Cloth Dolls And Making Cloth Dolls
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Making Art Dolls
This lens will help you if you are new doll maker, a learner or a bit more advanced at making cloth dolls.
I am going to help you here with tips on the best books to buy, the best places to find information and shortcuts so you will become a better Art doll maker sooner:-)
Creative Cloth Doll Beading: Designing and Embellishing with Beads
Ella By Di McDonald
Cloth Doll Workshop: From the Beginning and Beyond with Doll Masters elinor peace bailey, Patti Medaris Culea, and Barbara Will
When You Start To Make Dolls...
When you first start Cloth Doll making its a good idea to give yourself permission to make lots of mistakes. It's like anything you are learning to do, it takes practice and the more time you have to "play" the better dolls you will make.Luckily there is a huge cloth doll community on the internet so its easy to make friends who will help guide you along the way and you will have great fun as well.
More Information About Making Cloth Dolls
As You Progress....
As you progress you may decide to pay for some wonderful online doll classes.Most doll designers publish cloth doll patterns. One tip I will give you here is to make sure that the pattern has a rating on it, to show if it is suitable for beginners, intermediate or advanced doll makers.
What Fabric Should I Use?
Here are some of the most asked questions that doll makers send into me about cloth doll making. I hope they will help you.QUESTION: What fabric should I use to make the body of the doll with?
ANSWER: You can buy all sorts of good quality cotton fabric in flesh colours at quilt shops. If you experiment you will find the ones that you like the best. I tried many and finally decided that I liked using plain old Muslin ( Calico in Australia & NZ). I always tea and coffee dye it before using it. The stronger the mix the darker the shade. As an alternative instead of dying the fabric you can brush on the tea and coffee mixture straight onto the doll. Dont forget to dry it completely though.
Creative Cloth Doll Collection: A Complete Guide to Creating Figures, Faces, Clothing, Accessories, and Embellishments
Creative Cloth Doll Making: New Approaches for Using Fibers, Beads, Dyes, and Other Exciting Techniques
Cloth Dolls, I Have a Doll in this Book
Creative Cloth Doll Making: New Approaches for Using Fibers, Beads, Dyes, and Other Exciting Techniques
Amazon Price: $13.69 (as of 06/02/2012)
List Price: $24.99
This book is part of a series of 3 cloth doll making books. All three are wonderful and this is probably the best because it is the most general. It reviews making the doll and gives good detail on the formula for placing facial features (there is a book in the series devoted to doll faces but this is enough to get started). The dolls are not all women or even all people, some are characters and are magical. The clothes are colorful, the variety of dolls is large and everything is unusual and fun. There are lots of pictures for inspiration and patterns to do the work. I recommend this book first but I also recommend the entire series (Creative Cloth Doll Faces and Creative Cloth Doll Couture).
What Are The BEST Colored Pencils To Use ON the Doll Face?
QUESTION: What sorts of coloured pencils are best for drawing the cloth dolls face?ANSWER: Prismacolor Berol pencils Colored Pencil Gift Sets
are the best by far.They come in hundreds of colors and are especially oily so they work great on fabric. These are available at Hobby Lobby and Quilt shops in Australia & NZ.
Cloth Doll Books for You
500 Handmade Dolls: Modern Explorations of the Human Form (500 Series) by Lark Books
Contemporary and unique, these handmade creations more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques by Patti Medaris Culea
The face is the most important feature of a doll - more...0 points
Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction by Susanna Oroyan
An in-depth guide to doll making from concept to & more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Beading: Designing and Embellishing with Beads by Patti Medaris Culea, Laura McCabe, Anne Hesse
<b>An illustrated guide to embellishing doll more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Making: New Approaches for Using Fibers, Beads, Dyes, and Other Exciting Techniques by Patti Medaris Culea
Though doll making is one of the oldest forms of a more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Couture: New Approaches to Making Beautiful Clothing and Accessories
Wonderful Art Doll books
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What About Stuffing?
QUESTION: What is the best sort of stuffing to use?ANSWER: I find the best is a good polyester stuffing. This Morning Glory stuffing is fabulous and is available at Amazon
Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques
Figures in Fabric
How Does An Online Cloth Doll Class Operate?
What are online Classes?
Most Cloth doll online classes are designed to be read on a website.Usually the doll designer makes the class into lessons or chapters, this way you can make the doll in your own time instead of having to make it all at once.
I always upload all my Cloth Doll lessons at once so that the fast doll makers don't have to wait for the slow ones.
More About Online Classes
My online classes are printable so that if you don't have time to make the doll when you first get the class you can do it months later if you like.
I make sure my classes have step by step instructions and each instruction has at least one photo.
It is the easiest way to make a cloth doll besides being in a real time class with a live teacher. The designer is always available to the students by email and can ask questions.
Once my students have paid for the class, they get sent the URL or website address where they will find the supply list, the actual pattern pieces so they can print them off and the lessons.
Online classes are a fun and very informative process and help you learn the techniques involved in cloth doll making
I make sure my classes have step by step instructions and each instruction has at least one photo.
It is the easiest way to make a cloth doll besides being in a real time class with a live teacher. The designer is always available to the students by email and can ask questions.
Once my students have paid for the class, they get sent the URL or website address where they will find the supply list, the actual pattern pieces so they can print them off and the lessons.
Online classes are a fun and very informative process and help you learn the techniques involved in cloth doll making
Introduction to Making Cloth Dolls
Interesting Arty Lenses
Would You Like To Be More Creative?????
Creativity is actually a state of "being". We are all born creative spirits. As you would know if you have ever observed a child in play, children are extremely creative. What happens then between childhood and adulthood which makes some of us feel we have no creativity and we never did????I dont think that we are encouraged enough to be different, we are taught to conform, to behave, to not get in a mess or be dirty. We stop experimenting and start to believe it is not good to do those things, which in fact, enhance our creativity. We start to lose touch with it.
What about those who just seem to be able to draw, really draw, not abstracts but real drawings. You know, those kids you envy, the ones you wanted to be like
They practice.
Don't you remember they were always drawing,always.
If you practiced all day every day, you would also be able to draw beautifully.
Doesn't that make sense?? Its like every skill we learn. We learn to ride a bike by practicing, we fall off but we get back on again and again and again.
How often did you practice drawing?For hours? For days?
I know I looked at my pitiful efforts and decided I couldn't draw. I was one of the poor failures who just wasn't given the GIFT
NOT TRUE.
Ok lets get you started on the way to becoming a creative spirit again.
Just to start to convince you that you actually have it in you, I want you to think about every day life. How often have you cooked a meal by intuition. NO recipe, you didn't need it did you? No, because you have practiced cooking in the past and know how to do it.
You CREATE a meal.
OK Have you ever thought about what sort of outfit you would like to wear to a special occasion? Yes I bet. You are creating it in your mind.
You have screaming children who want you to tell them a story. You don't have a book but you Make up a story That is creativity.
See?
You are creative in many many ways all through your life.
Doll Making
Aranzi Aronzo Cute Dolls (Let's Make Cute Stuff)
This successor to <i>The Cute Book</i> more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques by Patti Medaris Culea
The face is the most important feature of a doll - more...0 points
Aranzi Aronzo Fun Dolls (Let's Make Cute Stuff)
From the makers of <i>The Cute Book</i> more...0 points
Knitted Babes: Five Dolls & Their Wardrobes to Knit & Stitch by Clare Garland
Novice knitters only need to know a few stitches t more...0 points
The Fabulous Book of Paper Dolls (Klutz) by Julie Collings
The Fabulous Book of Paper Dolls from Klutz is the more...0 points
3 Easy Steps To Become More Creative
Here are three easy steps to become more creative.
1: Find some quiet time to relax EVERY day! No TV, NO radio blaring in the background. Just you and thought
This gives our brains some time to actually bring some creative thoughts to you. You just don't hear this creative part of you when its too noisy.
If you can sit outside by a stream or fountain this will also help you relax. If you have something you would like to create, just muse on it. Think about it in the quiet and you will be AMAZED at what will start happening for you.
2; Let go of Judgement and Fear.
Do not judge anything you do that is creative. Creative endeavours and art are subjective, so what one person likes, another will hate. If you insist on judging your work then only compare it to your own work. That way you can decide if you are getting better and really, your opinion is the only one that matters. Let go of Fear. It is only as we move through the fear that we have a wonderful feeling of achievement and then we gain more and more confidence within us.
3: Play ( practice)
Find time to play! I don't care how you do it, if you want to be more creative you MUST play. Playing is experimentation. Whether you want to make a doll, a piece of art or do some writing or whatever, you need to give yourself permission to play. You are not aiming to complete anything, to make anything or to actually write anything that makes sense. You just spend an hour or however long you have in the quiet with your supplies and just say WHAT IF?
What if I did that, what would happen, do it and see.
You will come to love this special time with yourself and your creativity.
Have fun.
1: Find some quiet time to relax EVERY day! No TV, NO radio blaring in the background. Just you and thought
This gives our brains some time to actually bring some creative thoughts to you. You just don't hear this creative part of you when its too noisy.
If you can sit outside by a stream or fountain this will also help you relax. If you have something you would like to create, just muse on it. Think about it in the quiet and you will be AMAZED at what will start happening for you.
2; Let go of Judgement and Fear.
Do not judge anything you do that is creative. Creative endeavours and art are subjective, so what one person likes, another will hate. If you insist on judging your work then only compare it to your own work. That way you can decide if you are getting better and really, your opinion is the only one that matters. Let go of Fear. It is only as we move through the fear that we have a wonderful feeling of achievement and then we gain more and more confidence within us.
3: Play ( practice)
Find time to play! I don't care how you do it, if you want to be more creative you MUST play. Playing is experimentation. Whether you want to make a doll, a piece of art or do some writing or whatever, you need to give yourself permission to play. You are not aiming to complete anything, to make anything or to actually write anything that makes sense. You just spend an hour or however long you have in the quiet with your supplies and just say WHAT IF?
What if I did that, what would happen, do it and see.
You will come to love this special time with yourself and your creativity.
Have fun.
My Doll Aimee
Susanna Oroyan
Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction by Susanna Oroyan
An in-depth guide to doll making from concept to & more...0 points
Finishing the Figure: Doll Costuming, Embellishments, Accessories by Susanna Oroyan
8 1/2 x 11 350 color and 300 black-and-white illus more...0 points
Anatomy of a Doll: The Fabric Sculptor's Handbook by Susanna Oroyan
More than just a dollmaking book, <i>Anatomy more...0 points
Dolls of the Art Deco Era 1910-1940: Collect, Restore, Create and Play by Susanna Oroyan
Rediscover old sentimental favorite dolls from the more...0 points
Fantastic Figures: Ideas and Techniques Using the New Clays by Susanna Oroyan
In <i>Anatomy of a Doll</i> master dol more...0 points
Creative Cloth Explorations: Adventures in Fairy-Inspired Fiber Art Share your own customer images Search inside this book C
3 Easy Ways To Deal With All Those Unfinished Cloth Doll Or ArtProjects
Are you one of those Doll Makers or Artists who goes to classes and always comes home with unfinished projects that just sit around? Do you glance at them from time to time only to feel really guilty? Do they clutter up your work space? Are they a constant source of frustration?Ok I am going to help you. I am a BIG believer that taking action is the way to go with most concerns in life. The longer you do nothing, the more of an energy drain these things become. Even the wrong action is better than none in my opinion. Here's what you need to do.
First answer the following question.
Is this something I want to finish ever?? Be very truthful here.
If the answer is NO! then either throw it out or give it away immediately to someone who might enjoy finishing it.
If the answer is YES! then I can come up with a few very creative ways to deal with it.
Idea 1: If you prefer to finish this project yourself (or a number of projects) but just don't seem to have the time, one way is to bag all the components of the project and instructions into a ziplock bag. Do a separate bag for each project. Get out you diary and choose a day of the week when you can find an hour free. Mark that time as a finish project date with yourself. Even by doing an hour each week you will start to feel like you are really achieving something and you will start to become more motivated.
Idea 2: Another great fun way would be to get a group of arty or doll friends to help. If you each have something unfinished you could round robin them. In other words, say you have 4 friends, each project gets bagged up and sent to the next recipient on your list. Each person has say..3 weeks to work on the project then hand it onto the next person. The last person MUST finish the project and then it arrives back in your hands finished. A good idea then, would be to have an unveiling of all the projects and have a good laugh and a fun time explaining why and how you did each bit of the project.
Idea 3: Another way to deal with these unfinished projects is to put them on ebay and auction them off as "Unfinished Art Mystery Parcels ", what fun this would be! I reckon you would be AMAZED at how many people would actually go for this one.
Patti Culea Books
Creative Cloth Doll Faces: Using Paints, Pastels, Fibers, Beading, Collage, and Sculpting Techniques by Patti Medaris Culea
The face is the most important feature of a doll - more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Beading: Designing and Embellishing with Beads by Patti Medaris Culea, Laura McCabe, Anne Hesse
<b>An illustrated guide to embellishing doll more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Making: New Approaches for Using Fibers, Beads, Dyes, and Other Exciting Techniques by Patti Medaris Culea
Though doll making is one of the oldest forms of a more...0 points
Creative Cloth Doll Couture: New Approaches to Making Beautiful Clothing and Accessories by Patti Medaris Culea
This book is the third installment on making creat more...0 points
Cloth Doll Books On Ebay
Now its Your Turn To Squidoo
Make your own Squidoo lens
Squidoo is a great place to create a web site (called a lens). You can share your thoughts on gadgets, crafting, arts, food or what ever's on your mind and maybe make a little $$ along the way....oh and did I mention it's FREE!
Click here to start your Lens
Whats Been The Most Difficult Thing For You About Making Cloth Dolls?
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NinaLouder
May 11, 2012 @ 7:28 am | delete
- Nice lens
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theraggededge
Mar 28, 2012 @ 6:19 am | delete
- Your dolls are gorgeous, Di!
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printabledolls
Feb 2, 2012 @ 10:04 am | delete
- so happy to read, one of my dolls is in one of these books! lovely lens!
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fullofshoes
Dec 18, 2011 @ 9:08 am | delete
- lots of great info here, thanks, great lens.
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Koupie Oct 18, 2011 @ 3:41 pm | delete
- Super lens, I have made cloth dolls in the past and I seem to be getting back into it again now.
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MiddleSister
Sep 24, 2011 @ 9:46 pm | delete
- This is all you need to start making cloth dolls, or go to the next level. Cool!
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TheTravelGal
Sep 22, 2011 @ 3:49 pm | delete
- This is such a fun lens, I love cloth dolls and have made a few, but some of the ones you have here are not what I usually see. I really love them. thanks
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insta sculpt
Sep 21, 2011 @ 2:24 am | delete
- nice information on craft;
thanks for gharing your information
face sculpting treatment in mumbai
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Laniann
Sep 20, 2011 @ 9:17 pm | delete
- You have created some very attractive looking dolls. I enjoyed watching your videos. Blessed by a Squid Angel.
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CosmeticMom
Jul 6, 2011 @ 2:35 pm | delete
- I'd love to have one for me :) These are so Diva-inspired!
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blackspanielgallery
Apr 5, 2011 @ 10:20 pm | delete
- Another quality lens.
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MissMerFaery
Jan 17, 2010 @ 5:27 pm | delete
- This is a brilliant lens! The most difficult thing for me is finding the time to get started, lol! I want to learn how to make cloth dolls as part of my Realm of MerFaery range, so this lens is a superb starting point for me, thank you! Will be checking back frequently!
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Denise
Nov 12, 2009 @ 6:36 pm | delete
- Awesome lens and beautiful work on your dolls.
Please check out my Our Generation Doll Blog here
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Ariel100
Nov 11, 2009 @ 5:05 pm | delete
- My nieces are going to love this lens, we found a really fun shop that sold these internationally but hard to find here. We also use Beading Supplies to create our own.
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nightcats
Nov 6, 2009 @ 11:43 am | delete
- This is a remarkable lens. Five stars and I'm linking to it from my altered book lens. I love your points about creativity, and I also love your discussion of the craft projects that have been uncompleted for ages. I certainly have a few of those. LOL
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AlmaStoller
Oct 20, 2009 @ 7:21 am | delete
- This is a really fantastic lens.
Alma
http://www.almastoller.typepad.com
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peter9983
Mar 25, 2009 @ 6:58 pm | delete
- Very nice lense, keep it up !
Peter
magic of making up review
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Sep 27, 2008 @ 1:46 am | delete
- really lovely! my niece would love this!
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Pixie_Patch
Aug 14, 2008 @ 4:43 am | delete
- very interesting these cloth dolls are beautiful!
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Pamela2Heaven
Jul 2, 2008 @ 9:01 pm | delete
- How cute they are!
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by DiMcDonald
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