Paper Doll Collaboration 2018 - Then and Now

It's time for another round of the collaboration project! This month's theme was re-interpreting  an old fashion as a new fashion.  I wasn't really sure where to go with this, but I follow an author on Instagram - Lydia Edwards - who wrote a book called How to Read a Dress. I haven't picked up the book yet.  Based on her fantastic Instagram feed, I probably should! Sometimes she compares old and new clothing styles and that's where I started this project.

On the left, I have an Elizabethan gown, complete with ruffs at the neck and hands, circa 1575.  On the right, a Giambattista Valli gown from 2017.

This portrait was the inspiration for my Elizabethan gown. I wasn't super fussy about including all of the details.

And the contemporary gown.  Again, I wasn't super fussy with pattern, details, etc. I really wanted the overall similarities to stand out.

For more in the ongoing collaboration project series, go check out Rachel's contribution and Melissa's contribution!

Also, happy spring holidays to everyone celebrating! We're having Easter with my family and very much looking forward to it & getting rid of all the snow!

March Paper Doll - Set 5

This is it! The last sheet in the March paper doll series.  I loved the colors this month & although I wawsn't crazy about the doll at first, it really grew on me over the course of the month.

The themes for this set were fun, too.  For "icing" I made a drippy cake-inspired top.  "Can" I decided to go a bit more abstract - I went with a "can-do" attitude with a Rosie the Riveter inspired overall set.  "Stretch" is a basic pair of leggings.  "Hair" is a fur vest.  For "house" I went with a 1930s inspired house dress. "Dance" is a ballet inspired outfit.  And then "fruit" is a pineapple colored dress. Finally, there's a random skirt just for fun.

April will have a new doll, the last of the new dolls. I'm eager to get started on the new set and I'll have the first one up sometime next week! 

March Paper Doll - Set 4

Every post I seem to start off with: "I meant to work on this but didn't......"  And I guess that's true today.  My posting has been a bit sparse but it's because I'm working on a bunch of stuff.

Today is set 4 of the March paper doll. I have one more sheet after this. Then I'll draw an April doll and cycle through the four dolls through the end of the year.

Right click to download and print

This doll was not my favorite, but the more I work on it, the more I like it!

For "roll" I made rolled up jeans.  "Spring" is a bright green sweater with a flower motif that coordinates well with leggings from the first set.  "Lettering" is a book lover's dream jacket.  And "treats" is a sweet shirt with cupcakes and ice cream.  "Space" is a star covered dress and solar system necklace.  And finally, "desk" is a business suite perfect for a corner office. I also included an orange skirt for some mix-and-match flexibility.

The next sheet will be the last sheet in this set.  I'm amazed that I've kept this up so long!! It's been a tough project.  I spend more time on this than I've spent on any other project for this blog!  It's worth it!!

March Paper Doll - Set 3

So Saint Patrick's Day is tomorrow.  I'm Irish on my mother's side but we've been here so long I don't know if that even counts! I live north of Boston in a traditionally very Irish place. Saint Patrick's Day is a big deal around here.

Because of this, I went a little more Irish inspired with this wardrobe sheet.

Once I finished with the themes for this set, I realized I had a bit more extra space on the page.  I threw in a couple of mix-and-match pieces (the green top and white skirt).  Aside from that, there were some fun themes! For "screen", I went with the silver screen and chose a Marilyn Monroe style dress.  "Jewel" is a bold statement necklace and that matches the "butterfly" shorts.  For "make" I created an artist (naturally!!) and for "green" I made some green jeans.  "Rainbow" is a shamrock and small rainbow. Finally, for "fresh" I thought of gardening so there's a nice basket of fresh veggies.  With that top, I'd suggest NOT cutting the interior spaces. It won't fit the doll correctly if you do.

I'm hoping to post Monday but with yet another Nor'eastern on its way, I'm not sure about that. Stay tuned! 

Inking in ArtRage - Video

It's yet another snow day here in northern Massachusetts.  My kids are now wild.  Sorry, civilization, you lost!

Today I'm posting a video capture I took a couple of weeks ago.  It's me, inking a top in ArtRage.  It's about seven minutes long with no audio, no editing, and no commentary at all. It was an experiment to 1) see if I could do it and 2) see how long it takes me to draw.

I'm happy with the video.  It was cool to see that I could do it.  I may try to do this more - I may even learn to edit/add text, etc! As far as drawing goes, I've migrated almost completely to ArtRage.  I sketch and ink in that program now.  I could actually do ALL of my work in ArtRage, but I'm taking baby steps. (As usual, no one paid me to say that - I just love it all on my own!!)

So if you, too, are enjoying another Nor'easter barricaded in your home, here's a little video to brighten your day!

March Paper Doll - Set 2

For those of you who don't know, I live in Massachusetts. We had two nor-easter storms causing major flooding and power outages.  We were lucky - we lost power for about an hour.  Most of my town was not so lucky! And we're preparing for a third storm tonight.

It's been a messy March!

Today I have the second doodle-a-day sheet.  The sheets this month have slightly fewer pieces. I can't keep the pace that I attempted in January and February - it was just too much! I don't think March is any less fantastic, however, and I hope you agree.

Right-click to download and print

This set was fun! I had to think outside the box a bit. For "fragrant" I went with a lemon patterned top.  "Throwback" is a retro skirt and plaid top with a '40s hairstyle.  "Begins with C" is a bright, modern coat.  And "female" I interpreted as feminine and made a neo-Victorian blouse.  "Morning" is a sunny yoga set.  And finally, "blooms" is a brilliant orange floral gown.

The shadows on the gown were tough and I'm not entirely happy with it.  And the black & white pattern was tough.  Overall, though, it's a set I'm happy with!

And the next set should go up Friday....depending on snow days, etc.  March has been brutal!

March Paper Doll - Set 1

Welcome March! My baby just turned 6 this month.  I don't know where the time goes....

How did he get so big?!

I started this blog shortly after he was born.  So I guess this is almost six, too!

Anyway....

I have the next doodle-a-day set ready to go.  I'm still working from the prompts at @ellolovey ( Instagram and Facebook). 

Follow along with me! 

I made a new doll for this month.  I think I'll make one more in April and then start cycling through. That means that doll #4 will also be the December doll - I'm taking this project through the whole year.

Right-click to download and print

Right-click to download and print

For this set, I went full-tilt Saint Patrick's Day.  She's a redhead with a green palette. I was debating about how to color this set.  I almost went with a tawny skin tone and dark hair but my February doll was sort of like that so I decided not to.  I can tell you that April will feature a dark skinned doll.

So this sheet covers days 1-5.  For "early" I made a dress with a crocus motif for early spring.  "Creature" is a graphic monster shirt. "Food and drink" is a beer on a green shirt.  "Compliment" was a bit harder - I decided to create a denim skirt and a pair of jeans since denim compliments everything! And for "woods" I used a stump and flower motif with matching leggings.

I'm trying to pare down these sets so they're a little less overwhelming for me and a little more regularly scheduled. So look for more sheets soon!