By Siobhan
Happy Birthday! This is my present for you, I hope you enjoy it!
I have been tremendously inspired by your artwork ever since I first discovered your website back in 2008. To this day I've made 4 jointed dolls. I continue to be inspired by you, and although I get frustrated and move on to something else, I always come back to dollmaking. I'm sure you know the feeling, to keep going until the perfect doll is made.
So, this doll was handcarved from pine (from a christmas tree) and wooden beads and dowels were used for the joints. Later on I had to repair some of the joints with super sculpey. The hair is Tibetan lamb's wool and the eyes are painted sculpey clay. I used a variety of fabrics for the clothes, and some seed beads and miniature buttons for embellishments.
The buttons on the shirt and the sweater actually button. I hand knitted the sweater, and there's a surprise in the pocket. Acrylic paint was used for the face and the earrings are Sculpey (in the form of Mayan hieroglyphs). The cigarette box and cigarettes were made from paper.
As far as handling goes, she is a bit delicate. All of her clothes are removable , and you can try changing her outfit if you like, but it's a tight fit and some of the joints (especially the right foot and elbows) might come undone.
Her head comes off; if you root around the left side of her head, there is a small clasp.
Basically the only thing I didn't make for this project was the box. It was bought, but severely modified by me. I added the hinge clasp and the inside chambers, which I then lined with assorted papers. The mandala on the front was hand-painted by me as well. I didn't make the little plastic boxes or the antique matchbox.
Well I hope you like her, Marina! Have a great birthday.