Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Embroidered Dolls

I've been communicating with Ana, my wonderful new dollmaking friend in London. If you love doll blogs you must check hers out. Her list of dollmaking links is exactly what mine would be if I had a list! Click here to visit her blog. Anyway, we've been talking about embroidered doll faces so I thought I'd share some of the dolls I've done this way. (For a closer view click on photos)
Here's Anne Elliot (I have an Austen thing going with some of my dolls) and little Bettina in brown. (Thank you, Judi Ward for the small doll pattern!) They're both made basically the same way. I sewed the skin fabric to the dress fabric before I cut out thier bodies. Then I just took some more dress fabric and gathered it round and sewed it on to make a skirt. I'm not a good seamstress and hate following patterns so this is how I get around it.

Here's a close up of their faces. Anne was the first doll face I ever embroidered and I like her wistful look very much. I love Bettina too. The blush on their cheeks is from Rembrandt chalk pastels. I've stained enough clothes with those things, I figured it would last on their faces.

To the left is a little doll in pink I made for a little friend's birthday yesterday. I think I tried too hard with her face and I'm not too crazy about it. She looks too sophisticated or something. It seems the harder I try the less I like the results. If I just wing it without caring too much about the results things seem to work out better! I'm sure this will all improve with experience. Anyway, she has painted ballet shoes. She's made from the same pattern as Bettina.

Below her is a gaggle of cuddly wool-stuffed velour gnomes I made for a Christmas sale last year. They are made in the Waldorf doll tradition with little noses, simple faces and pointed hats. They're very sweet. Sorry the photo is so dark.

9 comments:

Ana said...

your dolls are lovely. you paint with thread! I wish that I could do that mine are very basic in comparison. I love Jane Austen and I am in the process of trying to make some dolls in that theme. Anne Elliot is a fantastic name. the chalk also works well it is subtle. Fantastic, anyone would think that you had making embroidered faces for years!!

Mary said...

These are amazing, Angie. I've so enjoyed watching you create these dolls and seeing how utterly unique each one is from another.

Beautiful work!

country mouse said...

I love them all--but especially the little velour babies : )

Jenny said...

Hi Angie, I'm coming to you through a comment you left at Isabella in the 21st century although I think you may have visited my blog before. It seems from the little I have seen that we share many interests including doll making. I'm off to have a good look around Bye.

Gumbo Lily said...

Angie,
These dolls are really great! My daughter started a soft doll years ago (I bought her the kit) and she never finished it, but she did get the body and face done and the face reminds me of "Jane." I think I'll finish it up one day and give it to her for Christmas or something. Thanks for the inspiration to complete the doll.
Looking forward to seeing more of your creations.
Jody

Ben Stables said...

Wow, I love those dolls, I'm not really a Dolly Person but you are so talented, Sometimes, I use Acrylic Paint on faces for my Madels, For use in Stop-Motion Animation. Do you think this is Un-Wise

Comment back please, I added you to my Favorite Craft Blogs List!

www.the-listening-tree.blogspot.com

-Ben

Ben Stables said...

Thnkyou you too are an inspiration to me, Isn't it wonderful how we creators find insoiration from each other...I showed by little Stots (Stot is the Name off my Creations, A Family Name) to your Blog and they want to meet all of your little Creations and now they want aseat like your Embroidered dolls sit on...:-)

-Ben

Ben Stables said...

and Could you show the fairy houses your children made, I love such things!

Bettina Makley, aka Fairywebmother. said...

Very nice work! I love Bettina! I wonder if she pronounces it the same way I do? Mine is pronounced with a long "i" sound and sort-of rhymes with Carolina. My grandmother read it in a book...and mispronounced it. :) She named my Aunt and I was named after her.

Great blog!