New clothes for dolls

I made and gave these two dolls to my mother a few months ago, and she made them gorgeous dresses.  They are sisters, with coordinating clothes.  Their names are Clara and Zelma.

Mom's attention to detail in sewing is spectacular.

She sewed perfect grow tucks in everything and added beautiful old lace.

Permelia was jealous, so I had to make her a new dress too.

She is wearing antique baby shoes and striped stockings.

Here's a sweet little Martha Chase doll that I found at an old doll shop in Pasadena several years ago.  Somebody put a wig on him many, many years ago.  The wig is antique, and so is the glue.  I don't think that these dolls were ever sold with wigs, so I think someone just thought he would look good this way.  I will never change him.  I recently found this little jump suit for him.  He loves it.

Sunday Afternoon Doll Making

Mary Elizabeth, formerly painted with acrylics as a brown eyed brunette, has been transformed into an oil painted blond with blue eyes.  I took an oil painting class called "20 Oil Painting Techniques."  It has opened up a whole new world for me.  I learned very simple things, such as how to clean brushes and how to dispose of oil paint waste.  I needed this information to get brave enough to use oils on a regular basis.  Now I can't stop!  I am obsessed with the look of oils.

Vintage rick rack lines the top of her body covering.

I think Mary Elizabeth likes being a blond.

I sculpted her toes from paper clay.

Mary Elizabeth

My experiment doll, Permelia, also got a makeover in oils.  I am interested to see what the final effect will be.  Under the oils, she has an acrylic crackle paint layer.  I oil painted right over the cracks.  I was happy that I could still see some of the crackles.

There is a small, bored rat terrier on the stairs.  I have been ignoring her all morning because I have been doll making.  She is ready for me to put my paints and sewing machine away.

11 inch doll with cloth layered head construction - painted in oils

Work in progress

 2 Blond dolls

Edyth has been inspiring me with her excitement about Queen Anne dolls.  I sculpted this head from paper clay onto a torso that she designed.  

I embedded some paperweight, glass eyes into the paper clay.

So far, she has a single outer layer of oils and one undercoat of burnt umber acrylic.