Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Sunday, October 16th, 2011

Archive for September, 2011

 

 

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

  

I have been working to finish orders I started before the UFDC convention. I finished a Circle Dot Bru recently, and I have finished another doll at this time.

She is a 16-inch Bru Jne 11 with a navy blue dress. I have two Bru Jne molds to make 16-inch dolls. One is a Bru Jne 6, and the other is this Bru Jne 11.This Bru Jne 11 is a reduced size of a 24-inch Bru Jne 11, but Bru Jne 11’s characteristic facial features somehow got lost during the mold reducing process. So she may look slightly different from a larger size Bru Jne 11, but this doll also has a different look from the Bru Jne 6 mold.

 

My customer’s order was to make a pale toned Bru doll in a dark blue dress. Therefore she has very pale skin with pale eyes and a pale blonde wig. The dark navy blue dress seems to emphasize her paleness even more. I like both pale skinned and pink skinned dolls, and this Bru Jne 11 looks beautiful with her pale complexion.

 

I took an antique silk dress apart and used silk and velvet fabric to make the dress. Her dress has a rather interesting design. It looks like a jacket dress, but the top and the skirt are connected at the back so it is actually a one-piece dress.It also has pleating at the bottom of the jacket part and accent ruffles in front. I love using old metal buttons on my doll dresses, but it’s very difficult to find quantities of them in small sizes and with matched designs. So whenever I find them, I try to stock up. I used seven of them in the front part of the dress, and that added richness to the design.

 

I made the lace bonnet with antique insertion lace and cotton trim with many yards of lace ruffles and silk ribbons. It always amazes me to find that such a tiny bonnet requires so many yards of lace and ribbons. If you have ever wondered why antique lace bonnets are so expensive, I think this is the reason. I don’t make lace bonnets very often, but it’s been a hit since I made it for the Bru Jne 6 doll with an ecru dress. I think this type of bonnet frames her face and pale blonde wig very well.

 

I have been working on this doll since April. I can’t thank my customers enough for being so patient. I hope I can keep making dolls that are worth waiting for.

 

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コンベンション前に始めたオーダーを今ヤッキになって仕上げているところです。

先日はサークルドットブリュを完成、今回は１６インチのＢｒｕＪｎｅ１１が出来上がりました。

 

私は１６インチのＢｒｕモールドを二つ持っていますが、ひとつはＢｒｕＪｎｅ６で、もうひとつがこのＢｒｕＪｎｅ１１です。

このモールドは２４インチのＢｒｕＪｎｅ１１の縮小版なのですが、縮小の過程でモールドの彫が甘くなったりゆがみが入ったりで、あんまり１１号っぽくないのですが、６号のとも違う顔つきをしています。

 

お客様のご希望は色白の娘にダークブルーのドレスを。。。をという事でしたので、色白、ペールブルーアイ、ペールブロンドのウイッグです。

しかも、ダークブルーがよりいっそう色白さを強調しています。

ドレスは、アンティークのダークブルードレスを解いて、そこからシルク地とベルベット地を取って使いました。

デザインは一見ジャケットドレスのようですが、後ろの部分でつながっていて実はワンピースなのです。ジャケットの裾はプリーツになっていて、フロント部分にはギャザーのラッフルトリムが襟をぐるっと囲むようについています。

アクセントにつけたメタルボタンは全部アンティークです。私はメタルボタンを使うのが好きなんですが、アンティークで、しかも同じパターンを二個以上そろって見つけるのは結構難しいです。

希少価値が高いのでお値段も張るし。（＾＾；）まあでも、見つかったときはなるたけ買いだめしておくようにしてます。

いい物はやっぱりドレスにつけた時、デザインの深みが増しますね。

 

ボネットは最近ヒットのレースボネットです。

この小さいレースボネットも、実際作ってみるとレースとシルクリボンの量がハンパではありません。

だからアンティーク物はあんなに高いんですね。でも作った甲斐があって、この娘の雰囲気に合った良い感じに出来あがりました。

 

この作品は、なんと４月からぼちぼちと作り始めて、やっと出来上がった次第です。

こんなに長い間待ってくださったお客様に、感謝です。これからも、”待っただけの甲斐がある”作品が出来るよう、がんばります。

 

( Teri’s Antique Dolls booth at UFDC sales room )

Attending UFDC annual convention was a very exciting and educational experience.

The president of UFDC described the convention itself as a museum of dolls and it was true.

I was able to see many rare dolls that I have only seen in books and on the internet. I have two particular Bru dolls that I call ” my dream Brus”. I was hoping to make Bru dolls look like them, and that is one of my ultimate goals.

Well, what do you know ! They were both there at the competitive exhibit table side by side. I was almost in tears when I saw them. I could have stayed there forever! Not only were they 100 times more beautiful than pictures, they looked so life-like. Many doll collectors use expressions like ” I want a doll that speaks to me.” And they were speaking to me for sure ! Unfortunately, I will never be able to own them, but at least I can try to make dolls that look like them someday.I am sure many other doll artists were inspired just as I was by seeing all these wonderful dolls. This part alone was worth coming to the convention.

But that was just one part. Meeting with other fellow doll enthusiasts was perhaps the best reason for going there.I was able to meet other doll artists who have exchanged email with me a few times in the past. We quickly became good friends as if we had known each other for a long time. It’s always nice to be able to talk about technical issues with someone who knows what you’re doing. I don’t usually have that opportunity since I do doll-making alone at home.Sometime it makes me feel like I am the only one struggling, but I found out that other artists go through a similar struggle.

I also took a few seminars and workshops, learning so much more about dolls. The most eye-opening experience was taking a refresher course in Japanese history as seen through Japanese doll culture presented by Alan Scott Pate. Alan has published many books about antique Japanese dolls, and he is one of the most well known antique Japanese doll experts in the U. S..