Have you ever dreamed of making your own, one of a kind, special doll? Then keep reading, because I created the perfect workshop, just for you.
Besides from painting, doll making has always been a lifelong passion of mine. When I was little I used to cut the models from my grandmother’s JC Penney Catalog and pretended they came to life as something I could touch and hold, not just look at.
Making a doll fulfilled that desire, creating something out of nothing brings joy to my heart like nothing else. It’s a very different feeling from painting, because my idea gets to be something much more tangible and real than just an image you look and fall in love with. You can touch it, play with it and love it. I love that feeling, and I want to share how I feel with you.
Join me in this amazing workshop as I guide you through the process I go trough when I sit down on my studio to create a doll. From tracing the pattern into the fabric to the final embellishing touches, you will learn every step I take in comprehensive and detailed videos about the magic of dollmaking.
You will learn to use an alchemy of mixed media techniques to sew, paint, dress up and embellish your creations, and by the end of the workshop you will be able to create your own beautiful one-of-a-kind doll.
Learn with me the magic and power to transform raw materials like fabric, threads and paints into a beautiful hand painted doll, and then make her into anything you want her to be. To each doll, give it her own story.
The basics (You’ll use this for doll making and can be used many times)
- Sewing machine
- Fabric scissors
- Paper scissors
- Pins
- Cotton rags (you can use an old t-shirt instead)
- Stabilo BLACK colored marker pencil
- Pencil with eraser on top
- Thread in beige and black and other colors that coordinate with your fabrics
- White acrylic gesso
- A set of acrylic brushes
- Fine sanding block or sand paper
- Hemostats in sizes (12,10,8,6 inches set. If you can only get one get the 8 inches one)
- Odorless paint thinner
- Red and deep brown soft (chalk) pastels
- Oil paint in burnt umber
- Acrylic fixative spray (or hairspray)
- Acrylic paints in raw sienna, red, black, and any other colors you may want to use
- Dray Fritz Check
- Embroidery thread in black
You’ll also need these materials per doll you make:
- Your choice of fabric for the dress (approximately 1/4 yard)
- Embellishments (fibers, buttons, beads, charms, ribbons, etc)
- Polyester fiberfill (I like the brand Poly-fil)
- Muslin (about 1/4 year makes a doll, but I recommend getting at least a yard so you can practice and make more dolls)
- 2 small buttons for arms and 2 smaller ones for shoes plus more for embellishments
- 2 beads (size 8mm for legs and 6mm for arms) per doll
- Mohair or yarn for hair
- Lace (3-4 yards)
- Tulle (about 1/8 yard tall)
Optional Materials:
- Pinking shears
- A piece of beeswax
- StazOn ink pads in black and rubber stamps
- Turning tool kit
- Stuffing fork
Hi! I am Danita! and I will be your instructor for this class. Want to see more of my work and get in touch with me? Visit danitaart.com for my online shop and blog, and send me a line to danita@danitaart.com with your comments and questions.
