The polymer clay foundation for my January 2010 doll.
Here’s a photo of the first stage of my January Doll, created for the 2010 Bead Journal Project. The dolls for each month will share the same face, though colors vary between silver, copper, and gold. January begins with a polymer clay foundation in Fimo doll porcelain. The next step will be another polymer clay layer, out of which I will create her head-dress and bodice. The sleeves and skirt of her outfit will be richly beaded, and her head dress will be augmented with beads. The beads I’ll be using are Toho Treasures, freshwater pearls, and Miyuki crystal drops, and I’ll use bead netting and coraling on her skirt to make it full and swishy. The end product will be wearable as either a pin or necklace.
Dolls always look a bit creepy to me in this stage — they remind me of the replicant-maker’s workshop in Bladerunner. I do try to make my dolls anatomically correct, so that when I cover them with clothing, it drapes properly. This doll has a flat back, but a 3-dimensional front and you can see the armature wires sticking out so I can attach her lower arms, and the groove around her hips to hold the circle of beads from which her skirt will descend. Her large head-dress also needs an armature. It’s important to plan doll-making in advance so you’re not left wondering how you’ll attach her other parts…