I thought about her hands and was going to try to make them more detailed then decided they are good enough.

This morning i started adding paper clay to fill in where the rigid wrap did not meet. It will be an all day process. Adding then letting dry to add more. When it is dry I will sand it to remove the imperfections I see in the pictures.

Taking pictures allows me to see better. Not sure why it looks ok then in picture I see what needs attention. She looks pretty good in the dark LOL. 

Not so good in the light but she will get better. I will work on her lips and nose. Forehead needs more rounding.

I am happy with the overall shape. May need a bit more on the back of her head. Time will tell.

The walker doll ears are ugly. i am going to make ears but not sure if they will be cloth or clay.

update Because I was not happy with the hands I ladder stitched along the wrists and fingers It is much better. Fingers are not so fat. The gesso and paint will hide the stitches. 

 3rd post. This was a long day. After 3 sets of legs and arms I am satisfied.

The first set was really good but to big for this doll. 

1st set I made bare foot but think boots will be better. 

2nd set, boot was to small leg not big enough around.

3rd set. The arms were stuffed to much made her have fat hands.

 Putting separate thumbs is not something I want to do again.

I will use what I did but really not satisfied with the look. Thumb pattern was to big. I sewed it on my machine using 1.8 stitch size.Much easier than when I hand stitched the first set.

Took stuffing out of thumb and ladder stitched it to a better size. Cut it much shorter.

Perhaps when I gesso I will shape them.

I will work on the face and detail to that tomorrow.

Before I do that I will clean this sewing room.I make such a mess when I work on a project like this.       I am satisfied.

2nd post walker wannabe "Charlotte"

 She is glued and tied for the day. I will fill in with paper clay and add strips of rigid wrap , Now the fun begins with sculpting the face features and ears. The arms and legs are gessoed ready for paint.

Walker wannabe

 Today is Jan 23rd 2023. This is the 4th day working on her.  Doll body arms and legs are done. So far about 15 hours time spent on her.

 I used the metal head as a mold for her head. I used Susan Fosnot's pattern for the body arms and legs.

I think her name is Charlotte. 

There are 3 layers in the mask. I used ridged wrap to make the mask.

One shoulder is lower than the other. I didn't notice until all stuffed. 

 I will adjust with rigid wrap when attaching the shoulder plate. To do the shoulder plate I wrapped her in plastic wrap.

It was easy to trim the shoulder plate to fit the doll.

Because the front and back are not the same at the shoulder I will add fiberfill to make it all fit. I will  then over lay another 3 strips of rigid wrap to fill in. 

It is sturdy but I will be adding Helen Pringles messy mix to the whole head before painting.

I will be adding paper clay to the face to achieve the final face shape.

She will be oil painted .I will post more pictures as she develops.

New bonnet

I designed this new bonnet pattern, for an online challenge.

Brim and back are buckram base,--- crown is factory pre sewn.

 I tried it on the big head china and is works for her also.

 

Dolls

 While searching for some books I found a picture of 2 of the first dolls I painted.

I sold them and am sorry I did.The originals were lost when my pc crashed.This is one printed out on paper.

I will put it here for safe keeping.

3 basic rag dolls

I decided to go back to basics, where I started. Rag dolls.

Making the patterns, then the sewing and finishing the doll Is something I still enjoy.

I have done several dolls, and small cloth toys, in the last 2 years, the latest are 3 rag dolls with embroidered faces , hair and shoes.

 I was inspired by Ann Saterstrom of slow stitch toys on etsy. She has some really precious rag dolls.

I have finished these dolls and clothes  

 
The first of the 3 ,I made, I used vintage linen napkins.

The muslin dress needs embroidery but that will wait as I am wall papering my kitchen.

 I will do some stitching on it later when I need a hand work project. Maybe even wait till spring so I can stitch while sitting on my screen porch.

The last has a vintage dresser scarf as her dress. 

It is cold here in Iowa----- but only 49 days till the first day of spring. 

I always think I need winter to really appreciate spring.

My doll room is full but I will keep making dolls -----because I still can. 

I need joy in my life, and making dolls has always done that. 

I pray for all who are ill and have lost loved ones. Blessing Judy J.