FOR SALE

Tuesday 7 February 2017

Dolly makeovers!

This week I've been busy with my Blythe dolls.  I think the renewed interest in them is because I'm going to the Blythe Con Europe in May as it is being held here in Malaga, at a venue just 25 minutes drive from here.  I'm really looking forward to it and as I'll be taking one or two Blythes with me, I decided that a couple of them could do with a bit of freshening up.

I decided to give Heather, my Heather Sky, a full makeover, so she has had a bit of extra carving and new face makeup as well as new eyelashes and eyelids.


Heather's eyelids were originally painted but after rubbing the paint off I decided to cover them with thin self adhesive fabric.  I had to sand the eyelids down quite well so that the fabric didn't catch on the eyelids when opening and closing her eyes.



She also got some pretty new blue grey eye chips.  I'd intended to always have her with different shades of brown chips but thought these blues would make a nice change.




Next up was my Vainilladolly custom Blythe, she got a different scalp to wear.  I rooted this scalp several years ago and finally someone can make use of it.  I think this style and colour suits her quite well.  (Apologies for the loose and flyaway hairs, it was quite a windy evening!)



After working on the Blythes, I decided it was time to work on my Tonner My Imagination doll as I've been saying for a while now that she needed different eyes.  I cut a hole in the top of her head under her wig and then cut into the vinyl at the back of her eyes.  I removed the vinyl and then, pushing from the front, removed her default acrylic eyes.  However, having tried her with several other pairs of eyes, I decided to go back to her original eyes again as they suited her, it was just the placement of them that was all wrong.  I also attached more natural upper eyelashes.

Here you can see that just the tiniest adjustment to the placement of the eyes can take a doll from having that weird "deer caught in headlights" look, to a more natural non staring gaze.  I hope you'll agree that it looks much better this way.

This is the 'before' photo, you can see that her eyes look very 'round' and staring, as if she is in shock:


 And now you can see that she looks far more natural, the eyes have just been lifted up slightly to show a tiny area of white underneath the irises, this softens her whole look:



Finally today I made a new dress for my Fairyland Mini Fee tanned Chloe.  I used a pattern I'd not used before and found the bodice was rather big on her so I took it in down the front then created this 'frill' using a strip of the fine knit fabric of the dress to cover the seam.  All I need to do now is remember to make adjustments to my pattern before I forget!!!



Well I hope you've liked seeing what I've been up to over the last week!  Thanks so much for visiting and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your week :)

Big hugs, Sharon xx

22 comments:

  1. Looks like you have been very busy working on your dolls. Love what you have done to Heather, she is wonderful and so sweet.
    Always amazes me what you do to a doll, cutting open the head to change the eyes and eyelashes,I agree that the toner dolls eye position is so much more natural now than before.
    Plus also changing the scalp! Of dolls lol
    A pretty dress to end with and a good save with the frill. Goodness I'm worn out just seeing what you've been up to and there's still three days of this week left!.
    Here I've bought the fabric cut out the pattern and that's as far as I've got! Xxx


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for the nice comments Dee, it was good to get so many things done, things that I'd been meaning to do for a while now. Unfortunately that was it for the week because now I'm back to boring old 'household' things like cleaning....but needs must I guess! ;)
      xxx

      Delete
  2. The difference that such a simple eye change made on the Tonner is amazing. It's funny how something that seems so subtle can make such a dramatic alteration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It really does make a difference doesn't it? And as you say, such a simple eye change or in this case position change. I would have liked to have given her new glass eyes but they just didn't suit her after all :)
      xxx

      Delete
  3. You're very brave to perform eye surgery like this - and your Tonner girl looks so much better now! Incredible!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ursula! I had wanted to make this change since she first arrived, so I'm glad I finally got around to doing it...and it really is very easy to do.
      xxx

      Delete
  4. Wow on your Tonner doll! What a difference! I'm tempted to try this on a doll..not sure if I'm brave enough, tho! ~Rebecca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Rebecca. It's very easy to do, just takes a bit of cutting here and there. Fortunately it's easy to cut the hole in her head because she is wigged. And once the wig is back on you'd never know any 'surgery' had taken place!
      xxx

      Delete
  5. Oh what a fabulous post! I love your Blythe dolls and the customizations you have given them. Your Heather's eye lids are wonderful and I do like the blue eyes on her. Both dolls are wonderfully dressed as always. I especially like your blonde girl's outfit down to her toes!!!

    I am amazed at the eye transformation on your Tonner girl. She looks sooooo much better and more soft and lovely with her eye adjustment showing the whites on the bottom of the eyes. How very clever that you made the discover by experimenting. I can just imagine you in a surgical outfit with a scalpel and a bright light overhead....LOL....from my view you are so very brave with your dolly surgeries.

    The dress is very pretty and I do like the ruffle on the front to give it a nice feminine flair. Thank you for the happy wishes! 😊 XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much dear Ginger, I'm glad you enjoyed this post.
      The eye position change does make a big difference, I think it's because I've got so used to doing it with BJDs that I want all my girls and boys to have more natural looking eyes or at least to not look so scared!!
      Thank you also on the dress, I'm glad you like it. :)
      xxx

      Delete
  6. Really enjoying seeing you playing with lots of your dolls, reinventing some and new makes for othersand taking the time to share photos on your blog, fab x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Louise :) I'm glad you enjoyed seeing the other dolls!
      xxx

      Delete
  7. Sharon, they all look wonderful! You are gradually converting me into a Blythe lover.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Jenni. Well I think every dolly collector/lover needs one Blythe....just saying! ;)
      xxx

      Delete
  8. You seriously give the BEST make-overs. You have a talent of adding just the right touch. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aww thanks so much Farrah, that's a lovely thing to say :)
      xxx

      Delete
  9. You did a lot of work on weekends! I like your custom Blythe. Hope you will have awesome journey with your dolls. Will you sew something special for the journey for them?

    We will have Blythe Con in November this year. I decided to go because I could see custom Blythe in person and buy something for my dolls. And also take a lot of pictures :)

    You are really brave to make hole in Tonner doll's head! And she do looks better now: very calm and peaceful :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Ariadne. I'm thinking about new outfits for them, but we'll see nearer the time!
      However, it's not very much of a journey, but all girls like nice new clothes, don't they!
      I don't blame you for taking the opportunity to go to the Blythe Con, I couldn't not go seeing as it's so close to me this year....I know if I didn't go I would regret it!
      Thank you also on the Tonner girl, I'm happy with her new look too.
      xxx

      Delete
  10. Hi Sharon,
    Great job of the Blythes and what an amazing difference the eye placement and lashes make on your Tonner My Imagination doll!! One would hardly believe it was the same doll. Chloe looks gorgeous in her new dress, I only have Celine in that size.
    Hugs,
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Sandi, glad you like the 'makeovers'.
      xxx

      Delete
  11. You're certainly a very gifted doll 'make-overer!'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awww thanks so much Kendal, that is a very sweet thing to say!
      hugs xxx

      Delete

Your comment will be visible after moderation.