Dress Making for the Doll

It has been two months since I started making a dress for the doll. It wasn't straightforward, I struggled a lot. My initial plan was to make a one piece dress but as my doll isn't very flexible, to wear it the body had to be dismantled.
So the plan had to be changed to make two pieces. The round collar was the most challenging part of all, in contrast, making knickers was the easiest.
Then search for a sash belt/ribbon took a while. Although the pattern of the ribbon is perfect for my image, the texture is rougher than I expected. Over all it was very slow progress, I wish someone else could make a dresses for my dolls.

Fabric: Liberty Tana Lawn Plain Black

The one piece dress doesn't go below
the shoulder

Wearing knickers.
Vintage ribbon from the USA
East European design?

 
                  T

Make-up and Hair

1. Eyeliner & thin eyebrow

2. Thicker eyebrow &
grey eye shadow

Make-up has to be done before the skin 
colour paint dries. If I change my mind or 
make a mistake, the paint can be used to 
conceal the unwanted lines and colours. 

3. Removed eyebrow &
added lip colour

 4. The wig before ironing

5. Straighten the hair

6. Add cheek colour &
cut fringe carefully

7. Done!

Skin Colour

One sunny afternoon I decided to make the skin colour for the doll. Sunshine is essential for me to make skin colours, because mixing the colours on a cloudy day or under room light tends to create the wrong shade, which often turns out very pink.
I had coated the surface with three layers and then noticed that it was too yellow.

The next day I added a bit of red paint to make a more appropriate colour and layered four more coats. Finally the skin colour was as I wanted and evenly painted.

On the third day, the paint had completely dried and I could connect all the parts with elastic.

It has been a long time since I put the eyes in and since the undercoat covered the eyeballs I had totally forgotten the colour of the eyes until I cleaned it off.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Over the last two months of 2015, I barely touched my dolls. I found sanding the surface very uncomfortable as I didn't have normal strength in my left hand. My doctor told me the reason might be carpal tunnel syndrome or possibly just overuse.

Having a rest for two months made no great improvement, so I decided to continue working very gradually, 30 - 90 minutes per day.

This work included fixing the joints, making the surface smooth, buying fabric for dressmaking and applying Gesso to make the surface completely white, which is now ready for painting the skin colour.

Finished Making the Wig

Putting the wig on to the doll's head with temporary eyebrows drawn with an HB pencil. The wig will be cut to a shorter hair style.

The completion is soon! However I noticed that one of the ball joints is broken. It will take a little longer to finish off the whole body than initially planned.

Last stage of Modelling

Over the last couple of weeks, to prevent cracks from running through the body, I covered the parts with a layer of gauze. And then covered with a mixture of Artista formo + wood adhesive.
The next stage was to sand the entire surface, except for the face, with #120 sandpaper to prepare for the application of the modelling paste.
I used #320 sandpaper on the face for the first time... I wonder why I didn't use fine sandpaper for the faces before. It doesn't destroy the delicate parts around the mouth that I have spent hours making symmetrical.

Anatomy of the Leg

After having made quite a few dolls over the years, I generally no longer feel the need to check human anatomy guide books whilst building. However, with legs I find it impossible to make without reference. Fortunately, as it's getting warmer and more people are exposing their lower limbs, my muscular/skeletal studies are made easier. Please forgive me if you notice me steering at you knees.

Glass Eyes From West Germany?

Having repaired two dolls recently, I went back to continue making one of the dolls I was making last year.
I've chosen these beautiful green eyes for this doll. Last autumn I found this pair of eyes at a doll fair in Kensington High Street, London.
I don't know who made them but it says W. Germany on the case.

eye size : 16mm

Doll's Make-up

Even though there is often a plenty of time to prepare for an exhibition, I always change the colour of the doll's lips, and the thickness and angle of the eyebrows on the doll's face a few times at very last minute. As expected it happened again for the Wandsworth Fringe. I changed the lip colour to coral pink from fusia pink originally this time. I still need to make the dress for this doll, but she has been discharged from my dolls' hospital.

Thank you very much for everyone who came to see my work at Makers Uncovered event as a part of Wandsworth Fringe. It was a great aopportunity for me to introduce how to make ball jointed dolls.

Wandsworth Fringe 2015

As a member of Makerhood Battersea, I will be taking part in the Wandsworth Fringe this month.
I am going to demonstrate doll making from 10am to 5pm at The Old School Club on the 9th of May. I will also be displaying a couple of my dolls, including the one I am currently repairing.
Please come and see doll making in action!

Venue :  The Old School Club
141 Battersea Business Centre,
99-109 Lavender Hill, London SW11 5QL
O2O 7924 2931

The Second Doll To Be Fixed

I have started fixing the next doll, which I tried to finish for the Wandsworth artists' open studio last October.
The hands, ankle joints and the wire running through the head have to be replaced. It should be a smaller job than the last one, unless I start tweaking the doll's face...

The doll's face

This is the new face as a result of the fixing and make-up. Quite different from the original face but I prefer it. (To see the original doll please have a look at my blog page on September 2013). 

The wig hasn't been attached properly.

Flesh Colour

After I finished fixing the rust-affected parts of the doll and coated them with modelling paste, I began the colouring process.
It took me three attemps to recreate my ideal, less pinky version of the original colour.
The fluctuation in the English weather was the cause.

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

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

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!

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.

With vintage ribbons

These ribbons are from Anita's Vintage Fashion Fair at Battersea Art Centre.

 

Hight: 60cm

Hight: 61cm

 

It is difficult to say that these dolls are now completed, but I think it's time to move on to the next one.

Almost finished

I have put some make-up on but am not sure what to do with the hair style and other details...