Two Cloth Dolls

Spring is really in the air after a particularly mild winter - my fruit trees are in blossom about three weeks early and bulbs are flowering everywhere. Time to come out of hibernation and get into the garden! I am usually quite productive over winter, and this year is no exception.

One of my winter projects was the making of these two all-cloth dolls. They are a bit experimental in how I made the heads. They were needle-sculpted in wool first and then given an overlay of knit cotton fabric, which was catch-stitched to the form underneath. It was a lovely way to work. Both dolls are around fourteen inches high and finished with all the usual hand-made detail.

 

Little Oak Caps

A couple of weeks ago, I went for a walk......you know, all the right social distancing strategies in place and all. It being Autumn, I found a whole lot of fallen acorns and their little caps as I walked under some oak trees. I collected a few, just because I like them.
When I got home, I got to thinking that they would make perfect little hats for some tiny people, so I got out some materials and started to make some. The heads are tiny, because they had to fit into the little caps, so the bodies were made to suit the sizes of the heads. This is the first one, complete with some needle-felted toadstools:

Here's number two - I made him the tiniest jumper, using two-ply wool and then I thought he needed a chair, so I made this crookedy stick chair for him to sit on. I've had a lot of fun making these and I still have lots of little caps, so I can make a lot more, if I feel like it. It's not as if I don't have time!

A Few Dolls

I worked on a few dolls in between summer activities and String Camp.........time always seems more limited in summer!

 

This is "Ettie Craig"  - a doll in classic Izannah Walker style made as a special order.

And this is "May" a dear little jointed cloth girl (17" tall) dressed in a knitted woollen outfit. She has a hand-knotted lincoln wool wig and custom-made leather shoes. She is currently listed in my Etsy store. www.susiemcmahon.etsy.com  
I'm really looking forward to making more dolls in coming months, in between home renovations, which you can read about on my other blog www.fourteenstepstothebluedoor.blogspot.com

Recent Work and a Knitted Elephant Obssession

 

A jointed cloth doll dressed in peasant style with and embroidered waistcoat.

 

 A little boy with a hobby-horse

 

Experimenting with new design.......a-a-a-a-nd!

KNITTED ELEPHANTS! I needed to write down my original pattern, which was stored in my head, so I had to knit a few more of these and take pictures. I now have a downloadable pattern available in my Etsy store

 

 

 

 

And now she's done!

……..except for her shoes. I'm still waiting on a delivery of small buckles so that I can finish them. But as you see, she does have a sweet bonnet which I crocheted from cotton yarn and a hand-kitted cardigan made from 4-ply merino. Underneath she has cotton drawers. I was going to make a petticoat as well, but I decided there was already enough bulk around her middle, with the dress and the pinafore, both with gathered waists. She's a sweet child…..off the the USA as soon as her shoes are done!

A Little Christmas.....

 

 Here's a little Christmassy "Sukeshi" doll I made for an online show and sale.........you can get details from this blog: http://www.artistsofhandmade.blogspot.com   This is "Snowbird".
 

                                          
And here's a little boy "Pensive Child" that I am working on. I was painting him as news from the dreadful events in Paris was filtering through - I've called him "Etienne".
                                    

A Change.

Over the last few months I have been rather intensively concentrating on making sculpture (with the odd doll thrown in, because sometimes I just NEED to make one). And then last week I got what is a rather large order for some finished "Zozie" dolls. After getting back from setting up my Hobart exhibition, I got stuck right in, because I want to get them done and sent off before Christmas. Work is well underway and I should have the order ready to go out at the weekend.  Although these are quicker to make than most of the dolls I make, this is still fairly labour intensive. But I don't really mind that. And I like to make each one a little different, even though their little faces come out of the same mould and their bodies are made to the same pattern.

Twelve

"Sorrydoll" #11

Here is the recently completed Eleventh Sorrydoll............this one seems to have a still thoughtful, but less sad countenance. I'm moving on! The last picture is of Eleven with her unfinished "pale sister".....Twelve, of course!