SMockerySmArt's Dolls - my cloth doll making blog

My adventures in cloth doll making started like this: I bought two books: The Book of Doll Making by Alicia Merrett and The Dolls Dressmaker by Venus Dodge. I read both books from cover to cover, tried out some of the techniques, then set to and made the twins. That was just the start. I began this blog, and then I bought Creative Cloth Doll Making by Patti Medaris Culea, adding more techniques and quite a different type of doll to my efforts. Who knows where it will lead?

Friday, 20 February 2009

Getting into the spirit of things

I've been having fun with 'spirit' or 'friendship' type dolls. I've never made these before.

This is the first one I made:

(Click on photo for bigger image)

The Boss says it's HORRIBLE, but I'm quite pleased with it. I like the 'bean-shaped' body - it fits neatly in the hand so it's nice to hold and nice to work on. This one measures about 9 inches. The fabric for the body is printed chiffon needlepunched onto a commercial felted fabric made from recycled synthetic fibres (doesn't that sound better than 'washing up cloth'?), embroidered and embellished with yarn and beads. I sewed a needlesculpted doll's head straight onto the body, so she has a strange humpty back and no neck. I think it adds to her charm!