Wednesday, January 02, 2008

A little beaded doll


Oh how I love beading dolls! Have to be careful about pronunciation when stating that out loud. I have had more than one person ask me why I would want to 'beat' dolls.

This little cutie started out as a form I bought from Ronda Kivett, the felt form came with one of her wonderful tiny faces already attached.

I added vintage Belgium sequins, and Swarovski crystals...

an 8mm margarita bead in the front and a few 4mm bicones on the dangles from her arms.

I was determined she needed a two colored spiral, and felt it was framed perfectly by the sequins. See the orange beads at the bottom that look as big as boulders? They are Japanese size 11/0. Click on each photo for a larger view


This doll is about 2 1/2 inches tall. To put that in perspective I took a picture of her in my hand.

Isn't she precious?

It seems it's been so long since I worked on a doll, it's like coming home after a long trip. Comfortable and happy.

19 comments:

Sheila said...

Grace,Love the little doll, she's awesome.I like the colors and just love the hair. I need to learn that.

Terri Stegmiller said...

She's fabulous. And so small. I tried doing a beaded doll once. Needless to say, she's still waiting to be finished. Poor thing.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Grace! THis itty-bitty blue/gold doll is precious!
Especially all that glorious hair!(Sure am glad you stopped "beating" the dolls, too!!)heh,heh...
your beading is divine!

beadbabe49 said...

She's darling and I just love her tiny size...just fits into your hand!

girlgonethreadwild said...

Hey, quit beatN those dolls! lol You know, I've thought about taking a pic of my dog Freckles pile of chewed up dolls I've made her, they've really taken a beating. One of these days.... ~Monica

Maggie R said...

Grace this is too sweet. I suppose this took you a couple of hours to whip up?!
Did you find your snowman cab yet? I have put the little doll that i won from your draw SOMEWHERE safe!! I wish she would call out to let me know where she is!!I wanted to post a picture of her on my Blog,Maybe I shouldn't say that out loud as perhaps she is camera shy!!!
Anyway Thanks for entering my draw... I guess you know Noel won.
That was so much fun I plan to do it again sometime...
Take care Grace and all the best in 2008
((((hugs)))))
Maggie

Noel said...

I love you little baby girl here....she is stunning in her dressing of beads and sequins. Her hair is to die for....that must have been a challenge with her size. I tried my hand a itty bitty beaded doll for the BAD Christmas bead a long...I should post a pic of him on my blog....I love working with small figures.

KV said...

Gosh, you are making me itch to do another doll! After spending over five months to make Gallilea, I have not even given thought to making another beaded doll -- until now . . .

Kathy V in NM

Anonymous said...

oh now I want to make one.... where do I begin???

Mary S said...

Grace so lovely to see a new beaded baby from you... she is just the cutest thing and lovely colour combo too
Mary S

Christina J. said...

Very nice! I've never done a doll, but would like to some day.

Tangled Stitch said...

Grace the doll is beautiful and I love the colors! Can't wait to see your next piece.

Dot said...

Goodness this doll is beautiful! Gorgeous choice of beads. I am in awe of the amount of time this must have taken to make this doll.

Do you fancy doing a art swap with me at some stage? I would love to!

Padparadscha said...

What a beauty ! It seems to me each doll you make is more beautiful than the one before ! (though I loved your African Queen)

Dawn Chastain said...

I love your little lady, I haven't tried the beaded dolls yet but am thinking it would be great fun.

GraceBeading said...

Wow... thanks everyone for the kind comments.

Maggie, it did take me more than a couple of hours - I promise :-) I never did find the beaded snowman cab, I imagine it will be a nice surprise when it does finally surface, if ever.

Noel - the size is challenging. The reward is that it's beads up fairly quick in comparision to the larger dolls, but man those beads are SMALL!

Kathy - I, for one, would love to see another from you - Gallilea is AMAZING

DayByDay - check the right side of my blog under "Tutorials" there are several good ones for beaded dolls. If you have any questions once you get started, please let me know, you can email me through my profile.

Christina - please do try one, they are SO much fun! If you don't/can't sew up your own forms (like me), I know of a wonderful artist that does!

Dot - I sent you an email, the answer is YES!!!

Pat Winter Gatherings said...

OMG!!!! I cannot believe she is mine...all mine!!!! She is absolutley a work of ART! So tiny,so perfect,just amazing beading. What a surprise I had this afternoon. If I would have had socks on, this certainly would have knocked them off! Thank you so much Grace. I am not deserving of this incredible work. Wow!
She hangs by another amazing beaded doll by Sammy Stafney. They became friends immediately!

Jackie (Tillie's Daughter) said...

Oooooh, I just LOVE this fantabulous little doll -- she is just wonderful. Beautiful beading -- love the size -- well, just plain love her.

GraceBeading said...

Pat... I'm so glad you like her! Enjoy and know that everytime you look at her, there is someone that appreciates all you do for others.

Hi Jackie - good to see you here, glad you like the little doll!

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman