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Thursday, November 29, 2012

A Challenge...............

One of the online groups I belong to (Dixie Redmond's MAIDA group: http://maidatoday.ning.com) is hosting a challenge to recreate a version of one of the best-loved early cloth dolls - the "Columbian" dolls of Emma Adams, which were made between 1891 and 1910. Here's what the originals look like:

The dolls had well-designed but simple bodies with flat faces, which were expertly painted by Emma using oil paints. The hair was also painted. There are a few designers out there who have excellent patterns for reproducing these dolls - I used one by Connie Tognoli, which makes a 19" doll. Connie took measurements from actual examples to make her patterns. The doll went together really well, with some interestingly different pattern shapes.
                              My doll is not completed yet, but this is what I've done so far:


             Then I had a bit of a play with Picmonkey to make my doll's face look a bit "aged".


Sometimes a gal's just gotta have a bit of pure FUN!


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10 comments:

  1. carlaNovember 29, 2012 at 7:51 PM

    Your doll is beautiful!!! Love her!!! The face painting is wonderful!!! Thank You

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  2. ChrisNovember 29, 2012 at 9:11 PM

    Good luck with the Challenge Susie, she looks like she's coming along nicely. Cheers

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  3. LizzieNovember 29, 2012 at 11:23 PM

    I love the aging effect in the last photo. Looking forward to seeing her finished.

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  4. sirkkisNovember 30, 2012 at 6:00 AM

    Hurmaavan näköinen

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  5. akyol_akyolNovember 30, 2012 at 10:37 AM

    A very nice face! Ill be waiting for continue!

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  6. Susie McMahonNovember 30, 2012 at 12:55 PM

    Thanks all! I might post a few pictures, with permission, of some of the other members dolls made in this challenge when a few more are completed. The different interpretations of the same inspiration are interesting.

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  7. RhissannaNovember 30, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    The original doll is really lovely, with a surprisingly sweet and modern expression.

    Your doll is gorgeous. The face panting really adds depth. I can see you had fun adding crackles and sepia!

    Yes, please, we'd love to see other dolls from this challenge, or know where to go and see them. Thank you for sharing.

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  8. RonDecember 1, 2012 at 11:20 AM

    Wow Susie,
    she looks amazing.
    can't wait to see how she looks finished!

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  9. Susie McMahonDecember 1, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    Thanks Rhissana.......I agree with you about the painting of the original - Emma Adams was a skilled painter. After her early death, her sister tried to keep the company producing dolls, but the faces were never as charming (in spite of the fact that she hired professional artists to do it) and the company folded in 1910. Thanks Ron - I'm dying to get her finished, but I have much more pressing things to do first! At least she has arms and legs now - the clothing can wait!

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  10. ruby241December 4, 2012 at 10:23 PM

    Wow Susie - your doll is divine!!

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