Little Red Riding Hood

Coffee with Tea's Little Red Riding Hood challenge was launched Sunday, and many participants have posted their dolls on eBay. My doll is not quite done, but I'll not be posting her on eBay (I'm still boycotting sales there). Plus, I intend to take mine to doll club at the end of the month, as we're Show 'n' Telling our dolls made from Lucinda Durbin's repro Presbyterian doll pattern. My doll is an experiment using photo transfer onto fabric, and I'll post a photo her when she's presentable.

Just click on the LRRH graphic above to go to the Coffee with Tea blog. There you can click on the badge to get to all the eBay listings.

More Hoffman Dolls Uploaded!

Tomorrow's the deadline for Hoffman Challenge entries, and I've been receiving lots of wonderful photos. If you're making a Hoffman Challenge doll and have missed the deadline, I STILL want your photos. Send them to me at blueheron61@charter.net.

Check out some of this year's dolls HERE.

Hoffman Finished!

This is Bella, my Hoffman 2009 doll, finished, but not yet in the mail. That'll have to happen tomorrow, if I find a box the right size and get off work on time.

I'm not completely happy with her hair. You'd think with all stuff I've got here I could find just the right thing.



I'd shortened her torso and legs so she'd fit within the size restrictions. But, I forgot to shorten her skirt - so it's longer than I'd wanted. I've also had to scrunch her down a little, because with her hair and base, she was just a tad over the 20 inch size limit.

Pondering...

Today's my last day of vacation, and that means I have today to finish my Hoffman Challenge doll. All that remains is the costuming. So I've spread out an assortment of fabrics to choose from. This year's Hoffman Challenge fabric is in the center. I can see that I need to rule some fabrics out immediately.

Here's a preview of my Hoffman entry. I'll choose and apply her hair after the costuming is done. I've got several choices, so I'll just have to wait and see which one looks best.

4 Elements Dolls, ADO

The 4 Elements Challenge was hosted by the Art Dolls Only (ADO) online group. Ninety participants made art dolls using one (or any/all) of the 4 elements: Earth, Fire, Air, Water. Check out the rest of the participants at the ADO Blog - just click on the Badge below.

In addition to my entry below, I volunteered to host photos for participants who do not have blogs. Inessa has been kind enough to send photos of her two entries, and today (Sunday) I received photos of Marij van der Ham's entry. All the entries have been wonderful works of art.

Here is my yet-to-be-named "Water" doll. Yeah, I know, a mermaid is a rather obvious interpretation of this element. But I really like mermaids. I modified a pattern by Kith & Kin for the body and head (using Doe Suede fabric). I designed the tail section, and made from cloth I hand-dyed.


This doll is made by Inessa Morelock, and signifies the "Earth" element - Sword & Shield. Inessa remarked she is facsinated by gourds and the "elementary." Gourds represent the fundmental earth element. The doll is "abstract and very simple in form and substance-- that sets it apart from my other dolls."

This is another entry by Inessa - her "Water" doll. Inessa says water "can be very unpredictable and I like that. The doll has been decorated with a variety of yarns, beads and shells ( from our trip to Florida )."

This is Marij van der Ham's entry, representing her vision of frozen water. You can see more of her work HERE.

Verity, Class of June 2009

Just home from Atlanta, I was thrilled to open my email box and find photos of the finished Verity dolls from my June class. I had a wonderful time with the members of the Dollirious! Doll Club of Arlington, Washington. What talented doll makers! This very active doll club has a Picturetrail account, where more of their dolls can be seen. Here are photos taken during class and their individual Verity dolls.

Thanks, Ladies!

Atlanta

This year's UFDC Convention and ODACA Day Luncheon was held at Atlanta's Marriott Grand Marquis. The interior design was interesting, but easy to navigate (unlike the Detroit hotel that hosted the convention 2 years ago).

The ODACA Luncheon was a success, and I did well in the Sales Room. I'm going to have to update my website as soon as I'll have to remove the Add to Cart buttons on some of my dolls.

Next year...Chicago.

Another Harvest Moon Doll

Today I finished a second Harvest Moon doll, this time without the Fall colors. I had a harder time stuffing this doll smoothly, I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was the fabric, which was 65% cotton, 35% poly. The original doll may have been made of 100% cotton, I'm just not sure.

Her hair is fringed trim. Next time, I'll try gluing it on before unravelling the loose edge of the fringe. This may make it easier to find all those pins holding the trim in place while the glue dries.

I'm thinking I'll use this pattern for my Hoffman Challenge entry, but the rules limit the size of the doll. That means I'll have to shorten her a little - probably a half inch in the torso and in the thighs.

Celebrate Independence Day!

Hope your 4th of July celebrations are safe!

Under the Harvest Moon ~ Published!

I've been waiting for the September issue of Doll Crafter & Costuming magazine, knowing my newest pattern would be in it. And there it is, starting on page 14. I've not yet had a chance to read through it for any errors, but it looks like they included lots of the photos I sent them (a picture says a thousand words, doesn't it?) This is the best free advertising out there!

This doll stands about 22 inches tall. I'm working on another Harvest Moon doll right now, though not using the Fall colors. I also hope to use this design for my Hoffman Challenge entry. I've got to reread the rules and make sure I'm within the size parameters before starting.

Finished Tibetan lamb wig / New Doll

Here's a finished wig, on a just completed "Verity" doll. After gluing the wig on the head (and after the glue dried), I combed the hair out to remove loose strands. This made the hair really frizzy.

Then I saturated the hair with water (I tried to avoid the hide), dried it with a towel, and rubbed a tiny bit of mousse into the hair. I combed it out again and let it dry. All the curls came back. Refer to this post for a photo of the Tibetan lamb just glued to the head ~ truly a bad hair day for this doll!

The mousse may not be necessary, but I think the hair is a little less fly-away with it. I can also spritz it with a little water if it's gotten out of control, particularly after traveling in a suitcase, and fluff it with my fingers.