So I finished beading the cabochon, which I thought looked pretty good:
With the bead edging, the cabochon is now almost 3" in diameter.
But I started getting the sense that it was going to be way too big for the design as I’d originally planned it, especially after putting lace picots around the edge of the cabochon, and stringing the loops on top for the necklace. And, indeed, that turned out to be the case:
Doll is approximately 6" tall.
“There is no excellent beauty that hath no strangeness in its proportion,” said Francis Bacon, and I tried using that as a rationalization, but it didn’t work. The bottom line is that this doll looks like Balloon Head Jane. It would have been possible to pull it off if she had a more whimsical expression, but she has a soft, pensive, finely detailed silver face that doesn’t lend itself to oddball humor. (This is something I’ll have to take into consideration in designing future dolls with her face.)
She also doesn’t feel like February to me, so I’m going to pull off the lacy picots around the edge of the cabochon, and refringe her without the arms and legs, at which point she’ll turn into a straightforward pendant.
This means I still have a February doll to make, which is fine since it’s the very beginning of the month. And I learned quite a bit with this experiment — I can now bead a cabochon without fear, and that is a very useful addition to my design skill set. I am also charmed by the fringe, and I think the fringe body would be quite cute on another, much smaller doll head, so that’s something to think about for the future.
Now back to the planning stage. (You may have noticed that there was no sketch for this doll. Bad idea. No more dolls without a clear illustration of where they’re going!)
First, I saw her and I thought “how cool”. Her face looks like she is peeking out from the depths. Then you started to pick her apart and I began agreeing with you ~lol~. Its true, we are our own worst critics! ~lol~ The depth that I saw is probably because in a picture the piece is one dimensional.
Well, I like her. But they always say if first you don’t suceed…in the mean time you have a cool pendant!
Carol
I loved the first photo and have to agree with you that she seems a little out of proportion – I too would ditch the picot’s, arms and legs and do some major fringe. Course I love fringe! My feb. piece is coming along, but not at all what I first invisioned…. with reason I beleive.
I love the beadwork around the cabachon and when I scrolled down to look at the doll I was immediately drawn to the fringe, its so fun, frilly, and fancy! So I was sad that you were going to take her apart, but since you are keeping the parts I like the best I’m happy! AFter a frustrating day of taking apart and re-doing several times myself, your post made me laugh out loud, thank you.
Like Carol, I really warmed to her at first, until you said that the expression on her face didn’t match her out-of-proportion arms and legs. Then I started thinking she looked a little like a cow in a mumu (pun intended)… So guess I see your point and admire that you’re making her into a regular pendant and starting over on the doll thing! Robin A.
Yes, there really is something placidly bovine about her in that huge collar. “Cow in a mumu” made me laugh out loud.
One of my favorite things about the BJP is the opportunity to learn new things and develop new skills. I, too, have been involved in a certain amount of ripping out. Making these dolls is a great idea, and I look forward to seeing your new February doll.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader
I think you’ve made a wise decision to back up with this piece. The first picture looks like a finished pendant – beautifully done, I might add. The bottom does look like it belongs on another piece altogether. Have fun with the new doll!
There is something about the cabochon that draws me into her face and reminds me of the elaborateness of the hair dos of the Chinese women in the 19th century. But I agree with you about the picots. But how are you going to know what works and doesn’t unless you try. mk
Hi Kali ~ I didn’t know how else to reach you so am leaving another comment here… Just want to say your comments about my Jan BJP are RIGHT ON… exactly what bothers me about the piece. I so appreciate your insights and tip for playing with text! Robin A.
I did a visual experiment with your piece with all the fringe/arms/legs. (I happen to love all that stuff!) I wear contact lenses for distance – I’m really poor-sighted – so I sat a bit back from my screen and looked at your original doll. It was out of focus because of my eyes, and the beaded cabochon looked like a porthole type of window. The woman was standing on the other side of it, looking out at me. I was completely charmed!
I definitely did NOT see a cow in a muumuu, but I just about spit out my coffee laughing when I read Robin’s comment.
I understand why you wanted to change her. I mean, how many people are going to look at it through squinted eyes to get that same distorted depth of field and fuzziness that I see without my lenses? I’d love to see what you do with the arms and legs fringe in the future. And I think your beaded cab without the appendages is just wonderful!