zippypops

clay is not an easy friend!

I've been toiling away and have re-done the clay doll's head twice, but I think I've finally had a break through. (I am to shy to post photos yet, still more work needed) I flipped through some doll books in an attempt to remind myself what I respond to — a more stylized head.
inspiration...

all of this happy work is accompanied by one of my favorite composers, Yann Tiersen, who has a new album out. I snapped it right up, it's lovely. you can listen to a couple of the tracks here.

not easy

well....

this is definitely out of my comfort zone!

I want a more stylized head, but the damn art school training keeps kicking in!
I am just going to put it away and come back to it tomorrow.

besides, every 10 minutes someone needs something or wants something or is having a meltdown over homework .... (now I hear tears in the next room)

more inspiration

on a quest for a new doll I googled "mohair ny" (hoping to find a local supplier) and LOOK at what I found!
http://www.whendisbears.com/

 

absolutely beautiful work by Wendy Meagher who lives in Constantia, NY
I loves it!

(I hope she doesn't mind me posting the photo... it's from her site)

inspiration

little did I know that E.J. Taylor of yesterday's library book was THIS guy...







http://www.ejtaylor.com/

I knew the work, didn't recognize the name!

he recommends using Sculpy. I picked up a package today and am really excited to give it a try! there is so many different types of modeling materials available that I had never heard of before, (paper clay, air drying ceramic-type clay, etc) but Sculpy seems very good because it won't hardened until you bake it in your oven.

to do list

borrowed this from the library....

"Dollmaking" by E.J. Taylor, one of the best doll making books I've seen.
Instructions and explanations, not patterns, for assorted rag, paper, stocking, papier-mache, clay, and wax dolls. beautiful photos! it seems to be out of print, but there are several used copies available on amazon.

I have 4 more of my regular dolls that need finishing, after that I want to try the clay doll, using a fimo or similar type material... I'll have to do a bit of research. any suggestions?

additions

THREE ebay dolls arrived in the mail last weeks. yippee!

I like how the girls are all "don't look now, but I think he just TOOTED!"

I call him Harold

the young gent for whom Harold is intended has decided that he prefers bald! and who am I, Patrick Stewart worshiper that I am, to argue? Harold is rather jaunty, no? I am going to make him a cap, and of course he still needs shoes. I solved the whole buttonhole dilemma with the easiest solution of all... snaps! but not the cheap, wobbly sewn on kind; but the nice, sturdy indestructible punched in kind!

I just can not get the lighting in my little sewing room right. (top with flash, bottom without flash).

once he is fully complete, I will set up the seamless and spotlights for a proper photo shoot. right now I am too tired. that's what exercise will do to you, or so I'm told.

procrastination ends tomorrow!

I am making progress on my lil boy doll, but the looming threat of hand sewn button holes is leaving me paralyzed with fear. another thing holding me up is that I want to make long satin stitches with the yarn for the short hairs around the ear and at the base of the head. one of my vintage dolls has that type of hair application, but I've never tried it before. also, this is the shirt pattern I am working from...
?????

I'm off to watch "Felicia's Journey." I just finished the book... I am on a William Trevor kick right now.

no fooling...

the temperature rose above freezing today to a balmy 60F!
nice.

a new little one (long live ebay!) to add to my collection...
I fixed the two ripped arm seams, and restrung her floppy arms and legs, and gave her an old baby dress of mine. pretty girl!

etsy update!

I busted out the seamless and the spotlights and re-shot the remaining dolls and added one new one. in honor of Bobby's birthday I let him name her (Nora). I am also working on a boy doll... and am kind of fretting on how I am going to do the hair, so I've been procrastinating. I should just get on with it!