Maisey, Heart Art Doll

Hi.   I'm Maisey.  Fifth in the Heart Art Doll Practice sessions.    I almost didn't come about being today when it was discovered the Current Channel on TV was  having an 'This American Life' Telethon.  But, in the end, it was set up to DVR to watch in installments.     And, here I am.

Let me tell you, it was no easy feat.  First off, although the instructions do not specifically say this, only lightweight cottons should be considered in my attire.  But, I started with a dress of medium weight cotton (seriously, one could upholster a chair with this stuff), and then to add insult to injury, a vest was added, front and back.  Now, mind, you, I know this is a semi-stylish outfit, but, my neck size is about 1" across with the opening at the top, so all that fabric from these linebacker shoulders and squared off behind, had to squeeze through my tiny neck.   That what I mean about the injury.  I was poked with pencil erasers, tugged with safety pins, and at one point, SHE even had may head clasped in her teeth while she tugged at my bottom quarters!.   I was bruised and battered and had to be steamed to get the wrinkles out.    Now, I know you think I'm exaggerating here, but LOOK AT ME.   My mouth was stretched from the petite little heart of my sisters, to these huge, tribal lips.   And, my sexy almond eyes are now flying disks.   It's almost more than I can bear.  

Tams, Heart Art Doll

Hi, I'm Tams.   I'm fourth in the Heart Art Shelf Sitter Doll practice.    And, if I can say so myself, I'm looking pretty good !

What do you think of my outfit?   Some may comment on overuse of black and orange in my wardrobe.  I could come up with some great lines .... like I bleed black and orange for my favorite team, or I'm always prepared for Halloween, but the truth is, orange matches my hair nicely and I've heard that black is very slimming.

I was placed on the table this afternoon for review and evaluation and it was suggested that my head was slightly crooked.   OMG, how cruel these humans can be !  

P.s. :  It has been decided that my (and that of my future sisters) perfect weighting factor is one and a half cups of plastic pellets.  AND, if  my sisters are going to be as overstuffed as I am (we are not calling it a weight problem), that corresponding thread must be used!

Thanks for dropping by,
Tams

More Work on the Dollies

 Presenting my second and third practice dollies. 

Now are those faces only a Mother could love, or what?  These two went better than the first.  (Isn't that the way it goes however ... with practice, they get better).    These are from the same pattern instruction set as the first .... Hearts and Bows from Divas Cloth Doll Creations.     Improvements from my first doll ..
It takes 1 1/2 cups of the plastic pellets for the bottom to support the upper weight.   When stuffing the doll, you have to hold her upright or the plastic pellets rearrange themselves up these sides and thus, make her a leaning, or on her side, doll. 
It takes at least 3 times more stuffing to fill her solid than I would have expected. 

I'm going to make a couple more.   This is a good, basic doll, for practice.   By this, I mean that the body itself takes little time to put together, allowing one to work on design of the doll features and accessories themselves.    AND, I definitely need some practice on those faces !

I'll be starting a couple more this afternoon.

Diva Cloth Doll - Hearts & Bows

I selected the next Craft Pattern to experiment with.   It is Diva Cloth Doll Creations - Hearts & Bows .....

 

This is a simple two piece pattern, the body and the head.   You sew the head to the body and then sew the front and back pieces together leaving a very small 1 1/2" hole at the top to turn inside out, and some weighting crystals, stuff, etc.    There are directions for the pillow looking piece, but nothing mentioned about the piece that appears to be a wall hanging .. like what to attach to her to hang, what the bottom piece is, or how to attach.   I give the instructions a straight C - adequate, but plenty of room for improvement.   

The instructions indicated to put it all together and then adorn.   I thought it might be better to sew on some designs first, but understand now why that is done over the fact ... it simply increased the bulk to fit through the small opening.  

The face is added using sharpies, pencils, or whatever you want.  The hair is made from strips of fabric, which you get damp and wrap around a pencil.  Then, slip off and dry in the microwave.   It's then glued to the head and a bow added.    I don't know how long this would hold the curl with the humidity level. 

I didn't do much adornment as I considered this a first attempt a learning experiment ... which it was.   I cut out two more and I'll practice some more tomorrow.  I'll definitely stay stitch the head opening, double stitch all the seams (she has neck issues; kind of like Frankenstein) and try adding liquid starch to the hair curls.   

So ... Drum Roll Please .... 

I know, I know ... a raving beauty she's not.  

Thanks for dropping by, 

Lorrie