The Gypsy

I have completed the gypsy and we are very pleased how she came out, in fact she is both myself and my hubs favorite, for the time being at least. This is what she looked like when she came to live here, skinny, scrawny and scarred.

Still, I could see the potential she had.....

It took me awhile to mull over how to restore her beautiful black locks but I figured it out. The first thing I did though was attempt to dye some mohair, I tried twice with the black fabric dye but to no avail. It worked great if I wanted dark grey hair but not for the black. I ended up with regular hair dye, (thanks, Marnie!) worked like a charm! Here she is with her braid portions being glued on, I used the ace to steady the bunches of hair while it dried, doesn't she look gangsta?

What was left of her part was next to nothing, the top of her head was thinning and flat, so my plan of action was to glue one side of the part down and after it dried, glue the other side the same way. Once that side was dried I flipped it and glue it again.
The first side.....

The second side drying.....

Here she is with the finished hair-do, we decided she would look more like a gypsy if we left her hair loose, unfortunately this wasn't decided until after the pony braid were glued other wise I may of made long hair all the way around. It's not bad to stick with the original doll though.
One thing I could not change about this doll was her unleveled eyelashes, as I mentioned before they are attached under the composition which has made them stay all these years. (These were popular dolls of the 30's, 40's) I did try though but taping the lower one up and back to the composition in hopes it would curl up but it didn't do any good, I may try again after awhile.

I used the former skirt lace as a side tied scarf, adding more mother of pearl shells to the loose ends. Like her earring? They also match the embellishment around her waist.

Certainly a different doll.....

Here is the natural flare of her skirt.

A beautiful side view.....

And a close-up of her eighteen bracelet bangles in the copper and gold. Don't cha wish that was the current style?

Her hair is the softest feeling mohair I have felt, I'm to never return to fabric dye again. Smells good too.

I like the way the shells reflect the light.

For now she has a honorary spot next to Helen on the entertainment center (Helen is 26'', Gypsy is 30"). Hubs needs to make me another shelf!

I call her Isabella, the gypsy boudoir doll. C&G Design