I have been working hard on my craft since 2004, and I think I have a skill level that shows in my work. I am the do over queen and there are many heads without bodies to suggest that these mistakes drive me to the perfect end. The finished doll always seems to lead to the next doll, one is born out of another. This is why I love making dolls. It is the air I breathe and pretty much defines me. I am a doll maker.
This may sound strange but these bodiless heads and headless bodies speak to me. I have control over the parts and pieces individually, but the position involved in the connection is revealed at the moment the pieces touch one another for the first time. The head moves me to sew it in a certain pose, same with the hands and arms. The whole doll forms itself to be expressive according to its idea of itself.
These three heads are the first of my floating head series. I've decided that I like having the eyes closed. I think the big wide eyed look would be too much for a head alone to carry, but who knows, now that I think about it, those big eyes could make a freaky looking head............but for these three, the eyes are closed. I am not going for freaky but rather serious and posed.
My idea for their dress is just a collar and a scarf. Very styled and modelesque...............................
I had a Drowsey doll when I was very young. She had a string that you pulled and she would basically whine and complain. Now that I think about her she was an annoying brat, but back then, I loved her.
Well my mean older brothers would take her and torture her and terrorize me. They would push her face so far into her head it would get stuck and I am not sure what they did to her that made her not be able to talk, but she began talking way too fast. They did this to two separate Drowsy dolls! They were horrible and they both grew up to be engineers with daughters.
I never had another girlie type doll again and I don't wear dresses and my best friend is a dog and....................well you already read the cheerleader story so you know I wanted to play football................................Now look at me, I make dolls who wear dresses.
I tried out for cheerleader one year as a way to conquer my fears. I practiced, I practiced, I practiced, I practiced, I even had other cheerleaders help me practice. The day came I stood there in front of everyone who mattered and I forgot the cheer...................I walked off with my head hung low. I truly sucked.......... What was I thinking? This is not the worse part. I still had to come back and perform my stunt with my partner. Somehow I walked back out.......................... We were good, really good. I did my herky jump and we did our double stunt. I did not suck on that part of the tryout. The problem is that I was trying out for CHEERLEADER not "what I was good at" leader.
The lesson learned? Failing will not kill you. It might suck for a moment, but the point is I tried. Did it all mean anything in the end? No, I really did not want to be a cheerleader. I wanted to play football..............................................that's another story
I belong to ADO which is an ever growing group of very talented and wonderfully creative artisans who share in the love of making Art Dolls.
Here are three such artist:
Colleen Downs
"Laura"
Ever been so busy that you don't know what day it is and it wouldn't matter anyway because time has no meaning? The 21 days have become one big long blurry day.
I have started a new job as a Food and Beverage Supervisor at a hotel. I have never been so inundated with information and requests and lists and anything someone thinks of, "just give it to the new girl, she'll do it".
It will get better and less hectic. This is my belief. My mantra is "I am in control, I am in control, I am in control".
I hope to see you on the other side........
Anne Boleyn could have been just another mistress of Henry VIII, but she wanted more. To be Queen or nothing else. An ultimatum that would change the world.
Be careful the heights you aspire to and be careful of the people who surround you.........
The kingdom that Anne reigned in was treacherous. No place for a Queen who could not give birth to a future king.
My main challenge for Anne Boleyn was in creating the correct head wear. Many portraits show Anne wearing a French Hood. I found this great tutorial on how to make one. This site was so instructional. I had to vary the design somewhat, but I am happy with the elegance that her French hood has.
http://www.elizabethancostume.net/headwear/
The New ADO team Challenge is any character from Shakespeare.
This boggles the mind, so much to choose from. My first thought was the complexity of the costumes. Not really sure how to blend my style with Shakespeare. Suppose that is why this is called a challenge............
I get it now.
I have been wanting to do these pieces that are just doll heads and I thought that the floating head needed something dramatic happening at the neck line. A collar, tie, scarf or something to create curiosity about what was unseen.
Searching through Shakespeare's characters I came across Anne Boleyn from "Henry VIII". That character is perfect for my doll head series. Anne is still alive at the end of the play, but her enemies have begun to plot her demise.
I give you the head of Anne Boleyn
Here we have another curvaceous doll. Full figure and loving life. I love the shirt I was able to pull off. I love the way the shirt flairs out at the hips, creating an unexpected break to her curves. I must admit to forcing the shirt into this shape with fabric stiffener. (Fabric Stiffener ROCKS)
The truth is Art Dolls really do not care if they can't move around in their outfits. They will stand around quietly for hours without complaining. . . Unlike myself.
This doll is on sale at my Etsy storehttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5271522
When a doll has such wonderful curves, she might as well show them off! I think adding a couple of extra curves up top has given this doll some fantastic appeal.
Her striped top is accentuated with a long brown scarf that has a pink stitch. She has a great brown leather belt, form fitting black pants and always chunky shoes.
What else could I title her but
"My Tight Striped Shirt"
She is on sale now at my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5271522
The doll has a needlesculpted face and hands, a stuffed fabric body. I design and make the clothes, the hair and everything else to finish the doll. I create a sense of gesture through the tilt of the head, the position of the hands or by folds in the fabric. I enjoy keeping the eyes closed because this creates the feeling she is pretty content with being an art doll.
This doll is one of a series that developed a bustline, a real female figure to admire. She also has a basket skirt that is made of bent pieces of wood with round reed woven through.
This is a whimsical and joyous folk art doll that will be a great addition to any art collection. This is a OOAK piece. Created in 2008. She is signed and dated.
It is not a toy, it is a sculpture; NOT FOR CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER. The doll does not have movable parts. The doll is approximately 21" tall x 9" wide x 5" deep.
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