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Bumpkin BearsHi everyone, I would love to make a mermaid for the little daughter of a friend of mine, she is totally crazy about mermaids, but I don't know where to start! I have got some nice shiney fabric that I could use for a tail but not sure how to do the top half! I saw that Jazzyrags had some gorgeous mermaids on her site, does anyone know if I can buy upper bodies. I'm rather stuck how I would do a face! I thought of needle felting but I"m not that experienced at it and I have less than a week to make this!!
ANY suggestions or help are really appreciated.
THANKS
Catherine
Flying Fur StudiosCatherine, you could buy a doll pattern on-line, but I'm sure it would take more than a week to finish.
You could use polymer clay, or I've seen on ebay doll bodies. Soft one and porcelain ones. Those would probably be your best bet.
MerBear OriginalsWhy don't you do a Bearmaid. You know, half teddy bear - half fish. I've seen a couple of these at shows - really nice. :dance:
Marion
Actually, I've seen some Barbie type dolls, or Gene dolls, made into mermaids. I can't remember where I saw it, but somewhere on the web I've come across, more than once, instructions as to how to bind the legs of these plastic dolls together, and then encase them in what memory wants me to say is some kind of polymer clay or something. Maybe it was www.oneandonlydolls.com. ???
If you want to do a soft sculpture that's another story. I once made myself a mermaid costume, in college (ack!) and I used green lycra fabric, and encased some cut-to-shape batting to create the tail. I just "quilted" fin lines into the tailfin with my constantly-referred-to-friend Andrea's sewing machine (yes, our friendship dates back to the 80's, where we met as TriDelts, at UCLA.) I then used plain old glue and some sequins and glitter to apply sparkle and interest to the "skirt" itself.
It was a very fun project and a particularly drunk guy told me I was "amazingly [INVALID]," which is never hard to hear!, so it brings back good memories to be reminded!!!
Have fun!
Yes, it was at www.oneandonlydolls.com. Renee Coughlin makes the most exquisite fairy repaint type dolls on earth, methinks. Here's what she wrote; there's more on her website about related topics of interest for doll makers:
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Mermaid Tails
Fabric Tail
I make the tails out of various stretch jersey type fabrics. If you can can find some with a scale pattern, or metallic finish, all the better. Just cut out the shape you want. To make the tail look graceful, I taper the ankle area narrowly. I cut off the the doll's feet. Put the legs in boiling water for about five seconds, shape in a curve and hold under cold water for another five seconds. Hold the ends of the legs together with a small rubber band. Stuff the end of the tail with polyester fiberfill. Dust the legs with powder and slide into casing. (Apply fray check to the waist area of the tail, first) I add a little more fiberfill between the thighs(this is to do with the way the paint adheres later). A gathering stitch around the waist finishes this part. (I make the tail so that it comes up past the waist further than it needs to, and trim after the gathering stitch) Bend the dolls knees to a slightly bent position. Then I add several layers of fabric glitter paint. I cut various sized fin shapes out of a lightweight fabric. My favorite is a combination of a fabric called Twinkle and tulle). I singe the edges of the twinkle fabric (don't singe the tulle) over the flame of an oil lamp to give them shape and paint with glitter paint. I sew these in place and add beading.
Sculpted Tail
I now use an epoxy resin like Magic Sculpt to make the tail. Prepare the doll's legs as above. Instead of using a rubberband around the ankles I use wire (26 to 28 guage). Using an exacto knife cut a small indention around the anke area wear the wire will wrao around. This makes the placement of the wire more secure, and the wire will not show through the resin, when sculpting, as I like this part of the tail to be slender. Cut enough wire to leave about two 2" ends after securing to ankles. Twist the ends together and bend the wire to shape the end of the tail. Besides giving you a structure to sculpt on, it adds strength to the end of the tail.
The doll is now ready for the epoxy resin. Starting at the top, apply the resin layer, keeping as close to the doll's shape as possible to keep tail from being bulky looking. Once the armature is sculpted you can add texture like scales if you like. A half round sculpting toll os good for this. After the resin has set, sand lightly. For a smooth surface, after the resin has, scrape away bumps with an exacto knife and sand to a smooth finish. Make fins as above an attach them to the tail with more resin. Let this set and paint as desired.
Kim-Bee BearsWOW She is talented check out her starstruck section! The Jennifer Garner doll is amazing! http://www.oneandonlydolls.com/starstruck.htm
