Betty Boop
This is my rendition of Betty Boop, a classy cartoon made into a doll. She is made with fabric and intricately painted in acrylic paint. You will notice that Betty still needs some shoes. That's okay. We like each other because we both like to go around the house with bare feet once in a while. Betty will get new shoes later. I think she is as adorable as could be, with or without the shoes! The Doll Makers Muse version of a vintage Betty Boop pattern is
Shirring Fabric for Dolls
Shirring is a great technique to spruce up any old fabric while adding some serious visual interest without a lot of effort.
Think of it as "cheating surface embellishment." It can be a relaxing pause when you're in dollmaking mode, but not quite sure where your doll is going. Shirring is a great way to create "something from nothing" without thinking or planning too far ahead.
Beaded Betty
Today I would like to share with you an amazing interpretation of Betty Boop, created from my pattern by Dot Lewallen of Speedy Beadie. I am utterly flabbergasted at her work!
Dot made her Betty out of beads! I think it's remarkable. Dot says, "She's ready to boop, and so am I. Boop Boop-Be Doop!" Dot, I'm ready to boop with you, too!
Bibbie
Bibbie is a "blank slate" doll created for a Traveling Doll Project. She'll travel around other artists through the mail. Each artist will add something to Bibbie as she goes, interpreting her according to their artistic vision, and write in an art journal. Eventually she will return completed, and the journal will be filled. The thing I love about Bibbie the most right now is her tutti-frutti hair. It has been floating around my stash for quite some time now (several years, actually), and I am so excited because I think it's a perfect starting point for her. What a personality it gives her, wouldn't you agree?
Making Cartoon Curls
While evaluating a vintage Betty Boop sewing pattern I found online, I've decided to use Paperclay to make Betty's hair, rather than yarn or fiber.
After all, she's got these wicked spiky curls and she is a cartoon.Betty Is Making Headway
Betty's HEAD is without a doubt the most interesting part of the vintage doll pattern I have been working on. The head is made of a butterfly-shaped "pillow" which constitutes the face, and a completely separate "head back" which is sewn on separately by hand. That way, the face is flat and can lie on Betty's shoulders, and the back of the head will be round.
The Iris Map
If you can color-by-number, you can make beautiful eyes for your dolls every time.
Use colored pencils, paint, pastel, or chalk to blend the eye colors according to this helpful iris map.
Hide The Seams
Here's a great tip to take your cloth doll to the next level: make it into a mixed media sculpture by filling in the seams with Paperclay.
This Dress is for the Birds
Here's a very quick sketch of a technique that you can use to make your doll's dress "poof" out. Make a bird cage!
Dyeing for Mohair
If you make dolls, you probably have some white mohair lying around. I have lots of it. But I don't need white mohair. I need some color! Let's see how easy it is to dye it using Kool Aid!