DeriDolls and ocasional ramblings

06:05 pm - Want a Deridoll?

Tudor Deridolls available for order at The Anne Boleyn Files
(Montage made by Tim of The Anne Boleyn Files)

09:35 am - La Corte de la Rosa

=) I now have the green light to post about a set order I got from my darling ladies at La Corte de La Rosa who went around surprising each other with dolls of themselves in their beautiful period gowns.


First, my dear B. <3
Her dress has very simple shapes, but the little details on the neckline and sleeves give it a whole rich look.
Nevertheless the jewelry was front and center with this doll. :)


I loveloveLOVE her diadem. Yes, I do realize there should only have been 2 sets of pearls between the strass beads, but that pattern looked askew on the head and this was a small concession to make to have it look properly balanced.
I also tried something different for the earrings.
I don't like to resort to options that require glue to secure them, but the chains and the pearls were the ideal supplies to suggest B. real earrings, so I bit the bullet and did it.


Next, my dear P. <3
I was very happy to have a chance to work with some beautiful deep green felt. And the satin ribbon ruching and pearl mix? LOVE IT!


This french coif is a statement piece, no doubt about it! =)
I had the perfect ribbon trim for it and then it was easy to fit the pearls into a neat pattern.


Next, the lovely S.
I'm particularly proud of this doll because I fell like I really nailed it! I can see S.'s photo in this doll. =D


For the turned sleeve I resorted to enfold the felt layer in organza ribbon. It gave it a bit of a shine without adding too much bulk.


And last, but not least, the lovely S.
Oh, to finally be able to use my embossed navy felt! *squee!*
I love her dress, but I must confess that her jewelry, although simple, stole my heart. <3 It fits the doll perfectly.


Her skirt guards (like the cap sleeves you can't see on the first photo... =/) are decorated with entwined gold and navy thread stitching.



And the lovely ladies even sent me a photo of their dolls when they got together!
The second S. wasn't present then, but a third S., whose doll I've already posted about a while ago, was and took her doll as well. <3<3<3<3<3


As always, a huge hug to all my wonderful ladies and gentlemen at La Corte de la Rosa. =D Your Holbein of dolls is always at your service. *bows*

Current Mood: stressed

03:46 pm - A minha bonequinha...

Last night, my kitty, Missau, who has been my little doll for the past 13 years, had to be put to sleep.

She never saw a scrunchy she didn't run off with and never met a dog she didn't like. =,)

Current Mood: sad

08:05 pm - Madame de Pompadour

Ok, so USPS and CTT are being jackasses and this doll is still stuck in NY for some reason without any decent answer to my questions. Deri's not amused. *frown*
Her buyer is a repeat customer and has been awesomely patient, but I've already put aside body parts in case I have to re-do her and I don't think I can jinx this even more by posting about her now.

So, without further ado, Madame de Pompadour:

Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour, (29 December 1721 – 15 April 1764) was a member of the French court, and was the official chief mistress of Louis XV.
This is the briefest of descriptions of the life of this fascinating woman, so I advise you to read a bit more about her here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_de_Pompadour

It was a commission from the wonderful J. and I can now confess I was quite nervous about making this doll.
I've had a print of the Boucher portrait which inspired her in my files for years without managing to gather enough courage to take her on by myself.
Her dress is so rich and the details so delicate! Could I pull it off?
Only J. can answer that question properly, but, if I may...
YES!!!! =DDDDDDDD


For her hair I used the same method for the curls as I had used with my last Marie Antoinette doll (http://deriana.livejournal.com/111824.html).


I love her sleeves! <3


I had thought all the tiny ribbon roses were going to be a nightmare, but I was happily proven wrong! =) After the first couple of roses, they actually became quite fun to make!
And the felt gathering went flawlessly. =)


You had already seen the scale shot on a previous post, but here it is again.´



And now to cross my fingers that she gets out of ISC in NY soon and gets to J. safe and sound. =(

Current Mood: anxious

11:10 am - Banging head on walls

Dear USPS and/or USA Customs,

Yes, I, too, think my dolls are pretty and like to hold them and stare at them, thank you, but, PLEASE!, you've been holding on to them in N.Y. since the 25th of April!
Can they at least move on to another state by now? Pretty please? I'm not asking that they be delivered immediately, just that they... you know, MOVE!

Still grateful for past speedy deliveries, but beginning to freak out now,

Deri

Current Mood: aggravated

11:19 pm - Packaging feedback=

To my dear patron saints of Patience (aka my customers and friends :P), I'd really appreciate your input on the subject of my packaging.


If you have a Deridoll, you've received something like this inside a ziplock back.
Depending on the subject of the doll, the tissue paper also may have been stamped with a suitable pattern.

So far :knocks on wood:, all dolls have reached their new homes safe and dry, which is my top priority, but...

Did you enjoy unwrapping your doll?
Did you find the packaging pretty?
Were you expecting something different?
Did you find it too plain?

Now, it isn't ugly (imho, at least! ;D) and it's lightweight, which is always a plus when shipping the dolls out, but, particularly for the most detailed dolls, I feel I should step up on the packaging as well.

I've been thinking about this, but have been coming up blank. :(
So, what I'm asking is:

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can add more oomph! to my packaging without adding too much weight?

09:04 pm - Ganesha II

An order from the lovely P. from the USA, here's a new version of my Ganesha doll (first version here: http://deriana.livejournal.com/94599.html)



I made a few changes, like using a pinker felt and being more selective with the bling. =)
What do you think? Better?

Current Mood: contemplative

09:53 pm - Sneak peek!

This doll hasn't even left for her new home, but I'm so giddy about her that I can't help but show you the tiniest of peeks! =)

This is a scale shot of the tiny ribbon rose in her hair. <3


Stay tuned!

07:03 pm - A Tudor bonanza =)

Better late then never! =D Here are the Tudor dolls I had promised for last week.

First, a new character on my Tudor portfolio.
A commission from the lovely M., from the USA, here is little Thomas Cromwell inspired by his character in the tv series The Tudors:

Once again the blanket stitch came to my aid when trying to suggest the beautiful black work of the ruffs.
And that long faux fur vest... Hmmmmm... *purs*


I didn't want him just to have a simple chain collar, so I went scavenging on my miscellaneous supplies' boxes and found a suitable flower trinket that looked similar enough to a Tudor rose for my liking. =)
I only wish it had taken better to the golden paint, though... =/

Again, a commission from M., another The Tudors' based doll, this time Thomas Culpepper.

He looks pretty much like the previous version of him I made some time ago. I only did a slight change to his sleeves.


While in the previous doll the sleeves had been bigger but flat, this time I went with a puffier look for the outer side.


And, once again, the tiny Tudor Rose on his chest.

Thirdly, another commission from the USA as well, but from a different M. =)
My 3rd version of Elizabeth I's gorgeous Coronation Portrait:



Little Bess without all the royal gadgets. =D


The regalia: cloak with faux fur trim with added ermine pattern, fully beaded collar (I'm so proud of how quickly and neatly it went!), crown, ceptre and orb.




And last, a very hasty shot of another Anne Boleyn doll I recently sent on her way to a new home. =)

Current Mood: artistic

11:50 pm - Gollum Rant

Please bear with me as I rant. ;) Proper doll post (a triple Tudor one at that!) later this week.




A couple of weeks ago I had a long talk with a very talented older lady and gave her tips on how to sell online and gave her pricing and other business suggestions.
When she thanked me, she mentioned that what I was doing wasn't common.
She went on to tell me how she had been ignored or flat out demotivated by other crafters when she reached out to them for help on how to improve her works, show and sell them.
This was odd to me because I had always encountered friendly and helpful forums and individual crafters. "Maybe this lady has just had some really bad luck with who she asked...", I thought.
And then, like a domino chain, I heard and read a bunch of similar stories that the same week.
One in particular shocked me: people who only show and sell their works to a select circle of friends, family and acquaitances out of fear of copycats and competition.

Personally, I don't get it.
Competition should make you strive to better yourself AND them, not make you cower in your corner, holding maniacally to your precious works like Gollum!
And shouldn't the mere definition of -Handmade- already slash those fears in half?
Maybe it's particular to my craft alone, but I could give a bunch of felts to fellow dollmakers, show them a picture of my dolls and tell them to go at it, and you know what? I'm willing to bet each doll they made would be different to the other.
Patterns and designs can only do so much!
The eyes, the hands, the heart and the mind behind each project are what make it truly unique.

"Ahh! But I bet you would change your tune if you were copied!"
I've wondered about that.
I'd probably be a bit pissed at first, to be honest. Swear words would abound for a few hours. But then I'd likely laugh it off and say "Good for them! That takes work! And now I'm off to make something even better."
This way of thinking gives me peace of mind and my lack of fear of competition allows me to feel true satisfaction at other craftsters' successes.

I imagine the Gollum-like crafters must be stunted by fear down in their caves. If their behaviors allow them to feel a bit more safe, good for them, I guess.
But they'll never know the joy of having fellow artisans with the most gorgeous arrays of works tell you that you have inspired them.
Or how rewarding it is to help an extremely talented lady who just needs a bit of incentive to spread her art.
Or how ego-boosting it is to be contacted by a mother whose son is determined to make an Henry VIII doll based on yours for a school project, no matter how complicated everyone tells him it will be!

I've never been so thrilled by someone else's project as I was with his. =D
And didn't it turn out great and unique? I'm in absolute love with his crown and his lopsided, flirty grin!

Photo posted with S.'s and her boy's kind permission.

Let the Gollums keep their Rings if they want. I'll rather have these bits of happiness. =)

Current Mood: bitchy

09:10 pm

G.R.R.Martin is coming to Portugal next month. Considering pulling a Misery-like stunt to know how ASOIAF is meant to end. >;D
On page 300 of A Dance of Dragons. Craving to continue reading like a heroin addict. Must... not.... read.... Must... sew... instead...

Current Mood: exhausted

11:11 pm - Tired Deri

Sooooooo tired....
There are 10 dolls awaiting their turn to get posted here: 4 Tudors, 5 Tudor-related and 1 with a new feature detail.
6 more to go before break.
The part of me that isn't hunched over felt and needles, snoring, is high-fiving itself.

I also wanted to talk a bit about Gollum-like crafters and a great experience I recently had by avoiding that path, but it will have to wait until I'm not making a damn good impression of a comatose snail.

Love you all,

Deri

Current Mood: sleepy

06:36 pm - Federico Auditore - XL Deridoll

=D I can finally spill the beans on the large Deridoll project I mentioned some time ago.
A custom order I got through the lovely M., from Germany, not so little Federico Auditore was inspired by a mix of fanart and the same image I used for the Ezio doll.


Like in Ezio's doll's case, both of the daggers and the cape can be removed and the hood can be pulled back.
Silver embroidery on the hood and on the edges and back of the tunic and a bit of improvising with trinkets for his belt. :)


Being my usual air-head self, I forgot to take pictures of him with his cape during the day, so these were taken with the living room's light. =/
You can see his slashed capped sleeves here.


Here's the red embroidery on the collar of his shirt.



It was oddly emotional for me to finally be able to hug one of my dolls properly. =)

Current Mood: amused

03:53 pm

09:15 pm - Ophelia

An order from the wonderful A., from Germany, I was thrilled to make an Ophelia doll to go live in the same home as my Hamlet one (http://deriana.livejournal.com/108466.html).
I just received a photo of the 2 of them together and it's simply precious! <3 I love seeing my babies happy! =D


The painting by Waterhouse just blew me away with how gorgeous it was. Very simple lines but there were also some detail work that made it challenging.
The hem of her gown is embroidered all the way around and I stitched her skirt to her hand to try and make the flowers on her lap sit more naturally.
Although the rest of the colours are spot on, her hair isn't that bright orange but a rust-shade instead.


Not 100% symmetrical, but it could fool you at a quick glance, eh? ;D Progress is terribly slow, but I'm feeling a much better control over my embroidery.


Scale shot.
=) Isn't she the sweetest little thing ever? <3



Rant:
I went on a sewing binge this past week, so there will be some serious photo dumping in a few weeks.
In the meantime, my sewing has slowed down, less because of fatigue than because of the sequoia-sized splinter I managed to stab myself with this past Thursday and which has been living under my fingernail since. My swollen, throbbing finger isn't pleased and neither am I, but Ouchie! (as I've taken to calling it) isn't budging. =(

Current Mood: grateful