I fired and painted this little Kestner 102 head and a Bru head in the same kiln. This head had no kiln dust. Since I bought the SFGW of this doll, its porcelain slip was from a different brand than the Bru head I cast. Very interesting.
While struggling with kiln dust on the Bru head, I created a Rohmer head under the same conditions for comparison. This mold, gifted from a friend who passed away last year and previously unused, became my first fashion doll head attempt.
Curiously, despite using the same slip, paint, and even fired with the Bru head in the same kiln, this head produced minimal kiln dust. I have tried different type of antique eyes for her to find out which looks I like the best. I think I like the last photo with cobalt blue eyes. She looks sweeter.
This is ouch! The amount of dust on Bru head when I removed it from the kiln is so discouraging ..
I had to evacuate in the middle of painting during forest fire, so I left my tools out and left the house for a week. It seems that something foreign got mixed in somewhere in tools or paint, perhaps inside the kiln. There must have been a lot of smoke in the house too…
Since I started making this millet head, I’ve had a series of unexpected problems and having trouble completing even one head. I’m glad I didn’t schedule any events this fall. If there had been an exhibition or doll show I had scheduled like last year, I would have been mentally stressed out so much .
I just have to pull myself together and start again from scratch.
I inherited Eden Bebe doll from an elderly friend of mine in the doll club, who said it was her most precious possession. It’s a doll she’s treasured since she was a child. It’s a great honor for a collector to be entrusted with the care of a doll that is as precious as her own child. I plan to take good care of her as long as I am able. I quickly found a permanent spot for her which is right next to a Steiner doll that I made many years ago. This sweet Eden bebe already looks so happy in her new home with new friends !
I have successfully finished casting 12-inch Bru, and have completed the wet cleaning stage. Until now, I have been using Seeley’s Bru Jne 11 mold for the 12-inch Bru, but this time I am using Bru Jne 4 head to make 12-inch doll. I love the face of Bru 4 so I’m very excited to make a smaller size doll with this head for the first time.
This week, I’ll start creating a new doll. I wanted to cast the mold today but the heat was too much, and I had to give up. I can’t use the kiln during this heatwave. Instead, I’ll make a Chevrot body in the air-conditioned doll room. The new doll will be a 12-inch Bru. Everyone please stay safe during this severe summer weather!
I am delighted to introduce my latest creation, 14” Bru Jne, featuring antique eyes.
Since the beginning of this year, I have been working on this doll, and I’m thrilled to see her finally come to life! The customers on the current waiting list have already been waiting for three years, and I’m very grateful for their patience. It gives me satisfaction that I can finally offer her a doll that she had been waiting for a long time.
It will probably take another two years to complete the current list, and if I were to make another waiting list, I would accept only a small number of people each year so that I could fill the list in one year.
I didn’t realize so many people would apply to be on the waiting list when I first offered it three years ago, and I think it would be a shame to keep customers waiting for so many years.
(The maximum number of dolls that can be produced in one year is three.)
I will continue to make extra dolls available to the public when I do doll shows or exhibitions, as long as I am able to. Lastly, I am very grateful for the support and encouragement I receive from everyone.
I finished the little leather Bru shoes for 14 inch Bru. All her outfit is complete now. I will share her final look in next few days. It’s going to be so cute!