Thursday, April 19, 2012

Flesh Tones?

I started dyeing this morning to get some more Caucasian skin tone like I made last time. I used too much dye and it came out too dark, so I tossed it. Life is too short to hang on to failed dye attempts. I did, however, try three other colors, wondering if they might make good skin tones. This is what I got:


 I feel like tatting today, not bobbin lace, so I'm not going to force it. I've made so many mistakes on it since I started it so long ago, but I'm trying to just be OK with it. It's a little impossible to undo some tatting situations. Oh well, maybe I'll get my magnifying glasses and try.

7 comments:

  1. I'd have your unwanted dyed fabric! It's a tricky thing, getting cloth to look like skin, as skin is reflective and translucent. I admire your perseverance. The darker shade and the central peachy colour would be lovely for a child, although I'd try and match up fabric for clothes and hair first. The palest is lovely, but you might find it hard to match up clothes and hair for a harmonious look.

    Good luck with the tatting! I'm off to try and paint a leopard/girl face.

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    Replies
    1. Hope your leopard is coming along. Can't wait to see her painted!

      I'm surprised at how much better these fabrics look in the photo. They're pretty hideous in person. At first I thought I liked them. Now I can't stand to look at them. Why do I think I can make ethnically diverse dolls anyway?

      I meant to tat a length of 21 inches, but got carried away and did 24. I'm afraid it will be too long now. I guess I could always overlap it in the back. The width do the skirt is supposed to 2.5 to 3 times the width of the waist, and this waist is 7 inches.

      Sorry for the complaining.

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    2. This might seem an odd comment, but do you feel better about the dyed fabrics now? It helps me to get away from whatever I'm making because sometimes, its mediocrity depresses me and I start to feel I'm useless and and that there's no point. I've learned that for me the only way to get away from that is to put the piece down and ignore it, for a day or so.

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    3. Actually, yes, I do! I think it helped a little to get my partner's opinion. He works with ethnically diverse children as an RN at a children's health clinic, and he thought two of the three were good matches. Then I ordered a different dye for African American skin tone. It turns out the one I bought has a strong red undertone and I didn't notice until I compared it with another brown.

      I apologize for mistakes. I'm writing without my glasses and can't see anything. Thank you for tHnking of me.

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    4. I'm glad you feel more confident about the colours and it always helps to get someone's informed opinion. Skin is a difficult thing to match because it's never all one colour, on anyone. In the end, you have to make a choice and move forward with whichever one you feel best about. I'm really enjoying seeing your processes with making this doll. It's a very rare and privileged viewpoint to follow the artist as they develop their work and I really look forward to each new post.

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    5. Poor Rhissanna! I post ALL THE TIME, lol. I'm trying to wait until I finish something to post, but any little thing and just try to keep me away from my blog! I figure people can always skip over me, so why not.

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    6. I'm really enjoying seeing your doll develop. It's both encouraging and inspiring!

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