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Fantasy Adventure Children

5/31/2015

 
I've been working all week on my two little fantasy costumes. My fingers are sore from sewing leather - not the sewing hand, but the other one from holding the leather so tight. I kept running into issues with my boy's outfit. First his tunic wasn't quite right, so I made a new one, and the original ended up as the first pice in my smallest Celtic Maiden outfit to date. Byuri looks very cute in it. Then there was the issues with the boy's belt and wrist guards - they were just too ornate. So I made new wrist guards and decided he needed a plain belt. But I didn't have any good small buckles. So after hunting all over town, I ended up buying some cheap used sandals at Value Village. Two pairs of old shoes yielded ten perfect-sized buckles. 

I've been resisting taking pictures of my boy all week because he isn't painted yet, and I really wanted to show him in his outfit AFTER he had his face up,  but that could still be awhile, so I gave in and so as not to end up with really great photos with him with a blank face, I opted for studio shots. And of course I had to include my McBeth, whose been hovering over my work space all week like a doting grandpa...
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The two small costumes aren't completely finished yet - I'm waiting for the arrival of some finer glovers needles in order to sew on some really tiny beads.

I'm not normally a big fan of long hair on a boy, but in this case I find my boy needs it. KIDs have very slender necks (even thinner than the smaller BIDs) and a short wig made him look too 'bobble-headed'. I had ordered him a short regular boy-style 'Johnny' wig, but also a 'Red' wig the same colour. I figure he can wear the 'Johnny' wig when he's a 'regular' boy, and the longer 'Red' wig is better for when he's a fantasy character. The high turtle neck he wears under everything also helps bulk out his neck..... Now all he needs is a face up!
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Next costume to make is a KID elf archer in greens using the discarded belt and wrist guards. I've chosen the fabrics, and now just have to decided which one of my three girls will be an elf.
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One thing you may notice is that the belt and wrist guards have snap fasteners. They are harder on the hands to sew (and messier-looking) than eyelets or buckles, but these costumes will be going on and off a lot, so whatever makes that easier is a good thing.  My JID fantasy characters rarely ever get changed out of their costumes, so for them it's fine to go the more 'authentic' way.
Donna
5/31/2015 08:55:19 am

Oh, Martha, they're terrific! I agree 100% that the longish 'Red' wig is perfect for Miles in his fantasy role. The wrapped leggings and leather vest make Miles look rugged and ready for action. Byuri is adorable.

Martha
5/31/2015 09:08:04 am

Thanks! I even managed to cheat with the wrapped leggings, and sewed them as the lower legs of his pants. Anything to make these outfits easy to put on and take off!

I chose Byuri as my model since I feel she's the most mature-looking of my little girls. But I think Holly, with her red hair, would look adorable in it too.

Donna
6/1/2015 08:13:55 am

Having the leg wrappings as part of his pants is such a great idea, and you'd never know to look at them!

I'll bet Holly will be adorable in the Celtic maiden costume. She has such an intense and serious little face, she'll make a dandy little adventurer

Martha
6/2/2015 07:24:09 am

Thanks! I want these costumes to be as stress-free as possible to put on and take off, since it will be happening a lot.

Linda
5/31/2015 09:31:03 am

Wow! They look stunning, but then all your costumes look amazing.

Jane
5/31/2015 09:34:29 am

Oh my goodness! This is just brilliant. I keep stopping typing to go and look again!
I love that the costumes look so in-scale to the dolls, and just so worn in and perfect!

And it was so clever to think of the ease of taking the costumes on and off too, you think of everything!
Wow again!!!

Martha
6/2/2015 07:29:04 am

Thanks! It brings me back to the 'good old days' of art dolls - the costumes had to be as in-scale as possible, and suitably worn and dirty. No one else used to make their doll costumes look worn and dirty. Everyone else's historical figures were all wearing pristine clothes.

The only difference in making these now, is that with art dolls I could sew the costumes right onto the dolls, but for BJDs the clothes have to be removable, and that adds a whole new challenge.

Babel
6/1/2015 12:49:08 am

Very beautiful :o))

Kendra link
6/1/2015 05:32:01 am

I love how you return to your older work and express it in new forms and ways. Good job with all celtic kids! I look forward to the elf outfit as well.

Martha
6/2/2015 07:31:23 am

I loved the dirty Barbarians and knight costumes of our old art figures, and it feels so comfortable going back to that again. I expect quite a few of my older art dolls will find themselves in photos with my new series of BJD characters.

Brigitte
6/2/2015 06:42:14 am

The new outfits are adorable. I love them both. They are so small and so detailed. Byuri looks great as a Celtic Maiden, but i'm sure, Holly would make a wonderful adventurer too.
McBeth really looks like a very proud grandfather. :-)

Inma
6/11/2015 01:45:45 am

Oh ! They are cute and beautiful at the same time ! These costumes are just stunning !


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
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