Greta

This blog post is from May 2014.  I looked for it and couldn't find it, so it must have gotten deleted by mistake.   I want to save this, so here I am writing about it again.

This is Greta.  She started life as a Robert Raikes Hope doll.  I really liked everything about her, except the cheap, straw-like wig she came with.  So I took it off and decided to make her one.

I got out my paper clay.  I sanded her head a little to make sure whatever I put on it would stick.   I'm not very skilled at sculpting, but felt I had nothing to lose in trying. After several attempts, I finally settled on a very simple style I could live with.
 

It looked messy, but after it dried overnight, I gently sanded down all the little burrs sticking up everywhere.  I was so excited to paint her new hair!

I mixed up a light red color and painted one coat and let it dry.  Then I antiqued it by wiping on brown oxide paint and quickly wiping it back off.  I left just enough to fill in all the little details of my "sculpting."  I love how doing this seems to make things "come to life."

When the oxide paint had cured overnight, I wrapped her up, covered her face and sealed her new hair with matte sealer.

I have to admit, I was so happy that it turned out so well. It's not perfect by far, but I love it.  She got new hair and a new name.  So long Hope.  Now meet Greta!

I really wanted to do this again someday and got my chance with a Madame Alexander 95th Anniversary Raggedy Ann Woodkin doll.  I do believe I blogged about this too.  It was much more difficult, but so happy that I did it.  Here's a quick photo so you can see how she turned out.  She also got a new name.....Woody Ann.  

I will be back soon to tell you about some very special new additions.  

Blessings to you!