More pumpkin head

I had to take a look at some of the pumpkins at the grocery store, to get a better idea of how the stem looks. I used a scalpel to dig out a depression at the top of the head, then added the basic stub of a stem. When that dried, I added a little more detail.

Now that I take a closer look at the photos, I see where the doll's left upper eyelid crease is higher than the right. I'll add a little more clay. When that's dry, I'll paint the clay with gesso. I think I have some dark brown gesso, and I think that might work better for an under-layer than the usual white.

I sewed and stuffed the arms today, and will paint them with gesso, too. Then I'll mix up a big batch of orange, with some varying colors for interest.

I'm not going to pick out the colors for her dress until I see how the orange turns out.

Halloween Challenge Doll ~ a little more progress

My pumpkin head doll is coming along. I've added basic eyes and have filled out the face a little. I've still got to add a stem and do a little more refining. She was somewhat lop-sided, so I did some sanding after work last night - at least until it got too cold and dark outside. I hope she doesn't end up being too top heavy.

I'm going to use the arm/leg design that came with the pattern, as the point of this challenge was to use this particular vintage pattern. I've haven't started looking at fabrics for her dress, but I think an tiny print or plaid in autumn colors would look nice. I hope I have something like that on hand, because I certainly don't need to add to my fabric stash.

We're up early today, as we'd planned to walk to work like we did yesterday. It was a gorgeous day. But today it's 39 degrees, it's supposed to rain, and we've got to get groceries after our shift. I can do 39, but not 39 AND rain.

Don't judge me by my filthy oven

I really want to finish the sculpting my Halloween Challenge doll this evening, so I decided to push the drying process in the oven - the temp is at the lowest setting (170 degrees). I've been building up layers over the past few days and letting them dry naturally, but now it's time to get down to business. Once this is dry, I plan to make the eyes, build up the lips and cheeks a little, make a stem, and make the vertical grooves a pumpkin typically has.

I'm fairly new at sculpting in Paperclay, but I know it's super easy to sand. At this point I'm undecided as to whether the upper chest/back and arms will be orangish, greenish or brownish. I'll have to think on that. Maybe I'll even give crackling another chance - or not.

While I'm not intentionally advertising the Astoria Coffee Company, they do roast some nice beans...

How's this for an inspiration piece?

How's this for inspiration for a Halloween doll? I was downtown picking up some little snaps and hooks/eyes at JoAnn's, and this caught my eye. I was sneaky and took a few quick photos on my cell phone today (cuz that guy in the window was watching me). I love the ghoulish monochromatic-ness of this doll. I didn't have time to run inside and check her price tag or the name of the artist, but will try to do that before she's gone from the display.

Treasures of the Gypsy doll DONE!

...and in the mail - although after going through all the paperwork for this challenge, I might be too late. One paper had a deadline of October 5, another said the "last week of September." Oh well, what's the worst that could happen - the doll won't be exhibited and the money to send and insure her (there and back) will be wasted. Hey, at least I sent the insurance form in by the July deadline!

Maybe it's just me, but this particular challenge has a plethora of paperwork, labels, instructions, etc. And as I was reviewing it all today, I remembered saying (about 2 years ago) I'd never do this challenge again. I still don't know if I got it all together correctly. The Hoffman Challenge is so much easier in this regard. But Pamela Armas is a wonderful gal, and has tons of treasures in her shop. You know, the kind of stuff you buy and set aside for that very special doll that you never make. I have a bit of silk purchased in San Francisco last fall at $75 per yard. It's one of those pieces that's been set aside for "something special." Am I the only one that does this?

Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with my ToG doll. But I'm just not very blingy when compared to other dollmakers that participate in this challenge. It's really hard for me to embellish, let alone to the nth degree. I have a hard time picturing in my head what and where to stick a doo-dad. In my opinion, Arley Berryhill is the BEST. Check out his Troll Queen for the Hoffman Challenge - now THAT'S embellishment!

New Arrival ~ Harvest Moon (unabridged) pattern

I spent most of last night and today typing, proofreading, printing, collating and assembling the unabridged version of my pattern "Under the Harvest Moon." I'm so glad to have this project done. This was the pattern published in the September 2009 issue of Doll Crafter & Costuming, which was condensed for the magazine.

This new release includes patterns for two types of ears as well as a wig template for Tibetan lamb (like my Treasures of the Gypsy doll). There's also a full-page color insert that reviews some of the face coloring techniques I use.

You can find the pattern HERE for $15 plus postage. Postage used to be included in the price of all my patterns, but with rising postal rates and the cut PayPal takes, I've made the decision to charge actual shipping (sorry). I wish there was an easy way (at the PayPal site) to update everything quickly and make adjustments with every increase in postal rates without having to generate code for every item!

Raining Again

It's raining again, and really starting to look like Fall. There are tons of garden spiders, and they're so darned efficient at building their webs (wish this photo did this web justice.) I'm all too aware that I look like a complete spaz when I unknowingly walk through a web, imagining a big fat juicy spider on my person.

Since it's so dreary out today, I decided to forego the laundry and housework and add another layer of Paperclay to my Halloween Challenge doll.

For this particular challenge, the Reigning Dolls & Bears club is using the "Genevieve" pattern from the book "On Making, Mending, and Dressing Dolls" by Clara Hallard Fawcett, copyright 1949. I was more than a little disappointed at how hideously mis-shapen the head was after sewing and stuffing it. It really needed some alteration. So I decided to make a clay-over-cloth pumpkin head doll. This is kind of outside my usual box, and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Harvest Moon Class

I taught my first in-home class this weekend. I had three students, and sewed along with them. What a pleasure, not having to lug all my stuff to a different location (and hope I didn't forget anything!)

From left to right are Roxanne, Ginger, and Rhoda. Wish I could say the dolls were completed in class, but we were able to focus on the trapunto style face (and attaching it to the head), the hinge joints, the shoes, and the face sculpting and painting.I also shared my "system" of logging/recording the dolls I've made. From my very first doll, they've all been recorded in a notebook. Each doll/entry is numbered and dated. The entries in the log include a description of the doll, the pattern used, size, etc. Once the doll's been sold or given away, the entry is highlighted yellow.

In about 2004, I saw a similar journal up for auction on eBay. This was Edith Flack Ackley's journal, and she included a little snippet of the fabric she used for each doll's dress by their corresponding entries. I thought that was a great idea, and started doing that myself.

TOG Wig Done

Yesterday was less productive than I'd hoped it would be. I did, however, give my Treasures of the Gypsy doll her Tibetan lamb wig. As she's not an all-painted cloth doll, I was able to ladder stitch the wig in place.

I received an email a couple days ago, asking when my "Under the Harvest Moon" pattern would be available. The abridged version of the pattern was in the September issue of Doll Crafter & Costuming magazine, but it's been my intention to release the full pattern with a few extras as soon. Yesterday's wig project makes me think the wig template and instructions would be nice to include, too. Just a couple more challenge dolls to finish, then I can focus on the pattern. Stay tuned!

Sewing with Freezer Paper - Tip for New Dollmakers

Freezer paper is an absolute necessity for me when sewing dolls, especially when sewing small, detailed parts like fingers. I find this much easier and more accurate than tracing around a template and sewing on the line - nothing against those who do so, this just works better for me (that, and the fact that my purple air-soluble pens are often too dried up to use, or the ink disappears too quickly here in the moist Pacific Northwest). In addition, the traced line has some width to it, and fingers may get chubby and end up with seam allowances that are to narrow to be turned right side out and stuffed without blowouts (that happens to all of us). Freezer paper also lends some stability to the fabric you're sewing. Plastic-backed freezer paper is usually available in the canning sections of most grocery stores, but you can certainly order it online. I use Reynolds brand as it is readily available locally.

To start, trace the pattern pieces onto the freezer paper. Use a window and natural light if you don’t have a light box. Avoid using a pencil to trace the pieces, as the graphite can stain your fabric if you accidentally sew over the line. Be sure to transfer any other markings onto the freezer paper – any indicated openings, fabric stretch direction, etc. It’s helpful to put the name of the pattern you’re using as well, for easy identification later (I’ve had a torso piece pinned to my wall for years, as I have no idea from which pattern it came). 

Next, carefully cut out each pattern piece from the freezer paper, along the drawn line. Some patterns have darts, so follow the pattern instructions to determine if you need to cut the dart from the paper or leave it drawn.

The freezer paper template is then ironed (plastic side down) to doubled fabric, right sides together. Pin through the layers to prevent the fabric from shifting.

The sewing is done right against the edge of the paper. Sew slowly and accurately. When you come to curves, stop sewing and leave the machine needle in the down position. Raise the presser foot and turn the piece, then presser foot down and continue sewing. Sometimes you’ll find yourself only sewing a stitch or two between turns. Most times you will leave a small section unsewn so you can turn the piece right side out. Other times you will sew all the way around, then cut a slit in one side (e.g., two-piece heads with a front and back only). 

Then trim the fabric to the appropriate seam allowance as indicated on the pattern/instructions. If you’ve left a section open for turning right side out, I suggest making this seam allowance a little wider as the fabric edges can fray a little as you stuff the part, making closure a little trickier. Clip any curves, taking care to avoid snipping through your stitching. If you remove the freezer paper carefully, you can reuse it over and over. 

Unless yours is a simple pancake doll, this technique may not be applicable for all doll parts. For example, use freezer paper to sew the center seams of the body front and back (for a 4-part body), but not when sewing the front to the back.

You can also use this technique with many fabrics, knit or woven. Below is craft velour, which has some advantages. It doesn’t fray, it’s quite forgiving, and is available in a variety of skin colors. Using an open-toed presser foot really helps you see where you're going - whether using the freezer paper OR the traced template method. My (green) presser foot is Teflon coated, so it slides along the fabric easily.