Steam Punk Exhibition

Here are three of our dolls as shown in the Steam Punk Exhibition 

An here's Jackies

Flambe Evereddy- guarding the entrance!

Can you see the brooch I made?  I have to brag ands say that the Jeweller, Ian Clark, One of the Steam Punk Imagineers, noticed it and spoke to me about it!  The circular piece is an old doorknob surround, a bit of velvet, an old earring, a bit of old brass chain, a button ring that belonged to my grandmother's hospital laundry uniform days and a fancy key - from the Warehouse!  Not to mention a piece of organza from a curtain!  Easy!  LOL!

I've begun to make The Innkeeper.  He'll be a different body design from Jeanne- the Innkeepers Wife.  Hopefully about the same size though - so far so good! I'm making and writing as I go, so could take a while.  I'm making it in Quilters Muslin because his body is more covered than his wifes'. Quilters Muslin is not that different from velour in stretch, so it could be made in either.  For longevity velour would be best I think. At this stage I will do a lycra overlay on his head, to get a really good sculpted character.  We'll see!

Our First Display

Well it's finally happened! 

 OAMARU CLOTH DOLL GROUP dolls are kindly displayed by 'Enhance' this week!

Don't they all look fabulous!  I've been told people want to buy them! 

I delivered the last of our dolls to the Art Gallery today too and they tell me they are creating quite a stir amongst the Steam Punk Team!  The Steam Punk Exhibition begins on Saturday 23, but as it's Labour Weekend and all the dignatories will be away, they will defer all the Hoo Ha till the following week.  (I think that's what they said)  It's exciting to know that we have a wide variety of talent in this dedicated group of Cloth Dollmakers,  I'm so proud to say!  Well done all of you!

About the work: With the ‘key thing’ firmly attached ‘Flambe Evereddy’ clutches her newly invented Spraygun as she scouts the interior of the gallery – seeking ‘Who-Knows-What’, that may be lurking amongst these strange structures, models and sculptures!

Flambé’ is not about to give ‘the key thing’ up – for anything!

Well.......! Maybe for a good-looking someone...........maybe. Maybe.....Who-Knows-What! She treads carefully, alert and waiting for the next move, her daring unmatched in this cavernous place full of mysterious objects, and ‘Who-Knows-What is waiting around the next corner!

It's getting exciting now!  The Steam Punk Exhibition organisers are so positive about the work we are submitting!  This is Jackie's "Flambe Evereddy"!  I'll post more pics when the exhibition is on!



This is a Velvetbrooch I made for my beloved sister "Tree"



Adrianne's creation - looking very stylish indeed, and as if she has something on her mind.........I wonder what?  Well done Adrianne!  I love your work - so great with details!



Some more of Adrianne's beautiful work that she does very well!  She's all prepared for Christmas!

This is Jean's entry for the Steam Punk Exhibition!  She's called "Inertia'!

About the work:  Disconcerted by the passage of time and all that she had yet to do, “Inertia” – ‘the go getter’ – felt frozen to the spot, as she felt  domesticity dragging at the hem of her skirt! Her heart’s desire is a longing for the freedom of a more adventurous life – one unhampered by the constraints she so often wears!  These thoughts are zinging through her brain while she stands transfixed by ‘this time, this place, this work’, and how she will see herself through it all into a much more interesting future!

'Alabaster'
With a Steam Punk Attitude!
After standing for some time, surveying all the 'trappings' of her life, the light and the dark, Alabaster - the pure of heart- decides to take what was good from her past into her future, and to let go of what she no longer needs to hang on to. She will stand firm on her traditional foundation, but always looking forward, strengthened and fortified by her inner attitude, a freedom of spirit that she can pin her hopes on!

This is my interpretation of a Steam Punk Doll that I have put forward as an exhibit in the up-coming Steam Punk Exhibition to be held during the Victorian Celebrations held in Oamaru in November.  She is actually a pincushion!

Interesting process making this, keeping to the elements I was restricted to, but creating some artistic licence with ideas that just popped into my head.  I liked making up the 'play on words' that described what she was symbolising - tomorrow as it used to be!

This is Jackie's delightful interpretation of Jill Maas pattern for Maggie!  We have fun with Angels and other little beings in the making, in our group!

What's this?

Who are you gonna be?

This is Jeans' wonderful interpretation of a Herero woman and child. So graceful, colourful and tender!

 Jean put so much time and effort into this beautiful work of art she created and we are all very impressed with her results!

I needed to make a bench seat for Jeanne - the Innkeepers Wife!

So here is my badly made - but authentic looking - bench seat!  It's made from Balsa Wood with a scrap of boxwood top that looks worn.  Badfly painted, but I figured it would look more authentic that way and no-one will see it with her sitting on it! LOL!

It's a very simple design.  Because of the flimsy nature of the wood - and my craftmanship - I Gesso'd it, then painted it with Acrylic, then a topcoat of Mod Podge.

Seems to do the trick!  It's large enough and the right height for Jeanne to sit leaning forward on her left foot, so her chest is better displayed and her eyes in the right position for best effect.  I have taken the measurements and later, I will post it on my free patterns if anyone else wants to make one that might look better than mine!

The difference between 'scared' and 'sacred' is often the way we 'c' things!

Talent hits a target no one else can hit.
Genius hits a target no one else can see.

I cleaned up my room!  Well kind of!  I did throw a bit of stuff out, rearranged some stuff, relocated some stuff and cleaned things, so it does look much better.  Well I had to make some room for my new laser printer and USB cables are so short!  What a mission!

Jean and I had an opportunity to show off our dolls at a Multicultural afternoon recently.  Naturally - Jean took the photo's!  I talked about the culture of dolls and and a little history.  People bought their own dolls for display and there were some lovely old dolls there.

Believe it or not - this is a doll!  Some of the women and children had a hard time putting it down!  One little girl nursed it throughout the afternoon!  Some couldn't handle it at all - eh Jean!

I got to show off my 1920's French Boudoir Doll!

Here my Horrible Toad comes under examination from a very discerning woman, fascinated by the sculpting of the legs!

The afternoon flew, we talked to everyone and ate too much!  Our first exhibition!

Look who Jackie bought tonight!  He's a Jill Maas old fella from Frumpy Grump pattern!

Isn't he just wonderful!  Jackie's talent is really developing and her eye for detail is excellent!  She is critiquing her own work now!  That's a good sign!Look at that face!  And those braces!  Love the antique books!  Great finishing touch.

You have done so well Jackie!  He's delightful!Jean is making some African Dolls which are taking shape nicely!  Adrianne is carrying on with her Jill Maas doll which is going to be a very classy dame! Adrianne is really getting into embellishing in a big way now!

Olive is improving out of sight with her dollmaking skills - not to mention her embroidery skills!  She is making Jill Maas's Winnie Mae!  Olive loves her dolls so much she finds it hard to give them away - no wonder!  so much goes into them!  Well done Olive!

This is Jeanne - the Innkeepers Wife inspired by Les Miserable's.  Just finished this pattern today, 26 July 2010!  Quite pleased with this one.  My online friend Jeanne has been encouraging  me to make it and it has turned out better than the original one I made last year.  The pattern is now available for sale.

Boots or shoes or slippers? Make a Last!

I went the extra mile and made a Shoe Last for this task. This is useful, because I can make shoes to fit most 18 – 20 – 22 inch dolls using this last. I made the Last in the shape of a foot with a slightly raised heel, to take away the flatness and to allow a heel to go on the sole. I made the foot generic so it could be ‘left’ or ‘right’.

Boots, shoes, slippers, scuffs etc, can be made on this. I made the Last from polymer clay, as it seemed less likely to crumble because it is handled a lot – and sometimes dropped!

After setting it, I wrapped the Last in masking tape for (my) security! Remember if you make a Last, to have a base to stand it on, which helps when working on footwear. I just used a round piece with a dowel-sized hole and a shortened piece of dowel that the Last sits on, but footwear can be constructed on a Last without a stand. It would just be more fiddly.
• The base is approximately 10cms round, but any wood can be used to put the dowel in.
• The foot length of the last is roughly 8cms.
• From the base of the heel to the shin is 7cms.
• From the widest part of the ankle around the top of the foot is 9cms
• Around the widest part of the foot is 7.5cms.
• If making clay heels, measure the distance between the heel and the sole. On my Last the measurement is 1cm.

Making a Last for shoes or boots is not difficult and makes shoemaking so much more satisfying!

What character!  Vlad Dracula no less!  Pattern by Jane Coughlan. This rather impressive piece of doll art has been a work in progress for Jean, who has finally finished him - and in such great style!   She even made the coffin and crackled it for authenticity! 

And what do you think of this old darling?  Completed by Jackie, whos work is just taking off now as she gains confidence in her own abilities as a dollmaker!  The pattern is by Jill Maas of course, and Jackie has used her own alpaca's hair to give  that endearing look!  Well done Jackie!

Here she is - all done!  Having a rest from her work while I slog on with the pattern!  She's way ahead of me!  She offered to wash that floor, but I though she should just rest up and keep me company till I get doen with the pattern, which could take till next weekend, depending how much I have on this week.  Then I'll probably have to make 'er 'usband!  Sigh..........! A designers work is never done!This is my original Innkeepers Wife made last year.  While it's exactly the same, it's totally different!  Just so you can see the difference, the one I've just completed is made from Lycra and the original one was made from Velour and didn't have a pattern because I made it up as I went. They both have the same hair, but sculpted differently.  The new one has more structure, but here are parts of both that I like.  Comments please?

The boots!  Not very elegantly made, but she has to make do, after all, she's not all that well off and the Master of the 'Ouse probably stole them anyway!  They're hardly seen on the doll.