I emptied a large bottle of hand soap like this one several weeks ago. Just as I got ready to toss it into the recycle bin I realized that it could be a doll body. Or, a dress. I am still interested in the idea of a doll that hangs, or suspends. In the past I've called these "ARTiculated" dolls, which I like better that "hanging dolls". It only took an empty plastic bottle to send me on my way. 

I cut the bottom out of the bottle with a utility blade and sawed off the neck. I wanted to make a rounder head, instead of the flat face style I often use, but I still wanted to be able to drill a hole from top to bottom for the wire and swivel inside.  I built up the head form with generous applications of paper mache on the front and back of the wood center.  I had a pair of legs I had made earlier that were too short for the intended doll. These had been sewn from canvas and stuffed, and then covered with gesso and paint, but still needed feet for this doll. The legs needed to dangle from inside the bottle/dress. 

The amazing thing here is that I worked out all the interior mechanics while I could see what I was doing and BEFORE I covered the bottle with strips of paper mache. So, I am fairly close to the end of the process. I need to add a fluff of yarn hair to make her head a little rounder. Paper mache and paint on the bottle will be fairly simple. But, do you think I can get it finished? One day.

This are my doll making goals for December: Finish the "Dial Doll", finish 3 other ARTiculated dolls, including the one with a house on her head, and finish the bodies for 4 primitive heads that are ready to go! OK. Let's get started!

This is a familiar face, but who is this cute girl, anyway?

It seems like almost every face I make has a serious potential to look just like this one. I have often heard the comment, "Your dolls look just like you". Now that I have made nearly 1,000 dolls, I suppose that some of them do look like me, although that was never the intent,  
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