Happy Holidays!

Did I mean to skip the whole month of November? No, I did not!! Things got a bit hectic and I just lost track of time. I've had a bit of artist's block, too, I guess. I don't know what else to call it.  

I also accidentally got a job. Long story short, I'm working a couple days a week in a commercial photography/picture framing studio. It isn't a huge time commitment but it gets me out of the house. I spent WAY too much of 2025 in my own head and this little job has been good for my mental health. 

 

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My plan right now is to put together my annual wrap-up in January and then see if I can create a little structure in my life! I grabbed three new mini sketchbooks, a couple of fashion illustration books, and several apps/programs that I'd like to experiment with for the blog. I'm also looking into an anti-AI glazing effect for my art. Maybe I won't feel so annoying about posting online if I add that to my images! 

Anyway...that's all a rant for another time! For now, enjoy the little snowy paper doll and whatever it is you might celebrate, I hope it's filled with delicious foods and excellent company! 
 

 

Happy New Year!

Hello all! I think the very first thing I need to say is that I did not intentionally skip all of 2021 on the ol' blog. It just sort of happened. Like essentially everyone, 2021 was just plain tough for me. I know I've mentioned a few times on the blog that I have kids and that I took care of my aging grandmother. Both of those took almost all of my attention last year.

First, we kept the kids home for fully remote schooling. They left school in March 2020 and didn't step foot inside the school again until September 2021. I'm incredibly grateful that our family was able to choose that route, that I had the time & ability to help the kids, and that, overall, they still learned quite a bit. It was hard on me, for sure, and I'd rather not do it again. Two kids, one in middle school, one in elementary, different start times, different lunch times, different end times.... UGH. 

The boys, hard at work during remote school

 

And then, my grandmother. My grandfather died in June 2016, leaving my grandmother alone in her home. She had pretty serious macular degeneration but seemed in reasonably good health for 85. So I asked her to live with us. Six months after my grandfather died, she had a stroke. It wasn't a big one, but it meant that she could no longer live alone. She came to live with us in October 2017 right after my youngest started kindergarten. From that point on, her health declined. She had one serious fall after another. She was almost entirely blind and very nearly deaf. It was difficult for us and difficult for her. Heart wrenching, to say the least. She had a major fall in February 2020, breaking dozens of bones, and just never fully recovered. She died in November after a short stay in hospice.

I'm sharing all of this because it feels like the right thing to do at this moment. And I wanted to share it here because paper dolls and the amazing community of paper doll artists & collectors had an enormous impact on getting me through 2021. So thank you to all of my paper doll friends. You're all the best! 

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to share some of the things I worked on over the course of 2021, come up with some goals for the ol' blog, and get ready for the 2022 (should have been 2020) Paper Doll Convention! So check in again - I'm getting back into it!

Happy Holidays!

     It's been a weird year.... The ol' blog hasn't gotten a lot of love this year. I've been working on lots of things but that doesn't always translate to blog posts. I've been lucky enough to work on many of the books released by Paperdoll Review this year, including my own Fun with Mom and Rose & Ivy. And I've been able to help out with both Paper Studio Magazine and Paperdoll Review. The two magazines are merging, if you haven't heard, and I think it's a great opportunity to see so much of what the paper doll world has to offer. Of all the projects I've worked on this year, Marilyn Henry's are the most meaningful. I never got to meet her but working on her art has left a powerful impression on me and my art. I hope to be half the artist she was! She will be dearly missed.

    Part of the reason that the blog hasn't been active is art and part of it is life. Like SO many, my whole family has been home since March. My kids have been fully remote the whole year (our choice), my husband switched jobs (for the better!!), and I've been juggling all of my stuff while taking care of my 90 year old grandmother. We've been lucky to stay safe & healthy and that's really all that matters.

    I did manage to make a holiday paper doll. I wanted a 1920s themed doll since this is 2020. It felt appropriate. I was supposed to go to my first convention in 2020, Morgantown again, and our local parties. None of that happened. And that's ok. There's always next year. For now, though, stay safe and healthy. And have the happiest of holidays!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 14

Today is the last day of the Little Ladies paper doll set.  Overall, this set was ok.  Not one of my favorites, admittedly, but I'm happy I completed it.  I may color it at some point - I may like it better then.

My goal with every project (especially the more experimental December projects) is to learn something new.  With this set, I didn't so much learn something new as refine some things I already knew.  I've learned to really love ArtRage - it's a powerful program that is absolutely ideal for drawing.  I love it.  It's totally intuitive and it does many things better than Photoshop.  I highly recommend it (and, as usual, I'm not paid to say that. I really do love it.) and the price can't be beat. I've also been trying to pay attention to layout and backgrounds.  That's something I'm very happy with in this set.

Right-click to download and print

For those of you keeping track, this year's December set came out just shy of 30.  I have 14 outfit sheets and one doll sheet.  So technically it's 28 outfits and two dolls.  Not bad if you ask me!

If you would like to download the whole set, you can find a pdf of it here.

I'm not entirely sure what my plan is for 2018.  I have some projects in the works that I can't talk about just yet.  I also got a computerized cutter (Silhouette Cameo) for Christmas and I'll be experimenting with that. And, as always, I love suggestions! I'm even thinking about next December's project.  Never too soon, right?!

See you all next year!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 13

I hope everyone who celebrates it had a happy Christmas! My family has always had a loooong day on Christmas.  First, it's presents from Santa.  Even when I was a kid, that's what we'd do.  After that, cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Put on a new outfit & head to Nana's house.  When I was a kid, my Nana and Grandpa lived around the corner.  Now, my parents (the current Nana and Poppy) live 45 minutes away.  Still close in my opinion! We see them all the time and it's great!

My boys and I like to take selfies!! Here's our Christmas morning selfie.  My grandmother (who lives with us now) and my husband are less enthusiastic about it! I read on a parenting blog once about moms who avoid being in pictures or are so busy taking pictures that they're never in them! I refuse to be that mom and I take selfies WAY too much!!

Anyway, we had a great Christmas at home and with family.  Now for today's Little Ladies:

Right-click to download and print

This set is based on fashion plates from 1897 - I think that might be the latest year to date. I might modify the skirt on the right at some point. It's kinda boring, but I tried to be somewhat faithful to my source material.


Friday I'll have the last of this year's collaboration paper doll.  THAT has been a really fun project! So look for that!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 12

Merry Christmas to everyone out there celebrating! And Happy Holidays to everyone, too!

We had a quiet Christmas Eve and I was able to draw some beautiful fur trimmed outfits yesterday. I'm really happy with how they came out. I thought a set with fur would be very appropriate for a white Christmas - which we are having here in Massachusetts for the first time in years!

Right-click to download and print

Also, I solved my ongoing Surface pen problems. I ordered two different third-party pens, and I gotta say, I like them both better than the official Surface pen. One of them has a button that's pre-programmed to the eraser function in ArtRage and Photoshop, so that's handy. Hopefully these pens last for a little while...

Anyway, have a happy holiday! I'll be back with another set on the 27th! 

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 11

There have been some challenges this month - a busy schedule, technical difficulties, and (admittedly) a lack of motivation.  I haven't been happy with every sheet in this series, but overall they've been pretty good.  Today's set is one that I really like and I'm glad I took the time to get it right.  I hate rushing but I hate falling short of my expectations & schedule, too.

Right-click to download and print

The asymmetrical button on the right set is one of my favorite details! I really like both sets today.

One more thing to note today -  happy birthday to my husband! I say it every year, but I wouldn't be able to be an artist without the support of my husband.  He's a constant encouragement & it means the world to me.

There WILL be a set on Christmas morning so check back for that!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 10

Today's outfit sheet almost didn't happen.  As a result, it got a bit rushed.

So we all know about my ongoing love/hate saga with my Surface Pro 3.  When it works, I love it.  Drawing directly on the screen is just the best.  I would LOVE a Surface Studio with the Surface Dial.  However.... when it isn't working, I'm very, very frustrated. 

On Monday night, as I was getting ready to draw this sheet, my Surface pen broke.  My THIRD Surface pen.  Thankfully, my dear engineer husband rigged it up to work for now and I ordered a replacement pen.  I'm trying a third-party pen this time around because 1) dropping a hundred dollars on new pens is starting to annoy me and 2) if it's a cheap pen and it works, great.  If it doesn't, at least I didn't spend a hundred dollars on it.

So that's my rant for today.

Right-click to download and print

I didn't include hats today.  These are evening dresses and I really didn't feel like drawing hair.  If nothing else, I try to be honest! And in that spirit, I want to tell you how much I honestly LOVE ArtRage 5! This whole series has been created primarily in ArtRage, and I couldn't be happier.  I sketch with the pencil tool, ink with the technical pen, and it looks great. One big thing I love is the flip function.  In Photoshop, if I copy and flip something, it flips on a weird axis.  In ArtRage, it flips my image more intuitively.  Pictures would help....maybe I'll write about it in the New Year.

Anyway...barring any more technical difficulties, I'll have another sheet on Saturday!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 9

There comes a time every December when I'm not sure I can finish.  It's tough to pull a month-long project off! This year has been no exception.  I'll give it my best!!

Right-click to download and print

These dresses are from 1874.  Many of this month's sets would be better as one-piece outfits.  I don't make a lot of those for paper dolls in general, and I really didn't want to for this project.  I love mix and match options! I've modified almost every set in this series in some way that's different from my source material.  And that's ok! It's a reference, not a perfect reproduction!

Anyway...come back for more on the 21st! 

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 8

As I expected, I was a bit late posting this today! We had a nice party with many of my son's friends yesterday and I just didn't finish this. So forgive me if the lines are a bit imperfect today - I'll admit, I rushed a bit!!

Right-click to download and print

I should be back on track for the rest of this week. Hopefully! And remember, I keep this going til the end of the month so check back after Christmas, too!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 7

We're halfway through December! It's been a crazy busy month (like every year....) but going well.  Today is my oldest son's birthday.  How he got to be 8 is beyond me - I feel like I was still pregnant with him like a minute ago!

So happy birthday to this cool guy.  He's my mini scientist, rad selfie taker, and overall fantastic little man.  Happy birthday Noah :)

And now....another outfit sheet!

Right-click to download and print

I came across a fashion plate from 1885 that had these great dresses with asymmetrical top skirts.  They were so complimentary and gorgeous!

Remember to come back on Sunday for another sheet. I'm *hoping* to get it up early but we have two birthday parties on Saturday! I'll do what I can :)

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 6

I didn't realize until I was finished with this set that the fashion plate I referenced was from 1898.  The first set of dresses were also from 1898! Maybe I just like that year in fashion....

Right-click to download and print

My next set will not be from 1898! There are so many great fashion plate examples to work from that it can be hard to choose.  I guess that's good, especially for a project like this!

Is there a year in the Victorian era you'd really like to set represented? Let me know and I'll fit it in. Come back Friday for another sheet!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 4

Winter is finally on its way to New England! December snow is nice -- just enough to cover the ground, have a white Christmas, etc.  March and April snowstorms are significantly less fun!  But there's something almost amazing about the first snow and it's coming this weekend!

Today's Little Ladies wardrobe sheet features fur-trimmed jackets and skirts from circa 1893. I took a few liberties with my source material.  I'm not always crazy about giant bows.... And the hats for this series have been a challenge....

Right-click to download

I'd like to say that I'm super far ahead in this project and they're all just waiting to be posted.  I'd like to, but it would be a lie! I always manage to pull it off, though!

Let me know what you think so far - there will be another wardrobe sheet on Monday!

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 2

So what did everyone think of the first wardrobe sheet? I liked drawing all the fussy details and I hope you all enjoyed it, too.  That's why I decided to keep these black & white this year - there's no way I could have drawn all the details on every set AND colored them and posted them on schedule.

Right-click to download and print

Today's set is based on this fashion plate from 1876.  Because these dolls are so starkly front facing, much of the awesome details I liked about my source material kind of get scrapped.  Oh well.  I like the pleats on both sets as a bit of a unifying element.

If I ever get around to coloring all of these, I'll go with a limited palette for maximum mix and match options.  If you're coloring at home, you might want to experiment with that, too!  And for more fashions, come back on December 7th! 

Little Ladies: Outfit Sheet 1

Today is the first wardrobe sheet for the Little Ladies paper doll project! When I first sketched this out, I didn't have hats.  Hats are a pain to draw, easy to lose when cut out, and generally not my favorite thing to make.  However, hats were crucial to Victorian fashion and I wanted a Victorian inspired paper doll.  So there are hats. 

Right-click to download and print

These outfits are based on antique catalogue pages I found on Pinterest here and here.  I don't remember where I found the hats... Anyway, these aren't perfect representations of the source material, but a reasonable interpretation. These are fashions from about 1898, if anyone is curious! 

Look for more in this continuing, month-long series on December 5th - remember, I'm running an every other day schedule this year!

Little Ladies: A Victorian Mix and Match Paper Doll to Color

Happy December!!

I LOVE making a December paper doll every year! If you're new to the blog (or just want to look at previous years) here you go: 2016 (an angel paper doll), 2015 (Santa and Mrs Claus), 2014 (holiday fashions in red and green), and 2013 (Kawaii Kids). I posted one in 2012, too, but it isn't my best and I've always wanted to revisit it.  Also, several of the previous December paper dolls are available as books. Check out Lulu.com and Amazon.com for all of my books.

And that's enough self-promotion for one day... here's the December set!

Years ago, I drafted a stylized paper doll that I wanted to turn into a steampunk set, but it never quite felt right.  There were things I liked about it, and things I didn't.  Ultimately, the sketch sat in a drawer until I decided to tinker with it.  I made some edits in Photoshop, redrafted and inked it in ArtRage, and suddenly, it was pretty good!

Right-click to download and print.  There will be a PDF at the end of the project! 

This whole project is loosely based on historical images.  These undergarments are less accurate and more my interpretation of several images I found. I envision the left doll as pale skinned and the right as darker skinned, but feel free to do what you'd like! I may get around to coloring this at some point....

These paper dolls are drawn almost entirely in ArtRage5.  I ported them into Photoshop for minor touch-ups and such, but really, ArtRage is doing the heavy lifting.  My sketches were created with the pencil tool and the final inks were done with the technical pen.

One more thing to note about this year's paper doll: I will be posting every other day instead of every day. I couldn't find a way to format these with just one set per page that I liked.  There will be two mix and match sets every other day and a PDF at the end of the project.  If you color these & you'd like to share, feel free! You can email me or follow me on Instagram (it's a mix of projects & personal photos - @juliematthews).

So tomorrow there won't be a post but there will be on December 3rd! Happy coloring :)   

December Angel Paper Doll - Day 31

I made it to the end!! It was touch & go there for a while. I finally finished the project 2 days before the 31st!! Considering I starting this project in October, I didn't think it would take that long....

Today is the last of the angel paper doll outfits. I wanted a festive, New Years gown and I happened to have the star & confetti graphic from a previous project.

I've also posted a PDF of the whole collection.  I'll be compiling this into a book at some point, like I did with the Santa and Mrs Claus set.

Right-click to download and print

And here's the link to the PDF file.  It's a horizontal file, so keep that in mind if you print it.

Thoughts? Did everyone enjoy this angel series?  I have to start thinking about next year's project and I have no clue what I'll do!! Then again, once I finished Santa up last year, I didn't know what I'd do next either.

I'll let everyone know when the book is ready.  Thanks for joining me on this crazy paper doll marathon!

December Angel Paper Doll - Day 30

Sometimes, I create something simply because it's fun to create it.  Today's outfit is that, pure and simple.  I've really enjoyed making a variety of patterns for this paper doll.  I thought it would be fun to make at least one more.  There was also an amazing head wrap on Pinterest that I really wanted to try.

So that's what I've got today. Something fun and bright.

Right-click to download and print

I wanted more bright colors, especially after yesterday's very bright outfit.  Aside from that, I had almost no plan for this.  Just something bright & pretty.

Tomorrow is it. It's been a fun month!

December Angel Paper Doll - Day 29

At this point in the December paper doll project, I start losing steam.  My inspiration has waned. I'm feeling the time crunch.  It's definitely a paper doll marathon.

Today's paper doll isn't the most inspired.  Honestly, there are two reasons I made this doll.  One, I really liked the choir singer face from day 4.  And then secondly, I really liked Rachel's carolers.

Right-click to download and print

The colors here are really, really vivid.  I didn't really mean to do that, and I'm not entirely sure I like it.  There were a lot of muted pinks and greens in this series & I just got sick of it, I guess.  I may tweak it for the book.

Oh yeah, I'm totally going to make an angel paper doll book. I'll keep you posted.

Two more days...stick with me!!

December Angel Paper Doll - Day 28

For all of you parents out there -- how's winter break going?! We have a house full of toys, video games, visits from family & friends, and I think my kids are going to tear each other apart! My oldest is in first grade and my youngest isn't quite in kindergarten yet.  There's a bit of a maturity gap.  A gap that my oldest is exploiting to full effect.

As a stay-at-home mother, let me just tell you: teachers are not paid nearly enough!

Anyway.

Today I wanted to touch a bit on the "African" part of my African inspired angel paper doll.

Right-click to download and print

While wandering around the supermarket many (many, many, many!!) times this holiday season, I saw clementines everywhere.  Clementines just happen to be the only citrus fruit I genuinely like, so this is a good season for me.  I dunno what the deal is with oranges and Christmas, but that's ok.

Today's dress was inspired by clementines and a dress on Pinterest.

Don't talk to me about the practicality of a cape & wings.  I don't really care. It was a GORGEOUS dress and I wanted to do it and that's that!

I also wanted to do something that represented wax prints.  That's an article all about wax printing and it's worth a read. Basically the Dutch saw batik in Indonesia, developed their own (inferior) batik method and dropped it off in western Africa where it gained a following.  There's an intricate history of motifs & styles that I didn't really dive into.  Instead, I created a stylized clementine and make a pattern with that. I also fiddled with patterns & blend modes until I got some of the variation that is the hallmark of wax prints.

Three days til the end of this project! I'm happy to wrap it up but it's been a fun one & I'll miss it, too.