Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Winter Wardrobe

This is the last entry of the Paper Doll Collaboration project! I'm still amazed that we all found time every month to get this done! And I'm so happy with everyone's contributions. They're all so different & so unique.

Have all of you enjoyed it? Would you like to see more of this? We'll see what we can manage....

Here's my winter wardrobe:

Download the Winter Wardrobe pdf here

I have said a million times that I'm from Vermont. I grew up riding on snow machines, ice skating, and generally bundled up from September to April. I wanted to include some of that in this wardrobe.  There's a snowsuit, complete with mittens & a hot beverage.  There's a more "flatlander" appropriate fur-trimmed coat and boots.  And, not to be forgotten, a toque.  (What's a toque? In Vermont, it's pronounced "tuke" and it's a tight-fitted knit hat.  Apparently it's a very Canadian thing, which I'm not surprised about at all....We all had at least one!)

To round out your collection, visit Paper Thin Personas, Miss Missy's Paper Dolls, and Pop Culture and Paper dolls.

To download my complete set, click here. 

And thanks for joining in on the fun! If you're downloaded the complete wardrobe, you should have 4 dolls with 48 mix and match sheets. If you've colored them or cut them out, I'd love to see them!

There's once more Little Ladies sheet and then I'm done for this year!

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Our Heroes

Can you believe this is the 11th installment of the paper doll collaboration project?!  I am so happy to have worked with these fantastic artists for nearly a year! It's been a fun project and (I know I say this every month) I really look forward to it every month.

This month, our theme is Our Heroes (Real or Imagined). Much as I love superheroes, etc, I really wanted to highlight a real hero. For me, scientists are truly heroes.

Download the Paper Doll Collaboration - Heroes pdf here

Scientists are remarkable.  I'm lucky enough to be married to one, and most of our friends are scientists.  These people are brilliant and literally saving the world.  Inventing medicines, saving the planet, visiting other worlds -- scientists do all of this and more in ways I can't ever hope to understand.  I admire them for their dedication to their craft and to bettering all of us.  So today I have a scientist.  And before a real scientist calls me out on it, I know that those shoes are DEFINITELY not lab approved!!

Go visit Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls for more heroes!

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Vampire

Autumn is the reward we in New England get for putting up with the other three seasons here, and this year is no exception. I love October - I was married in October (ten years ago, in fact!!).  It's a great time of year.

And Halloween! Who doesn't love that?! My kids and I are really excited about Halloween.  It's easily my favorite holiday of the year.

So this month, we have some spooky additions to the collaboration paper doll.

Download the the Paper Doll Collaboration - Vampire pdf here

Let me first say that this was a feat of formatting finesse! It was not all going to fit.  I was just sure of it....and then, somehow, it did! So I'm pretty happy about that. And the crazy ruffles.  I just love drawing ruffles right now!

For more haunting costumes, check out Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls.

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Fashion from the Year You Graduated

Today is the ninth (!!) installment of the paper doll collaboration project.  I'm so glad we've been able to pull this off! It's been a lot of fun and I look forward to it every month.

This month, we're working on fashion from the year we graduated.  I chose to illustrate the year I graduated high school.  Now, I just want to make this clear: this isn't how I dressed in high school! The way I dress now is not all that different than how I dressed 20 years ago....not really sure what that says about me! I like jeans, tees, cardigans -- pretty simple stuff.  And I was never trendy!

Download the Paper Doll Collaboration - Outfit 9 pdf here

Here's how I interpreted 1998 -- I went straight to a Delia's catalogue! Remember those?! I was never really cool enough to buy stuff from Delia's.  And it was too trendy.  There's one specific type of tank top that was popular and I included that.  My sister (who lives to be trendy, even now) had this tank in about a zillion colors, most of them striped.  Long skirts with chunky platform sandals were popular, too, and those stupid bandana tops.  Finally, I've got cargo pants and some crudely draw Doc Martens. To top it all off, I've attempted to draw the Rachel haircut, because we all knew at least one girl who had it!

For more blasts from the past, visit Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy!

Paper DollCollaboration 2017 - Historical Fashion

First and foremost, I feel terrible about my sparse posting this summer.  It's been incredibly busy, which sounds like a really lame attempt at an excuse.  The good news is 1) school starts for my oldest on the 29th 2) school starts for my youngest September 5th and 3) I've reorganized my office/studio to be more efficient.  Hopefully, I'll spend more time in it!!

Today's post is supposed to be our favorite historical periods.  I can't say I have a favorite, so I used a recent field trip with my kiddos as inspiration: Old Sturbridge Village.

Download the Paper Doll Collaboration - Historical Fashion pdf here

For all of you outside New England (or inside of it and unfamiliar), Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum focused on the early 19th century, approximately 1790 to 1840 or so.  Last Friday (and the reason I missed my post) was the Highland Street Foundation Free Fun Friday at Old Sturbridge Village.  So the boys and I drove out there and spent the day.

They loved it. I loved it.  A good day was had by all!

And because of that trip, I have two dresses from about 1830, based on image from OSV's collection of artifacts.  The dress on the left is based on this one and the one on the right is based on this one.  I included only one bonnet, mainly because of space.

Be sure to visit Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy for more outfits in this ongoing project!

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Music

The end of July snuck up on me! I just finished peeling wallpaper off in yet another room of my house.  This summer we have: built a deck, painted a bathroom, painted a bedroom, bunked the boys (which involved peeling wallpaper, painting, and redecorating), and peeled the wallpaper off the last bedroom.  Painting is forthcoming.  Aside from this, the kids and I have been having a blast.  My husband is super close to finishing his Master's degree so he's been pretty busy, too.

I'm barely keeping up with the blog!!

This month for the collaboration project, the theme is music.

Download the Music pdf here

I enjoy music but I'm not a musician.  And I really can't stand classical music.   I've tried.  It just is not for me.  Regardless, I saw this belt and needed to draw it! And I thought a retro 40s-ish hairstyle had a nice curl that resembled the violin belt.

For more music inspired fashions, check out Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls!

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017: Mythological Creatures

It's June so we're half way through the year-long paper doll collaboration project.  I'm just loving this! Having a list of themes that we work from has made this so much fun.  So many of these ideas are things I never would have thought of....like today's theme!

Download the pdf here

Grab the doll here

I could have taken the easy route & done something I was comfortable with, like a mermaid or an angel.  Nope! I really, really wanted to try my hand at a centaur.  I'm not overly familiar with horses so forgive my inaccuracies! I knew I wanted a Greco-Roman inspired centaur.  It's pretty great,  I think!! This whole project is so much fun.  I hope every one else is enjoying it too!!

To grab the other parts of the series, go to Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls.

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017: Occupations

There are some people who are lucky enough to know exactly what they want to do in life. And some of those are lucky enough to do it.  I feel particularly lucky to fall in both of those categories.  In fact, I know a surprising amount of people who are both.  My husband is a chemical engineer & that's always what he wanted to do.  My sister is a brilliant early childhood teacher and she's been doing that since she was 17.  And my dad, too -- he's been a machinist since he was a teen and still loves it.

So for today's collaboration project, I made an artist.

Download the Occupations: Artist pdf here

Grab the doll here

I wanted some mix & match options, so this artist has very practical overalls, a painting smock, as well as a skirt, top, and a kerchief hairstyle.

I'm not overly thrilled with the way the hand holding the paint brush came out.  It's not the best, but it's not the worst, either.  That's the fourth or fifth iteration of that hand and I finally just let it go.

Continue on to Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy for more in the series! 

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Favorite Novels

I read a lot. I average about a book a week and most of those are fantasy & sci-fi.  History and art figure in there regularly, too.  Reading is something I've always found time for and just love, so this month's theme was something I was eager to complete!

Today I have two costumes for the collaboration paper doll based on the character of Claire in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series.  These books have everything I could want: a modern, amazing woman, a gorgeous Scottish setting, time travel, and a compelling story.  Honestly, I hope she writes these books forever!

Download the Favorite Novels pdf here

Grab the doll here

Also, the television adaptation has been amazing! I highly recommend it. (Can't quite say the same of The Magicians adaptation -- great books, great tv show, VERY little in common beyond the first few episodes of the first season...)

So for my Claire, I have her World War II field nurse's uniform and an 18th century daily wear sort of gown.  Her unruly curly hair goes with both.  I based both of these on the designs of Terry Dresbach, a wonderful costume designer who's having a bit of controversy at the moment.

Make sure you visit Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture and Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's paper dolls for more collaboration goodness :)

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - Fashions from Space

It's the end of March so that means another installment of the paper doll collaboration project! I hope everyone is enjoying this because I know I am.... Coming up with a theme is often the most difficult part for me.  It's nice to have a year of themes ready to go, and create accordingly.

Download the Fashions from Space pdf here

Grab the doll here

This month's theme is fashions from space - a theme I never thought about but was SO much fun! I love science and sci-fi, but it never occurred to me to make a sci-fi paper doll.  I kept this one simple. I keep thinking that once the year is over, I'll go back and color all of my contributions.

My outfit was inspired by mid 20th century sci-fit.  A while back I decided to read more "hard" sci-fi, like Asimov and Clarke.  Which I've been doing and rather enjoying it! So this owes a bit to that era.

Continue with the them at Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture & Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy's Paper Dolls!

Paperdoll Collaboration 2017 - Night at the Oscars

I lied.

I was going to make a fourth Valentine's paper doll.  It just didn't happen.  2017 has been a pretty best/worst kind of year so far.  Lots of good things are happening to me, and a lot of less good things are happening around me.  So I didn't get around to a fourth doll.  There's always March for a quick themed set...

Today is the next part of the on-going paper doll collaboration project with Paper Thin Personas, Pop Culture Paper Dolls, and Miss Missy Paper Dolls.  This month's theme is a night at the Oscars.

Personally, I don't care about rewards shows at all.  I do, however, LOVE fancy dresses and elaborate gowns!

Download the Night at the Oscars pdf here

See here for the paper doll

My dress is based on a Dolce & Gabbana dress.  I can't seem to track the dress down online. That's fine.  Part of the reason I loved it was because it was a fairly simple black dress but it was paired with fancy, Renaissance inspired jewelry. Sometimes I create things in Illustrator and bring them into Photoshop -- that's what I did here with the jewelry.

And because I can be my own worst critic (it's the best way to grow as an artist!!), that hand is the worst.  I knew it was bad when I drew it ages ago, but seeing it now....the worst.

I'll update links to the other paper doll collaboration pages as they go live, so look for that!

Paper Thin Personas - find it here
Pop Culture Paper Dolls - find it here
Miss Missy Paper Dolls - find it here
 

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017 - The Year I was Born

Instead of your regularly scheduled mix & match tween paper doll, we have the next installment of the Paper Doll Collaboration Project. (Need the doll? Grab it here.) You'll have to wait til February for more after this week...

The theme for this month is the Year You Were Born.  So yeah, you're all going to learn how old we are! Rachel and Boots have outfits, too, and I'll update the links when they're live. In theory, the outfits can mix & match.  Hats/hair probably won't.

Download the PDF for Fashion from 1980 here

So I was born in 1980.  My mother LOVED Princess Diana.  When I went to London for the first time, I made it a point to go to Harrod's and pick out something Princess Diana related for my mother.  This was late 1999, so not terribly long after the princess's death.

Anyway, my mother watched the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. The earliest paper doll I ever remember owning was a Princess Di set.  Loved it.

Naturally, I thought Princess Di would be a perfect representation of the 1980s.  She was a style icon! This set is based on an outfit she wore in 1980, prior to her marriage. I wanted something sort of elegant. There's so much awful fashion from the 80s, but there's some good, too. And the hair! That flipped hair was everywhere!

Check out Paper Thin Personas and Pop Culture Paper Dolls for their installments, too.  And come back in February for a new theme!

EDIT: We're also added Melissa of Miss Missy Paper Dolls. Check out her contribution! 

Paper Doll Collaboration 2017

Happy Monday everyone! There are a lot of new things going on this year and today, I'm posting the first part of yet another project.

Over the holidays, Rachel and Boots and I chatted about creating a collaborative paper doll project.  I gotta say, I wish group projects during my school days went this smoothly! We decided to create a black & white paper doll series using one body and with different faces.  We'll be posting a portion of each doll at the end of every month according to a theme.  If all goes well, there will be a massive paper doll at the end of the year! So yay for that!

We decided I would draw the base doll. That's actually one of my favorite parts of paper doll creation! I found a few reference photos and we settled on one from SenshiStock. I LOVE her poses and find her a constant source of inspiration.

With every project, I try to learn something or test something. This time around, I decided to test a paperless method.  So the doll was drawn in ArtRage and lined in Photoshop.  It's entirely digital.

This is the digital sketch.  It worked out a lot better than I had anticipated. I'll draw like this more, I think. It's easier than tracking down a sketch book!

The final drawing was inked in Photoshop.  It's something I'm still trying to perfect.

Download the Collaboration Paper Doll PDF here

We'll each post our themed outfit on the last Friday of every month.  This month's theme is the year we were born.  Be sure to visit Paper Thin Personas for Rachel's doll and Pop Culture Paper Dolls for Boot's doll!