The First Lady...

We all have to start somewhere. I just found the first mini doll that I EVER made.  She has been around since 1982.  She is really old!

I was working in a miniature store, part time and learning as I went. 

I had just done a life size doll that was done with my own proportions.  So I figured how hard could it be to do in miniature size. 

Maybe we should call her the first Tessie.  She never had a name, but was always chattering away at me.

I missed the mark in several areas.  She is not tall enough.  She doesn't have the proper wingspan... That is, her hands, when outstretched don't equal her height.

My only excuse is, I had not seen more than a couple of dolls in miniature at the time...

I kind of made her up as I went along...Yes.  My usual way of doing things.

She was made on a chenille stem armature and wrapped in cotton batting. Then totally covered in nylon stocking material.  Her face and hands were stitched to indicate features and fingers.

Her dress stood out from her hips because of a large covered piece of cotton batting. 

To my credit, she did have bloomers and a petticoat.

OK..  So I painted a pair of April's Barbie doll shoes.  I am NOT proud of that! I hadn't learned to make proper leather shoes yet.

Here she is sitting down.  That darned bustle did not work exactly the way I wanted it to. 

Her dress was made from a man's necktie.  The three things down the front of her dress were jewelry findings.  There's also one in her hair.

Considering that she has hung in there for the past 34 years, I think that she deserves to live on my desk in the workroom.  She has access to the TV.  Any furniture that I happen to leave on the desk is hers and she sometimes gets to move to other venues. I don't think that she would like living in a proper room box.  She likes her freedom. 

This just goes to show you that everybody has to start somewhere.  She was my first...

I tend to keep the first one of anything I make.  That way I can see if I have improved on newer versions... I think that I am doing a little better now.

Back to cleaning out the snake pit.

See you tomorrow!