok, 'til you enlightened me.

Deanna Hogan said...

Hi Magee,
I was going to write a post about Messy Mix, but happened to find the same information on another's blog. Messy Mix is something concocted by dollmaker Helen Pringle. There was a nice article in one of the early Cloth Doll magazines.

Check here for article excerpts:
http://sympletymes.blogspot.com/2009/01/izannah-walker-dolls-helen-pringle.html

Magee said...

Thanks so much, Deanna, for the link to SympleThymes blog spot for the information on "Messy Mix." Sherrie Nordgren and Helen Pringle both give such wonderful explanations of the recipe and application for hardening the surface of a cloth doll.

I had read about this before on Linda Johnson's Website last year sometime. But I did not recall whether she called it "Messy Mix" or not. Although she is passed on, her family kindly left her site up so that others may find inspiration from it. And I did indeed find it extremely inspiring. She used the same recipe in making her own dolls. It appears to be a very good approach when needing to harden your cloth doll.

I'm so sorry that Linda passed away and that I never had a chance to purchase one of her delightful dolls. They had such precious faces, and I did love the ones she displayed on her site.

Thanks so much again, Deanna, for the link to the "Messy Mix" recipe. Their Yahoo group, Vintage Clothdollmaking, also sounds like great fun. Many blessings to you and yours,

Magee