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.

Two More Woven Dolls

A mint green doll and an orange and green doll just joined my doll family. Soon I will explore making faces for them.

Doll Making Runs in My Family

A random post I saw on the Internet reminded me that my Granny Flippin used to make dolls from dish soap bottles. For a time I owned one. But with many moves, I'm sure it got tossed at some point (not necessarily by me). She used to make them and sell them to friends.  I remember mine has a pale blue gingham dress and a pre-made doll's head with blond hair and felt feet. She wore little granny glasses. My grandmother also did crocheted afghans. I didn't really get to know her until she was already elderly. She had 9 kids and my mom had five kids so I don't even know if my grandmother new who I was. Maybe I should try to make a few dolls with soap bottles to carry on the family legacy of folk art.

Red Headed Wire Gourd Doll

I found the photo of the redheaded doll. The face is a gourd, the body is wire, the hair is wool roving I dyed, and the headdress is a crocheted star. I haven't seen this doll in several years. I never sold it, so it's around here hidden in a bin somewhere. She's a one of a kind doll. I had her listed on Etsy for awhile, but then I lost track of her and had to take the listing down.

Bottle Gourds

When my boyfriend asked if I wanted to go to the gourd farm today of course I said yes.  I soon realized I'd get to buy more bottle gourds to make dolls out of, since the bottle gourds are the perfect shape.  I like the ones that aren't symmetrical, because the bends and leans make the dolls look more animated.  Since a lot of gourd artists look for the perfect symmetrical shape, that leaves everything else for me! And when bottle gourds are 70% off, that's a great savings. I got tiny, medium, large and extra large bottle gourds so I can make doll families. I just bought my self a whole lot of work.  In the heavy rains the gourds are quite muddy and will have to be scrubbed.

Fairy Doll Dioramas

I'm gathering together some of my older photos of dolls I've made in the past. I keep finding things that I've forgotten existed. When I do I have to post them here right away before I forget again.

Two Fairy Art Dolls by Fayme Harper

Fairy Doll With A Basket

Fairy With Pear

Fairy With Basket

I believe I gave these all away as gifts. I wonder if anyone still has them. As I recall the dolls were removable so you could pose them in different ways. Click on the photos for bigger views.

First Post

I can't believe I've never started an Art Doll blog. I made the first one about the time I was in Jr. High School probably. I didn't get far. As I recall I found her years later and she never did have any arms.

I guess I haven't needed a whole blog just for art dolls because the apple head dolls and the gourd dolls and the beaded dolls have their own blogs respectively.

But now I want to share spirit dolls, prim dolls and other art dolls. I've been collecting doll making books for years, but because dolls are so labor intensive, and sometimes confusing to figure out, many of my dolls never got finished.  Sometimes the doll is done but not the clothes, or the clothes are done and don't quite fit right.

At any rate, I thought it was high time the dolls got their own realm.

Here is  link to an article I wrote on art dolls. http://hubpages.com/hub/Make_an_art_doll