Sunday, September 23, 2007

Finally My Ethiopian Queen

In my last post, I left off with having another doll completed. Well, I finally got around to getting a few photos. I don't think this doll wanted to be photographed. I say that because I took several photos at different times of the day and somehow the lighting was always wrong. I finally gave up a kept the best ones out of the bunch. That's what took me so long to post her. Well even though she didn't want to be photographed, she was a delight to make. She's a pattern designed by Kookie Davis in the May 2005 issue of the Soft Dolls and Animals Magazine. I used the quilters strip piecing method on a muslin base to make the body and robe. I used a paperclay face mask which I painted to suit the costume. The mask used was designed by Sandy Pine and used for her Miranda the Mermaid pattern. It had the expression I wanted so it went perfectly after painting it. The staff was made from a twig found in my own backyard. It had already dried out so all I had to do is sand it a little and give it a coat of varnish. Once it dried I wrapped a portion of the staff with suede laces and added a few beads to embellish. This doll looks more complicated than it is to make. As for her name. I didn't get the chance to name her. She actually had one of my friend's name her. I was told by a friend who saw her photo, her name is FuWenne' (Fu-way-nay). So Fuwenne' it is!
I have a couple things in the works right now and I'm doing a little experimenting. I hope to come back with something interesting. So until then..........

8 comments:

Judi W. said...

Beautiful! Love all the fabrics you used!

Hand Works by Trish Williams - Fiber Artist/quilter said...

She is wonderful and I love her face the most.

Hand Works by Trish Williams - Fiber Artist/quilter said...

Venus,
I love her and her face the most. She's just wonderful

Belinda Manning said...

Venus,
She's absolutely gorgeous. I really love what you've done with this down

Anonymous said...

oh fuwenne. that doll is all that and a bag of smokes.word, ms. venus your honor maam. that doll make a brother feel like he over there. well they about 2 turn off the lights here. later one

Anonymous said...

THE ETHIOPIAN QUEEN LOOKS LIKE THE ALIEN IN THE MOVIE SPECIES...CHIQUITO

Unknown said...

congrats on your challenge win on FOCD! and I love this ethnic doll. I too love to create ethnic dolls, love to mix the textures and colors in a soup. I really love this doll! Very nice work indeed

jandee said...

OH Venus!!What a beauty!! I keep saying this is my favorite and you keep changing my mind...ALways a new favorite!!! What a joy to visit your blog Hugs Jandee