My Lisa Lichtenfels "Elder" Doll

I recently took Lisa Lichtenfels' four-day nylon-sculpting class -- she is known for her incredibly realistic nylon sculpting.  

First, she taught us how to nylon-sculpt a doll head.  Lisa had set the eyes to begin with, and I went from there,  sculpting the facial features with curved needles.  Then she taught us how to constuct the body armature, and build up the body to the point of being covered with nylon, all the while going for a realistic look.  Then we each dressed our dolls in fabrics we chose.  I used my own clothing pattern and her slippers pattern. 

Lisa is a great teacher, well organized and also relaxed.  She took time to go around and work with each student, several times during the course.  It was great fun to meet her.  She has entertaining tales of working as an artist in New York. 

 My doll is sewing on pieces for a quilt.  I have fond memories of my grandmother working on her quilts.  I would sit near her on the windowseat and we would talk.  The cat and the dog were also there, at opposite ends. 

A Bridal Hollyhock

It's called Bride's Bouquet.   About 2 1/2 inch blooms in diameter. 

We keep looking at it all day!  So pretty!

Getting Around to the Moth Doll

I finally finished my art-doll, "Virginia Moth."  Or, I could call her "Madama Moth."  I started her as a bottle doll (see earlier posts), but then totally changed the idea to this!   I made her for my local doll group challenge of "Flight." 

I gave her a loop so she can hang out on the wall....  before she descends onto her next natural-fiber piece of clothing in the closet... :( 

Although I started out thinking she would be made of all-natural-fiber material, I had this piece of polyester cafe-colored fabric I liked.  I first started chopping it up for moth wings for the moths that are adorning her.  

I decided to give her sort of kimono sleeves, and round "moth-eye" patches on each sleeve.  She has only short wire arms and small wire legs, wrapped with cotton, under her costume, but her body is full and soft (moths have thicker bodies than butterflies) and is made of cotton on a wire armature. 

It's a stretchy fabric, but it almost evokes lace, or trapunto.  It drapes well, so I decided I didn't want to hack it into little bits, I wanted her to wear it. 

Continuing onward, I gave her a thick, tattered, velvet shawl, which I think is a polyester velvet.  It had good fraying at the edges, and so she can sit wrapped in it; and it the texture goes with her dress.

So, I went from thinking in terms of little frayed pieces, to larger draped ones, and I like the feeling of the doll the better for it.  I drew kind of a boudoir face, thinking she should have large "moth-like" eyelashes and eyes. 
She has a big seam down the front of her face, but I left it there and didn't cover it with a "cloth-over."  Because she's a little weird.  She's a moth....the seam adds to the weirdness. 
 

 I hope you like my "moth doll."  She was my little moth adventure.