Tatyana vs. Yasanna - Work In Progress

Today I was impatient to finish the dress. I made some changes for bodice and sleeves and Tatyana received her dress.

I also added light pink trim and pearl buttons to the dress. The dress doesn't seem finished for me though.

However, Tatyana is ready for wigging. Hmmm, do I want to go blonde, red, black, oh... pink for variety, lol...

Have a wonderful weekend!
Natalia

Tatyana vs. Yasanna - Work In Progress

Dana Burton offered a new kit - last doll (#4) from Heiress Series 2 - Russian Queen Yasanna.

It has been a long time since I dressed dolls and thought it would be a nice change to the activity I've been busy recently. Again, it is true to say that if you want to have a break from what you are busy with - find another activity, :))))

The name "Yasanna" doesn't sound Russian for me, and since it is supposed to be a Russian Queen(?), I decided to give her Russian name Tatyana. For some reason this name clicks with the character I would like to make, even though there was no female Slavic monarchs named Tatyana in the Russian history.

The first idea was to make Tatyana from "Eugene Onegin" by A.S. Pushkin, but the character of Pushkin's Tatyana doesn't match beautifully painted doll and the expression of her face (absolutely gorgeous work by Dana).
This lady seems ambitious for me, with a lot of pride... May be I'll change my opinion while working on her...

So, I haven't finished building her character yet, but assembled her legs, arms and dress skirt

Now I am back to fantasizing, :)))). May be I'll change the skirt and will go with the original fabric that was enclosed in the kit...

See you soon,
Natalia

Credits:
- face mold carried by Cynthia Howe (Lauren mold)
- painting, pattern by Dana Burton

A couple of updates on my current projects...

I prepared working today on a doll Annaliese based on Dana Barton's pattern. Here is a picture of an original doll with a doll I am going to dress.



Even though the original Annaliese is gorgeous, I want to give her a little bit different look.

While I've been thinking what exactly I would like to change, Vanessa brought that old chair and a revolving stand inside her room. I, personally, don't like the chair and thinking switch it on something more elegant later, or just change the seat cover at least. I didn't like where she put the revolving stand either. So, it will take time when we agree on something and will show more details.



I am working on Spring Fling 2013 project each day adding small details. Today I finished the second interior wall (there are total of 4 walls) on the first level! OOps, did I tell too much? Is it a cat in a box?



And last but not least, today I spent about 6 hours working on scroll saw. It won't be a miniature piece, it will be a candle holder in real size. One piece more left to be cut, the one that you see on the blue background. I need to practice my scroll sawing skills more since I am planning to use them working on my Charming cottage from HBS 2013 contest. Hint! Hint!



Now you know hat I am working on this week.

What about you?

Natalia

Libby - Dollhouse Miniature Doll

I planned to finish the rug with Hunting scene over the weekend and actually I am very close to do it - only have of background left to be filled up.

Suddenly, I decided to change the point of my interest and put all my attention towards the dollhouse miniature doll Libby (pattern/kit by Dana Barton).

I made Libby's dress in green. I feel like a special finishing touch is still missing (may be it is a little red flower on her bodice, or a pearl necklace on her neck, or yellow sunflowers in the basket...). It was a great pleasure and fun working on her.



She looks very innocent and fragile for me.







I wanted to make a bobbin lace shawl but at the last moment changed my mind and used Carrickmacross lace - a type of needle lace the tutorial of which I am planning to post on my blog somewhere in summer.







Basket was cut on scroll saw by me, the leads are working.



Still can't figure out what happened to blogger and why I can't navigate the uploading of the images.
Anybody experiences the same problem?

Happy Easter!

Natalia

Another Attempt in Sculpting

If you follow my blog you should remember my unsuccessful attempts in sculpting. I don't loose a hope that one day I will master the sculpting skills and make a doll, may be even 2...

I decided to take an on-line sculpting class by Deb Wood. You can see her fantastic dolls on her website

http://www.debwood.com

Deb is a talented artist with an amazing personality!

The class is still in session and we are working on the sculpting the heads.

I made so far 2 heads. Both heads are for the dolls bigger than 1/12th scale.

Head # 1 is in 1/6th scale

Head # 2 is in 1/8th scale

Both heads are ready for the ears to be applied

to be continued...

Natalia

I keep practicing in sculpting.

BLACK ROSE

I finished dressing this doll - BLACK ROSE
Doll by Stacy Hoffman
Painting and pattern by Dana Barton
My dressing and wigging
The black roses on the background by Jeannette from the Garden of Miniatures
http://gardenofminiatures.blogspot.com/

First Attempt in Sculpting a Male Doll in 1/12th scale

Back to SMARTFLIX.COM.

I know that there are a lot of tutorials out there in the Internet how to sculpt a doll in 1/12th scale. There are also books, classes and many other sources.

Since I've stumbled upon www.smartflix.com, I decided to rent a DVD "Sculpting Miniature Dolls" in 1/12th scale in Polymer clay by Evelyn Lenz Flook in spite of the fact that it has only 3 stars. When I got the DVD I understood why it was rated only 3 stars - the promised pattern was missing. Probably somebody expropriated it and SmartFlix service forgot to replace the pattern. So, if you decide to rent this DVD, call them, be sure, they won't forget to put FREE pattern as listed in the description.

The basic information given in this DVD was simple and useful for me, taking to the consideration that I've never sculptured dolls in my life. I think, now I am ready for more serious work in sculpting a doll. I mean it: MORE SERIOUS! but later about it...

Evelyn Lenz Flook shows the sculpting techniques on making a male doll. When I started the project, I didn't have any idea what "kind of man" I wanted to make. The idea of a character was born as soon as I started working on his head and face.

I made an armature

and attached and formed a head

After that I draw lines on the face indicating where the eyes, nose and mouth will be sculptured

I attached a small piece of clay and shaped a nose

I wanted him to have a mustache and made them from a polymer clay

Since I have no idea (yet) how to paint a doll's face, I decided to use already made eyes

The most fun I got from working on his ears:

The head is done. Oh, don't tell me he is not handsome. We say in Russia "Мужчина должен быть чуть симпатичнее обезьяны", and it is not an offence, it is a compliment, because not the appearance makes a man man, but his actions.

After that I worked on his torso and arms, later I added boots.

I will finish his body, paint his face and dress. I will show you my gentleman when he is ready to shine!

Have a great and productive weekend!

Natalia

Dressing a Mannequin

If you follow my blog you remember Vanessa, an Edwardian doll in her age, whose feet I tried to fix. She is still undressed and her shoes are in the process. The reason why it takes so slow is that I tried to find fabric for her dress that will fit the atmosphere of the roombox. I think I found what I've been looking for and probably this weekend I will work on dressing Vanessa.

Last weeks I practiced on dressing a mannequin in 1/12th scale. The mannequin you see is dressed with white dress made from silk. It can be an evening dress or a wedding dress if to add veil to it. I don't have a place for it. I am just practicing on dressing mannequins before to put my hands on Vanessa.

I made roses and bows from ribbon silk

I also added some embroidery on the skirt (white embroidery), it is hard to see on the picture, but it is there above the bows ...

and on the sleeves

Have a great weekend,

Natalia