Introducing, Lady Catherine Lenore

Phew! So it's March already!? It has proven to be a very busy year so far and I feel like this blog has been unduly neglected. Perhaps launching a blog, Etsy store and YouTube channel at the same time was a little ambitious. Anyway, I can at least share with you my latest doll.

Introducing - Lady Catherine Lenore.

Lady Catherine is a wealthy, late 18th Century heiress. She inherited her fortune at a young age which has allowed her to life the most opulent of lifestyles. It has also meant that, unlike the majority of her peers, she has not seen the need to marry. Her ravishing beauty has drawn suitors from as far as the New World, however, none has managed to win her affections.

Residing at her family estate in the south of England, the Lenore manor has become a beacon for all manner of artists and writers, musicians and dancers - many of whom adore her as their muse.

She has recently returned from her Grand Tour which was extravagant, even for the time. During her travels she collected exotic souvenirs - Egyptian statues and mummified remains, Greek frescoes pried right from the walls of the old cities, jewels, silks, spices and incense - which were shipped back to England.

She has now returned to her family home where she lives, surrounded by her treasures and friends.

I had such a great time creating this Lady, I was even a bit sad to pack her up and send her to her new home. 

Lady Cat started life as Monster High's Catrine De Mew (Scaris).

For commission inquiries please click here to visit my Etsy page

Customs - January 2015

My latest job - Rainbow Frankie ^_~

Her owner has requested the rainbow re-root as well ad removal of all her stitches (except the ones on her neck). These are my favourite kind of commissions - bringing to life what my client has already envisioned. Don't get me wrong, I love doing my own designs - but there is something enormously satisfying about a collaboration...and nothing beats hearing "Oh my God, he/she is even better than I imagined!"

I will be tracking the progress of all commissions so owners can see how their beauty (or beast!) is coming along.

Step one - bye bye stitches! Done the 'old fashioned' way with sandpaper. NEVER use acetone on a MH body. It will start to pretty much melt he plastic almost instantly



Next up - hair removal ^o^

It's okay, Frankie! You will be so pretty soon!

First goes down some primary base colours.

 

Getting there!!!



 It's time to style!

Frozen's Elsa Custom Monster High Repaint

Monster High's Draculaura as Elsa from Disney's Frozen!
I put her on Etsy and she was sold in 30 minutes! If you would like your own version of this gorgeous custom there is a commission spot at my Esty shop.

UPDATE! She is sold! In literally half an hour! And then I got commissioned to make another one! I will be putting up only ONE more commission spot sometime soon, so stay tuned!

She has a new faceup and golden blonde/pure white mohair.

Complete with LONG eyelashes ^-^

Her floor length gown, inspired by the film, designed and hand made by me.

Her tulle train is detatchable and hooks onto the back of her gown.

Handpainted shoes, donated by Catrine.

Commission spot at my Etsy shop now just follow this link https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/daisylikesdolls?ref=hdr_shop_menu

dxx 

Boil Washing Doll Hair

 I'm sure there's an exception to every rule but, generally speaking, every doll suffers at least some form of box hair. For this tutorial Maddie and Briar from Ever After High will be my models. These  girls have long hair and 'soft curls' which look a fright straight out of the box, a situation not helped at all by brushing. While these girls have curls, the method is generally the same with straight haired dolls


Boil washing will remove the greasy feel and any 'product' (i.e. glue!) put in during manufacture. After washing you also have the option of conditioning, however, this is not essential.

Step 1 - Prep
Take off all clothes and accessories. I gave the girls little toga spa gowns (but am now motivated to sew them robes for next time!). While Maddie's not fussed, I don't think Briar is happy with my choice of outfit!

Brush out the hair using their brush (or a wig brush), starting from the ends and working up to the roots.

* never use any brush that has been used on human hair as there can be oil transfer.


Step 2 - Wash
Boil the water and pour into a small jug. Then, slowly lower the hair into the water and immerse for about 15-20 seconds.

* be super careful when taking your doll out of the water as her hair will be very hot! Hold her over the jug for about 30 seconds and just let the excess drip while she cools down a little.

* wrap the wet hair in a towel and squeeze the water out gently. If you rub to much she will just re-frizz.

Step 3 (optional) - Condition
Take a small amount of conditioner and rub into the ends of the hair. Leave for 30 seconds or so then rinse thoroughly.

* make sure you get out all the conditioner, else she will still have greasy hair when she dries.

* while wig conditioner for nylon hair would be preferable normal 'human' conditioner works fine. Look for one with fewer ingredients and make sure it is OIL FREE.

Oil is absorbed into human hair but just coats nylon, making it greasy.


Step 4
Brush out the hair and leave to air dry

And that's it!