Repairing the Rusty Dolls

I imagined it was going to be just a little face lift.

But, to repair the neck, I have to paint whole head anyway, so I thought I might as well improve the details. Eyelids, forehead, cheeks, mouth, jaw line... The position of the eye balls, ears and the nose remain same but it is difficult to remember how it looked before the operation.

Dolls Hospital

About three years ago, when I restarted doll making, I went to a hardware shop to buy stainless steel wire for joint making and the cores for the fingers of the dolls. Unfortunately despite my specific request that wire wasn't stainless steel. And as a result, it rusted. All the wrists, the ankles, the necks (or the heads) and fingers of all the dolls that I made with that wire must be repaired. 
To find the stainless steel wire is the essential task of the repairing but I found it very difficult. After visiting some hardware shops and a few hours of Internet research I found Surrey Stainless Steel ltd. in Croydon! They are very helpful, I finally got steel steel rod (1.6mm diameter) so that I can now start repairing.

I must make four pairs of hands...

Surrey Stainless Steel Ltd.   Unit 5/Stirling Way, Croydon CR0 4XN, U.K.    020 8684 9596

Liberty Print Knickers (Baby Rainbow & Midnight)

Here are a couple of new Liberty Print knickers. Twenty different patterns are displayed this weekend as a part of Wandsworth Artists' Open House.

Baby rainbow   size:12

Midnight   size:12

Last Night Before the Artists Open House

Last night I started very last minute changes to some details of the doll's face. It has been challenging (in a good way) before the show. Originally I had planned vermilion and green to be the colour palette for this doll, but through the process the doll chose pink and purple...

Clotheswise I've only managed to make the doll's knickers so far. The upper half will be naked this week.

Wandsworth Artists' Open House

Venue : Unit 141 Battersea Business Centre, 99-109 Lavender Hill, London SW11

Open : 11am - 6pm

Date : 4-5 October and 11-12 October

Sanding and Wig Making

40 hours of sanding for one doll...

 

30 hours for one wig...

 

 

Ready for Foundation Coating

After the long process of shaping the body parts to a satisfactory level, I then apply a few coats of modeling paste diluted with water as a foundation. 

I will be participating in the Wandsworth Artists' Open House early in October. I still have a lot to do to finish by then!

Drying in the garden

Liberty Print Knickers (Osborne's)

I chose Osborne's (B) for my first pair of knickers to be made using this year' s Autumn/Winter collection from Liberty.
It's very autumnal here in London...

The size of this pair : Medium (UK size 12)

Final Modelling Stage

To avoid any cracks appearing on the surface I cover the body with gauze. I then apply a mixture of Artista Formo and wood glue over the gauze. This is the last chance to get the body shape right.

with gauze

covered with Artista Formo & wood glue

Ball Joint Development

After making the ball joints and their receptors on ankles, knees, thighs, wrists, elbows, sholders and neck, I temporarily connected all the parts with elastic to check the balance.

Inside the head

Glass Eyes

Having finished the basic modelling, I can now place the glass eyes (14mm that I have outsourced) into the head to help refine the facial details.

Liberty print dress (Gleeson)

I made a summer dress for myself with my favourite Liberty print of this season.
The pattern is from 'home couture' by Machiko Kayaki.

Makegood festival

I will be exhibiting one of my dolls as part of The Old School Club's display at the Makegood festival of culture, creativity and entrepreneurship.
  Old Selfridges Hotel, London
  30th May - 1st June

hight : 36cm

Ball joint

I have been working on the muscular -skeletal structure and the ball joints around the torso. Still loads to do.
Very happy that it stands by itself without any support!

The old school club in Battersea

I started renting the working space in the old school club at Battersea business centre from this month. This is far more productive than working from home!

Started modelling

At this stage just putting modelling mixture onto the polyethylene without thinking too much about the muscular-skeletal structure.
Thickness of this layer so far about 2mm.

Modeling Mixture
(Sawdust, CMC, Artista Formo and Wood glue)

Foundations of hands and feet.

Making the core shapes of the dolls

Cutting the polystyrene blocks to make the core shapes. This is my least favourite process purely because of static electricity.
I might as well make two dolls.

Starting to make a new doll

Although I haven't finished the previous doll, I feel like making a new one. This is a basic drawing of its proportion. It is going to be 60cm tall.