I have been doing a series of dolls inspired from the beaded hats from Yoruba. This is a combination of ideas. I love making my wool felt pincushions. This is kind of like putting a pincushion on the dolls head. When I think back on it.....I think almost every doll I have every made has a hat on it.

This doll has a red poppy hat. I love fabric that has written words on it.

Close up of the Poppy Hat. Hand made tassels on the necklace.

Dragonfly hat and vintage fabrics from India.

                   Close up of the Dragonfly hat girl. Dragonflies are made with wire and Momi paper.

Here is the finished doll I was working on in my class in Petaluma CA. Alice. I used vintage hankies for her apron.

Alice

One of my sample doll bodies from the Petaluma class was a witch. Here is the finished witch.

Closed up of the Broom Inspector.

                                         Cut a circle and a rectangular panel and cut into a fringe.

                                    Sew a gathering stitch along the straight edge of the flower petal.

                              

                               Pull the gathering stitch tight and secure with a couple of stitches.

                    Start building the flower by adding the gathered petals and stitching them together.

Make sure that the petals are arranged in an even distribution and the colors contrast against each other.

                                                   Place the smaller rounded petals on the inside.

                                                             Gather the fringed rectangle.

                                     Place fringe in the center of the flower and sew to the petals.

 

                                              Gather the circle of felt.  Place a puff of polyfil inside.

                                                         Pull the gathering stitch tight and secure.

Place the felt ball in the center of the flower and sew together.  Take some stitches in the petals to create some wrinkles.  It will take the flower a step further in the interest level.

                               Gather the felt circle. Place a puff of polyfil into the gathered felt circle.

Pull the gathered stitch on the felt circle tight around the stem.  Secure the stitches.  Sew a gathering stitch along the straight line of the outer leaves.

 

 

Wrap the gathered leaves around the flower bud. Pull tight and secure the stitches. Cut three tear drop shaped leaves. These leaves will be glued to the leaves. This will hide the stitches and add extra  interest to the flower bud.

 

 

Add the flowers to the wire headband.  Keep adding  flowers to the headband to the desired composition.  Below is a finished sample of a felt flower headband.

Take a look at one of the Demoiselle DeFleur images previously published to see a finished flower headband.

                               Use three colors in different shades.  Cut the edges in a wavy irregular manner.

Cut 3 inches from the covered stem.

 Fold so that one side is a bit longer. 

Bend so that it will fit the head of your doll.  Curl one side for a tendril,  curl the short side into a tight circle.  The circle of fabric with a puff of polyfill needs something to grab onto.

Petalum Doll Class

Sew the hemline section of the skirt first. The hemline is horizontal to the dolls waist. Fold in half and sew the vertical line. Press the seam open.

Place the lining inside the skirt. You have now hidden the seams in the lining. You should have enough of the lining to slide a border under the hemline if you wish. You can make that choice in class. If you just sew the big tube skirt in advance that will suffice.

It always baffles me when people over complicate how to make a pair of pants. It really is one the simplest thing to make. It is 3 seams. The crotch line seams and the inseam. That's it. This pair of pants has an unusually long crotch line. We will pull the pants up over the cleavage area. So do think about what you would like to have as a tube top as part of the costuming. So the weight of the fabric is key. Stay with light weight fabrics.

                                                      Sew the curved crotch areas first.

Separate the legs and fold in half. Sew the seam. Now you have two legs of the pants. Turn and press.
We will make a decision on whether you will want a ruffle at the knee or a clean finish. So don't worry about the raw edge. We will take care of that when we dress the doll in class. Just sew, turn and press the pants.

Petaluma Doll Class

After sewing and turning the torso, sew a line where indicate. We will open a seam at the side to stuff the torso.  If you want to wait until class to stuff the  torso that will be fine.

I can already hear you say....what the heck on these little "pegs" at the end of the torso. These “pegs” that are at the bottom of the torso will be used to slip the leg over and give us a nice clean and tidy method of attaching legs that could be flexible for the doll to sit. They serve as a kind of hinge.  

 

Petaluma Doll Class

Notch all the curves.  Open the seams and press flat. It is much easier to draw the curved toe shape of the foot if the seams are pressed flat.

Mark a curved shape that would look like how the shoe would look, not how the foot with toes would look. Sew on the line. Trim the excess.

                                                  Turn and stuff very firmly, halfway up.   

Petaluma Doll class

Welcome to my Class. I hope that this blog is helpful as you get your “homework” done for our class in August.

It must be obvious that you would not use black thread to sew your body parts.  I used the black thread because it is easier to see in the photograph. Sew directly on the drawn line. Cut away the excess fabric. Leave an opening at the top of the leg and the toe.

Alabama Chanin projects

 

Here is a close up of the cut work, stitching and beading of the Alabama Chanin skirt.

 

My friend Cindy asked me to finish her Alabama Chanin stitch work skirt. She realized that she just no longer had any time to work on the project. The skirt was taunting her every time she looked at it, and she had to get real and find an alternative way of getting the skirt done.

 

No lie......this took too many hours to count to accomplish. But it sure did turn out great. Cindy was thrilled.

 

I have 4 of the Alabama Chanin stitch work books. They are terrific books, and are available on Amazon.com. I would highly recommend adding these books to your studio library.

Carson Doll Show

Finishing touches are being completed so that I will be ready for the show that my UFDC Doll Club has been planning for Oct. 17th.  Plaza Event Center - 211 South Carson St. 10am to 3pm.  It is sold out on the booth space so it should be a great grouping.

Speak in Absence

 

This new piece is called....Who will speak in my absence.

 

 

 

On an individual basis the artist always hopes that their work will speak for them long after their absence.  On a global scale.....how many voices don't have anyone to speak for them in their absence. My dolls have always had the ingredient of merging cultures with familiar or contemporary aspects. Those elements go into the mixing bowl to create something that reflects a world view that is inclusive.

 

The black and red checkerboard in the skirt is pieced, as the diamonds in the blouse. Halfway through the piecing I began to realize I may have lost my mind. Hats off to all the quilters out there.

 

I made the tiny tassels for the necklace. I also added embellishment with coiled wire and beads to the sari border focal point in the skirt.

Charles and I discovered a wonderful walk by the Carson River in East Carson City. There was a band of wild horses that would congregate.  What a pleasure to go for a walk and see mountains and wild horses. Now I have to go through some of my images to find more of the pictures I have taken. The images of the babies are on the to do list.

             Full color from last year. The only tree like this on my block. Really stunning.

 

The Japanese Maple in front of my house. The raking will commence shortly. Full peak of color is yet to come.

 

The fish tail, the body and arms were sewn and attached separately. Beading on the metallic crinkle fabric was used as embellishment. The brassier top is made from the wool felt, gold trim, metallic crinkle fabric and beads. The back is fashioned in a racing style.....oh so popular and on trend for Mermaids!

Fish, a Sea Horse, jelly fish, star fish and other assorted under the sea items were created with the wool felt. I did a google images search of sea creatures, coral and anything fun and colorful that would add to the composition of the finished Sea Maiden.

I had no idea of how everything was going to fit together....it was a matter of playing with the finished items, arranging and rearranging. Loads of fun!!!!!

 

The Sea Maiden is a piece that was created by special request as a donation for the Salina Community Theater in Salina KS.  The Mermaid sits upon a small treasure chest and an old copy of Anderson's Fairy Tales.  All of the sea items were made from wool felt, beads and wire. Fingers crossed that one of my favorite long time collectors wins this special piece. It was a joy to make.