ODD-Jects d'Art: PRESSED/MOLDED FELT FACE DOLLS

These dolls are made of 100% wool felt using a process being developed for a few years. Felt is pressed into a face mold I made of my original sculpt. Eye are cut open and folded under around the edges. Doll eyes are permanently set in. Large eyes fill the entire round opening or felt eyelids are added so a smaller eye can be used. Facial features are reinforced on the back so features won't collapse. Dolls are jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips and stand about 10 1/2" tall. Each doll is ONE-OF-A-KIND.

People tell me these dolls need some sort of catchy clever name, but so far this is it - descriptive but not very catchy....so just enjoy the pictures.

THE VERY FIRST!! and ONE OF THE MOST RECENT

Prismacolor markers are used to draw the facial details. Each doll's face comes out looking completely different even though they were all made from the same mold, variation and personality differences occur depending on how the felt on that particular face stretches, how the eye openings are turned, size of eyes used, how they're positioned, even the eye color.

Using molds and casting in RESIN (see JESTER DOLLS) there was no "variation" problem.
Each FELT FACE comes out looking different, even though they all come from the same mold.

The doll's body is all felt, jointed at neck, shoulders and hips. Fabric at joints is reinforced. Body was designed to fit clothes designed for BLEUETTE, Helen Kish's BITTY BETHANY, and Robert Tonner's ANN ESTELLE dolls. They can also wear vintage doll clothes made for Arranbee's LITTLEST ANGEL. Feet are flat on the bottom with cardboard inserts and wear size 58 doll shoes, available commercially. Hair is usually just pinned on, so hair can be changed. If someone wants that doll with that hair, it can be permanently attached.

This is my latest SHOW AND TELL SAMPLE, completed in Mar. 2012 and currently not for sale. The head was made in Jan. along with several others (I work in batches). She has a human hair wig made of an old hairpiece, gathered in the back and pinned on. It hangs long in the back, the front hair is pulled into a little ponytail in back. The dress was purchased, probably handmade, looks a bit Alice-in-Wonderland-ish.

This is what she looked like before she got hair and a complete body. Her eyes are large and grey.

Up till I made the head above, there was no way I would part with my old favorite SHOW AND TELL SAMPLE DOLL (below) She has smaller eyes with eyelids. Blonde wefted mohair was pinned on. Many people wanted to buy her as soon as she was put together, but I wouldn't sell her.

But in January she got a new home, different hair and (hopefully by now?) different clothes. I'd love to see what she looks like since she joined the circus...

The woman that took my SAMPLE doll had placed a special "custom-custom order." She was very particular about details, said she wanted a
CLOWN DOLL with LARGE EYES, BLUE EYESHADOW and FULL LIPS.
I made the doll (below) for her..... but she wanted my old favorite SHOW AND TELL SAMPLE.
Notice - SMALL EYES, FELT EYELIDS, NO EYESHADOW and THINNER LIPS. (Yup, my SAMPLE DOLL turned into the clown, above right)

When it comes to FACES, nobody knows what they'll like till they actually see it. YOU CAN'T PLEASE PEOPLE TRYING TO CREATE WHAT THEY SAY THEY THINK THEY WANT!!!!

SO - I make the heads and the faces. You pick one that's already made or wait for the next batch. No more "custom-custom orders" on these dolls. Since I work in batches, I won't make JUST ONE.

This "custom-custom order" doll is still available, sans clown hat & collar.....

BUT she's just had a makeover!!! To be honest, I never was thrilled with the blue eyeshadow on this doll, only did it as per "custom-custom order" request. I went after this doll's face with the color blender pen that also works as a color REMOVER. Got rid of that blue and tweaked the face. Same doll, but this is what she looks like now -

Her name is "GLORIOUS ALL-RED"

And she's AVAILABLE!!!...though I'm bonding....

These are some of the other heads from the January 2012 batch, all with BIG EYES.

This one got a body.......

...and just now a bit of "tweaking"

This next doll has the second head I ever made. The face came out looking very similar to the first head I made (shown at the very top of the page) - might be the only time that's happened!! The first heads were pretty flat in back. The pattern was tweaked, now heads are much rounder. This was an early body pattern, legs were longer and is about 13" tall (vs 10 1/2") Feet on the newer dolls are flat on the bottom with cardboard inserts so they stand better on their own and wear size 58 doll shoes.

I'm thinking about changing the size of the feet, turns out size 58 doll shoes aren't very "mainstream." Also thinking of making more dolls with longer legs.

This doll is available. Hair and clothes can be changed.

This doll has one of the earliest heads, note the similarity to my old SHOW AND TELL SAMPLE.
It was made into a doll, dressed, taken to a show and SOLD. Her new owner calls her the GREEN FROUZ-HEAD DOLL, and who am I to argue?

For several years I've made GOLLIES with felt needle-sculpted faces, even a few needle-felted faces. The body on this guy was designed for those, it works great! Again, this is the same mold that's been used on all these dolls. He's 10 1/2" tall and available.

THIS ELF was the first pressed felt face doll to be completely completed, got RAVE reviews, and was the first of these dolls to sell (Thanks Karin!!!) The bodies on these guys are vintage upholstery mohair, available in several colors.