I’m enjoying making ball joint dolls with polymer clay! So far, the dolls have been around 6 inches, 9 inches and 13 inches tall. I’ve got plans to make them smaller and bigger, too.
I find that it really helps me to play with design ideas and keep things in proportion by making a quick pencil sketch. I can use the sketch to check the size of parts as I make them and not get too far off.
At left is the sketch I used in making the 9 inch doll Roberta Lee for the how-to video and the 6 inch doll Lulabelle for the 25 page full color .pdf written tutorial. These are available exclusively as part of the Polymer Clay Adventure. Join me and try your hand at making ball joint dolls, as well as the projects by the other 21 instructors involved in the online retreat. Click here to visit Polymer Clay Adventure.
I made an extra head and torso during the 9 inch doll video, so this week I am finishing her up and getting ready to finish up a purple faerie doll that will be around 15 inches tall. Then I get to start some new dolls!
I’m also stretching as to sizes…I’ve started a 3 inch baby that has jointed arms and legs to be a baby doll for Aurora Rose. I decided she needs a doll collection of her own.
Then, I have sketched a 12 inch Japanese girl doll using my Noh Maiden face mold that I sculpted, and a 15 inch Victorian Miss. I’ve got sketches for a 20 inch doll that will be the biggest completely polymer doll I’ve made so far, although I’ve made several life sized cloth dolls.
I’ve got plans for faerie dolls in several sizes, a mermaid and too many ideas to track without committing a few to the paper stage. It may take a good bit of time, but I will be making dolls for a while to come still, and enjoying bringing my sewing, beading, and knitting skills to bear on their wardrobes.
I learn something new and make refinements to the process with every doll, and that changes the plans for the ones that come after. Check back in and see what happens next in my little world.