Posts (page 2)

Greetings dolliers!  If you have been following our blogs from the beginning ... you should have the doll, the materials, supplies, tutorials and visual photos to begin making your doll - on any budget!  Lets say, however, that you want a more *original pattern* ... where on earth would you think to look?

Tonight I want to talk about all those wonderful *HIDDEN* patterns ... found RIGHT before your eyes!  Ever see the historical fashion plates - and patterns found in library books?  Most give a scale.  Why not simply zoom in or out and print the pattern to fit your 1:12 scale doll?

Have an old Delineator or fashion magazine?  They too have patterns that you can adjust and use.

What about Barbie doll patterns?  Again - just reduce the size and wala!  How about full size lady patterns (which give a diagram on outside of package) ... again ... adjust size on copier and wala!  Just make sure to size your pattern on paper towel first to adjust fit as necessary.

Lastly ... why use a pattern at all?  I make 90% of all my doll clothes from a rectangle or square and *squish*.  REALLY!  Skirts, pants, sleeves, tops, coats etc.  Take any historical photo, and train your eye to *see* the shapes and then simply copy them in material.  Priska of Regalia miniatures (one of our early moderators and now creator of those fabulous $1000 miniature dolls) does this on many of her creations!  Draping is the key to everything!

Now of course - you either can *see* shapes or not.  No worries if you can't!  There are many fantastic pattern makers out there!  Kathy Mendenhall (on our list) is a great one to look up!  You could also purchase the 50+ pattern CD for the archive section on the list for $7.50 (www.minidollLIST.com).  The point is - there are many different avenues to go, simply point your dollmaking muse in one direction and let her steer a course for a grand adventure!

Happy Creating!
DANA

Greetings everyone!  A really good friend of mine - Kathy H, wrote an email telling me how she recently did a trade, calling it *sweat equity*.  WHAT a fantastic way to get items you need in the miniature world on a budget!

For example ... if you've read through all our blog entries so far ... you already know how to find out if you are *doll* or *material* motivated in regards to creating!  And once you gathered up all the necessary supplies, accessories, tutorials and doll ... you probably have a few items still missing!   Time to get out your extra dollmaking supplies or talents and post to the minidollLlist OR email someone whose work you've admired.

If you think this doesn't work ... here is a GREAT example of how I started!

Back in the day .... no one knew me from Adam (or Amanda).  I had to find a way to get known, without publically posting for sale items  on *off days*.  WELL I asked for GUINEA PIGS!  Thats right ... in order to get people to come to my website and see my work .... I gave out 10 free doll kits per month for several months on different lists, and simply asked for feedback.  This worked around the rules of selling on the TINY TALK list I was on .....AND put my name out there.  THEN those people ended up buying kits, and telling friends etc etc.

ALL it cost me was *Sweat Equity*.  I'm sure if you think hard enough ... you could find a talent to share or trade with someone to find those missing pieces on the dollmaking list!  Sometimes even *real* life activities work!  Can you proofread?  Do webwork?  Research?  Volunteer to do some of this and just ask.  The very worst people can say is NO.

To make life even easier for you ...We will be having an upcoming SWAP day on the list during the first full week of August ... so gather those excess packs of materials, laces and trims now --- so you are ready to trade when the time comes.  Until next time....

HAPPY CREATING!

Greetings miniature dolliers!  Bet all you *material girls* were eagerly awaiting the details of inspiration creating for your dollmaking muse!  (If you have absolutely NO idea what we are talking about .... start at Blog Entry #1 ... and work your way forward).

In my experience .... there are two kinds of motivation for creating a miniature doll!  The doll itself ... and a fantastic piece of material!  (Guess which category I fall into ).  Our blog went into the motivation for those that create seeing a doll first ...and now we will go into us *material girls*.

To create a passionate piece of work ... you have to find the little nudges that tickle your dollmaking muse.  Do bright colors spark your creativity?  Do subtle, elegant weaves send shivers of delight down your spine?  Whatever the form or fiber the material takes ... you know this is the creating form for you!

A personal guide might be in how you *STORE* those materials?  Are you an impulsive collector, with random bits of material that match in TO DO boxes for the next perfect doll?  Or is each piece neatly folded in a box or drawer?  Do you match things by color, texture, scale?  Each one of these habits, can point you in a direction to make the perfect doll!  AND it all starts with an idea book, research library, supplies and of course a spare doll or two.  With all that pysche behind us ... lets get creating!

Take that fabulous piece of material .... and picture in your mind's eye .. the perfect outfit made out of this fabric.  Next, take a sheet of paper, and write down quickly (without hesitation) WHAT you need in materials, accessories, doll painting to MATCH your material!  Say you could snap your fingers, and a magic dolly genie would instantly create one for you!  Don't think how hard it will be .... if you  have the materials ....  pattern etc.  Just put down everything you need and we'll work on the rest.

Ok - so you have the perfect outfit in your minds eye ... you have your main dress material ... now its time to hunt up the coordinating fabric.  (**HINT** do NOT do this after a few glasses of wine ... TRUST ME ).  Figure out what you have, what you need and doll you will be using.

For our example ... lets use the country girl moving to New York for a big job interview.  I've already selected her outfit from Blog Entry #2 .... a black pencil skirt, white tailored shirt with embroidered cuffs, fabulous colored shoes and purse.

Now the *material* I am basing all this on --- is a fantastic old handkie with tiny tiny embroidery on it.  Suitable for the cuffs and top of her attire, all in scale and nicely drapable.  So I have the hankie material for special top, I then need to find a med weight black material to create that pencil skirt from.  I also need a funky leather print or logo print purse.  Now where would I get that?

The skirt material is VERY important ... too light weight of cotton and it will drape TOOO much and not have enough body to hold the tight fit.  TOOO heavy weight and the skirt will look out of scale and hang funny.  My favorite is an inexpensive *Walmart* cotton.  Its falls into the cheap department ... but drapes very nicely!

The purse material is where I have a LOT of fun getting creative!  Now of course - I would NEVER really DO THIS!  I'm sure there are a lot of LOGO COPYRIGHT infringements!  BUT if I WOULD do it ....

Go to the Louis Vuitton website, download a photo of one of their signature purses and save it to your desktop.  Next in your favorite photo editing program, select one of the monogram LV sections, and then tile it on a 3x3" square.  Next print this out on a heavier weight cotton material.

(side note --- the easiest way I found to print material through MY printer - and I DO suggest you read your individual manufactoring instructions.... is to take a piece of cotton material, and a full size label sheet.  Pull off the label part, adhere it to the material, cut it to fit exactly and run through your printer like a regular piece of paper).

Next take your favorite envelope pattern (purse pattern/directions) and have a ball!

So ... you now have all the materials, and accessories needed to create that doll.  OOoopsss ... WHAT doll you ask?  Hopefully you have a few doll bodies reserved for just this special occasion!  Maybe two or three, so you can actually PICK one instead of having no choice!  Here are a few hints for tailoring your doll to fit the material!

If your doll is prepainted ... and she just doesn't quite go with what you are making .... perhaps you can change the painting a bit?  I use acrylic paints ... and if you don't like the colors etc ... simply take a Q-tip and fingernail polish ... remove painting and then you can go ahead and create her to your specifications~!  If you have a china painted doll, perhaps you can add a bit of metallic sheen to her lips for a more contemporary look.  Or powdered eye shadow for a more dramatic look?

At any rate ... position of the head, hands, length of legs (if you are doing a contemporary mini skirt ... the obvious legs cut off at the knee won't work) are also important!  Its great to have a selection of arms/legs on hand to make the choice of clothing easier!  AND of course there are ways to camoflage arms that end to soon (but that is in an upcoming blog).

Now you are set to create!  You have the correct doll, materials, accessories and want to start sewing!  ONE last word of advice before you begin .... get a VISUAL reference besides the pattern!   Take that idea book, and see if you can find your pattern in several different poses.  One perhaps from the side, front and back.  This way when you dress your doll ... you will remember to make her 3-D and not flat!

Those are the basics for the *material girl* creators!  (or guys ).... stay tuned for more fun, inspiration and
HAPPY CREATING!

Welcome Back, minidoll creators!  Do all the wonderful gratis tutorials and archives in Blog #1, leave you a bit floundering and overwhelmed?  Well fear not - brave artists!  We're ready to help YOU, help YOURSELF get started... through a tiny bit of research.

Lets get started with a small self exam.  Are you a *DOLL* inspired artist ... or a *MATERIAL* inspired artist?
1.  Do you pick up a dolly and with one look at her sweet little face, just KNOW how she should be dressed?
2.  OR ... do your fingers need to run over the weave of many materials until one just jumps out from the bunch ... and, after a quick glance, you know exactly WHAT the outfit should be? 

Two different ways to get inspired .... but one common goal.  A finished doll!

Dolly Inspired:  Pick up your blank doll (or even one with a painted face) and listen to what she tells you to dress her like.  Not kidding .  Each little face has a bit of magic string connected to your artistic brain bell ... and when the right idea comes up ... ding ding ding!  It could, of course, be influenced by a book you read, a photo you'd like to copy, a competition you'd like to enter, or simply a kit already purchased.  The main thing ... is to get a grasp on what you'd like as an end result.

For our sample - lets say we'd like to do an old fashion girl, moving to New York for a job interview.  Once I have this background info .... a *storyline* if you will, my job as an artist just became easier.

I know I need a pretty, fresh face... but with a unique feature that would help her stand out in a big city.  Then a simple but elegant outfit which could have been purchased on a budget.   And lastly, a contemporary hair style that would be easily done by herself.

Once I have the fiction ideas down - its time to pull out my *idea* scrap book and start paging through all the entries.
Soon I have pulled out a face photo (for makeup) with similar features to the doll..... a simple, but elegant hair updo picture, and lastly a tailored black pencil skirt, with  a slim, but embroidered cuff white blouse.   Wow!  2 of the 3 things we need to get started!

Alright ... once we have the fictional storyline, the visual aids in photographs ... its time to surf online to find the tutorials to make these ideas happen! 

WHERE to start? 

If you happen to belong to the minidollLIST.com its easy!  We have over 150 tutorials online  - 75 of which can be found in the tutorial section alone.  I know there are at least 2 painting face tutorials there, a basic wigging, and with a little modification  a slim black skirt.  The key is to adjust your *inner eye* to see what you need in existing patterns.  Simply take what you need and erase the rest.  For example - the slim black pencil skirt could be the MAE WEST dress pattern, with material cut off from the knee down.  Add a tiny slit in back and wala!

Wasn't this easy?  We now have a storyline for our dolly. Visual aides and tutorials on how to actually MAKE her. Now I Bet you can't wait to get started!  In the upcoming blogs we will of course go into more detail on all the different areas ... but for now ... start looking for the right material to match your vision and tune in for the *material inspired artist* hints.
...
HAPPY CREATING!



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Greetings!  And welcome to our very first foray into the Blogging world.  Our 10 year old online group, minidoll LIST has reached a staggering 1300+ members, and we'd like to add a  *personal* flavor to the creating and inspirational side of dollmaking with this forum.

If you're like most miniaturists, learning anything new is a stressful experience that has you teetering between the thrill of purchasing a new doll kit and actually making it.  AND you can always count on procrastination to stall the process, inventing hundreds of reasons why you can't ACTUALLY start.  The kit then becomes one more TODO ... and the stress begins to build in the back of your mind, thinking of all those little naked bodies waiting to be dressed.

So guess what?  Its time to get out those little bodies and learn the tricks of the dollmaking trade.  In no time flat, you can have a little person fully dressed ... AND we're here to hold your hand along the way. The first step is reading this Blog, and clicking through the sources below to get your inspiration going.

BACKUP Assistance:  If you have a naked dolly, and want to create a certain type of outfit at no cost, click around our archive section for hours of free tutorials.  If you are a *people* oriented person, and want instant feedback, simply click to our list website  for a FREE membership.  If you SERIOUSLY want a fix right NOW ... we have a wonderful group of ladies that meet on Thurs & Sun 10am & 7pm (CST) in our minidollPOSSE group.  This group is open to everyone and was established to provide newer members with help, advice and learning through free tutorials, games and surprise lectures.  The Posse meetings are held in our classroom.  This gives you a wonderful opportunity as well to use the room before purchasing a class online.

Talking about the chatroom,  our Fall online classes are starting up, with MYRA (a beginner little girl) open for registration right now! She is part one of two classes devoted to showing you the basics of piece cutting materials, laces and trims to create a doll entirely of gluing.  After completion of both classes, you will be emailed a very nice certificate from the minidollU.

Student photos of previous classes, can be seen in the student gallery.

If you are more of a lurker, no worries, we have loads of inspiration for you also that doesn't require you to take part until you are comfortable!

For example, one of our best selling CD's (Master CD), is filled with hours and hours of tutorials for only $15 plus shipping!  The beauty of this CD, are all the tutorials you can take along on holiday, and no need for internet connection.  Just your laptop.

We also provide a wonderful TUTORIAL MEMBERSHIP
each year, which features 6 fantastic tutorials and patterns for only $1.25 each. Each issue is filled with patterns, research, photos and artists. 

Looking for a few more wonderful gratis tutorials before jumping in?  How about our online ezine - FRILLS & FANCY  or archive section from the last 10 years?  Some of the links to artists and websites are outdated,  however the tutorials contain all kinds of really cool dollmaking tips and secrets.  We no longer send out paper patterns, but compiled all the patterns on one CD for these archive tutorials.

WHEW!  That should get your thinking caps on for today.  Join me again soon as we start in on the basics of getting that doll put together, and

HAPPY CREATING!
DANA