Little family makeover

When I brought them home, Jenya said that when we were buying the doll house, this family was actually already in the house, but at that point I said I didn't want them because I didn't like the way they looked. It is interesting that they stayed in the store and we found them later and I ended up taking them back to their house.
But it is true - I didn't like the way they looked. The big hair the faded and stained clothes in crazy colors, and the father, according to Jenya, looked like he would be driving a minivan kidnapping little kids - in other words plain creepy.
So I gave them a great makeover, that actually involved shaving their heads - literally  because the mother's hair was so big, I had to shave it down before wigging her. I even performed plastic surgery on the father to shave his huge cheek bones down before hiding is crazy little teeth behind a mustache and a beard.
They are pretty happy with the way the look now, and so am I. I shopped around for another doll family and non of them looked the way I wanted them to, but these three are it!
I came up with some random names for them too.

Antiquing with mom

My mommy is notorious for getting me to go shopping with her, and I am always up for that! She always encourages me by getting me things I really want, and who could say no to that?! Not this girl! Plus it is always so much fun to hang out with her!
This Saturday after church we stopped by an antique mall. This place is huge and filled with unending treasures of the past. This is the place my doll house came from. Now in this same place we found a family of dolls to happily reside in my not-so-finished-yet house. They need some pampering, may be some hair and new clothes would help, but I am excited to have them there - now there is someone to do all the light and shingles installing. Haha!
We also found a true treasure - a pair of dolls in traditional Russian costumes made in the 60s. These dolls probably came from Russia, because it is just hard to imagine that during 60s something like that would be made in the US. They also went home with me.
I will need to give a tour of the doll house some day to show some of the progress I have made, there is not much, but I will share as soon as I get to it.

Done! - polymer clay doll

I started this little doll almost a month ago. I made the head in one day with wigging and everything, but then got stuck on the body. Every time I make a new doll, I change the way I make it to work out a pattern that I truly like - I experiment in a way. I think this one is really close, just a couple of little alterations next time and it will hit the spot. This little girl is stunning to me, though  Every time I make a doll I am amazed that I was actually capable of producing something with a face expression, character, and its own life, where does it come from - me?
I came up with a perfect way of making a cloth body and clay arms, legs, and head to where the head actually turns, arms are double jointed and freely go up and down, and the doll is durable enough to play with even by a kid (to a certain extent of course, I wouldn't give her to a toddler)! I am so excited.
The reason it took me some time to get it done is because I ran into a problem - a fabric problem. I initially was planning to make the body out of muslin or cotton but neither worked well as it frays so easily and I just am not good enough to work with that kind of material for as detailed of a project as this little girl. So I ended up using felt and hand sewn it, like I did my bears before and it is absolutely perfect, soft, durable and still thin enough to resemble skin - good deal! So here she is, I don't know the name yet, but she already has a polar bear hat that I crocheted for her (without a pattern, haha, I am growing in my skills!) to match her polar bear pet that only has a head so far.

I already have ideas as to her outfit and these are the materials that I am planning on using - the polka-dot fabric and lace trim is from my grandmas stash!

Two little heads

The little project that I was talking about earlier today is my new doll. It has been a while since I made a doll, or a bear for that matter, but for some reason I got inspired and decided to try and make a little girl. I only made few dolls in my life and I am still looking for my style, I think I am moving in the right direction now. I always used polymer clay and viscose for hair. I've made cloth and clay, clay only, I used yarn for hair as well, I drew my own eyes and used glass eyes. I seem to like cloth body and clay head, arms and legs. The hair and the eyes are still an experimental venue for me. I also want to try different clay medias like paper clay.
But back to my new work in progress... This girl has some amazing hair! I spent hours wigging her and it is worth it! It is soft and natural and it stays on her head, and even can be combed! I made the base for the wig out of cloth and then glued it on her head and it turned out perfect! When I will be making my next doll I will be sure to make a wigging tutorial. She is going to be wearing some warm clothes as she has a baby polar bear for a pet and as we all know those creatures don't live in hot climates. I made the bear head while the doll was drying or baking and I used the kit I purchased long time ago. It is not easy to make a tiny bear like that, but I am learning to incorporate needle felting in bear making and this is something I wanted to do for a long time.

I will be sure to show the final product. This little duo has been such a pleasure to make so far! But there is much more to be done! For now I have to go back to bed and be sick, as I get tired very fast.
What exciting projects are you guys up to?

Dolls

From time to time I try my skills at doll making. It is hard! But very rewarding! For the most part I tried polymer clay and fabric. I like the idea of soft body, but clay gives an opportunity to make face arms and legs exactly how I want them. Every doll I make is precious to me, it is hard to not like what took you so long to make...
Masha

 Elka

 Elisa

They are oh so different and it is clearly because I am still in search for a perfect material and style for me. I actually have another head waiting to be wigged and to get a body, but I don't feel inspired just yet.  I also tried a new doll medium for myself - fabric. the first prototype did not come out as I wanted it to, so we'll see how it'll go from there... I will be honest, it is discouraging when you try something and it does not exactly come out the way you want it to. So some things end up just laying there, but I get back to them sooner or later and finish them anyways, so all me dolls get a body and some hair. :)