The Magic Bean

Look What Doris Made

You know what makes me deep down in the gut happy?

When I open my inbox in the morning and find photos from a student who has taken one of my doll making classes or has made one of my patterns.

So when I opened an email from Doris Purvis FULL of images of dolls that she has made in my classes or using one of my patterns - well, let's just say I was pretty excited.

But when I saw how outstanding Doris' dolls were I was ready to burst.  Bursting can be messy, so I decide to brag instead.  I think it is safe to say that Doris has really taken her doll making to a new level.  I'm proud to say that I had a tiny part in that. 

Doris took my Ascending cloth doll class back in November at Blue Haze in Chesham.  Although I originally created this doll to be held aloft on a stand, I told the class that I thought the doll would look really wonderful posed on her front, mounted on a sea themed base to look as though she were swimming.  And Doris did just that to absolutely stunning effect.  This doll is so beautiful I wish I could claim I'd made her myself.

Doris also attended my recent Finders Keepers class and this gorgeous cutie is the result.  She so looks the part in her little bonnet and dress that I couldn't resist making her photo look like an old-fashioned daguerreotype. 

Doris also attended my All Bottled Up Doorstop doll course with the Doll Maker's Circle in January and made this beautiful version of my no-sewing machine necessary doll.  Look at that face!

And Doris made this dreamy version of my Stitch in Time design after yet another doll making class at Blue Haze in Chesham.  Look at the face and the gorgeous colour scheme. 

And Doris has made several dolls using my patterns too, including this delicate and lady-like version of Gather Ye Rosebuds...

A fun spin on my Give Us a Kiss pattern where Doris substituted the ball of mistletoe that the original version was holding onto with a sign that reads "Kiss"...

And a super cute, super sleepy intrepretation of my free cloth doll pattern Little Sneaks... 

And not forgetting Doris' version of my free Pinelope pin cushion doll pattern.   I might have troubles sticking pins into something with a face that darn cute.

 
I can't wait to see what Doris makes next.  There is really no greater thrill as a teacher than seeing something of this quality being created by your students. 

Thank you Doris!

A Cloth Doll Class at the Kitchen Table

There's no bigger compliment than having students who have taken your previous classes, keep on taking class after class, after class.  I figure I must be doing something right.  

June and her friend Doris have been taking my classes for several years now and have been desperate to take my Finders Keepers doll class where I teach one type of wire armature (there are several), along with the face and costuming techniques needed to create this doll.

There were several other people who were interested in taking this class too, so June gathered them all together and we had a class around her kitchen table!

As we were doll making in a home, we had to keep the numbers down to five people.  That meant that everyone got more personal tuition and attention.  AND we could make dolls in our slippers while cosied up on the sofa.  Below you can see Doris working away on her doll's body with June's doll-in-progress in the foreground.

I love being able to really spend time with each person.  Here are the people I spent time teaching this weekend.

Jo and her doll.  You may remember the dolls that Jo made in my Ascending and All Bottled Up Doorstop Doll classes.  Click the link to remind yourself of Jo's talent.

Diane and her doll.  Diane had taken my All Bottled Up Doorstop doll class and came back for more!

Noreen had also taken my All Bottled Up Doorstop doll class.

As the All Bottled Up doll comes with a pre-drawn face, this time round Noreen got to try her hand at drawing her own face.  She did an outstanding job.  In fact,  I think everyone in the class excelled themselves.  Check out these doll faces.

And of course, the one face we can't forget is June's.  Always smiling and ready to do anything for you.  June is a creative force to be reckoned with. 

Thank you June for arranging such a wonderful class and opening your home up to all of us.  You're a doll!

Didn't realise that I will teach in a private home?

If you fancy learning to make cloth dolls from the comfort of your own home, you certainly can.  My fees remain the same whether I teach one person or 15 (which is my maximum). 

Certainly, if you have more students the price that each person must pay to cover my teaching fees can be cheaper.  However, larger groups usually require more room, which often means that a hall or room must be rented and that can make costs go up again and possibly negate any savings you might have made. 

If you have a smaller group, you can also get more personal attention. 

So if you want to have a small group in your own home or studio space then please feel free to email me to find out more.  Or visit my classes page by clicking the link to see what classes I have available and to download my contract. 

Whether you live in the UK or further afield, I can teach you in your very own abode. 

Have dolls, will travel.

Look What Jo Made

If I were to tell you to look at this doll and tell me how long this doll maker has been making cloth dolls what would you think?  5 years?  3 years?  How about 3 months?  How many dolls do you think she's made before?  100?  20?  Or just 3? 

Would it blow your mind if I told you that the doll maker who crafted this doll, Jo Burke, had only made three dolls previous to this one?  Well it blew mine.

Look how Jo really got the expressive body posture.

Look how Jo added the coloured hair to the brown which really ties into the water theme of her doll.

Look how the base appears to be totally encrusted with beads from a distance.

And look how the base is actually just very cleverly collaged to achieve that glittering look. 

I first met Jo Burke at my Ascending class at Blue Haze Arts and Craftsin Chesham, here in the UK in November 2011. Jo had only recently discovered cloth doll making and had only a few dolls under her belt. At that point, Jo was making her first ever articulated fingers.  Thing is, I'm not sure we can actually call someone like Jo a "beginner".  "An extremely precocious and talented beginner with over-achiever tendencies" perhaps?

Because then Jo went on to take my All Bottled Up Doorstop Doll with the Doll Maker's Circle in January. 

And this is what she made.

A Gothic beauty in black.

With gorgeous detailing with beads, sequins, embroidery and lacing.

And a beautifully rendered face.

So don't forget the name Jo Burke because I think we'll be seeing more of her talent shortly.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful creations with us Jo.

 

 

Look What Anne Made

Anne Sander just sent me these pictures of her completed All Bottled Up Doorstop doll.  Anne is a member of the Doll Maker's Circle and took my All Bottled Up doll class at the end of January.

I think you'll agree that Anne did an outstanding job colouring the face.  Then she set the face off beautifully by trimming the cloak with a beaded picot edging.  With the hood folded back, Anne has really set off the beauty of the face, I think.

I also love how Anne used beaded leaves which sparkle a bit and set the leaves off against the green background.  What a beauty.

If you are inspired by Anne's doll and want to learn how to do beaded picot edging like Anne has used,click the following link to see a really simple beaded picot tutorial.   

Thank you so much for sharing Anne.  She's beautiful.

 

All Bottled Up Doorstop Doll Class with the Doll Maker's Circle

This past Saturday I journeyed to the other side of London to teach the Doll Maker's Circle my All Bottled Up Doorstop Doll class.

I came bearing kits of luscious repurposed knitwear and empty water water bottles, ready to be transformed into a cloaked doll complete with a pre-printed fabric face. 

Part of the joy and creative challenge of working with re-purposed materials is that you will end up having to deal with slightly different issues, depending on the material you have to work with.  I find it always throws up the most creative solutions.  The All Bottled Up doll is based on a jumper sleeve (sweater sleeve to North Americans).  And due to the differences in sleeve cuts, lengths and fibre content you can get some pretty different results.  However, the Doll Maker's Circle were up for the challenge and some very beautiful solutions were found.

Jo immediately saw that her sleeve was a bit more voluminous in the cuff area that forms the hood and immediately arranged it so that it looked just perfect.

Diane's sleeve was a bit shorter and wider and Diane cleverly arranged the hood of her doll into a point which suited her doll perfectly.  I wish I'd gotten a shot of Diane's doll's face which was exquisitely coloured. 

In fact, there were many gorgeous faces created in that class and I got pictures of none of them.  I hate it when I do that. I get so into teaching and talking to other doll makers that I forget to record their genius for posterity.

There were some other moments of genius with ruffles being deployed with flair.

I always encourage my students to add their own creative ideas to a design.  I am always thrilled when they take me at my word and go for it.  Here my silk laced ribbon closure was fabuously replaced with closures made up of French knots in hand dyed silk ribbon - to die for.

 
There were new people like Diane at the class, and students like Doris who I've been privileged to spend time with in my classes before.  Doris pictured to my right (I'm the one in the middle) showed me some photos made from my Give Us a Kiss pattern and from two of my free patterns, Little Sneaks and Pinelope the Pin Cushion Doll.  They were stunning.  I've made Doris promise to send me photos so you can see just how beautiful they are.

 
There were 15 people taking this class and I wish I had pictures of them all, but unfortunately my camera paralysis set in once again.  I didn't even get a photo of June, the instigator of this class and a founder member of the club.  This always seems to happen once I get into a class.  For some reason cameras seem to interfere with my doll mojo.

You'll just have to take my word for it - The Doll Maker's Circle is one talented bunch. 

Look What Maggie Made

The world is a small place.  I grew up in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada.  Ingersoll is a fairly small town.  I moved to London, England, which is anything from small. 

While living in London I discovered cloth dolls and haven't looked back since. 

To bond with other doll makers I joined Doll Street, an online doll club where you can chat to other doll makers, do challenges, take online classes, buy patterns and all sorts.  In the member's area of the website, our fearless leader at Doll Street, Judi, put up a map where you could load your profile onto a world map so we could see where everyone lived.  I uploaded my profile and then had a look at others'.  I discovered that someone living in Ingersoll, Ontario was part of the club.  Her name was Maggie.

Fast forward a year or two, and my mum starts taking tap dancing classes and guess who was part of that class?  Maggie.

So Maggie and I finally got to meet.  And to make dolls together at the Stitch in Time class that I held in Ingersoll.

Well,  fast forward another few months and Maggie sent me pictures of her finished doll made in the Stitch in Time class, which she has named Isabella, after Isabella of France (wife of Edward II).

Look at how well Maggie's doll's face turned out.  Maggie mastered it.  And she chose colours that really suit the doll's face. 

And Maggie added some special details all her very own, like this beaded purse.  Maggie is a particularly gifted beader (among other things).  Visit Maggie's blog  by clicking the link to read more about her version of Stitch and Time and to see what else this talented lady is up to.

If you want to share some of the dolls you've made from my classes, patterns or free tutorials, please do share them.  You can upload them to the Magic Bean Flickr group or e-mail me at colleenbabcock@uwclub.net.  Can't wait to see what you've made!

If Drawing Faces Scares You Then Face Up to It

"I can't make dolls because I can't draw faces."

I hear people say that all the time and it makes me sad.  Because the thing is that drawing is a learned skill and not a talent.  I truly believe that.  And my belief is reinforced each time I teach a class and see people who don't consider themselves to be artists draw a wonderful face.

And of course, practising drawing faces also helps.  The more faces you draw the better you get at it.

To help beginners tackle faces in a less intimidating way (that is, without having to make the whole doll) and to help doll artists practice drawing faces - that's the reason I created the About Face Pin Doll online class that I am offering now through the 2011 holiday season on Doll Street.

So whether you want to take your first try at making dolls or you want to practice, practice, practice, you can find out more information on this pin doll online class by clicking the link.

Gifts for Everyone

These dolls can be turned into brooches, fridge magnets or ornaments.  Can you see them done up in Christmas fabrics and colours?

The finished doll brooches or ornaments also make great stocking stuffers, Secret Santa presents, or even gift toppers.

Gifts for Doll Makers

And if you haven't had time to buy, wrap and post a gift to someone who loves to make dolls, buying them an online class is a great last minute gift. 

Don't you just love the look on someone's face when they open a gift they love?  Me too.  And then I immediately want to draw it.

Find out more information or sign up for the About Face online class with Colleen Babcock

Eyes and Fingers and Toes, Oh My!

I always start off my classes by asking each person what it is they want to get out of the class.  Some people say that just want to have fun (which I'm all for) and others say they want to learn anything new while others say that want to learn a very specific technique. 

I try to make sure that I concentrate on the things that people want to learn most.  In my two day Ascending class at Blue Hazein Chesham, Buckinghamshire November 11-12th, we concentrated on face, fingers and toes.

I think that there were some wonderful faces that came out of that class.  And I'm not talking about the faces we all pull while concentrating really hard.  I mean doll faces.  All the faces below are shown before having their eyelashes added.  Even sans eyelashes they are looking pretty good, me thinks. 

I didn't get a photo of Jo's doll face, but I did get a photo of Jo holding her very first cloth doll hand with articulated fingers.  This was Jo's third cloth doll ever, having discovered cloth dolls only 3 months ago.

It was hard to say who was more excited about Jo's first attempt at fingers, me or Jo.  I don't know about you Jo, but I felt like doing a victory lap. That's probably why I love teaching so much, doll making feels new to me every time someone discovers some little technique that makes them have an "aha moment".

For June, her "aha moment" came when we attached the head of her doll to the neck and the neck to the body.

So satisfying when a thing comes together.

Kim was most concerned about making feet and had a minor panic moment when she thought she'd made two left feet.  But she hadn't.  Panic mode over.  You have to stay on your toes while doll making as it is easy to do something like make two left feet.  Or even to just think you had. 

Not everyone in the class wanted their picture taken, so some parts of the class will have to remain shrouded in mystery.  I am liking the idea of being mysterious.  I don't get to be mysterious very often.  I almost feel like an International Woman of Mystery.  I need to buy a cool pair of shades to go with my new image.

On my third day at Blue Haze, I taught my Dive Into a Book bookmark doll class. 

Part flat doll and part 3D with little needle-sculpted toes, this class is perfect for beginners like friends (from left) Christine, Jenny and Carol.

And for friends Doris and June who are experienced doll makers, the Dive Into a Book class represented a way to practice their toe-sculpting, after having made their first stab at cloth doll toes in the Ascending class the two days previous.

So whether you bring your friends with you to class...

Or make them while you are there, cloth doll classes are a great way to spend your time.  Of course, I would say that, as I teach cloth doll classes.  I'll admit that I am a bit biased.  But you can see for yourself that making little people from cloth really brings people together.

Ascending to New Heights in a Doll Making Class in Chesham, Bucks, UK

If you've ever wanted to learn to sculpt bare toes.

If you've ever wanted to learn to make a dynamic body shape.

If you've ever wanted to learn to stuff a cloth body that is "cellulite" free.

If you've ever wanted to make an applied eyelid on a cloth doll face.

If you've ever wanted to learn to turn and wire articulated cloth doll fingers.

If you've ever wanted to learn to make a stand that says something about the doll.

Than this class is for you.

The class: "Ascending"

Where: Blue Haze Arts and Crafts, Chesham, Bucks, UK

When: Friday 11th & Saturday 12th November 2011 - 10am to 4pm

How: You can find more information about this doll making course in the UK by clicking the link - you can even sign up online. Or call and speak to Hazel at the shop on Tel: 01494 782030 or email: info@blue-haze.co.uk.

What if you just want to dip your toes into some cloth doll making? Or what if you can't do a 2 day course?

No problem, you can learn how to make a bookmark fairy, called Dive Into a Book.

If you ever wanted to try cloth doll making but feel a bit intimidated by a full doll.

If you only have one day free.

If you are an experienced doll maker but have not sculpted bare toes in cloth before.

If you want to make a perfect Christmas present.

If you are a bit intimidated by drawing your own doll face and would really just enjoy some colouring in.

Then this course is for you.

The class: Dive Into a Book

Where: Blue Haze Arts and Crafts, Chesham, Bucks, UK

When: Sunday 13th November 2011 - 10am to 4pm

How: You can find more information about this doll making course in the UK by clicking the link - you can even sign up online. Or call and speak to Hazel at the shop on Tel: 01494 782030 or email: info@blue-haze.co.uk.

Don't miss out on either of these courses. Can't wait to see you there!

16 Women, 16 Dolls, Countless Laughs

Picture the scene if you will - there are 15 women from the High on Dolls Club in Ohio, plus lil 'ol me gathered in the workshop space of Quilter's Sourcequilting shop in Parma, Ohio.  There were dolls.  There were needles and thread.  And most of all, there were giggles.

(Kathy left and Pam on the right get their giggle on in class)

We discussed things that every doll maker needs to know, like how to stuff and how the wrist gives the hand so much more expression and how my adorableness really gets in the way of my street cred (it's really tough to be cool when you are nothing but cute, let me tell you).

Mind you, there was plenty of other cute in that room. 

Teresa showed off her Finders Keepers doll (who was radiantly cute), made in my class last year in Akron Ohio with the Time for Dolls Club.

Teresa's version of my Finders Keepers doll has been thieving in the garden.  Watch your gardening implements around this little imp with sticky fingers - consider yourself warned!

Judy Brown also brought a stunning doll made from one of my designs.

Judy's doll made from my Gather Ye Rosebuds pattern put my cuteness to shame!

When we weren't being cute or making dolls that were cute, we were being silly.  My friend Mary, hammed it up for the camera, giving me her glamour girl pose.

You've GOT to love Mary.  I do.

Then of course there was Paloma, for whom no pose is without glamour. That counts for Paloma herself AND her dolls.

And first time doll maker Mary Ann (pictured below), even managed to match her doll to her scarf.  Dahlings it's all in the accessories.

Jane showed off her gorgeously attired doll.

Georgia worked diligently on her doll.

While sister act, Connie and Joann were a dose of double trouble.  Trouble with a capital T which rhymes with C and that stands for cool. Don't you think it is so cool to do a doll class with your sister?  I do.

Billie (below) kept an eye on Connie and Joann from across the table and still managed to make a great doll.

And el presidente of the club, Joan showed off her beautiful doll in progress.

Of course, it wouldn't be a course of mine if I didn't forget to get a picture of someone.  I failed to get a photo of Lolly who was sadly very ill on the second day and couldn't join us on Day 2.  Get well soon, Lolly.

And criminally, I also didn't get a photo of Michele.  That may be because Michele was so busy running around arranging food for the class, or worrying about me, or dealing with other countless details that made the class such a pleasure.  Thank you so much Michele.  The lack of photo of you is only a testament to the fact that I'm easily distracted from photography when dolls are at stake and is no way a reflection of a lack of fabulousness on your part.  You are 100% fabulous.  Photograph or no photograph.

Thanks a bunch to the whole bunch in the High on Dolls Club.  I'm still high on all your enthusiasm.