News and Previews

Just thought I'd pop in for a moment to confirm that I'm still alive and haven't thrown out my paper doll collection (cue Cher from Clueless: "as if!"). Here's the scoop on what's been going on while I've been absent:

1. Remember when I said I'd be back to blogging full time by early November? I'm not so sure about meeting that deadline anymore - too much typing, writing, and sketching caused a repeated strain injury to my wrist, with some carpal-tunnel-like symptoms. I've got a wrist brace, and I'm planning to get back to work on paper dolls ASAP, but don't be surprised if there's a delay.

2. In happier news, my big secret project is almost done! Here's a sneak preview.

Can you guess what it is?

3. I'm working on a fun new series that will debut soon. I don't know if it will be a weekly thing or a more spontaneous feature (perhaps it will replace the Tuesday tutorials until I have time for them again). Here's a hint for the first post of the series:

Can't wait to share all the details! Check back soon for the start of the series.

What new projects are you working on?

Meet Daisy and Sally

While this isn't strictly part of my big secret project (which is still in the works!), I thought you might like to see some new developments in lieu of a tutorial post, for which I haven't got the time. These two have been around for a while, and I finally got a chance to photograph them for you. Introducing the new dolls, Daisy and Sally!

They're quite a bit smaller than my trio, as demonstrated in this photo of them with Tesla (trying on a new red wig). Daisy is based on Patience from Wilde Imagination (she's modeling the Garden Patience outfit and wig), and Sally is based on Wilde Imagination's Sad Sally. I'm not especially fond of the name Sally, but since it reminds me of Sally Draper from Mad Men, I'm going to stick with it for now. 

Daisy is different from any doll I've ever made, not only because of her straight bangs (which I rarely make), but because her eyes aren't permanent.

Sorry about the poor image quality - I tried to enlarge the photo but I just ended up making it blurry. I hope you can see how her eyes work in this image: the eye was cut out and a piece of paper with eyes drawn on it stuck to the back of her head. It's by no means perfect, but it means I can switch out her eye color for blue, brown, or any color I choose. Daisy is the first doll I've ever made with changeable eyes, and I'm really excited about exploring this new area of paper doll customization.

Sally doesn't have removable eyes yet. I may switch them out if Wilde Imagination makes a new version with different eyes, but for now I like the hazel eyes with her crazy orange pigtails.

Sally is the smallest doll of the group, and perhaps the smallest doll I've ever made. Here she is beside a dime so you can get a sense of her scale.

Making Daisy and Sally was a delightful challenge. I hope to show you more photos of them soon. What are your thoughts on these dolls?

Who Wore It Best? (Melody Valerie Edition)

Melody Valerie Couture's "Ardith" dress is one of the most stunning pieces of doll clothing that I've ever seen, so of course I had to make it for the trio.

Photo from Melody Valerie Couture

Who, in your opinion, wore it best?

The combination of purple and gold is lovely with Rani's hair, but looking at the photos I'm not sure if the gold earrings were too much.

I thought the pairing of elegant dress and sneakers was an unexpected and fun combination, but there are only so many times that this dress can be worn like that without looking trite. Any ideas for attractive dress shoes?

Tesla's hair is nice, but I wonder what other hairstyles might suit her too. 

Overall, I'm rather satisfied with the dress. It's part of Melody Valerie Couture's new steampunk-inspired line "Invention," and I love how the dress stays within that theme without falling prey to the stereotype that everything steampunk must be copper and smothered in gears. I tried to give the skirt layers more definition by cutting them out separately and gluing them together, and I think it made a real difference in the dress's realism. The little chains are a bit hard to see, so perhaps I'll trace around them in pencil.  

Making this dress was so fun, and a real insight into new methods of outfit construction. I will definitely use the cutting and pasting method in the future!

Who do you think wore the dress best?

Temporary Separation

Since I got a few questions about my absence, I thought I would let you know what's going on so you don't think I've disappeared off the face of the earth. 

Essentially, the issue is this: I can't devote the time I would like to Paper Doll World. As much as I love working on paper doll items and this site, I also have many responsibilities in my life outside my computer. I'm also really busy with my next big paper doll project, which as of now is still a secret (though I can't wait to share it with you!)  My personal life has become extremely stressful, leaving me little time to accomplish my daily tasks, let alone make paper doll items.

Can't wait until I have time to make the new Patience dolls from Wilde Imagination!

I'm not planning to abandon Paper Doll World, but posting will be a little spotty until early to mid-November. I'll post whenever I can, and hopefully I'll be able to share some sneak peeks of my project, but don't expect solid twice a week posting for a few weeks.

Thank you for your patience and support. Hope to be back soon!

Dollhouse Part 2.1 - Vanity

In keeping with the furniture tutorial theme, here is a how-to for making a paper vanity for your dolls.

Sketch out the shape of the vanity.

Add details to make it more realistic. I made a hand towel and mirror, but you can put in whatever you like. 

Measure your sink and cabinet space, like in the kitchen tutorial, to make storage areas and places for your dolls to wash up.

Color it, cut it out, assemble it, and you're done! I decided to make mine a hanging wall unit, so it could work for dolls of different sizes. In addition to the towel and mirror, I made some nail polish, a blow dryer, and a curling iron for some more realism. 

Even with all the little parts, this project was really easy and fun to do. If you make it, please send me photos - I would love to see your creative interpretations. 

Next week's tutorial will most likely be a bathtub, but I'm always open to suggestions. If there's any tutorial you want, let me know in the comments and I'll try to make it happen.

Formal Introduction - The Name At Last!

Careful readers may have caught her name last week, but today I want to formally introduce the doll that has been unnamed for over two weeks. Ladies and gentlemen, the one and only Miss Rani Taliesin!

Rani is a Hindi name meaning "queen," and Taliesin (pronounced tah-lee-EH-sin) is a Welsh name meaning "shining brow." Taliesin was also the name of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's studio/school, which still exists today. 

Her coloring is nice because it works with almost anything. I tried to create a doll with a darker skin tone to add some diversity to the group, but I ended up smudging her face so I had to go lighter. Someday I'll develop a more efficient coloring technique.

One of my favorite things about Rani is her expression. You can catch her looking concerned, serene, or skeptical. I love photographing her and seeing how her expression changes in each photo.

I'm very grateful for all your name suggestions. They were all great and I had the worst time deciding between them. Thanks for being such fantastic readers!

The AWOL Tutorial

Due to some unexpected issues, today's tutorial will probably be pushed to next week. I'm very sorry about canceling, but I really have no choice. Some things came up, and, while I hate to bail on you, they simply had to come first. See you again next Sunday, and, as usual, let me know if you have any tutorial requests.

Thanks for your understanding!