fabrication
T E C H N I Q U E
 

I work in cloth, using soft sculpture techniques, with a cotton knit "skin." I generally use wooden ball joints in the knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists, with wires in the fingers so the dolls can be posed in different positions. They are stuffed with wool, which I believe gives them a natural warmth. My cloth-constructed, stuffed hair has become a personal signature feature of most of my pieces. This technique allows for more creativity in designing hair styles, and adds an element of pattern and color that compliments the costuming.

I find cloth dolls particularly seductive, and am interested in maintaining the integrity of the fiber medium as much as possible, by embroidering instead of painting features, creating cloth hair, stuffed cloth bows and accessories, and covering the bases of the custom-made metal saddle-stands with cloth.

For costuming, I am most interested in cloth of natural fibers in varying weights, textures, and weaves. I use some antique fabric, such as old drapes, linens, or handkerchiefs, and some new. I mainly use patterned pieces; I especially like large prints that most people don't associate with doll clothes.

For this and other reasons, I work in a relatively large scale. Most of my dolls are between 25 and 27 inches tall (63-68 cm).

Costume designs come directly from my imagination (borrowing ideas from many diverse influences), and usually aren't intended to represent any particular period or style.