Helping hand...

Today I was rearranging things in my studio and sort of 'rediscovered' a doll I made a few years ago. I was in a doll making phase awhile ago. Looking back on this project, I think I did a fair job on making her hands. I made this hand out of polymer clay that was baked.  This hand is about 1" in length. I tried to make it realistic. Although a bit 'stiff' in that her fingers are too straight, I do like them. They look fairly realistic. Anyway, I thought I would share a close-up of them.  Click on the picture to see them really close up!

paper clay doll # 3

let the mess begin! Creative Chaos...

Gorilla hands will not do! I have to remake them.

Yes, I know her legs do not match in thickness...ah well

It really helps to make a scale drawing to follow.

On to doll # 3 in my paper clay doll making adventure. She is going to be small, about 6.5" inches tall. Her theme - something about time going too fast, middle age, middle passage...the thoughts tumbling around in my head at this moment in time in my own personal journey. Thoughts are marinading and ideas are coming into focus as I make her and she presents herself to me. She will let me know her message...

Her hands I made are WAY TOO LARGE...so I am experimenting with polymer clay and paper clay to see which works better for me to make tiny hands...last night I made hands 4x out of polymer clay and these in the photos above- all still too large and gorilla like...onto to hands # 6- eventually I'll hopefully get to where I can live with them and they won't be so gorilla like!

I made her feet large on purpose. I want them large and she will be wearing ballet slippers. This much I know. The rest, well, like I said...she will tell me...

...keep an eye on my drink...

my sweet husband went to the Met's game tonight with a friend and I made eye balls.

I wanted eyes to use in doll making, so I decided to make them out of polymer clay. I used translucent polymer clay and painted them once I baked them. Then I finished them with a shiny gloss to give them a wet look.

Body parts...yesterday heads, today eye balls...I'll say it's really interesting...and I am having fun for sure!

a little bit of heaven...

our workspace...look familiar??

Colleen pressing polymer clay into rubber to make mermaid scales


a view of the bay from the living room...beautiful!!


dolls hanging and tools of the trade


Susan heating up her amazing gravy and meatballs...yum

I had the opportunity to spend a wonderful and fun four days with five other doll makers last week...and we had a blast! We spent the entire time making a mermaid paper clay doll. We also had some side trips for food and craft runs to Michael's and to a local bead shop.

I am a newbie to paper clay...just learning how to make paper clay dolls, so I was in heaven being around a group of such talented doll makers, Colleen, Susan, Heather, Tery and Heidi.

I also showed the ladies how to make my assemblage dolls. I was blown away by how they each put their own spin on the dolls- totally amazing!

my first paperclay doll all dressed

I am pleased with my first attempt to make a paper clay doll. I made a little dress for her. It's a simple dress- I realized that I really couldn't make a set-in sleeve or even a raglan sleeve on the dress because my doll doesn't have shoulders. So I made a simple dress with a halter like feature that holds up the dress. I used two fabrics for her dress- the under slip is vintage lace that I tea dyed. The dress is a pink brocade/lace like material that I also tea dyed. I then added tiny mauve pink seed beads to give her a little bling.

This weekend I am getting together with a group of doll artists for a weekend of doll crafting. Can't wait!! One doll artist will be teaching us how to make a mermaid armature paper clay doll and I'll also be showing the group how I make my assemblage dolls. Should be a wonderful crafting time!

I'll take lots of pictures to post.

Art Doll play date and Show-n-tell

Online, I recently "met" a local (to me) art doll maker, Lillian Alberti, and today we met at her house for a wonderful 'doll play date'. Another doll maker, Colleen Colquhoun from NJ also came and we shared our art dolls, tea, yummy goodies and laughter. It was so nice to meet a local art doll maker! Colleen I've met before, and it was one of those small world things that Lillian and I both knew her. But, the art doll world is, I am finding out, a little small.

Anyway, the dolls that Lillian and Colleen make are AMAZING! I am a new to clay doll making and it is SO inspiring to see such beautiful work. I've posted some pictures of the day and the fantastic dolls. I hope you are as inspired as I am from these dolls! Pictures just do not do them justice!

Colleen, Lillian and me

Lillian's "Little Bo Peep"



And Bo Peeps lost sheep (who hides in her skirt!)



Colleen's paper charms for her dolls



Colleen's Rabbit Doll


Colleen's Rabbit Art Doll

doll head

Well, this is a doll sculpture I am happy with. It looks human and that's good! Early on she really looked like a he. I was going for a female head. She looks a little angular and male. Next time I'll work on that. I used Super sculpt living doll clay and I really like it. It sculpts well and holds the shape.

doll heads on etsy

I've added some more doll heads to my etsy shop. They are selling very well. I would love to see what people do with the doll heads. I use them to make assemblage dolls like this. I am working on several new dolls now.

I really think each doll head has a personality- some are regal looking, while others have a certain sweetness about them. I use that in my assemblage doll making. Just like people, each are different and have a personality all their own!