More wigs! (and pics of the pants)

So, this one was out of goat hair.  A couple things.  First the color was so close to my daughter's hair color, that she said "did you make another wig from my hair??!!".  I was very happy to announce that it was a goat and that I too thought the hair color was similar to hers.  I don't think she was as amused as I was.

This took a bit of trial and error.  Before I cut, I marked using the pattern I had created.  It is important if you decide to make one of these that the make sure the hair is "growing" in the right direction.  That been said.  I then cut the skin.  Here again, make sure you cut the skin and not cut short the hair attached to it.

I then pinned it together as it really slips (a lot).  I tried without pinning (not good).  I stitched it on the sewing machine.  I just used a regular needle.  It worked.  I stitched it a second time for good measure.

This is what it looked like:

I trimmed the seam.  Then, I turned it right side out and this is what it looked like.

Poor Agnes, this is worse than bedhead.  The wig is fine, just needs brushing and styling.

I'm not squeamish, but I was sort of today.  As I began brushing the wig, I realize this goat had a BAD case of dandruff.  Maybe it is eczema.  Creepy scaly skin.  Skip the next photo if you just ate:

Yikes.  I ended up washing the wig (I'm not sure if you are supposed to) -- but there was no getting that out.  I brushed gently with a tooth brush, nope.  I've got two more to do........ eh, I think I'll take a break from skin wigs.  I was happy with the overall result, but I did also find some "matts" in the hair, Creepy.
Here in Florida, I've volunteered for Locks of Love since my kids were small and we went on a Brownie trip to visit their old location.  I remember them saying "now don't worry there are no critters on the hair as hair is dead and so organisms won't live on it" .... The only thing is, this hair has the pelt so does that still apply.......Ahhhhhhhh!

It's fine.  I found no critters. But, I think after I make the next two skin wigs, my skin wig making days will be over.

Well, I decided to shrink the wig so Agnes didn't always have to look like she was having a bad hair day.  I had read (I think on DOA) that you can shrink the wig by putting boiling water on it and then letting it cool and putting it on the doll's head.

Shrinking the wig.  Was it a good idea?  Well.... Yes and no.  I did put the boiling water (that had cooled slightly) on the wig.  Once I put it in I realized, it was causing the color to bleed.  I yanked it out and once it hit the air, it shrank before my eyes, I barely had time to cool it a little and put in on Agnes' head (luckily I had bagged the head with plastic). I then put another one over it to try to stretch it to her head size.  Then I went back on DOA and noticed that another thread mentions that the skin sometimes becomes rock hard.  (I guess it won't matter to me if it does) but, no more shrinking for me.  I'll just bear with the slightly large wig!

Once the wig dried, it did expand a little.  I added a magnet and covered the magnet with a small circle of white muslin so as not to ever ruin the back of Agnes' head.

Here's the finished product.

Front:

 Here it is from the side:

Yeah, so she needs some styling and a cut -- I just liked it "wild".

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Purple Pants -- Ad hoc Project.

My Ad Hoc project for this week are "Flash pants", if ever I could imagine them on Agnes.  I had some of the material from the bathing suit left over.  I thought "pants"  -- why not??

I used my old tried and true DOA Tutorial and it didn't fail me (the one I talk about -- constantly by Ragdoll).  The color and texture are so crazy, that I'm going to ask you to wait 'til tomorrow to see them as the flash was changing the color and the day is just too dark to get a good shot.

I promise a pic -- tomorrow.

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Stocking feet

I wanted to make some thigh highs for Agnes as the seasons change.  (Of course here in Florida, it's mostly summer year round!)

Here are her beige mesh stockings with the frilly tops:

These are the pink Steve Madden anklets cut to size:

I'm very happy with the way the stockings turned out.  Thanks to MissCarrion on DOA for the tutorial.

Usually it is not that easy to see the seams (as the stockings are dark).  There's a seam that runs up the back.

Looking at this photo, I realize I need to trim back the seam a little more.  There's too much fabric under there!

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Progress! Human Hair Wig

Here's what I got accomplished:

This is from a lock of my daughter's hair.  I ended up making two wefts.  I read this somewhere on the internet.  I can't for the life of me remember where.  It pertained to doll wigs.   It was years back (even before DOA and forums).  The question was asked what do you do with loose hair if you want to make a wig.

I tried it two ways.

The first one I used the Solvy (a Sulky product)-- found in Joanns and maybe even Walmart.  It is used for machine embroidery (I think).  Anyway,  I took the loose hair and placed it between a piece of Solvy that I had folded in half.  Think hamburger bun.  Solvy is the bun, hair is the burger.  I then stitched it on the machine using a very small stitch (set to the smallest straight stitch).  I then trimmed the excess Solvy.  I then wet the solvy (this dissolves it).  I added a bead of glue to the underside and used a small piece of pliver to imitate a scalp.


This is the hair, after I stitched it.  I have just trimmed the excess Solvy and I am about to wet the Solvy.

This is after the solvy has been dissolved and a put a bead of glue along the part (on the underside).  I am going to put the pliver on top of the glue.

This is the pliver on top.  (this will be the underside).  Final step.  I love the color of this hair.  I call it chestnut brown.  It has carmel and auburn highlights.

For the second one, I thought why not stitch the hair directly on the pliver.  So, I wrapped the hair in Solvy, placed it on top of the pliver and stitched it down.  Then I ran a bead of glue between the pliver and the hair.  I then dissolved the solvy.  And Viola.

Much quicker:  This is the Solvy around the hair (before it is trimmed back).  You can see the pliver on the bottom.

This is the underside (you can see the pliver)

I wet the solvy (to dissolve it) and added a bead of glue to the underside (in between the pliver and the hair)

used an old doll stand to dry them on (the glue).

The power of posting (I just leave and when I return)...Ready:

Agnes in the wefted hair:

Here it is from the side:

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Where I am on the Zuhair dress

Ok, so I'm not really one to quit (at least I don't like to).  This dress has not been anything that I imagined.  But I'm going to see it through as it did inspire me and I get an appreciation of what a designer must go through.  I suppose designers abandon designs.  But as I'm not the designer, I'm just borrowing other people's designs and making them mini :).  I was reading Terri Gold's blog (really like that one) and she showed Wunderkind being copied for a doll.  I think it is ok to copy a fashion (to be used on a doll) but at minimum, the original source/designer should be credited.  I think many designers might be flattered.  I'm not so crazy about people "copying" other's doll designs.  (It's ok to be inspired, just not a total one for one copy).

As you can probably tell, I kind of wanted to quit...

But I won't.  So figured this out mathematically.  There are 6 tiers to the dress, each tier is 11.5" wide.  So, (( 2x 11.5)+.5)*6= 23.5*6= 141 inches = almost 12 feet of fabric for the flounces!  yikes.  I think they are really maybe too big....

I'm going to forge on ......

Can I just move on to the next dress? please....Nope, I want to at least finish the skirt, then maybe I'll see from there.  Yuck.

Got other projects coming up.  Been working on shoes, clothes and wigs!

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FGF (Feel Good Friday) Post!

This is the day I've decided to use to reflect on Agnes and how happy I am to have her.

Last weekend we went out (and I took Agnes!).  It was sunset so I didn't get many photos.  I want to take her out another day (in another outfit) -- I'm thinking white!

Here's Agnes in Palm Beach.  When I parked my car, and took her out, there was a bit of a stir.  Agnes comes in a beautiful wooden box (that looks almost like a fine wine is being carried around).  I smile constantly with Agnes.  I love the reaction.  People don't know what to say, so they whisper amongst themselves and mostly stare.  This makes me chuckle to myself!

Here's Agnes at one of the doggy fountains!


Then there was the Garden fountain.  That's the sun setting in the back! through the trees.

Ahhhh.  Agnes!  :)

Last night, I ordered a Gucci bag for Agnes.  I'm such a lover of bags.  I can indulge without breaking the bank!  Remember to contact Diane if you are interested!

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More slides (shoes) as promised.

So, I'm working on some more beaded slides, this type of shoe is easy to make and Agnes can get her feet in comfortably.  The last thing I want to do is mush her feet.  Those beaded slides take forever.  One bead at a time...  I feel like I can watch grass grow faster.

In the mean time, I've made some others just for Agnes for casual days out.

I made two pairs of leather ones.  Each of these has a different toe box shape.

Then, I got the bright idea to make a pair from denim.  I added a tiny rope trim around them.  These were actually more difficult to make.  The denim didn't "give" like the leather or the other fabrics did.

I think I also want to make a pair in black leather.  You can't go wrong with a pair of basic black shoes!

How to:  To make these, I followed the directions that I gave to make the beaded ones, I just changed the toe box.  The beaded ones were rounded. (basically 4 parts, Upper, innersole, outer sole, lining)

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