Trunk Doll Challenge

As I shared before I am working on a trunk doll challenge for one of the online doll clubs I belong to.    I wanted to share how the project was going with you.  Originally I found this antique box that I was going to use for the trunk.  

Then, here goes that oh shiny thing again, I found a picture of this beautiful Jenny Lind antique doll trunk on Ruby Lane. 

Of course I had to attempt to replicate it.  Never mind that I have never made any sort of trunk, suitcase, box even before.  Anyway, since I am not familiar at all with woodworking other than all the woodworking dust that travels into my home on my husband from his woodworking shop, I decided to try my hand at making a replica out of a piece of mat board I had lying around.  First I drew patterns for the end pieces and then tried to figure out how to put it together.  After a failed attempt and advice from my woodworking husband I put together this very sorry looking mat board trunk.   

I had planned on putting microfiber suede cloth on to imitate the leather anyway and decided that I would give it a shot and see if covering would camouflage all of its flaws.

  As you can see the top really doesn’t fit the bottom and the trunk needs serious help.  

I will try this project again down the road just because but right now I am considering three other options since the challenge is due at the end of the month.   I am considering using the small antique box that the doll is sitting on for her trunk, using the antique box that I originally chose to use for her trunk, or accepting my husband’s response to my misshapen box.  I think I will go with the later and let him make the trunk out of wood in a size that will actually allow me to put the doll in along with some of her wardrobe and accessories that I will make for her down the road.  Off to JoAnn’s to buy more micro-suede!

If you are looking for a new project I am teaching Mistique online at A for Artistic starting September 29, 2015.  Click on the following link if you are interested in more information on the class.

http://www.aforartistic.com/mistique-cloth-ball-jointed-doll-with-marla-niederer.html

New Year, New Projects!

Of course I didn't add complete my unfinished projects to my New Year resolutions list.  How ridiculous would that be?  Instead I chose to embark on three new projects.  I am very excited about each one.  First since I so thoroughly enjoyed presenting an online class on the A for Artistic website, I decided to create another one.   And since I was working on one online class why not work on two at the same time?

This is a picture of the needle-sculpted heads I am working on for the two new workshops.  They both will utilize new watercolor techniques that I have developed for facial coloring.  My goal is to create the dolls to look like they have just walked out of a watercolor painting.  I must say I am really enjoying the process of creating them.

The third project came about during the holidays while I was surfing the net (yes sometimes I do get lost there).  I found a website that just absolutely touched my heart.  It is called Enchanted Makeovers.  You can see it by clicking here:         http://enchantedmakeovers.org/      The organization does makeovers of homeless shelters for women and children so they can have a place that is inspiring to a transformation in their lives.  It doesn't use the traditional let me help you philosophy.  It utilizes the philosophy where everyone in the equation is on equal ground and each person works together to enrich each others lives.  I contacted Terry who is the founder of the organization and asked if it would help if I created a pattern and tutorial for a child friendly stuffed doll for Enchanted Makeovers.  She was really excited about the project so I started to develop a pattern for "Warm Hugs."  I just  started working on developing the pattern and will keep you posted when I get a little further along and have some pictures to share.