Demonstration and Fair...

I really enjoy these sorts of events...I'll be demonstrating doll making techniques with a varied programme (and sale of work) for the three days. I'll even be working on some of my china heads this time!

FREE PATTERN china head doll body...

Your first 'freebie' of the year!!

This is a very simple body which is ideal for these small china heads...it also fits the small metal 'minerva' heads beautifully, too.

I have stitched across the elbows and knees for this doll as it means I can pose her better, though I haven't shown this in the pattern as it's entirely optional.

To give you a rough size guide, this head measures about 2 1/2 inches across the shoulders and is about 3 inches high, the body makes her total height about 11 1/2 inches.....you can download your FREE PATTERN HERE....enjoy!

I'm back....

I'm back....finally...after a mad few months where Christmas took over (still in the job I was supposed to be leaving....looks like I'll be there a little longer too!) ahh, the joys of working in retail...everything else had to take a back seat, including my costume business dreams...though I haven't given up on them just yet (just feeling a little fickle at the moment!!) so to start the new year I have finally completed the doll body patterns and I have just put the first ones in my Etsy shop as a digital download...I'm feeling quite pleased with myself now!

To glue or not to glue?...that is the question!!

I'm often asked about attaching doll's heads to bodies and my simple answer is if you can avoid it DON'T GLUE !!

Most china heads have holes for attaching and the simplest way is to run a cotton tape (or ribbon) through the holes, pin the tapes in place on the body and sew. This way the head is secure, but doesn't have to be permanent, particularly for antique heads with reproduction bodies, sewing in place leaves the option to change the body to an antique one should it become available. This particular head (a beautiful Kobberman repro) has three sew holes front and back, though it's more common to find heads with just two holes front and back.

New Bodies..

A couple of almost completed doll bodies. The smaller one is tea stained to give more of an aged effect (I have also painted the boots as I prefer them with a boot design akin to the original china legs).

The larger body is for a reproduction parian head, so her lower limbs have been painted (they just need boot details and a coat of varnish to finish).

Hints and tips...

A good way to avoid damage to your dolls feet is to use an empty cotton reel, add a circle of felt to each end (this needs to be slightly larger than the cotton reel so that the reel itself does not come into contact with the feet), then thread either ribbon or cotton tape through the centre, making a loop at one end and back through the centre again so that the two free ends are at one side.Place the loop over one leg and with the cotton reel between both ankles, draw up the ribbon and tie around the other leg, this will stop the legs from bashing together.