Waldorf Inspired dolls

Ive been away for about a year working on a website and have dearly missed my blogging site, so Im back...to blog about what I loved most which is making dolls <3 nbsp="" p="">

This is a doll that I had been working on last year for a dear friends granddaughter, whose name is Averie. This is a Waldorf inspired doll and is approximately 12-13 inches. I made her to look as close as possible to Miss Averie with her sweet little wispy blonde hair and cute ears that stick out slightly.

 These are two Waldorf inspired dolls (9 inches) that I made for a brother and sister in VA (4 & 6yrs old). They were to be Easter gifts for them and made their way to Janessa and Kalman last March 2014. I received these pictures shortly after they arrived while waiting for Easter to come around.

Its a thrill I can't explain when I see my work out in the "real world" with children and adults enjoying them. My Husband and I lived with these two for about 2 1/2 months and had lots of fun watching them come to life. It was hard to let them go but I knew that Janessa and Kalman would be waiting for their surprise on Easter morning and I also couldn't wait to see their wonderful smiles of joy.
I made one more for my grandson, it was actually the first that I made..kind of a trial run of sorts. It is a Waldorf inspired doll with a dragon suit as well and was the prototype for Kalman's doll above.

(I've also added the picture of Miss Averie with her doll)

I'm on to one more for the latest addition to the family, my granddaughter, Miss Aubrey Lynn <3 .="" can="" nbsp="" p="" start.="" t="" to="" wait="">I'll say good-bye for now and be back with more as I go. Its good to be here again and using the site that became so familiar to me for so many years, once a blogger....always a blogger I suppose.
I do have a website that will correspond to this that will have dolls for purchase some time in the fall and will keep everyone updated as it builds and becomes the dream that is Funkefragmentz.

Thank you so much for visiting and see you soon!

Michelle

3rd & Final Segment in The Making of Mahdreen

Good Morning! Its hard to believe that I'm posting the last segment of Mahdreen, when she took sooooo long to be created. But here she is........

This is just after the hand sewing of her hair, made from a portion of a yarn that was very popular about 4 yrs ago for scarves. You can see I experimented on her eye makeup also, this was with watercolor pencils.

I also added in braids before completing the hair that was attached to her head.

Once I had her hair in place I played around with some embellishments, 2 more types of yarn that I had in my bag of tricks! When you compare this picture to that of the completed Mahdreen you can see many changes! That's what I love, love, love about creating my own dolls ;D

CREATIVE LICENSE..yayy

As I had posted in the previous segment, I added on breasts for Mahdreen by cutting out a small piece of flesh colored knit fabric. I hand stitched a gathering under each piece (they are connected),stuffed them with a fiberfill and then hand stitched them to her body.

You can also see some of her jeweled embellishments, I added beads just about anywhere I could find a place! And a bit of ribbon here and there.

Elf Shoes, again a scrap piece of drapery fabric, cut in the shape of a curly toed shoe!

I changed the yarn in Mahdreen's hair to ribbon & gave her an earring. You can also see that I've changed her eye makeup as well. I used acrylic paint this time and achieved the final look, which I was very happy with.

Mahdreen has one wire sculpted hand and one jeweled mystic hand...there is a story behind that, that I will have to tell sometime. Turning small fingers like these can be a bit frustrating but with the right tools you can breeze through them in no time.

                                                    A completed Mahdreen.....side view

                                                                       Front view

                                                            side view left

                                           MAHDREEN THE ELDER ELF OF WISDOM

I've enjoyed making Mahdreen from the top of her ear to the tip of her toes! Every moment filled me with a thrill of excitement........ENJOY!

Thank you for dropping in,

Michelle

 

 

 

A Summer Hiatus

Hello Again.....I've had a few months off and still I'm making things (big smile).

Since I've last posted I have made another purse but this time its for my youngest daughter's Mini Chihuahua! She's only 4 1/2 lbs and loves to be carried or taken with no matter where you go, she's a cutie.  And since dogs are not allowed just anywhere and she's so small, well, you can fit her in a purse and shop as you please.

Most of the time when we shop with Lupe (the chihuahua) in arm everyone wants to stop us and pet her or talk to her. Sometimes though when we get to the check stand...some of the attendants are not  as pleased...so hence the making of the purse. Now Lupe can come along with us, happy and undetected!

I made the purse from a Simplicity pattern, decided on some upholstery fabric and leatherette (for durability) and also bought a purse bottom (a lightweight Plexiglas) so that Lupe felt sure footed when she's in it.

I didn't make a tutorial out of it but if you like it and want more information on it I can certainly do that. Or I can just pass along the pattern #.. :) Here's the purse, completely finished..its now in the custody of Lupe and her Mom, my daughter-youngest, Kristen.

I also put in a lining with special meaning....a piece of material that we saved from Kristen's childhood curtains.

I'm now starting a quilt for my grandson to be born in Nov ! So excited, this will be my first grandchild. Here's some of the material that I've chosen. I have it cut out and ready for sewing.

There will be a tutorial on this coming soon.............

This is just a snip-it for your viewing pleasure....

Talk to you soon, p.s. Mahdreen's finished, she'll be in the next post!

Michelle

Clothes for Mahdreen the Elf of Wisdom

Hello to all :) been away for awhile......had the flu & that hung for several weeks! So I've been officially accepted here in AZ, lol.

Going to post the new clothes that I've made for Mahdreen my female Elf of Wisdom....she's been waiting patiently. I'll be back soon to show you some embellishments that I will have added to her wearables & also hope to have her hair "do" in place, I've taken out her braids for embellishment.

Her outfit is all free hand/formed, the jumpsuit is a pant pattern cutout (from memory) & I've just made the upper section that would have been belted at the waist go a bit longer and brought it past her bossoms :) which i've free formed also (some extra doll body material & poly fill-handstitched to body). I've taken some upholstery material & also some curtain material and made her jacket-no pattern.  

I will embellish as I go and see what happens! I can see her with lots of jewels & some great boots?

Be back soon!

Michelle

P.S. if you have any questions please feel free to send me a note...also patterns are always available even though I've free formed them :) but a little imagination can take you a long way when putting together clothing...there's no end to it!

Creating a Uniquely YOU doll

Its a beautiful Sunday morning, well its early afternoon as I look at the clock. Where did my morning go? I have been lost in creating....I just love those periods of time where the clock just seems to stand still for you while you dream and create.

I've been working on Mahdreen and I thought I would show you a few steps while she's in the making. The little steps make the biggest difference. I began by drawing the pattern myself because I wanted her to take on a certain look. I've posted a pic of the initial drawings and a picture of what her hand has been modified into since Sophia took off with that original :) I chose to go with a 3 finger look on the other because she is a mythical creature, ahh the beautiful choices we have when we create.

I also wanted to pass on a few items that make my doll life easier. I love water color pencils for one, they really give you a chance to detail a dolls face and then make it so much more with just a touch of water. My favorite pencils right now are Faber Castell acquarelles. So many great colors available and so much you can do with them. I love to draw an initial line, take my detailer brush, dip it in a bit of water and blend. Give it a try on a bit of paper that you have lying around, play with it, get comfy and see what you come up with. You'll be amazed at the possibilities of color combinations and the qualities that watercolor pencils can give you. I love them and I cant say enough about them.

 These are a few of my favorite things!

 I so want to try my hand at Ink Pencils, I saw them at an art store during the holidays and almost bought a set, don't know why I didn't! I'll save that for another day tho :)

I also just purchased a hemostat that has a mini grip at the mouth end. I swear I was dreaming of this instrument just days before and then all of a sudden there it was. Really....I kept thinking to myself while I was stuffing, or trying to stuff Mahdreen's fingers, "I wish there was something that would grab a piece of stuffing and deposit it at the tip". I think I'm psychic because when I went to a doll class a week ago there it was. The perfect instrument of my dreams, exactly as I had dreamed it. I haven't had the chance to use it just yet but when I do....watch out doll fingers! cause I will not have the problems that I have had before! And if you've tried stuffing doll fingers you know what I mean..Of course there's turning them too but I have a remedy for that one also....sly smile on my face.

I'm posting a pic of Mahdreen in the make up stage-so to speak, she will have her ears painted and shaded also and her coloring will be played with a bit. But this is what steps are all about, creating, step by step. And knowing that each step is a move in a perfectly beautiful "you" direction. Because no one can create the way you do. No one can lend that distinctly "you" quality that you so lovingly do with every stitch and every brush stroke. With every creation that you hold in "your" hands you impart that uniquely you love into it. Create, Love and Harmonize, thats my thought for the day...

I'll be back soon with more steps and a handy hint or 2:) and more of Mahdreen's progress.

Michelle

Feeling Much Bettter :)

Made my chicken soup and in fact had two small bowls. I felt lots better just after eating/drinking it, yay. It may be psychological, it may have some real merit but chicken soup always does the trick. I just know that I feel better than I did. Even felt good enough to have a piece of pizza and two wings that my husband brought home.

I'm still going to bed early, taking a nice warm shower and putting on some pjs. Maybe even Sophia will come keep m

e company :)Maybe a little reading and some tea, mmmm tea.

AH I Know, I'm taking my sketch pad to bed and working on the dolls face. A beautifully relaxing plan. Drawing does that for me, it puts me in a creative, timeless, mind wandering zone.

off to make some tea.

See you all tomorrow, peace, light and love.....Dulce

April Fools Day ! the day after :)

Good Morning to all! I was here yesterday and of course in a hurry so what I tried to post at the last minute did not-post :/. Only stopped to say Happy April Fools!

Im working on the doll face today and will show you what I've done with the stitching and face painting. I would like to get to the body today and have some great ideas for body and clothing. I have some really interesting material that I picked up a few months ago, can't wait to use it. I'll post some pictures of the material(s) and finished sculpting for now. A first gesso of the sculptured face and some face painting in just a few. My goal is to makes some real headway with this magnificent creature today!

Enjoy, be back soon...Dulce the Dollweaver :D
Sophia's watching the birds.....

New Post for day 7... of soft sculptured dolls

My, there have been so many interruptions lately, I dont know what to make of it. I've been trying to make some progress on my doll and each time I make an advance on the project it seems that I have a hurdle.
 I mean I know we had the full moon on the 19th but come on, that passed...let's move, K

I have some pics of the sculpting of the new doll. As Ive said, it isnt much but I promise that he will become someone.! Im so excited for this adventure, I know you will too!

Im going to bed, really tired. So see what you think and dont hesitate to give me some Ideas.....post, post, comment, comment............all is so welcome.
Having some trouble with posting pictures so I only have one..will show you more tomorrow.


Thank you, Dulce'