Native American Doll Finished.

Yesterday I finished the Native American Seneca woman doll I've been working on. The Eastern Native Peoples had lots of contact with the European Colonists so had access to cloth and beads long before the tribes further west who wore animal hides for much longer until cloth become more widely used. I did extensive research on the traditional clothing and bead-work designs to be as accurate as possible. I'm not a beader at all so it was not easy but I am pleased with the outcome. The weather isn't on my side for final photos so I'm showing the shots I took in my studio last night. WIP to the completion.

2nd set of moccasins. I like these much better the the first ones I showed you.

Male and female member of the tribe wore leggings that were beaded. The women's tied at the knees and were worn under a wrap skirt.

The wrap skirt tied high in the waist and was elaborately beaded all the way around. The design would be smaller but just as elaborate on a real person but in order to show the detail the design is larger on this skirt.

Over the wrap skirt a long sleeved tunic with simpler beading and a collar was worn.

A close up of her face and the tunic beading.

Finished front.

The Seneca women wore their hair pulled back into a long braid.

Finished right side.

Finished left side.

Finished back.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing this latest creation of mine. I love comments so please do let me know what you think.

Li'l Red

I recently won a sweet little pattern from Ginger Melon's new Fairy Tale Dolls. I got to choose from several and I chose Li'l Red. I spent some time sewing her up yesterday. 

If I make another one I'll enlarge the pattern cause it's just so tiny and I don't much like sewing so small. It turned out cute and I gave it to my daughter who needed something special to cheer her up. She had a nasty fall over the weekend and scraped her face up, almost broke her nose, has a huge knot on her head and has a mild concussion. I'd show a pic but she refuses to let anyone see her until she looks better.

I have finished my Vintage Circus piece but will wait until my ADA group sees if first before I show you all.

I still have lots to do on my Indian doll and the next ADA Challenge is coming up next month too. I've been thinking about my Wonderland piece and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it. I don't think I can afford it right now. I'm hoping to still be able to do a piece for Patrick Gill's Vintage Halloween Challenge if he has one this year. This is an extremely stressful year financially so far. Lots of ideas...very little money. So if you are wondering why I'm not posting projects like I used to, that's why.

Wednesday WIP

This is the wrap skirt I'm beading for a doll I'm making. I ran out of beads and major arthritis pain and insomnia stopped me from working on this last week. Then this weekend I dealt with a broken dryer, my ever clogged kitchen sink, a mutant giant ant invasion and a flat tire no one could get off the car. Everything is resolved except the ants and the dryer, we are waiting for a part to be ordered but at least it has a warranty unlike my kitchen drains. I've been a big crabby pants to say the least.

I've really got to get working on this doll. The white paper are patterns I made for checking the sizing of the beaded pattern before I start beading. The beading is taking longer than I thought. I should have known it would cause I'm such a perfectionist. At least the moccasins are done. After this skirt there is an over tunic dress and beaded collar to do. I gave myself till the end of June and I still think I can make it if I don't have anymore distractions. Speaking of which my nephew's will be here this weekend so I probably won't get too much done. That 3 year old is a handful! His mother refers to him as the Tasmanian Devil and she's not exaggerating!

I am still struggling with what direction to take my art in and what I want to do but for now I'm happy doing this doll.