Hair Today and Hopefully not Gone Tomorrow

She has new hair.  I dyed it with Procion dye, nuked it, added highlights with Dynaflow, nuked it again, then dried it with my heat tool.  This is the hair from my friend Colleen and I love it.  The strands are very soft and long with just enough curl though it is hard to keep it in after wetting it without setting it.  I did curl some strands for around the face by wrapping them on a knitting needle and spraying them.  Very happy with the color.  Mixed Turquoise, Cerise, and Black.  The highlights are Violet.  This hair styled better too.  She reminds me of a Jersey Girl (big hair) version of Beatrix LeStrange from Harry Potter.  Can't wait to see the last movie!  I am going to take a break from her costume - lots of beading planned and I have to make another dozen of those small thread flowers.  Now on to the journal.

OH OH!

Just found out the Distress Stains are not waterproof. See what happens when you don't do your homework and try to take the quick path??? I don't think she will get wet, but even a little humidity may make them run if they aren't sealed and I can't seal her hair so she is bald again while I dye some other wool.  My dear friend Colleen gave me some beautiful long locks.  I don't know where she got them, but they are soooo soft.  I mixed some dyes and think I got the perfect color.  It is drying now and wool always drys so much lighter, so this may be a many step process.  Think I will pull the Stained wool apart and wet felt.
Gives me time to work on a Journal Round Robin I am in on the All Things Tim (Holtz) Yahoo group.  Here are some pics of the journal I created (more like a chunky book). My theme is "No Place Like Home"  and I have asked the 4 other participants to create "rooms" in my home.  I created the first room, the royal Hattery with some quotes, the second one by Shirley McClaine.  I received a journal with "The Animals We Love" theme.  Guess who is going to be the star of my page - Diamond Dog of course!

Front and back covers.  Quote on back cover is from Alice in Wonderland.

The Royal Hattery.  Don't know who the quote is from, no name was given.

This is the quote from Shirly McClaine.

Hairy Decisions

Incase you don't remember the Hoffman Challenge fabric, here is a pic.  I purchased dyed wool at AFIC and got  a lit purple and lt green I thought would work with the hoffman fabric.  I gave her the lt purple hair first and wasn't too crazy about it.  I decided to virtually change her hair color to the green but I think it would blend in too much with her eyes and the green of the Challenge fabric.  I pulled the hair off and decided to make it a few shades darker to match the darker purple in the fabric and the first coordinating fabric.  I used a new Ranger product, Distress stains in dusty Concord.  Like this hair color best which is a good thing because it's permenant!  Makes her eyes stand out I think. So now onto the rest of the doll and figuring out how to firmly attach her to the base and seat.  YIKES!!!

Base Finished

Here is a pic of the finished base.  The "seat" is an altered candle holder (cut the bottom ring and about 1" off in height and bent the top to make a seat).  It is set into the base.  The bucket I found at Michael's in the $1 bin section.  Love these!!!  The flowers are all made from the challenge fabric and coordinates.  Now to finish the doll.  I can't decide on what color hair to give her - I'm thinking purple....

Thanks so much for all the comments on the base.  I really appreciate it!

Progress on Challenge Doll

I spent all day yesterday making the base. I wanted it to look like cobblestones. My first approach was to embossed cardstock, color it with inks and then attach it to the wooden plaque base but I decided to try something new for me. I covered the top of the base with a thick coat of modeling paste and let it dry slightly then I carved it to look like small squares though I wish I made the lines more uneven, sanded it and let it dry until it was hard (went shopping and took my Mother to get her hair done while I waited). I then gave it a coat of a very watered down acryllic (a mix of white, brown and black from Ranger paint dabbers). Once it was dry, I rubbed on Soot, Tea Dye, Bundled Sage, Vintage Photo and Pumice Stone Distress inks to give the stones color and depth. I added highlights with Inca Gold, Foundry Bronze, and Silver Guilder's Paste which has mica in it. Once the top was done, I painted the sides with the same paints only thicker and coated it with crackle medium. Once that was dry, I gave it another coat of the paints using a sponge and dabbing it on. After it dried and crackled, I added the DIs and Guilder's Paste. There are some shiny spots on the top which were an accident but I like them! I got a little sloppy with the crackle medium but it didn't crackle and dried shiny. Now to mount the "perch" for the doll. If I don't like the doll on it, back to idea one!

Hand Tutorial

I have been working on my Hoffman Challenge doll. I sketched her out but can't seem to make the fabric fit the vision. I did get her face/head done and am pleased with the way it came out. I also finished her body and am in the process of making her costume which is the most time consuming. While I was doing her hands, I decided to make a little tutorial of how I sew and turn them. I got quite a few questions while I was at AFIC so I thought I would put together a little tutorial which can be found here: http://www.novasblossoms.com/handtut.pdf This is the method that works best for me. Hope someone out there finds it helpful.

Linda Misa's Visit and class

I had the wonderful treat of bringing Linda Misa from Australia home with me from AFIC. She taught her Phyllis class to our doll club members and a few others. I hope Linda has as good a time as we did. Her husband is a car nut like mine and he gave a ride in one of his "toys". I think Linda was trying to concoct a way to bring it back as a souvinier for her husband! Sorry it just wouldn't fit in her suitcase!

Here are some pics from the class. First the dolls as they appeared on the last day (Linda's class sample is the doll standing up), the group with a few friends with our royal guest (tiara look familiar?) in the middle, and the last is a pic of my finished doll, Fly me to the Moon. The Stars are Polymer Clay made with a cutting set from my friend Colleen (http://dolljourney.blogspot.com) who sells them. Her Parachute was molded over a lovely crystal bowl I have. Love how it came out! I really don't like to work with clay - guess I just need to practice and get out of my comfort zone. Really loved the class and learned many wonderful techniques. Thanks Linda. People in pic: back row Janice's Daughter, Heather, Diane K, Diane I, Maria, and Janice. Sitting front row: Me and Diamond, Linda, Colleen.

The Royals at AFIC

I am currently at AFIC in Ohio helping my dear friend Vickie in her booth. She is the proprietor of Ribbonsmyth - my fav place for ribbons, trims, and dyes. We wanted to pay tribute to the Royal Wedding so we wore our tiaras/Crown for the occasion.

The dolls here are just amazing. The gallery was mind boggling to walk through and it is such a joy to meet so many doll makers in one place! Our booth is right next to DollMakers Journey (http://www.dollmakersjourney.com ). I brought a small "trunk show" of dolls to display and also my new pattern Ladies of the French Court which is now available on CD through them. It is also available as an Epattern from Fabric Addictions (http://www.fabricaddictions.com ).

We leave Monday for home. Can't wait to see my DH and Diva Dog Diamond. I am bringing Linda Misa from Australia with me. She is going to teach a class to my doll club and then a few more to the 3D Doll Club in New York.