French Fashion Doll

Voici Claudette, une poupée très grande en effet!  Thank goodness for the Yahoo translator - I did get a GSE O Level in French all those years ago in school but most of it is in the dark recesses of my (pea) brain these days!
En anglais "Here is Claudette a very large doll indeed".  Most of the paper dolls I make are quite small, whereas this whopper is almost 12" high.  Now that doesn't sound very oo-la-la does it - whopper!  Never mind, I think you know what I mean.

Last October I went to the Knitting and Stitching Exhibition at Alexandra Palace and bought a 'French Paper Dolls' kit from Barbara Willis, an American fibre figure artist.  Her stand there was fantastic, so many amazing creations - I truly was in doll heaven. 

I decided to open the kit this weekend (only six months after buying it!!)  What prompted me to do so was the fact that I didn't go to the Big Rubber Stamping and Scrapbooking show this weekend at Alexandra Palace because I knew I would spend too much money and I already have far too much stuff - much of it as yet unused!  I'm still inwardly sulking though - LOL, even though my hubby was all set to chauffeur, accompany and pay for me to go!  Making this doll made me feel better anyway!

The kit comes with full instructions and templates, some pre printed heads and feet on fabric, backing fabric (which is actually black out fabric for curtains and blinds) and some thick felt (Pelt Tex).  All other fabrics for the clothes you need to provide yourself.

I embellished the face with acrylic paint, watercolour pencils and pastels.  In her hair I stuck on a few beads (some strung and others stuck on loose) and Glimmer Misted a white fabric rose. 

                                               

Her apron is part of an old doily and the hanging ribbon thingy at the right hand side below her bodice is actually one of the charms I received from a PDA swap (if you click on the link you'll see the photo of all the charms I received, and the one I used is roughly in the middle of the photo.  It was this charm that I based the whole colour scheme on - well, losely based it on anyway and I'm so pleased to be able to use one of them in such a lovely way! 

                                 

To finish the skirt off I added a thin lace edging.  There is a border of wider lace attached underneath to give the appearance of a petticoat.

                                                

I liked using the fabric (black out and felt) as a base as it is more movable and durable than paper.  It was however a little tricky glue-ing the fabrics without making the whole thing bulky - something I need to work on I think if I make another.

While I was at Barbara Willis' stand last October, I also bought her book 'Cloth Doll Artistry' - Design and Costuming techniques for Flat and Fully Sculpted Figures.  I've just about covered chapters one and two with this French Fashion Doll so when I'm feeling more adventerous I'd love to have a go at one of the detailed cloth dolls with a fully scultped face!  Stay tuned, although you may have to wait awhile, or until I decide to miss another great crafting exhibition!