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Dollmaker's Journey CUSTOMER CONNECTION
March 2002 Issue Nine
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Copyright 2002 by Dollmaker's Journey
Dollmaker's Journey Customer Connection newsletter
is
a free e-mail newsletter. Tell your friends, family
and
fellow dollmakers about us, and feel free to forward
this newsletter to those who might be interested.
Visit out companion website:
http://www.dollmakersjourney.com/
** New! **
You can now read all the past issues online. Go to:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/archives.html
The archives include an easy to follow index to all
the past
issues.
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Dear dollmaker friends,
The All-Star Doll Olympic Competitor Challenge is
drawing to a close (see details below). We are extending
the deadline until April 1, 2002, so if you wanted
to enter but didn't finish you have a little more
time. Competitor pictures will appear on our website
and we will announce the winners in our next Customer
Connection newsletter.
Here in Virginia March came in like a lamb. We have
had unseasonably warm temperatures, and all the trees
are budding. The cherry blossoms should bloom the
beginning of April in time for our annual Cherry Blossom
Festival in Washington, D.C. Spring is a time for
beginnings, and we would challenge you to do something
new. Take a dollmaking internet class, learn a new
technique, try a different style of doll, but most
of all, have fun!
Mary Ann and Bonnie
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ALL-STAR DOLL OLYMPIC COMPETITOR
CHALLENGE - DEADLINE EXTENDED
We have decided to extend the deadline for the Olympic
Doll Challenge until April 1, 2002. We have lots of
prizes, and not enough entrants to win them all. Any
picture you have sent to our Dollmaker's Journey showcase
can also be entered, but you must think of a category
for the doll to enter. A possible category: Did you
know Salt Lake City imported hookers from Las Vegas
(200 of them) so the athletes would have all the comforts
of home? This caused quite a ruckus in puritanical
Utah (Mormon Country) and there were many scathing
editorials. Or your doll could be part of the opening
ceremonies. Lots of Pioneers, Indians, and fantasy
costumes in that one. (By the way, the Olympic Event
your doll enters doesn't even have to be on this planet!)
Just make sure the pattern you use is one we carry
on our website. For complete details visit our website
at http://dollmakersjourney.com
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NEW DESIGNER
The most recent designer to join us is CLAIRE-ELLEN.
She has devised the most charming elves - "Elf Dood
and O'Doodle the Leprechaun" - by covering sculpted
Styrofoam balls with fabric. Her "Madame doo Berry"
is a quick and easy character doll with lots of pizzazz.
Her latest design, "Moondoo", is an exquisite18" extra-terrestrial
with a lovely needle-sculpted figure and creative
costume. Check them out at http://dollmakersjourney.com/friends.html#claire
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A GIFT FOR YOU
We have a special treat for you this week at Dollmaker's
Journey - another wonderful FREE PATTERN! "Lucky Penny
Pin Doll" by designer JUDY SKEEL is ever so easy to
make, but the possibilities are endless. As with all
of Judy's patterns, the detailed instructions will
guide you through every step of the face sculpting
and painting process. Enjoy! http://dollmakersjourney.com/lucky/index.html
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UPCOMING EVENTS YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS
Be sure and visit Karen Samuelson's CLOTH DOLL CONNECTION
website for up-to-the-minute details on doll related
events such as the Kansas City Doll extravaganza in
April, Quilt Market (they need doll centerpieces for
American Cancer Society - free pattern link at Karen's
site), We Folk of Cloth in October, the Gypsy of the
Night Sky 2002 Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge and
many other events For the most comprehensive news
on designers,
events, challenges and activities bookmark http://clothdollconnection.com/
and click on EVENTS.
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GOODIE BOX BONANZA
Feel like your creativity needs a jump-start? One
of our designers, Annie Hesse, is trying to totally
liquidate her 1600 square foot studio, which is packed
to the brim with all sorts of dollmaking supplies.
To accomplish this she is selling goodie boxes. Bonnie
just ordered the $25.00 box, and it arrived filled
with beads, lace, fabric, unfinished doll body, ribbon,
rosettes, etc. You can see a sample goodie box at
www.picturetrail.com/seconnection
Click on "dolls for sale", then "goodie
box". Here is some information directly from
Annie:
"I am downsizing my studio and my loss is your
gain! I will be shipping out boxes of wonderful fabrics
- anything from glitzy, cottons, knits, to upholstery
fabric, along with a wide variety of beads, laces,
ribbons, doo-dads, whatever I throw in. No two boxes
will be the same, but I guarantee they will be filled
with "stuff"! There will be large -up to 3 yard pieces
- of fabric and also small pieces, but at least 12-15
different fabrics per box, plus the fun stuff. Each
box will be $25 plus whatever the shipping will be.
Please let me know if you would like to order one
or more....and at this early stage of the game I am
willing to take color preferences as I haven't yet
packed them! Email: dolls@zebra.net NEW! I AM ALSO
PACKING UP $50 AND UP BOXES FOR THOSE WHO WANT LARGER
QUANTITIES - PLEASE EMAIL FOR INFO..." Be sure
and see her regular website at: http://anniedolls.com
for a visual treat.
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FELTING NEEDLES by Kathy Hays
Felting needles come in many sizes and shapes. They
are really an industrial needle that has found its
way into the craft/hobby area. Many products you see
in your day-to-day life have been made with felting
needles. Disposable diapers, air filters, car oil
filters and the current polyester craft felt are made
using felting needles. Commercially there are very
large beds of needles, and fibers (synthetic or natural)
are placed on the needle beds. Then there is another
top bed of needles that move up and down to 'felt'
the fibers.
The type of needle used is dependent on the end product.
There are many shapes and lengths of needles. The
needles can have one side of barbs, two, three and
even four sides with the barbs on the needle shaft.
Many people refer to felting needles as though they
were all the same. This is truly a myth. Think of
sewing needles. There are many sizes and uses for
sewing needles. I doubt you would use a darning needle
to try and do beading. The same is true for felting
needles. The size and shape affect the outcome of
success.
I wrote an insert for Dollmakers Journey on how to
use felting needles on cloth dolls. Included in the
insert was information on how to make wefts with felting
needles and how you apply them to a clay doll head.
I also recommend three sizes of felting needles. Dollmakers
Journey carry the size and shape that is the most
appropriate for dollmakers. http://www.dollmakersjourney.com
The needles sold at Dollmakers Journey are also the
same needles used to needle felt in both of my classes
at Crafty College. I cannot tell you how many of my
students who thought they could use needles other
than the ones sold by Dollmakers Journey to needle
felt. Sure you can needle felt, but the results are
not as good without the proper size and shape.
Perhaps this seems like a shameless plug for Dollmakers
Journey, but it is not. I personally encouraged MaryAnn
and Bonnie to carry the needles so that all dollmakers
could have a good product.
Now for a shameless plug for myself.........(LOL)
I teach needle felting online at Crafty College. Both
the introductory class, Noggins, and Gunther the elf
class will be taught this spring. Also check out my
latest class, Tea Time (which has nothing to do with
needle felting) that began March 5. If you want take
any of these classes, go to http://www.CraftyCollege.com
and sign up. Kathy Hays http://www.fiberandfigures.com
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ADDITIONAL TIPS FROM BONNIE
- Hold a felting needle with your thumb and forefinger,
like you would hold a pencil. Do not hold the end
(L shape) of the needle, or you will get very sore
fingers. Be sure you insert the needle vertically
into the fibers or cloth doll head, and not at an
angle, or the needle might break
- We sell felting needles in three different sizes.
The #38 star blade is very difficult to find, and
is extra sharp since it has barbs on four sides
instead of three. You can see pictures of the different
needles and an explanation of how to use them on
our website http://dollmakersjourney.com/supplies.html
- I prefer tacky glue (Aleene's) to fabritac when
needle felting hair, because it doesn't dry as fast,
which enables you to put more hair into the scalp.
Also, I have found fabritac tends to guck up the
needles faster, and is harder to remove, since it
is not water based. (By the way, when wiping the
needles to remove glue, be sure to wipe from the
handle toward the tip, or the barbs will catch excess
glue and your cleaning rag.) Both glues dry clear,
although I have heard that fabritac yellows with
age.
- Needle-felting curly synthetic hair - Mary Ann
and I just finished the most fantastic black doll
called "Miss Sadie the Church Lady" http://dollmakersjourney.com/misssadie.html
and used curly synthetic hair. Here is how we did
her hair. First, take a bunch of hair and cut it
off. Don't bother looking for an end - you will
never find one. Rub the hair between both hands.
This will remove some of the shine and make it look
more natural. (Of course, if you are making a fantasy
doll, go ahead and use it straight from the package.
It has a sheen to it. However, it will look fuller
if you rub it first.) Take thick designer tacky
glue, and place some on the doll head where you
want to put the hair. Place the hair on top of the
glue. Now for the secret. Use a felting needle (sold
on our website at http://dollmakersjourney.com)
and start poking the hair into the scalp. The hair
will mix with the stuffing and glue and create a
good bond. I recommend you use #36 felting needles
for this application, because they are stronger
than the 38 or 40 sizes. Make sure you hold the
needle in a vertical position or it could break.
Just keep poking the hair into the scalp, and periodically
wipe the tip of the needle with a damp paper towel
to remove excess glue. When you are finished you
will have a realistic curly head of hair. Most people
make the mistake when they first use curly hair
of using too much. This makes the doll look top
heavy and the hair doesn't look natural. Using this
method you can always go back and fill in any "bald"
spots. Of course, this method won't work with wood
or porcelain doll heads, <smile> but on fabric
heads it is wonderful!
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DESIGNER UPDATES
Make sure you meet "Mitze" the latest Enchanting
Delight from troll mistress extraordinaire UTE VASINA.
You're going to love this little darling perched on
her tummy. http://dollmakersjourney.com/vasina.html
PATTI-ANN STANLEY's charming trio of 5-6" dolls -
"The Tinys" - include an easy-to-make fairy, mermaid
and ballerina. http://dollmakersjourney.com/friends.html
Last, but never least, SHERRY GOSHON has released
"Unity" which is an alternate 9" fairy body for her
popular "Freedom" press mold. This pattern features
three different kinds of wings - quilted, Solvey and
Pellon. http://dollmakersjourney.com/Goshon.html
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SUPPLY NEWS
We've just added "Clara" to our collection of Doug
and Barb Keeling's wonderful face stamps. http://dollmakersjourney.com/keeling.html
Kris Crawford, owner of Fireside Basics Doll Hair,
has 50 different types of natural wool, mohair &
cotton doll hair. It is very clean and high quality
with reasonable prices. She specializes in endangered
sheep breeds for their hard-to-find, wonderful doll
hair. Kris is making an instructional video coming
out in June about using natural fibers for dollmaking.
Check her out at http://dollhairsupplies.com
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NEWS FROM THE HOME FRONT
Mary Ann has decided she needs to color outside the
lines a little bit and work on her embellishing skills.
Though she usually focuses on realism in her dollmaking
she is working on a series of dolls she calls "Swaddlings."
She's taken a simple doll body, wrapped it in fabric
strips, which she then secures to the body with threads,
ribbons, beads etc. She's having a ball as each doll
turns out wildly different. Take a peek at her first
one - http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/pictures9.html.
After spending days searching her studio for a certain
box of beads she eventually uncovered it on the ironing
board where it had been hiding under a piece of fabric
all along! Oh the joys of a messy studio!
Bonnie took time out to play with her 3-year-old
granddaughter, Jade. Together they chose fluorescent
neon green scaled velour and created a bookworm using
a Cynthia Sieving pattern. (See a picture of Bookworm
- http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/pictures9.html.)
He has glasses and is holding an open book up with
his tail. She reduced a page from a book on how to
do Yoga, and the worm is trying to assume the Lotus
position, a little difficult with no arms or legs.
Sometimes you have to do something just for fun. Doubled
twisted aluminum sculpture wire was used for the armature
so it can be repositioned endlessly (which all her
grandchildren are eager to do.) She brought the bookworm
to Cheryl Leone's tea party on March 9, where he had
a great time ogling all the lovely dollies that came.
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OTHER SITES TO SEE
Sandy Staker of Sandy's Lace and Trims carries a
large range of items great for dollmaking, from findings
and laces to ribbons and fabrics. Her website is:
http://www.sandyslace.com
If you want to try adding water to your doll setting,
check out
http://www.scenicwater.com
Wonderful tiny tools including micro-drills (No.
60 & 80) in the Micro-Mark catalog.
http://www.micromark.com
To try a new technique, check out Regina Edmonds
Push Molds for Polymer Clay
www.pushmolds.com
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We'd love to hear your thoughts about our Customer
Connection newsletter.
Contact the editor Bonnie B. Lewis at
enchantedR@aol.com
with any comments, suggestions, address changes, etc.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to any
of your
friends. Help us spread the word about Dollmaker's
Journey! All we ask is that you forward it intact,
with all
the subscription information included.
You can also read all the past issues online at:
http://dollmakersjourney.com/newsletter/archives.html
Included is an index to all the past issues.
Thanks! (By the
way, you might want to print this out and put it into
a
binder to keep for reference..)
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Copyright © 2002 Dollmaker's Journey
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