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Under Construction

1/16/2020

6 Comments

 
I just spent two whole days making a tiny tiara to go with Monica's gown.  I wanted a red base similar to the one SartoriaJ offered. But it would be much more difficult on a much smaller scale.

I had gone down to the basement to look for some wine velveteen, fused on the iron-on interfacing pattern, and sewed it with matching colour lining. It was a bear to turn right side out, but I managed. It wasn't bad, but when I compared it to the actual gown, the velveteen tiara was way too red.  I had not bothered to compare the colours, and just assumed that 'wine red' was 'wine red'. Apparently not.  What to do?

So I made another tiara base from the last scrap of fabric from the bodice. Surprisingly enough it was even harder to turn right side out.  But I didn't like the dull colour. Jan suggested trying to dye the first velveteen one, so I mixed up some 'Black Cherry' folk art paint with a drop of black, and some fabric medium, and 'dyed' it.  The colour dried very close to the velour of her gown.

​And then it took two days of deciding how to embellish it, and actually doing it....
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In the meantime, I've pulled three fabric combinations for more Medieval gowns. The first gown will be a dark turquoise green, made using the same pattern as the Mirror Queen. I was surprised to find that I had a green version of the gold-spotted brocade I'd used for the Mirror Queen, and I even had some of the same velvet trim, but in green. There's just enough of a similar gold trim for the bodice edging. The neckline and sleeves with be different this time round, and I'm thinking I may  make cream sheer hanging sleeves, so it won't just be a green version of that first gown.... 
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The other two fabric combinations I pulled are intended to be FID size versions of my bigger lady's Renaissance gowns, but before I can start cutting anything out, I first need to make a test bodice to check the pattern. These gowns will also be modelled on Bianca, so they will fit both Slim Iplehouse FIDs and the Slim Raccoon ladies.

I'm also working on some new 'Medieval' banners.  I used one from the castle downstairs for the knighting photos, and loved how it looked. There's plenty more banners on the castle in the basement, but they are all in way too bright colours.  That was fine for Disney Princess stories 30 years ago, but I want something more muted that won't fight for attention in the background....
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And then there's the foam core walls the banners have to hang on.  So lots to do.....
6 Comments
Donna
1/16/2020 05:32:34 pm

The tiara is beautiful and matches the gown so well! When the next three gowns are completed your Medieval court will be dazzling.

It will be very interesting to see how you construct your castle background. I hope you'll take lots of photos to share!

Reply
Martha
1/17/2020 03:52:50 pm

Of course, the 'court' will never be complete. Rex will want to become a knight too, and there's plenty of other characters who would want to be part of it as well.

The castle walls go very slow. Foam core warps really badly when painted on just one side, so I've had to paint the back side as well in hopes that it will straighten out. But I'm still up to my ears in trying to finish Gallery pages from previous doll costumes. And then there's always taking more doll photos. I'm kind of busy over here....

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Jay
1/21/2020 07:10:23 pm

Thought I'd share this idea with you just in case you don't know about it already. At a BJD con here in the Pacific Northwest a couple of years ago, one of the presenters (can't remember his name but he's the guy that makes the "Steve" dolls) worked in a Hollywood creature shop. For building "walls" in a small scale he said rigid insulation board works great. Apparently, it doesn't have that warping problem as does foam core board. And it's pretty inexpensive and very available at your local lumber store like Home Depot or whatever equivalent you have in Canada.

Martha
1/22/2020 04:42:28 am

Thanks. Yes, we have Home Depot here. I'm not sure what insulation board he means - maybe the styrofoam insulation boards? And those could have 'bricks' or 'rock walls' inscribed before painting.

I find that painting the back side of foam core helps it warp almost back to what it was. And Jan glued some thin wooden slats on the back as well. So now they are straight.

Jay
1/18/2020 09:26:20 pm

I just leaving reading about your various projects, your searches for just the right fabric and trims, and your brilliant solutions for making everything just perfect. I look forward to seeing your new gowns!

Reply
Martha
1/19/2020 04:40:56 am

Me too, but it goes very slow with all the other stuff I need to catch up on. Most doll costume sewing happens these days in the evenings while listening to the TV. I've spent two whole evenings hand hemming the skirt for the first gown, and am still not finished.

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