Year: 2008

Posted on by

Eerie lighting and doll bodices

It’s been pouring and dark most of the day, and it’s seemed more like night than day. I’ve been making a muslin bodice for our original folk art kitty cat dolls, carefully hand basting it and then pulling it apart, making new markings, and then basting it together again. Whenever you make a clothing pattern for a doll, or anyone really, a muslin is a good idea. A muslin is a version of your garment made in an inexpensive fabric, sewn together with a basting stitch, which is a straight stitch with a long stitch length that can be pulled out easily.

The bodice is the most difficult part of a dress to fit, next to the sleeves. I used some cotton fabric for my muslin, marked a rough draft of my pattern pieces directly on the fabric with a permanent marker, and then I sewed it at the shoulders and the sides. Next I tried it on the doll, and marked the arm and neck holes again using a pencil, so as not to mark the doll by accident, again directly on the fabric. Using a seam ripper, I pulled the stitching out, and sewed new shoulder and side seams, over and over until the bodice fit right. The fit will still change once the sleeves and skirt are attached, and the lining will add some bulk too. I tried to compensate for that by adding some ease, an extra amount at the sides and shoulders to accommodate the extra bulk of the gathered fabric that will be added once those are attached. It is a process of trial and error.

Once I had my muslin about the way I wanted it, I traced my front and back pieces, using a light box, onto tracing paper with a permanent marker. I will add seam allowances later. I think I will scan my pattern and print it so I can cut it without destroying my originals. The eerie light of the photo is from my light box glowing in the dark of this gloomy day.

I got a call today from a sweet older lady at the library. They did, in fact, find a copy of Picnic at Hanging Rock for me. So, my surreal conversation with the librarian actually worked out. I am happy because now I know I can use Interlibrary Loan, hopefully without causing too much trouble.

Posted on by

Our art doll gallery, revised

I revised our main art doll gallery page today, and added four subcategory pages, jointed dolls, doll figurines, soft dolls and toys, and already adopted dolls. I think it is more manageable than it was yesterday. The page was getting so huge, it took forever just to open it in my html editor. I’m going to make up web pages for the soft dolls and toys on our web site too. Right now, they’re linked to my Etsy shop.

I don’t know what is going on with Blogger lately. My blog photos are uploading either too big or too small. I keep hoping that will be fixed soon. I liked it when everything fit on the page automatically. I’m uploading them large, and then changing their sizes in the html for now.

Okay, enough computer talk…I think I will be working on some doll patterns shortly, for our art dolls, at least part of the time while I am still fixing the Ruffing’s site.

Posted on by

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Prudence the Boston Terrier original dog art doll figurine by artist Max Bailey

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyPrudence is a handmade original, one-of-a-kind Boston Terrier dog art doll figurine, hand painted and hand sculpted in paperclay by artist Max Bailey.

When Prudence had her first birthday, her mama told her she could pick out her very own doll.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyIt was not a difficult decision.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyIn fact, it was love at first sight. Little Alice was by far the most beautiful of all the doggie dolls.

Prudence takes Little Alice everywhere she goes, and shows her to everyone she meets.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max Bailey“Isn’t she beautiful?” Prudence asks. They look at Little Alice, then at Prudence. They smile.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max Bailey“She couldn’t be more beautiful,” they answer.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyPrudence wears a pretty red dress that has blue flowers with yellow centers, and an ivory collar that matches her ruffled petticoats. Little Alice is dressed in bright yellow, with tiers of petticoats that show beneath her dress.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyPrudence is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and Little Alice are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyPrudence is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak. She stands 6 3/8 inches tall.

Prudence the Boston Terrier, Original One-of-a-kind Dog Art Doll Figurine by artist Max BaileyUpdate: Prudence has already been adopted. Thank you!

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max Bailey

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyDinah is a pretty little Dachshund.

She is polite, and sweet, and thoughtful. Dinah always has a kind word and good wishes for everyone she meets.

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyWherever Dinah goes, she brings a gift.

No occasion is necessary. She just likes to drop by and surprise her friends with something special she made that she thinks they might like.

What she doesn’t realize, and what her friends all know, is that Dinah herself is a gift.

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyDinah wears a soft beige dress with a white collar and cuffs, and tiers of white petticoats that show beneath her dress. A soft bow of deep rose at the front matches the deep rose sash that ties in the back in a pretty bow.

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyDinah is an original one-of-a-kind work of art, and she is meant for display only. No molds are ever used in my work. She and the gift she carries are hand sculpted from paperclay, and entirely hand painted using acrylic paints.

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyDinah is signed and dated, and sealed with matte varnish for protection and preservation. She rests firmly on a turned wooden base that is stained and sealed in golden oak.

Dinah stands 5 an 3/4 inches tall.

Dinah the Dachshund, Original One-of-a-kind Folk Art Dog Doll Figurine by Max BaileyUpdate: Dinah has already been adopted. Thank you!