Hi,
My name is Natasha. I live in South Wales with my lovely husband and two cats, and, for those of you that don't know already, I have a serious crafting addiction. I'm not that worried as I suppose it could be worse. You may have noticed from the Gallery that I'll make just about anything, and will always have a go. I'm always trying new things and learning new techniques, so there is always a good mix of things happening on my work table. From Grungy and Wierd dolls to Soft and Sweet new baby Cards and Gifts. I'll have a go at any style that takes my fancy at the time.
It's taken me quite a while to decide what to use this section of the site for. But I thought you might like to know a bit more about what or where my Inspiration comes from, and maybe a bit about the techniques that I've used on certain projects.
The House of Broken Dolls:
I made this for all the broken dolls out there that arn't loved any more. I know it may be a sort of macabre idea, but I liked it and wanted to make it. I don't think it looks that dark. What do you think?
This was my first House of Broken Dolls, of which there are now two. The second used broken and unwanted porcalain doll partsthat have been washed with layers of paint and ink to give them an vintage look. The dolls used for this house where second hand plastic dolls. Barbie, Ken and I even think one was an action man. These came from a charity shop, and were your typical loved and grown out of, scruffy, unwanted dolls.
One or two of them had been drawn on by an artistic previous owner, and all but one of the girl dolls had hair that was so matted I had no choice but to cut it off. Which I can asure you is no easy thing to do.
If this is something that you want to know how to do, I'll tell you my way. Although you may know a better one. It also works on any plastic doll who's hair comes through thier head from the inside, but be careful as it does include the use of a sharp craft knife and pliers.
Firstly, cut all the hair down as close as you can to the dolls scalp. It doesn't have to be a neat job, just as short as it will go using scissors. Next take a sharp knife and cut down the back of the head, from the top right down to the hole for the neck. Once you've done this you will be able to get a pair of fine pliers in and pull out all of the hair from the inside leaving a now very bald doll. If you want to reattach the head to the doll a strong glue to seal the split back up works well. If you want the head to still move on the body though I'd wait until it drys before putting it back on the body.
I wanted mine to have a bit of extra wieght to them,so after sealing all the hair holes and the split up with a thick glue I filled them with plaster. Once taht was dry all I had to do was sand the bottom flat and they then sat up-right unaided. I did the same with some of the other hollow pieces, while leaving the rest as they were.
As I wanted to give them all a softened, aged look, and the bright plastic they were made from what a bit gairish for what I wanted as well as being a lot of different shades of skin-tone, I decided they needed to be painted.
I wanted a look like sun bleached paper or drift wood. Something a little bit goastly, without the big black circles under the eyes. Because the plastic was soft in places everything was sanded with a fine grade paper, then given two coats of Gesso and two of white acrylic. I then used three different colours of watered down arylics and added layers of washes which were then scrubbed back with a very slightly damp tissue. I used areylic washes as I wanted a soft muted look, but inks would have worked well for a stonger look. Once dry I rubbed each piece with talc on the highlights to add a soft powdery look to the high points. If the paint layers are thin it just seems to add a soft edge. I made the girl doll torsos tutu's in a complimentary colour to give them back a feeling of once having full costumes, and one wears a ting pearl necklace.
The bow was also a charity shop find and was a plain rough pine with some colour areas to start with. I rubbed back some of the colour to reduce the strength with sand paper, then distressed teh whole thing with ink. Over that I added paper flowers and added some of these to the wire front as well. I used a watered down PVA to seal it all.
The inside was decorated with papers to give the feeling of walls and floors, and a little portrait to represent Emily, the little girl in the story which is handwritten on the outside of the box. All I had to do then was arrange the doll parts glue everything down in it's final position.
The second house was made in a simialar way, but I also added a skirting and picture rail. I may go back one day and add them to this house too. But at the moment I just like it the way it is, sitting on my windowsill for me too enjoy.
I don't think it has a dark look at all.
