Starting at the beginning

I’m creating another pussycat and little girl Best Friend doll.  The Paperclay masks have been cast from my original sculpted moulds, partially dried and removed from the moulds to finish drying.  I like to sand and refine them one or two times, sometime more to perfect the surface and details. Next, I’ll stretch the organic cotton jersey skin over the mask and prime it with acrylic medium and marble dust.  The really fun part comes next - tinting the skin with my polychromos and painting on the features with watercolors and colored pencils.  This pussycat is going to be modeled after my beautiful Norwegian Forest cat, Princesse Marthalouise, seen here in her summer coat.

The doll’s 100% linen skin has been sewn and is ready for stuffing.

I’ve chosen fabrics for her skirts and aprons, including a vintage cross stitched guest towel and a tatted lace oval I gathered in the middle to a satin ribbon. I’ll select wool or cashmere for fur and hair after the faces have been painted and personalities revealed.