From Beginning to Now

I've received many requests for tutorials or videos on doll making and I'd really like accommodate those requests.  I hope in the new year to be able to post up some tutorial videos of some of the techniques I use.  From experience, I know how difficult it is to find any instructional material for porcelain doll making, in particular miniature doll making.  When one "gets the bug" to learn something, it's nice to get results to our research and really learn something well.  It's like an obsession with me, when I discover something new to learn and master, to find out all the information I can about the topic.  So, hopefully I can help those out who would really like to know these "secrets"...they're not secrets really, it just takes lots of practice :)

And I mean PRACTICE...take a look at these beauties.  Some of my first dolls.  A few made from polymer clay and some of porcelain.  I had to dig for these :)  They are from about 15 years ago...yowsa!!

I learned most of my doll making skills online with tutorials made by talented doll artists.  In fact, most of these tutorials are still up on these artists' sites.  Check them out:  

http://www.ginabellousdolls.com/tutorials/

http://www.minidolllist.com/

http://cynthiahoweminiatures.com/tutorialindex.htm

So, I hope to add to the treasure trove of tutorials out there...let's see if I can do it!  Juggling work, family and school...well, I AM superwoman you know!  

To end my post with my latest dressed doll and to show how far I've come...practice practice practice!

So Christmas is almost here. We've already had some snow, just that "frosting" I had talked about, but so far it's been a mellow winter.  The winding down of business for the year is evident everywhere, even in my own little world where I'm finishing some projects for work and school.  That mad rush of buying gifts is coming to a close.  It's been a good year.  Life is lovely.

Here is my latest custom order and as always, I enjoyed creating her and embroidering her apron.  She turned out well I think :)  Her new owner likes her and that's what matters :)

I've been rolling around some ideas in my head for the new year.  For Lilli's Littles it's been a wonderful growing journey and it's only getting better.  Learning about how to run a small business is definitely an invaluable skill to learn!  I want to have supplies for miniature doll making and even expand into building supplies for houses and scenes.  Hopefully this new year will bring a new printer so I can continue designing fabrics for minis.  I also want to keep working on my own molds.  I have a few already and now that I've figured out plaster mold making, I just need to practice my sculpting!  So, keep an eye out for new things arriving at Lilli's Littles!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!

Snow snow snow!

Hiya readers, I hope your holiday season is enjoyable and lovely!  It's about to snow here, or so "they" say.  1-3 inches!!  Wow!  In this area, it's a rare thing.  Most of the winter is just rainy and gray, but when snow comes around the holidays...it's like frosting :)

My little studio is humming away, and luckily my heater is too!  Lots of beautiful dolls coming your way!  I just finished this sweet little lady today.  Her face is so sweet and charming.  She's from a mold named "Harriett" by Doreen Sinnett.  I love dressing dolls from her molds.  They have such character and warmth.

I name her "Mireille".  I don't normally say what I name my dolls, but I name every one of them :)  I just figured that whomever their owner turns out to be, will decide on a proper name for them.  In my heart (and picture files) they stay the names I've given them.  Shhh...my little secret!  I also didn't stop playing with my Barbie dolls until I was 16...wait did I just write that?

Well, it sure seems like dolls were in my destiny.  I so enjoy making these little people.  I hope I can improve and get better and better at it.  It's very satisfying to me.  I also enjoy meeting customers from around the world...you're all a lovely bunch!

18th Century Glam

Hi everyone, remember that little piece of embroidery I was working on for a doll?  Well, here it is finished on my latest, an 18th century lady.  I've even created a set of panniers underneath to hold out the skirt at the hips as was customary to this era.  Let me know what you think!

Happenings of late

Hiya folks, after my stint at the Portland Miniatures Show, I decided to go to the Las Vegas show in January of 2017.  I'm very excited to be part of this show and it's their first (I think or second maybe) year of having retail tables.  They usually do wholesale, of which I'm excited to see as well!  Check out CIMTA and come visit me and see the dolls up close!

My latest creations, not including custom orders, are these little ones.  The tiny girl with her equally tiny bear.  And the gardener.  Very neat and proper for digging around in the dirt with his rust rake!

See you soon!

New Look Forever!

Just a quick post to show my latest custom order for a dear, sweet customer of mine.  She is dressed in the late 1940's early 50's New Look fashion.  She's my top favorite :)

I get so excited when I finish a doll!  

Back to my roots

Whenever I come back from a recent show, I'm so motivated to create more dolls and to get better at it.  I usually get home and begin, starting with dusting and cleaning out the studio and sitting down to write out my goals.  Again, I'm struck by how lucky I am to be HERE.  This is my bliss, my work, my home, my family, my life.  I'm eternally grateful :)

So, with that, I begin a new project...a 18th Century young woman in an elaborate gown.  I've decided to embroider.  Now here's where the title above comes in:  this is going back to my roots when my mom taught me to embroider kitchen towels.  I'd iron on the design and she would show me the stitches:  the backstitch, the french knot, the lazy daisy and the satin stitch.   Since, then I've loved embroidery and needlework of all kinds.  I've enjoyed adding this touch to my dolls as I can make the design to scale and the handwork can be trimming and decor on the doll.  My 18th century doll isn't quite finished, but here is a preview of the stitching.  I will add little gems and beads to glam it up.

Back to my roots again, here is one of my first dolls that I had made.  This is of my mom on her wedding day in 1957.  She had firey red hair and pale blue eyes.  She handed this to me the other day and asked if I would like to show her at my show.  I didn't bring the doll to the show as I didn't want her to be accidentally purchased!  I did however, take some photos of her.  I created "Mom" about 12 years ago and I'm pleasantly surprised that she's held up so well!

So, my dear sweet Mom... here's to you.  For teaching me to sew, to embroider, to make cookies and to stand up for myself.  My mom has dementia now, but so far she's doing pretty well at 78.  She remembers many things and goes back to her memories for most of the time, but she's still here and I'm ever so grateful that I get to have her in my life. 

What a lovely time

The Portland Miniature Show is over, but what a lovely time I had.  I enjoyed connecting with other miniaturists and meeting new customers.  I'm pooped, but it was worth it!  :)  My amazing helpers made it fun as well!  Thank you Jackie and Steph!    Next show....uh....I'll get back to you on that!

Victorian Blue

This lovely young woman is dressed in the height of the bustle Victorian period.  She will be at the show as well!

The Distinguished Gentleman

This very proper man is heading to the show!  I'm certain he is always on time :)

Tiny SusieQ

Here is another one for the Portland Miniature Show!  I love the serious look on her face :)

Little Nanny

Here's another one for the show!  A sweet mannered nanny.  She's so adorable and I can see her with a tiny child on her lap :)

Getting ready for a show...

Hi everyone, I had mentioned in another post how I was attending the Portland Miniature Show as a dealer this October.  So, most of my dolls are being created for the show and I thought I'd post each dressed one as it's finished.  If you come to the show, you can purchase one!  The dolls I don't sell will then be listed in my Etsy shop after October 3rd.  So here's a sneak peek:

Millie.  A nice little modern gal, more likely a soccer mom.

Stay tuned!  More dolls coming!

Some Amazing Finds!

Hi everyone!  I love finding new tools or supplies to make my creating/job easier.  The longer I'm in this business, the more I find new tools and techniques.  All that to say that I found my favorite brushes for china painting, well miniature painting in general, from a company called MicroMark.  They sell all sorts of tools and supplies in small scale for the hobbyist or small size creator.  Their catalog is exhaustive!  These micro paint brushes can be found on this page of their site.  Here are the two I purchased.

These are the two smallest and help me so much with the tiny facial features I china paint onto my dolls.  They're super easy to hold as well, for close up work.  I don't know how I've done it without these guys!

I also found another amazing treasure just last week.  She fell right out of the tree by my studio window.  An Eastern Gray squirrel that was only about 4 days old.

  Of course my Love and I couldn't just leave her there, so I took her in and warmed her up and gave her Pedialyte to get her fluids back.  I tried puppy formula too, but she didn't like it so much.  This squirrel rehabilitation is hard work!  I had no idea how to keep this little guy alive except for a fabulous site called Squirrel Refuge.  They showed how to re hydrate and feed a baby squirrel and most importantly, how to find a local wildlife rehabilitator.  I really didn't want a squirrel for a pet (though I named her Forrest....) so I really wanted to get her to someone who could take care of her and put her back out into the world (plus it's illegal to have any wildlife as a pet!)  This site also happened to be the site of the one rehab person in my area.  I took her over to the refuge and they kindly accepted her in!  They knew exactly what they were doing!  

So gosh, what amazing finds I've had lately!  It's the little things that count :)

Summer crazy days!

Yes, it's been a busy, crazy summer.  So much to do before it starts to rain again!  Not only are my Love and I busy working on house projects and getting some camping in, I'm also busy developing new products and creating more dolls.

 I'm getting ready for the Portland Miniature Show and I hope to bring many many dolls and supplies!  Come visit with me and see my work up close!

I've developed a new Basic Dollhouse Doll.  This little Victorian/Edwardian man is in my Etsy shop and ready to be ordered.  You can pick out his hair and eye color as well as skin color.  He is from my line of basic and affordable dollhouse dolls, meaning the costume is very simple and the style the same for each doll made.

I'm halfway finished with my new kit, a modern lady.  I hope to be able to debut her at the show in October.  My testing ladies are standing by ready to try her out!  Stay tuned!

I've finished two dressed dolls, this first being a special custom order of the dashing Mr. Rochester.  His new family is quite excited to welcome him!

The second is a sweet little girl dressed in Victorian/Edwardian dress.  The fabric is light green checked silk, and I've added mauve pink accents.  She's in this permanent seated position.  She is also on her way to her new home.

My sweet Love bought me an amazing camera for my birthday this year, and I've been working on Macro photography and different sets for the dolls.  I still haven't settled on a permanent set/background, but hopefully soon I'll have that down!

I hope your summer has been as lovely as mine!

I'm a busy bee!

I've been quite busy lately!  I'm hoping to use this summer to get some major Lilli's Littles projects done.  As mentioned in a previous post, I've been trying my hand at making my own plaster molds.  I'm getting better at it!  Here is my first complete head/torso mold.  I've called her "Heather" :)

I've also been working on another female, some hands, and feet!  It's getting easier now to make the plaster mold.  When I'm ready to sell mold sets, I will have a professional make them though :)  My own molds are functional, for me, but for resale, not so pretty :)

I've also just finished another dressed doll.  I enjoyed embroidering again.  It seems to add a custom touch and I can make it to scale.  Finding trims to fit the scale is difficult, so I sometimes just make them myself.  The bottom of her skirt is pleated using the same skirt fabric.  Oh yeah, and the hands are my own mold! 

Well, I hope everyone is having a lovely summer!  Ta ta for now!

A Little Kitchen Maid

I want to make practical and real dolls for dollhouse and scenes.  I just can't seem to get away from the urge to make "normal" dolls.  Yes, I love those pretty ballgowns and fancy suits and love making them, but they don't always fit the scene.  Miniatures is about creating life in a small scale to look incredibly real.  The satisfying part of collecting and making miniatures is when your item is so realistic that it wows the viewer.  So all that to say, I really enjoy making everyday, normal people for dollhouse collectors.  Here is my latest.  A little kitchen maid that would fit in a Victorian or Edwardian scene.  

The fabric I used for her dress is of my own design, a chintz pattern, but in muted colors.  It fits the practicality of the role of kitchen maid.  Her apron is of linen.  This head/torso is from a Cindy Gates mold and I've used this figure for so many purposes; she's got a great expression.

So to all the hard working folk out there, have a great day and remember that you are essential to keeping things running wherever you may be!  Now, I, must get back to work too!

Georgian style

Hi folks!  I wanted to show off my latest custom order.  I really enjoy doing custom dolls as it opens up my imagination and it's so fun to see how it turns out.  This is a colonial or Georgian style gentlemen, dressed in an elaborate jacket with a powdered wig.  My customer loves him!

One of the best things I like about this doll are his shoes.  I sculpted into the porcelain the shape and buckles and then china painted them, as well as his stockings.  He's definitely a collectible!

Violets

I wanted to make a series of dolls inspired by flowers and then have a certificate of authenticity to lend to the collectible nature of my dolls.  Here is my first:  Violet.

I had to do the 1950's New Look again, of course.  I love love this time period in fashion history!  So she is wearing a full petticoat with lace underneath her full circle skirt of blue and violet silk.  Her waistband is a silk plaid coordinating with the blues and purples.  Her upper bodice is a pale yellow silk dupioni with a keyhole opening in the back.  I made tiny "violets" of ribbon for her waistband and hair.  I love her face...I wish my camera could do my dolls justice!  Her eyes are green and she has such a serene expression.  I china paint my dolls' faces and shoes because I want them to be long lasting collectibles.  China paint is fired in several layers onto the porcelain and cannot be scraped off...ever :)  I see some day in the distant future, at an archaeological dig, one of my dolls being found...minus clothes of course (they won't last as long as the porcelain!)....he he...what a fantasy eh?

So the certificates of authenticity are something I've wanted to do for awhile now.  I will start sending them along with each custom dressed doll, like this one.  I do hope this will help my dolls be collectible, and perhaps someday they will :)  Here is the certificate...it won't be real without my signature and date and "special symbol"...he he.

So farewell for now and have a great week everyone!!  Ah one more thing, Violet is currently up for sale on Etsy and Ebay!