I got out my freezer paper and worked out a new design for my dolls. Some of the pattern is based on the critique, some on a doll buyers input and some on myself and changes I've wanted to incorporate into my design.
I took my time with this dolly. I could see her in my head and she just kept coming together, and when finished...she really looked nothing like the picture in my head but she very much fits the impressions and feelings I had in my head while I was dreaming about her. She has been over 3 weeks in the making. There for awhile I thought about not making dolls any more, but I say that this doll has revived me. I think that is why I named her Ember.
One change I had been wanting to make on my doll pattern is longer, huggy (read curved) arms. I also wanted the arms to be more "floppy." It seems to me that a doll with more floppy arms and dangly legs, make for a more playful doll. I also lengthened my dolls legs just a bit and slimmed out her shoulders.When I started to put Ember together, on a whim, I decided to try my hand at making a nose. I've always been mildly resistant to putting a nose on my dolls because I REALLY like the simple faces of Waldorf style dolls. It seemed right to give her a nose...new pattern, new thoughts on doll making...new face :)
Her hair is made out of a thick boucle yarn with a bit of a twist...haha, I wound the boucle on knitting needles, wet it down and put it in the oven at a low temp to let the heat set the curl. Boucle alone gives a curly look to a dolly's hair but wrapping it gave it just the right touch. I can't really take credit for the idea though. I've been helping a friend from church make a doll. She has some of this thick boucle too and was trying to figure out a way to make the ends of her dolls hair with a softer look instead of a blunt cut. She wondered about wrapping the hair the way I do and my mind went into overdrive fast. It had never occurred to me to wrap boucle...but what a lovely look it gave her hair.
It was then just a matter of making her clothes. Love Love Love making these little cardigans.
Just like the others -- she's precious!!
ReplyDeleteMy sister-in-law makes dolls; I think you would enjoy visiting with her, even though you make different types of dolls. You both have some of the same feelings about the progress you're making. I know she would love to have you stop in and look: www.colonymountainstitcheries.blogspot.com
Hello! Thanks for stopping by Colony Mtn...great to hear from another dollmaker. I enjoyed reading about your new doll design and agree about floppy arms and long dangly legs. I have been adding some length to my dolls' legs too. Ember is precious...love her name, and her hair, and most of all her precious little jacket.
ReplyDeleteShe is just wonderful, cheers from New Zealand, Marie
ReplyDeleteNow that's about the cutest doll this Ozark Farm Chick has ever seen!!! Girl, you've done an outstandin' job!!! Kudos to you :o)
ReplyDeleteYou are one talented gal!!!
From the happy hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa, ya'll have a blessed and beautiful day!!!
Hey darlin', I just wanted to thank you for your visit yesterday with your sweet comment. Please, drop in often...the door of the Ponderosa is always open.
ReplyDeleteGod bless and have a wonderful weekend!!! :o)