I agree that many people can actually learn a hell of a lot more than they think they can, but often an important thing to learn for those people is to learn to judge their own art, cakes, or whatever with the same 'soft eye' as they do someone else's. Because sometimes, people are just too harsh on the result of their handywork, especially at first attempts. What do they expect? To paint a Van Gogh/Rembrant/Monet/Bacon/Da Vince/[insert favorite painter here] the first time they hold a paint brush? Do you think they gave up when their first portait of their, say, cat looked more like a, ehm, handicapped bat? Of course not.

Excellent point, Nachty!

I'm not too bad at makeup, just don't bother with it much and therefore have to make sure it's all even. I guess by that I'm saying you do a really precise job with the paint even though it'd be less forgiving than makeup.


^^True. Generally I teach myself from books or net or just figure it out.

I work on hobbies when I have the energy, instead of styling hair or going out. I've been known to knit standing on trams (because then I don't have to make eye contact ). Some days I'm too tired to do anything and others I can do some.


There's something to be said for having the right tools too. Some jobs without the right doover are like trying to cut down a tree with a herring.

I do the same thing, but I can't knit so I sew or embroider. It adds to my air of lady-like-ness. I would take up knitting, but then I would have far too many things to do.

This is the skirt I just made and wore on Thanksgiving. The picture isn't the clearest, but it's the only one I have.

http://tinypic.com/r/rmmo02/7

It's a black velvet skirt that has been bustled up and accented with a trailing lace bow and two strands of pearls and worn over a white taffeta skirt. The velvet skirt is a modification of an ankle-length skirt I bought years ago and got tired of (it wasn't really dressy enough for my every-day wardrobe) and I made the taffeta skirt specifically to go under it.

That skirt is fantabulous!!!! *squee* I also adore your undercut. I love the look of hair do's like undercuts and hawks with period/romantic clothing. The pearls are a great detail.

-- Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:34 am --



TRICKS! I have tricks for doing 'precise' things with paint/makeup.

When I was painting that doll's face I first washed and stripped it with a quick acetone rub down* then gave it a good spray of protective sealant to keep the paint from staining her resin. I used watercolor pencils to lightly draw the designs around the eyes and the mouth before going over them with acrylic paint. I also use pencil to lightly outline the facial features on vinyl dolls that I paint.

For makeup(eyeliner) I use dots and just connect them.

See? I do not have steady hands at all! People are lucky I'm not a brain surgeon cuz I'd be accidentally lobotomizing some poor soul.



*A tiny bit of acetone on an almost dry cottonball. Working with acetone on dolls *is* possible you just have to be careful and not soak a doll's face in it. Acetone evaporates fairly quickly, normally too quickly to do any damage to a doll that you're working on. If you over saturate the face it can eat at the material, though, so you have to be careful how much you use. I have read that different dolls from different companies have varying reactions to acetone so always test on the head cap before wiping the doll's face if you're not sure.

Also, never, never, never EVER use the acetone they sell at the hardware store on your doll!!! That stuff is way too strong and will damage your doll. Buy your acetone at a beauty supply store or the nail polish section of your local grocery store.

Want one of those batties. "Sew" cute...okay I know, shutting up. Stupid pun. Your hooves are AMAZING Wolfy! I want to try to make some for my girl now. XD I adore that skirt too Poison! Everybody is doing such great things. As soon as my doll gets here I'll post some pics of my latest crafty-ness.

Bats and hooves! All good stuff!

A few pix of some jewellery I made awhile ago, just taken from my phone so it's not the greatest quality. All sterling silver, the red stone is a carnelian, the swirly ring has 24k gold in the middle.


The Album

If there's trouble with this link, it's my tinypic settings. Let me know and I"ll.....do something.

*blush* Thank you for your compliments, Wolfie and laughingcrow.

Lachrymose: Your jewelry is lovely. I especially admire the swirly ring.

Thanks!

That's some damn nice stitching there on your dress. Great detail! What brand of machine do you use?

Wow. PoisonGoldfish's dress is epic. I like the full Victorian effect. And Lachrymose's jewellry is really crisp.

I think starting this thread was a good call.

Me? I just have a Singer Simple. I have enough trouble operating that as it is. The black running up the sides is actually rows of trim.

Thanks, hun! Yes, I can't wait to see your girl! *squee*

I initially took the in progress shots so that they can help anyone who's curious about how to shape them or give people ideas on doing their own techniques for hooves or digigrade legs. I'm going to make a tutorial on my blog for them when I'm finished.

Lach, thank you! Your jewelry is very nice! It's refreshing to see silver jewelry with clean lines and detail. I don't see that often these days.

I will take some pix of my jewelry in the next two days and post it Friday.

Batty, yes, this thread was a great idea!

Yeah, it's like everyone had all this cool stuff but there just wasn't an appropriate place to put it. I'm glad I made an open general thread, it's good to see interest pick up and everyone inspire one another.

DIY renaissance time!

Awesome stuff everybody.

Here's one of my latest DIY triumphs. Not a very good pic, since my doopy brother never took a good pic of me yet:

http://tinypic.com/r/4lrjgi/7

Just a camisole that I modeled after two other ones that I just didn't want to pay $22.99 + S&H - each. So I blended the two concepts together into one, and all under $10. Used a regular lace-trimed camisole for a base. Don't have a pic of the back detail though: there's a sheer lace panel.

Didn't start out quite as I anticipated, but like others have already said, don't give up after the first try.

You guys are all *awesome*! I wish I had something to contribute, but I don't right now....an inspiring thread, though.