Wednesday, 30 January 2008

Scraps to doll #1

I've had the idea since I saw these dolls from Montemor-0-Novo in Portugal.
The dolls I make are laboured, and much as I enjoy making them, they're quite restricted in their own little world. I want to branch out a little, finish something in one sitting, and add a sprinkle of the unknown. So...
  • Challenge: make a doll entirely from scraps in 30 minutes.

Limit time and means and see what happens. Don't self-censor, don't even think. Just do whatever occurs first without judgement. Discover new solutions. Surprise myself. And use up some of the junk that I horde.



This is what I allowed myself to use. I included the the tiny scraps for stuffing, but wonder now why I didn't consider other uses. Great hair? The purple top went unused and I spent far to long choosing buttons. Maybe no buttons next time.





This is where I got to by 30 minutes. In all it took me an hour. Plus tidying up and photographs.






Meet George. He's still a baby and so still sucks his thumb. He's a natural at yoga. He likes being held by the scruff of his neck.


Conclusion:
I like him. He's mighty flexible. I've never made something like this before. But he's actually quite a conventional solution; an anatomically correct dinosaur/monster stuffed being. Not very surprising. Though I'm happy with the zip tail and mouth. Really I cheated. He took double the time allocated. If I'd been tougher on the timing what could have happened? As a first attempt, ok. Lets see what happens next time. This will be a weekly ongoing experiment.

*Post script - If anyone else would like to challenge themselves it'd be really interesting to see the different approaches and results. "Scraps to Doll 30 minute Challenge". Please let me know if you have a go and we could pool the photos on a flickr group.

9 comments:

saloia said...

:)
george is sweet*

e viva Montemor.o.Novo!

meg said...

he is amazing! The zippers are perfect and in just one hour's time--not bad, not bad at all. I may just take up this challenge myself.

Alix said...

Meg, it would be great if you'd like to join in. "The Rags to Doll 30 minute Challenge". It would be interesting to see how others approached it. Perhaps I'll edit the post and add an invite.

The sitching on george is pretty rough. I actually like the asthetic but he's undergone some serious Ruben play this afternnon and the tail is starting to unravel ;-)

Rute Nieto Ferreira said...

wonderful! can't wait til next week's character and blog entry!

amy turn sharp said...

hello
I am now in love with yr blog
you have a new daily reader
xo amy

ritacor said...

What a great work, Alix!
:)

Débora said...

Amazing!
I love the zipper mouse :)

Alix said...

Welcome to Amy - Hello. I'll be popping by yours too ;-)
Rute, Rita and Débora - Obrigada e Ola!

Olga said...

:)

You´re creating and sewing and I assume feeling just fine!

Love to George!