First Casting!

This morning the molds were dry and my casting came out almost perfect! I had to add a little clay in places where the clay didn't go in evenly, and somehow her nose came out too short. Maybe it will be dry tomorrow and I can sand a little.

The smocking looks great, too! I'll be finished soon and will post a photo. I'm reading a book called "Blogging Bliss". Hopefully it will teach me how to have a better blog. I want this place to document my process and show my progress.

The Perils of the Long Awaited Rain

We've had drought for over a year. It finally rained. On the day I cast my clay. Sheesh. It hasn't dried yet and it's been two days. I'm getting a little nervous, and I'm not at all sure my molds were completely ready. I will pull the clay out tomorrow, I think, regardless.

I've decided to make editions of 12, starting with the head in the first photo below. I'm going to make her in the outfit she's wearing in the photo, which has a ton of pleats. I think I'll do it in some fabric I've died ivory, with white ribbon, and black hat, stockings, and shoes. I'm so excited! If only this clay would dry!

Since I'm basically doing nothing, I decided to do some smocking. It's light blue gingham, which is lovely to smock! Everything lines up perfectly, and in the end, all the darker lines are together. I'm smocking it in a dark blue, and will finish it with white bullion daisies. I have nice ideas for other smocked dresses, too, in fabric that I will dye. I'm having a good time.

Yesterday I ordered tags and a digitized logo! Now I'm just waiting for my armature wire so I can sculpt the body. I just need some hair now. I can't wait to see the first doll! 

New Direction!

I've officially left sewing for Kish behind and have started making my own dolls! I'm working on making likenesses so that someday I can specialize in portrait dolls. I've been working on these two heads for a couple weeks.

The eyes will get cleaned up in the sanding phase. Today I made plaster molds for these two plus another (I added ears first!) Tomorrow I'll make paperclay impressions and start refining by sanding. I'll do that for as long as I can stand it (!) and then make another set of molds to use for the dolls. I hope to do nine heads by this time next year, but we'll just see how it goes.

New Underwear

I just put together this set of combinations for my next outfit. I haven't made these before but always wanted to. I think they came out really cute!

I will have to hand-sew the shoulders because I didn't use side seams, but I think it's worth it!

I'm working on the dress today. I had to draft a new pattern. The first try came out pretty close, I was lucky. I hope to have them finished by tomorrow so I can go to the doll show on Saturday without any work hanging over my head.

What next?

Well, I'm back at it! I will try a second time to make my dolls. My mistake last time was choosing the wrong medium for me. I have always worked in cloth, but thought I could just as easily work in resin. Not so! The last attempt just led to misery and lack of fulfillment.

This time I will use my true medium--cloth. I am sculpting heads in oil clay. When they are ready, I will make a plaster mold of the face and use that to make a paperclay mask. I will sculpt a full body in Apoxie Sculpt and use that to make my cloth body pattern. I will hand dye my Kona Cotton in skin shades. The mask will be covered in fabric and then colored with paints and pastels. I will buy ready-made wigs for now. I am still contemplating painted vs glass eyes, but I'm leaning towards painted eyes. My favorite dolls have painted eyes.

I am very excited about this new venture! I hope I can find fans and buyers, lol, but I have faith that if I follow my heart, the rest will come.

I will be making four more outfits for sale, maybe a few more. I want to pay down my credit card before beginning full-time on the dolls.

Dropped Waist Dress

This is the result of a challenge to myself to make a short dress. I had planned to use a slip that I made too short, but since the slip is not dropped waist, I can't use it with this dress anyway! I will sell the slips as is, and for this dress, I will make a checked dimity overdress. It will take shorter than normal pantaloons and a short, dropped waist slip. I don't think I'll finish the new outfit this week, but I'll be able to post the slips on Sunday.

Almost there!

Well, it's been a little while since I updated. Somehow I get behind with my sewing and an outfit drags on for weeks and weeks. Sometimes I get caught up in little details and just fall in love and lose myself. This week I've been dog/house sitting, and I've treated it like an artist's retreat! I've accomplished a lot, and I'll be able to post the new outfit Sunday, tomorrow! Here is a sneak peak: