The Elusive Butterfly

Week 1 continued: Constructing the head and body

I did not photograph a number of the steps.

 Step 1:  I traced the head and body on freezer paper, using my black fine-line Pilot pen, then pressed the freezer paper patterns to pieces of Dolskin knit and muslin.

Step 2.  I sewed the head and body following the lines on the freezer paper, then trimmed 1/16 inch from the seam line, and removed the freezer paper. Time to turn the head and body right side out and stuff firmly.

Step 3.  I drew facial features lightly with a mechanical pencil. Taking quilting thread and a 4 inch needle, I sculptured the face. I attached the sculptured head to the muslin body,  then I applied Aleen's  Fabric Stiffener to the sculptured head.

Step 4.  After tea-dying a quarter yard of cotton crinkle gauze, I cut a 6 inch square of fabric.  After applying Sobo Premium Craft and Fabric Glue in a thin layer over the face and under the chin, and covered the face with the crinkle gauze, stretching and molding the gauze to the face.  The covered face was  allowed to dry.

Step 5.  Using pencils, pens, colored chalks,  and acrylic paint, I added the features.  The face was too dark compared to the muslin neck and body, so I took a remnant of tea-dyed crinkle gauze and stretched it over the neck and upper body.

Ready for Week 2!

The Elusive Butterfly

After several months of being preoccupied of other things, I'm back. I promise to try do do better.

This summer, I wanted to go return to doll-making, so I signed up for Cindee Moyer's Elusive Butterfly Class, listed at Joggles.  I've done several of Cindee's Doll Classes before and I really enjoy them.  I'll be including some of the steps in progress.

The first week of class involves preparing the base and constructing the doll head. 

 Step one: Painting the wooden base a light color. (I used Golden Titan Buff.)

 Step 2: Sponge paint base with combination of a light and a dark color. I used Golden Titan Buff and Lumiere 448 Old Brass.

Step 3. Glue on assorted butterfly pictures.  (I thought about using stencils or stamps, but decided to try those techniques another time.)

Step 4: Seal finished base with acrylic medium. (I used Golden Matt Gel Medium.)

Next time: constructing the head.