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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 19, 2019 16:04:47 GMT
It has been suggested that I start a thread just for the dolls that I make. Being a very self indulgent sort of girl I have jumped on the idea. So on the bright side, people can avoid my needy 'SHOW AND TELL' posts if they so wish...because it will be this one (the title came from Questa!x) So...April 2018 I was sorting through my book case for things to take to the charity shop when I came across some of my Mother's sewing books...one of them was full of soft toy patterns including a doll. Or two. My mother was a superb and talented needlewoman although it's not something that we ever shared really. Anyway, for some reason I decided to have a go at making a doll using the book and quite enjoyed making it. I followed the pattern to make the doll, altho I decided to go my own way when it came to the clothes and face. This is the doll I ended up with I was quite chuffed, but thought that I needed to learn more so I sent for a book about cloth doll making by Jan Horrox, I followed the instructions and made 2 more dolls. I learned a lot from this book. I still use her method for making hands altho I've change the pattern because I wanted to develop my own, especially the heads. My sisters loved the above dolls and took them home with them. Using my new patterns I made my first Punk Rocker dolly...I was still learning so I experimented with fur fabric for hair and a needle sculpting method I found on Pinterest for the face. I heard that one of the local galleries was holding an open exhibition for local amateur and professional artists. When I took the new doll along they accepted her on the spot and much to my surprise they sold her quite quickly (all exhibits had to be for sale). When I went into the Gallery the owner suggested that I take in a couple more dolls for them to sell for me. (The Gallery takes a small commission) tbc....
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 19, 2019 16:27:18 GMT
Soooooo Learning as I went I made a few more dolls. Each time I changed the pattern slightly and because I hand sew everything each one is slightly different. M sewing has got faster, but not necessarily any neater. I experimented with fabrics for the doll body too...and found a market stall and shops where they were happy to sell me scraps and offcuts of material to feed my obssession. Another punk I kept the blonde doll because I like her..the knight was pinched by another sister! Called this one 'Fairy Godmother' and took her to the gallery, she sold They accepted a Jester as well, but I took him back because I thought his face was all wrong, here he is in the gallery window Then I made one for our Great Niece Maisy Next I made Walter, a WW1 soldior. He sold quite quickly Morris Dancer..he sold too (to a Morris Dancer's wife accoding to the galler owner) Peggy Punk sold, Alice suffregette is still in the gallery atm Agnes (WW1 Nurse) and Albert (anotherWW1 soldier) are still at the gallery I think
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 19, 2019 16:44:37 GMT
I thought I'd make a doll inspired by the artist Grayson Perry, called her 'Occasionally Claire' She/he sold really quickly Bramwell. Brought him home too... Another Claire. Sold Then I made a Frida Kahlo doll...he remains at the gallery and hasn't sold yet, altho here has been interest another Claire...sold Little Richard III. Sold last week 4th Claire...sold within an hour of me taking it into the gallery! I'm making a Jimmi Hendrix doll atm and have plans to make a David Bowie...there will be more Claire-like dolls I spose because the gallery loves them.
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Post by fumobici on May 19, 2019 17:42:48 GMT
You are both talented and prolific!
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Post by bjd on May 19, 2019 17:59:27 GMT
I'm impressed by your imagination and your creativity.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 20, 2019 5:06:06 GMT
I am fascinated that Claire sells so fast, because I find most of the others a lot more interesting. It's a good thing that it takes all kinds!
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Post by mossie on May 20, 2019 8:51:17 GMT
Great work Cheery, keep it up. My mother would have loved to meet you, she did that sort of thing for the WI.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 20, 2019 16:12:55 GMT
Love seeing all your creations in sequence like this. You are endlessly creative and talented. I can't believe that Nurse Agnes and Frida have not been snapped up yet.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 20, 2019 16:42:37 GMT
Thank you for your nice comments. I'm thrilled to bits that any sell tbh! ...I think that the Claire dolls are quite whacky...it doesnt come across well in a photograph but they have lots of layers, from frilly bloomers to sculpted fabric adornments on their clothing, hidden pops of colour...next time I make one I'll post a step by step...I think that's why they sell so quickly.
I'm making another one when I finish the Jimi Hendrix one...unless I make a Ziggy Stardust one first....
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Post by questa on May 21, 2019 13:17:07 GMT
I am imagining the scene when you walk into your favourite fabrics shop. The manager gets you a chair and a cup of tea while the junior staff run and hide.
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Post by onlyMark on May 21, 2019 13:48:28 GMT
Cheery, excellent stuff. Just to say, this is my local fabric shop, or at least the photo shows maybe 20% of it -
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 21, 2019 14:05:45 GMT
Questa...I think that they probably DO run and hide when I've finished foraging in the scraps bin I go round the shop picking bolts of cloth but never buy more than a metre of anything! Mark...oh my... Drooling here...its not attractive in an old lady you know... My biggest problem with patterned material is finding a small enough pattern...I guess your shop could probably accommodate me . African cotton can be difficult to work with as it's so thick...altho the patterns are GORGEOUS
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Post by onlyMark on May 21, 2019 15:00:57 GMT
You do easily get thinner cotton, mainly because it is obviously cheaper to produce. The patterns in the shop are African, Indian and actually many, many types from other places.
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Post by kerouac2 on May 21, 2019 20:59:52 GMT
There are a lot of African fabric shops in my neighbourhood, but just about all of the fabrics are actually made in Germany and the Netherlands.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 21, 2019 21:57:22 GMT
That is one of the features I love about your dolls, Cheery ~ that everything is in such perfect proportion. I've seen dolls which were basically ruined because the clothing, albeit beautifully sewn, is stiff and bulky because the fabric didn't translate to a doll's small size.
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Post by questa on May 21, 2019 23:15:28 GMT
Do you have any Vietnamese/Chinese fabric shops not too far from home? They use lots of fine and colourful materials and carry amazing amounts of stock compared to the non-Asian shops. Over here they trade from warehouses not shops and carry lots of glittery and shiny stuff as well as brocades and laces. Stepping into these places is like Mark's photo, but you are surrounded by the upright swirling bolts of fabrics. It is easy to get lost.
Mark, I love your pic, I wish us ordinary ozzies could wear such colours. Nup...blue jeans and grey or black T-shirts!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 26, 2019 11:01:53 GMT
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Post by questa on May 26, 2019 13:11:42 GMT
Cheery, your Jimi is perfect right down to his sad, soulful eyes.I can almost hear his guitar wailing or whispering...did you listen to his music as you made him? That guitar looks very accurate (not that I would know). you must feel very satisfied when you finish your small people.
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Post by bixaorellana on May 26, 2019 19:00:11 GMT
Oh, Cheery! I would say you've done it again, except that I think you have outdone yourself again. Wow!
Jimi is brilliant in every way, and that face -- beyond perfection!
The moment I saw the other guy I thought "George", because the faraway look and the third eye made me think of George Harrison, although I love the way you've dressed him so it could be any number of real or imaginary rock figures.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 26, 2019 19:07:33 GMT
I was a bit young to enjoy Jimi's music in the 60s, and I dont know much about him. I did like a few tracks when I was a teenager (I was more of a Pink Floyd, Genesis, James Taylor, Cat Stevens etc..) I was always attracted to his beauty, his style and the tragedy/romance surrounding him. Jeff is 5 years older than me and he loved Hendrix. I didnt even likeDavid Bowie initially...I thought his voice was awful...it was only much later that I started to like some of his music...again I am attracted to his glamour...deep down I'm a very shallow person.
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Post by mossie on May 26, 2019 20:29:09 GMT
I can’t add to Bixa’s praise, but you are areal artist. I love your choice of materials to dress the different characters.
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Post by mickthecactus on May 27, 2019 8:44:54 GMT
They are amazing Cheery. How clever are you?!
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Post by kerouac2 on May 27, 2019 18:17:52 GMT
You just make us want to see more and more, and you obviously do not lack ideas. don't forget to eat and have a cup of tea from time to time -- and then get back to work!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 27, 2019 21:46:33 GMT
Thank you for your encouragement you are all very kind. I'm enjoying playing with fabric. I think that my Mum would have approved.
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Post by questa on May 28, 2019 0:36:42 GMT
I can imagine your Mum looking over your shoulder and bragging to her Heavenly friends,"See, she's got my genes all right.Look at how she chooses her fabrics...I taught her everything she knows, I did...well, maybe she does these dolls better than I could, but I was pretty good as well. I'm so proud of her".
(Why is your Mum talking in an Aussie accent, Cheery?)
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Post by kerouac2 on May 28, 2019 11:20:42 GMT
I feel that a Dr. Who collection is on the way, probably starting with the Ponds.
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Post by questa on May 28, 2019 13:47:20 GMT
No way! Gotta start with Tom Baker as the Doctor.
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Post by mich64 on May 28, 2019 18:25:07 GMT
What lovely talent you have Cheery! They just get better and better. I think the Jimi doll is fabulous.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 30, 2019 18:59:44 GMT
Kerouac I did think of doing a few Doctors but I dont think that I'd be allowed to sell them... Questa unfortunately my mum is much more likely to be pointing out my shortcomings bless..thank you for the lovely things that you have said medears. You are all very kind xxx We took Jimi and Ziggy to the gallery yesterday.
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Post by onlyMark on May 30, 2019 19:09:13 GMT
You could do themes like Star Trek or Game of Thrones or Harry Potter and so on. I'm sure you're not short of ideas though as I suppose some form of copyright or whatever the laws are about souvenir type stuff. Great women from history?
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