Rain and D.I.P (doll in progress)

We finally got some rain!  Yesterday, off and on all day, it rained and refreshed our dry world.  I moved the hibiscus out from the overhang so it could get some of the blessed event.  One day of rain won't end the drought, but maybe it is a start.

Here is the doll I'm working on.  I took a class from Cindee Moyer on Joggles.  Really, I just printed out the pattern and instructions because the online class was actually in August, and I knew I couldn't get to it then.  Cindee Moyer is an extremely talented and whimsical doll maker, and I wish I could attend one of her real life workshops.

 Last week, I got out the instructions (which I didn't always understand) and began-- even though I didn't have a good knit and had to use torn up tee shirt scraps I'd bought for cleaning.  

For various reasons, I made many, many mistakes, but I learned some new ideas and techniques.  The Gatherer, Cindee's doll is all cloth, but because my head was so wonky, I covered the head, shoulders, and hands with paper clay over the cloth.

Next time, I'll pay more attention to the instructions, and I've ordered some knit fabric that will be a much better option than old tee shirt scraps.

She still looks pretty wonky in these pictures, but truthfully, that isn't unusual.  The more I work on her, the more I like her.  I should have taken a lot more pics of the doll in progress, but I kept thinking that I was going to give up and send her to the Neverland of Dolls, along with so many others.  There are so many heads and unfinished dolls hanging around the studio; poor things, abandoned, neglected, and scorned.

I'm glad I kept working on her, though, because in the last two days, she has begun to materialize, and I have become quite fond of her.

I wish I'd had the information from The Magic Bean about stuffing before making these last five dolls.  Her method of stuffing is quite different from anything else I've seen, and I can't wait to try it.  Need longer hemostats first.  Here is a link to her Etsy shop.  Beautiful dolls!

Have a great day!