Bravura

I think this is my favorite doll of the coolaberation. Meet Bravura, who is Gail's doll. She's always reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's." So I decided that she needed the cigarette holder and cigarette, which of course necessitated hands. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I still need to finish the edges of the gloves though.

A thing of beauty.

This incredibly beautiful face was created by Susan. She does the most incredible embroidery work as you can see. I feel so fortunate to have been able to do a swap with her. Now I'm busy planning the doll I'm going to make.

3d Icicle Swap.

This is the swap doll I received from Nina. Gorgeous beadwork! I love the face. I think I'm going to make it a goal for the coming year to learn how to do this type of face.

Unfortunately I thought I had taken a picture of mine when it was finished but I hadn't. However I've been playing with some alternative versions of the icicle doll so when I finish them I'll post those.

3D Momiji Swap

Decidedly Different Dolls had a momiji swap. The criteria was that like a momiji doll the doll had to have a secret compartment for a message. I wanted my doll to have a bit of the momiji shape with the big head and Fisher Price Body.

I used a medicine bottle for the body and a styrofoam ball for the head. Cut out the bottom of the ball to insert the medicine cap and glued it in. Then I paper mached the head with newspaper. After which I gessoed it white. Then I used toilet paper and glue to create the nose, eyes and mouth. When that was dry, I covered it with white tissue paper for the face and a patterned tissue for the hair. The body I covered with Japanese Origami paper and embellished with beads.

This is the doll I got from Y. Isn't she beautiful? Her head comes off and she has a darling tiny scroll inside.

Day of the Dead Challenge

Well once again I didn't finish my doll on time for the challenge. Had a good excuse this time though as I caught a nasty cold and lost a week or two of craft time. Here's what I have so far.

Shudayra Finished Up

My local doll club had a stash swap and in the pile was this mound of curly copper hair. I had Shudayra with me and she kept nudging me and telling me to go check it out. We tried it on her and all the women agreed it was definitely her.

Her feet were just begging to be beaded. : ) Would have loved to make spiky heels for her but ran out of time before I could figure it out.

Made her a healing hand charm with a heart to go in her charm bag.
For her journal I made a page for her charm. Used my hand as a print and then used copper foil on it.

And last but not least, I painted her portrait for her journal as well.

Seed Bead Fusion Fun

I have been working through the book "Seed Bead Fusion" by Rachel Nelson-Smith and have been having a blast. Below is a bracelet that I modified by making two rows instead of one. The base is a right angle weave and then the bumps are made with peyote stitch with crystals between each row of bumps. It works up really fast and I love making them as it's one that I can do and talk to people at the same time.



Take time to admire the beautiful clasp. It cost me more than the entire bracelet but is definitely worth it. : )

My next project from the book is a funky spiky bracelet that I am no sure how you would ever wear as it would catch on everything.