Doll Making Demonstration

I'm making a video of a doll making demonstration. This was day three but it's getting windy so I'll have to continue on another day. So this video is part one. Hope you enjoy it.

Scary Clown Doll

Yesterday I finished my ugly clown doll except for figuring out some way to put a label on it. I like the vintage green pompom trim I used on the body suit.  I got that at a thrift store when I was visiting my daughter in Atascadero. I feel good putting these abandoned bits of trim to use.

Then at an SCA rapier tourney on Sat. I took a 'how to make a fabric button' class.  I used my button as one of the eyes (the black one). I love the flower buttons on the hat and body.  I got those at Beverly's fabrics in SLO in a bag of mixed buttons. I'm working on a Vlog for Youtube of the doll making from yesterday. Maybe it will help someone make their own doll.

Clowny Ugly Doll

I have a love hate relationship with clowns and clowning, and I used to be one. Clowns can be a snarky bunch. Kids can be mean to clowns.  Maybe I'm channeling my inner clown angst, because my current doll really really wanted to be a clown. Far be it from me to ignore what a doll insists it wants to be. This photo shows how far I got yesterday. Then today I didn't feel like working on dolls at all.  I think I'll take a nap and then see how I feel.  Maybe I'll work on it tonight while the opening for the Olympics is on.

Primitive Style Art Doll

It was very hard for me to make an ugly doll on purpose.  At the same time it was very cathartic. I kept thinking how hard life is, how we all get beat up, how we earn scars, how we are often blinded to the truth. Each stitch reminded me of the slings and arrows of misfortune that scar us. I kept finding myself wanting to 'pretty' the doll up. Right now I have on leg warmer left to knit and some sort of neck trim to sew on and maybe a bracelet and then I'll be done.

People walking by would see me, then see the doll then look back and me and I couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking.

I am torn between naming the doll San Luis Obispo Sue or Beverly after the store all her parts came from.

Dammit Dolls Done

I just finished the first three Dammit Dolls.

These Dolls are Whack

I had to escape from my apt. today so I went to the library and worked on Dammit Dolls. Sometimes they are called 'whack dolls', because you whack them on things when you need to express some pent up hostilities. Then when I got home I stuffed them. Next I'll figure out the hair and eyes. Since these are going to be smacked around, I'm not going to add anything fragile.

In doing the research some commenters said that they didn't want to hurt the doll's feelings by smacking it on things. The doll doesn't mind if it can heal you from stress related diseases. The doll knows you really love it no matter what.

If you think you might want to buy one of these when I'm done, and you have a favorite color in mind, let me know and I'll try to get your favorite color into my Etsy shop. These 3 were sewn by hand because I didn't exactly have a sewing machine at the library. But future ones will be done on the machine because I think it's more durable and faster to make.

Archery Shoot

Fog on Sunday morning.

Woven dolls

striped doll

This one sold right away.

Muddy road on Thursday.

The smoke is from my friend's wood burning stovepipe.

On the last day of the archery shoot in the last few hours, I hung up some of my new woven dolls and sold the red orange one right away.