Doll design – cracked! June 16, 2008 A good part of the last week has been spent tinkering away with my doll prototypes. Tinkering is a nice word for it really. It’s been more like CUT and HACK, RIP and CURSE. But I have finally made a doll that I can look at and think “yep, that’s where I was trying to get to.” Here’s the final little sketch which I went from on Friday: (I had to reconstruct it before I scanned it because it ended up being cut up as a pattern piece in the general frenzy). And here she is: All I wanted to make was something appealing, something easy and something that I could look at and see that I have left my mark on.

Designing a new toy is not something I do very often. I don’t think I have done anything really new in years so it was pretty hard work for me. It was a completely creative pursuit but not entirely enjoyable. Now I can play with the pattern – switching fabrics and giving her different hair the fun stuff. I think I am going to change her legs a little and give her some feet, but apart from that it’s pretty much just trace and cut from now.

MARY IS A PROFESSIONAL RESTORER OF PORCELAIN, POTTERY, GLASS. VANNESTE DESIGN. Porcelain, pottery, glass and doll restorations.

And just for fun, here’s the line up of rejects: My main sources of inspiration in this project: Rosa’s (the reason I wanted to try dolls again in the first place), Fanja’s beautiful, and everything. Thank you to the kind people who left really helpful and encouraging things in my comments or in emails last week. Bazis fragmenti.

It helped a huge amount. Tagged:, 63 Responses to “Doll design – cracked!” • i love her dress!!

Can i have one of your rejects? The one with the red hair?

• Alison It’s an overwhelming response for the poor rejected red head – she is beautiful. Congratulations on persisting and finishing – your final is a treat. • She’s lovely! Does she have a name yet? • My daughter says it is wonderful, and I also think so!I was wondering if you’ll be selling some like these please let me know.

• She’s lovely!That is so funny, though- Mimi is a friend of my mother’s, and it was funny to see one of my favorite blogs link to her! • She’s so gorgeous Claire & the “dis” pile is pretty cute too. • She’s gorgeous! I also love the colours on the “reject” with the orange legs.

• Just beautiful. Let’s compare “reject” piles some day – you’ll feel a whole lot better. • Oh she’s beautiful! • Georgia She’s wonderful! Perfectly friendly and fun.:-)I love the hair on the orange legged one too.

• She’s very sweet, she looks like she has a secret! • She’s wonderful! I love her hair! • She’s great!

I love her face – very Loobylu.I like the old style of doll too, though. Hope you’re not giving up on those!

On another note, here’s a photo of two of your prints (plus three others) I put up in my sewing room this morning. I think they look just fantastic. Thank you for selling them to me! CheersMichelle • She is gorgeous. I love her fuzzy wuzzy hair. • What a cute doll. I agree with Jodie – she looks like she has a secret just waiting to be told.