Thea is done, or is she?

After manipulating most of yesterday and a lot of today, Thea now has legs
and sweet ballet shoes made of satin ribbon wrapped around her dainty enpoint posed feet. It was true manipulation.

James thinks she needs a sash or a ruffle around her neck or a flirty short
poofy skirt. I am pondering this. Further input?

So Far, Let me introduce 'This n That Thea'

She got hair today. I made it out of some white silk finge from a shawl I saved. I figured the white would be interesting since she is clothed in white eyelet.

Then I painted her face, a kind of Lladro scheme, affixed her head to the
body, gave her a hair cut and posed her for her first preliminary portrait.
She's not done yet.

More work tomorrow. Like feet. Ballet slippers? I'll see.

New project coming down the pipeline...

I have plans to make four dolls at a tea party, details will be explained...
also a Hoffman Fabric Challenge doll... also details to be explained.

Each of these dolls needs to be of the highest quality and work(wo)manship,
manipulated to the highest degree. I'm going to be entering them as submissions for a national doll makers association. So...
I needed to practice my 'cloth over clay' technique, which is what it sounds like: cloth glued over a clay sculpted substrate to make the face
appear the best it can be while paying attention to tradition with an all-
cloth doll body.

I had a head I did not use for a yo yo doll series I'd made last year which I saved 'just in case'. So, I got out some trusty yellow percale to try this technique
and I think it's 'ok' for practice and even 'ok' enough to go ahead and use a pair of hands I used as practice and make a new yo yo doll. Here's the
head so far:

The yellow fabric has been painted over with gesso, which when I took these
photos, was not sanded yet. The margins will be cut and tucked to behind
her head. More to follow.

I think I fixed the comments problem

You have been telling me you have made comments and then when you log
back on, they are gone. I hope I fixed the settings so we can all see
your comments.

Just for an update, the doll was very well received in the doll group. I am
happy about that. And... I have five more planned. I have all the fabric
and other supplies, a very good pattern and gonna get started. Oh and I
got a pair of the BEST kind of hemostats. I'll post a picture of them
when I get them. They were shipped out today. They have an offset 45 degree handle and tiny grabbers at the end of an 8" shaft, which only open at the end and only about a quarter inch, so they are perfect for grabbing tiny fingers tips inside a long doll arm. The next five dolls are going to have bare arms, so this should be a very good tool addition.

Talk to you soon and will have pics soon, also.

She's done

Her owl is made, she's riding onward to her quest!

I thank James for his patience and help in making the owl's base and wooden armature. OH! and his washing the chenille multiple times, and listening to me mutter to myself about ruching and other manipulations.

The doll so far. I still need to do her owl...

So here she so far!

I think I like her a lot!

Now onward to her owl!

See you soon....

The push

Today's gonna be a push day to get the doll's coat and trousers done.
The trousers are like fluffy culottes tucked into the tops of the boots. (The boots and gloves came out very cute.) The COAT!!! well.... that should be all arty and embellished with some square abalone shells sewn to it, and sheep's wool, Jacquard work trims and some other kind of vintage furs and leathers to make her resemble her spirit power animal, the owl.

On a bad note, I somehow slammed my thumbnail in the bottom vegetable bin of the fridge and pulled it back in severe pain and hurt the first joint in my thumb.

ouch. ouch. OUCH!!!! I'm suffering for my art, now...