Art Dolls by Du Buh Du Designs

Art Dolls Victoria and Sylvie and Shop Update

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Two more dolls to show today~Victoria (right) and her sister Sylvie. These two are the first young girls I've made since last summer's  girls with cats. I really like how these turned out, even with their some what sad/melancholic expressions. They just sort of evolved that way while painting them. Not everyone has had a wonderful or idealic childhood and that could be said in the case of these two. I added the swans as I have been wanting to make more since Caer and Aengus and these two seemed like they needed something beautiful and hopeful to hold onto (literaly and figuratively).



The dolls are the same size as my regular dolls (between 11-12") but because the are younger they have larger heads and slightly different proprtions in their arms and legs. Their dresses are cotton and they each have capeltes the black one have a decorative lace and tiny black pom pom edging, the gray one is made of cashmere. Neither is capelet is removable. Each wear acid free paper or silk flowers in their hair and each swan is wearing a tiny crown made of sterling silver.
I hope to have pictures of the remaining dolls up by Sunday at the latest (there will be ten dolls total instead of twelve).
Oh and I sent out emails to those on the mailing llist. If you havent received it check your spam mail and if it's still not there contact me so I can correct the problem:)





Sylvie is approx. 10.75" (27.5 cm) tall. She is wearing a cotton dress in black and white with a pattern of tiny geometric shapes,rabbits, dogs,toys,etc.on it. Around her waist she wears a pink ribbon with a small bee pin attached to the front. Sylvie is wearing a gray cashmere capelet with two tiny pink buttons in the front (capelet not removable and the wire running through her arms stick out of the cape). Her short sleeves,leggings and shoes are all painted black. Her bobbed hair is painted dark brown and she wears a pale pink paper rose in her hair (made of acid free paper). Her eyes are green and her face is painted in a more looser style than my other dolls.

The black swan is approx 2.5" in length (6cm) and wears a tiny sterling silver crown. Both doll and swan are coated with a matte varnish for protection.





Victoria is approx. 11" (28 cm) tall. She is wearing an off white cotton dress with tiny pink and black branches and birds on it. Around her waist she wears a crushed velvet ribbon in raspberry pink ribbon. Victoria is wearing a black capelet (made of very soft acrylic) with a decorative clasp in front(capelet not removable and the wire running through her arms stick out of the cape).Black lace and tiny pom pom trim line her capelet.

Her short sleeves and shoes are all painted black and her leggings are painted gray. Her painted black hair is pulled up into two buns in the back and she wears a green silk flower with two pink paper flowers in her hair (made of acid free paper). Her eyes are hazel green and her face is painted in a more looser style than my other dolls.

The white swan is approx 2.5" in length (6cm) and wears a tiny sterling silver crown. Both doll and swan are coated with a matte varnish for protection.

 

Fly Frida Fly!

Frida's birdcage with silk ribbon that reads  ¡Vuelve Frida Mosca! ..Fly Frida Fly!

Hello! Here are two Frida dolls that will be part of the upcoming shop update. They aren't quite finished as I still need to re-do the necklaces on the birds. I will be re-shooting the dolls  as I couldnt find my photo supplies I normally use (grrr) and the lighting is a bit red to see details. So just consider these" pre-sneak peeks" :)

The tiny Frida birds are approx 1.5" and just like my lady bird ornament(s) the bottom half is coated in tiny glitter and the top/wings are painted a pearly white.  I added a patina look to the rusted metal birdcages..their doors are open and they represent Frida's broken body which she refused to let hinder her freedom to live, love or create.
More on these later~ I have class tonight and am lagging on my sewing practice, though I did use the machine on the dresses of these Frida's. Off to get some work done! Have a wonderul weekend:)







updated images 5/3 : just  a few changes to the birds necklaces):







"Red Frida" is approx. 12"(30 cm)tall. She is wearing a red cotton skirt with pleated stitching and white eyelet trim. Her red cotton top has a decorative white floral print on it and around her arms she wears a shawl in black lace. Her hair is painted hair black and is adorned with two white silk floral pieces with tiny green crystals in the center. She is wearing tiny gold earrings ,each with a red swarovski crystal and around her neck she wears a double stranded necklace of yellow/green agate. Frida's eyes are painted brown and her shoes and leggings are painted black.

Her Frida bird is approx. 1 3/4" in length (4 cm).The bird's body is painted a pearlescent ivory color with tiny glitter coating the bottom half. She wears a tiny black beaded necklace(glass).In her hair wears a small white silk flower with red crystal in the center. Both doll and bird are coated with a matte varnish for protection.

The metal birdcage is approx. 1.5" (3.5 cm)from top to bottom and is coated in a patina color. The door opens and a coffee stained silk ribbon reads "Vuele Frida Mosca!"(Fly, Frida, Fly). A metallic black string is attached to the cage for the doll to carry.






"Blue Frida" is approx. 12.25"(32.5 cm)tall. She is wearing a skirt made of black silk with a white lace trim. Her cotton top has a decorative floral print on it in black and white and around her she wears a teal blue silk sash with purple trim. Her hair is painted hair black and is adorned with two dark red silk floral piece. She is wearing tiny silver earrings,each with a teal blue swarovski crystal and around her neck she wears a double stranded necklace of red glass seed beads. Frida's eyes are painted brown and her shoes and leggings are painted black.

Her Frida bird is approx. 1 3/4" in length (4 cm).The bird's body is painted a pearlescent ivory color with tiny glitter coating the bottom half. She wears a tiny black beaded necklace(glass).Atop her head she wears a small red silk flower. Both doll and bird are coated with a matte varnish for protection.

The metal birdcage is approx. 1.5" (3.5 cm)from top to bottom and is coated in a patina color. The door opens and a coffee stained silk ribbon reads "Vuele Frida Mosca!"(Fly, Frida, Fly). A metallic black string is attached to the cage for the doll to carry.

Pasticcio and Edible Delft Tiles

Latest issue of Pasticcio features an article on the Cigar Box Shrine Auction

 I am aiming for an update at the end of the month (I know, finally, jeesh!). I will have about a dozen dolls (including the three Carnival Soiree girls). I have as many unfinished dolls that will have to wait for the next update. Those of you on the update list will be the first to know and then I'll post the remaining info. on my blog sometime next week or so if all goes well. I'm hoping to have a Frida available and for those asking about when I'll have more Day of the Dead dolls/ornaments, well I'm not sure. They're on my to do list and I plan to make more. I need to make some by August (for a show) so believe me I am thinking about them.
Last Summer I recall saying that I would take some time off this summer from doll making but since it feels like I have been on "vacation" from dollmaking this year I plan to spend this summer pretending it was winter/spring in terms of my business!

My sewing class was postponed from it's original start date, so last week was our first session. It was kind of a relief to be in a room full of people who hadn't used a sewing machine since eigth grade Home Economics like me. This week we have to bring patterns and materials in for our first lesson. I couldnt find any decent patterns for dolls so I had to opt for Barbie patterns. Which is fine..I just need the practice.


The Auction of the Cigar Boxes received a nice write up in Pasticcio Quartz, an art publication by artists Sarah Fishburn and Angela Cartwright! This year was the first for the auction and I hope that more artists consider joining in for next years auction. I'm sure this project will grow bigger  and gain more attention for this wonderful cause.



And I just had to share these. I appreciate when someone like Zoë Lukas of Whipped Bakeshop combines her skills with such amazing artistic talent to make something ordinary like cookies, extraordinary. She has a background in art (painting) and it shows in her beautiful creations. Zoë  has opened up an Etsy shop and I think these would make a great gift for  someone who could appreciate such artistry (hint hint) without scarfing them down. Or as a Mothers Day Gift (hint hint) ..:)


Her website can be found here