Gourd Doll With Pyrography

Happy Leap Day. I've been working on a new gourd doll. I'm enjoying it but it's wearing out my right hand. The wood burning tool is like drawing with a very heavy pencil with a cord on it. After three days of burning whenever time allowed, I think I'm 98% done.

Art Doll Ideas

Last night I was cruising around Flickr and found these cool art dolls here: Art Doll. It got me thinking about art dolls all over again. I'm fascinated with the concept of making art dolls out of things I already have in my stash of found objects and craft supplies. It's a great way to upcycle all kinds of fabric scraps, clothing, tinsel, glitter, beads, ornaments, broken jewelry, gourds, balls, and all kinds of other things. You just have to keep an open mind. If one thing doesn't work, try another and another.

Here's a video on making an art doll: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTJZ34vIqN8 I should make my own videos some time.
Primitive Folk Art Dolls: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTJZ34vIqN8

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.

Gourd Art Doll with Green Cape

I made this gourd art doll a few years ago. Her hair is natural colored wool roving. Her body is made of wire. I crocheted her cloak.  Each gourd doll is one of a kind. Some day someone will fall in love with this doll and buy it. In the meantime she just hangs around with me.

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.