ALICE

vintage cloth doll Alice in Wonderland
... MADE IN AN ANTIQUE VINTAGE SHABBY CLOWN STYLE WITH LOTSA FLEA MARKET FINDINGS ...
vintage cloth doll Introducing: my first cloth doll Alice. I kinda 'hear' ya thinking: are you "Going back to the roots" Thea?
For those who do not know at how Milly Me Designs started: in the early days back in 2007
I used to make custom doll clothes & doll bodies.
So the answer to this question is: "No, I'm not going back, but I am certainly inspired while making this doll. Since my childhood I love dolls and I probably will never stop doing so."
vintage cloth doll
Creating a cloth doll was on top of my wish-list for a very long time. And the circus theme is one of my favorites too. The summer of 2012 - when business things slow down - was the perfect time to design and make my very first doll. I was a bit anxious: was I able to make what was already an idea in my head? Plus the fact that my husband had severe doubts about my new project too. It didn't make it easier! 
But I love to challenge myself over and over again and I just love the way this doll turned out! I really love the colors on this piece: the soft aged peachy pinks & creams.
And on top of this: on flea market I found the most PERFECT box to complete and display this vignette. I hope you like her as much as I do.
vintage cloth doll
Alice's head is made of porclain and the rest of her body is made of cotton fabrics and doe suede.
She is wearing an altered peachy pink handmade outfit which I especially designed for her. It is made of semi sheered muslin and trimmed with fine French cotton laces and ribbons.
The ruff collar is made of black Swiss vintage cotton with cream dots. The buttons on her top are handmade and I even made her a whimsical wooden clown stick too.
Her size: 33 cm - 13 inches when sitting (hat included) and ± 60 cm - 23.6 inches when standing.
vintage cloth doll

vintage cloth doll


vintage cloth doll

vintage cloth doll
I made lots of doll clothes and even more doll bodies in the past before I started to create the teddy bears. So I took one of my body patterns and resized & reshaped it to make a perfect new fitting body.
The tin box is a vintage tobacco box and a PERFECT text if you ask me. I found this little treasure at a local flea market.

vintage cloth doll

wooden clown rattle stickAbove: I just loved to create this whimsical wooden clown stick. It turned out beautifully as this is my first one ever and the tiny bells are ringing so nice.

Below: The vintage wooden spinning tops are flea market findings. I wonder who M is...or perhaps was..? Maybe the man who sold them to me, I guess I'll never know.
vintage spinning topsvintage spinning tops
Ain't she sweet looking? I handpainted this wooden toy in a vintage style after stripping the paint and old varnish first. It is made of beechwood, the most suitable wood to make wooden toys i.m.h.o. And yessssssss she is mine, I just: "HUG MY LITTLE LADY BUG"


vintage spining tops
vintage cloth doll
I started with an "empty" porcelain head. I was so anxious to start painting the head and above all painting the eyes. Her face was built up layer after layer and I love to see her face come to life.
The most difficult thing were the eyelashes....never done this before!But I managed and I found my way how to deal with it.
I made her wig of soft blonde naturel flax which I found on a flea market a while ago. It is soooo beautiful......this material is truly awesome!!! Flea market findings can be so great......
vintage cloth doll

vintage cloth doll
vintage cloth doll
Alice is my very first doll and therefore she is NOT for sale! However I love to make these type of dolls....there are a few porcelain heads waiting to be re-borned too. But I will make them only at my own pace...