The Doll Project

and now the next doll project...

2010-06-25T14:03:00.003+01:00

This was such fun and such a lovely outcome with 9 amazing dolls created and now on show that I began missing them arriving through my letterbox so it's time for the next round of doll making....
The first posting date is June 30th 2010.
It has it's own blog here.

The Doll Project at The V&A Museum of Childhood

2010-02-16T22:43:00.008Z

The Dolls are reunited in the museum in a prime cabinet by the entrance on show until June 2010.

Doll delay

2010-01-27T16:41:00.002Z

Dollies, sorry for the delay in contacting you all to express my deepest thanks and gratitude to each and every one of you for sending up your magnificent dolls. Last week was hugely busy as I quite suddenly moved my studio from a cold, dank, tiny cupboard space to a cold, light, large studio space. I regret to say that I could not make it down to London in person to deliver our beautiful and unique dolls to Esther at the V&A MoC, however I packaged them up lovingly and special D'd them to her for installation into their cabinet last Tuesday. I am waiting for some photos from esther but plan to visit the glittering array of doll magic myself next Friday. You should all be super proud as they looked simply fabulous as individuals and as a collective.

With dolly best wishes and extreme thanks,

Lucy May xxx

2010-01-23T11:05:00.002Z

Dear Doll Projecteers,
I received my lovely Doll Project book yesterday, but Lucy pointed out there was a small name error- so I've reuploaded it- if any of you want to get a copy of the eited version, it needs to be ordered in the next 15 days, or it will disappear off the public Blurb server. Here's the link:

http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/1154014#book-settings

XX

Raymond's back too

2010-01-12T20:27:00.004Z

He came back to me all tucked up in his brown cardboard box, snug as a baby elephant in a made to measure bed. Ladies thank you for taking such good care of Raymond, he has grown up a lot in the past year and though sleepy, looks ready to face the big world, armed with all the clothing and accessory essentials. xx

Bunny is home!!!

2010-01-11T11:04:00.002Z

Hi there Doll Ladies,
THANK YOU!
Bunny is back and here's a picture of her with a few of her additions. She is absolutely beautiful and has gathered: a fluffy pompom tail and a 'bunny' tattoo, a cashmere hat, a tiny bunny doll, a knitted scarf, a carrot apron (for making Rabbit pie without the rabbit), a pet rabbit, a shell souvenir, some badges and.... a baby!!! I LOVE HER!! More detailed picture to come.
Love Lucy x x x x
PS: Kirsty, it was so nice to see them all in the book.

Book launch!!

2010-01-10T22:00:00.001Z

Hi fellow doll makers!

This weekend, i've barely stirred from the laptop, putting together a book of all the fabulous doll project, showing the story as it has unfolded. If any of you would like a copy, you can buy it following the link below.

The Doll Project
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1134684

DOLL's Day OUT!

2009-12-02T11:06:00.002Z

Lady Doll makers,

I am happy to confirm that the lovely V&A Museum of Childhood would like to display our completed dolls from Tuesday January 19th 2010. I hope to goodness that you'd all like to still exhibit our little treasures. Esther Lutman the assistant Curator would like all of dolls to be delivered together. So, depending on your availability in the new year, I wondered if it was best to send me all the completed dolls from those of you who are not london based and then I could meet up with any one of your lovelies who do live in London who might like to deliver the dolls to the museum with me too! What do you think? I'm so happy to take a trip to the museum and see as many of you for a peek at the dolls as possible in January.

p.s Raymond arrived back to me this very morning looking absolutely gorgeous, thank you all so very much for making his little elephant dreams come true. xx

A completed doll

2009-10-01T09:27:00.003+01:00

Here's a quick pic of Mandy's lovely doll, after I added the final instalment.
Can't wait to see them all completed and together at the museum!

Doll day reunion

2009-08-10T19:27:00.002+01:00

DOll makers, I have a proposition for you all. I wondered how willing you may all be to let go of your wonderful dolls once they finally return to you , for a short spell at the beautiful V&A Museum of Childhood. I have enquired about a the possibility of exhibiting our doll collective in one of the glass cabinets within the gallery space. There is a free slot after the 18th January 2010 and they would like very much to house our doll project for a limited time. What do you think about a doll reunion on show for all of London's children to see? Lucy May x

Lady Vi

2009-06-19T12:53:00.002+01:00

Oh my goodness! Lady Vi not only has hair and a face but an outfit AND the most adventurous of stories in her notebook. I have made her a lace blouse with pearl buttons and a tweed skirt. She has just a few more making stops to go until she is back home with you Kirsty.

Doll company

2009-06-18T21:31:00.002+01:00

Ladies this is the doll I have for company every day in the Irish small holding I am looking after for the month. She rattles each time I walk past her, which is approximately 15-20! I'm looking forward to going home to another more dolly more blessed with looks?

Colourful Dolls!

2009-05-13T13:49:00.005+01:00

Made by a lady called Jhoanna Monte Aranez in Australia. I just found this post - I don't know why I didn't post it before.... maybe baby. x x x x x

Amelia

2009-04-29T14:02:00.004+01:00

Amelia has been to stay (on her way to you quite a bit late.... sorry!). She is quite an adventurer, and her journal is stuffed with action packed tales of fashion acquisitions!! I've added a belt, flower and cuffs, and now to you Katy......

Doll Day Out

2009-04-21T08:16:00.007+01:00

ooohh I had a lovely day at the Museum of childhood on Sat.

and my favourite

Happy Easter

2009-04-13T15:42:00.002+01:00

Whoops I fell in an egg!
I better eat my way out x

Amy's Doll

2009-03-24T12:20:00.003Z

I don't know who has done what to this doll (other than your amazing body Mandy!) but on my goodness, this is a special one! Here are two tiny peeks at some of what I have added. Only 3 more dolls to go and I am going to miss them arriving each month when it is all done.

Russian Dolls

2009-03-19T10:56:00.003Z

So I think I must be feeling quite Springsome and Easterful, the sun is shining and the dafodils are out. These Russian Dolls make me feel excited for easter eggs, all chocolaty and shiny foily. Made by Handle and Spout.

Valentines Dolls

2009-02-16T10:29:00.004Z

Through the 1950s, a magazine called McCall's had a paper doll every month, this is Valentines 1951; oooh so cute! This website has them all.

Mandy's Doll

2009-02-03T13:25:00.003Z

This is Laura's addition to Mandys 'Belle' doll. Laura gave her to Ruth...

...who added these and then posted her onto Lucy May ...

...who made her a pet and posted her to me....

...and I have made her some clothing; well it is snowing (yay!) and she was looking awfully chilly; and now she is on her way to Katy in America where they probably have metres of snow.

Latest from Lugwardine

2008-12-16T18:11:00.002Z

Lovely doll Katy et al! Here's a tantalising taster of my addition.....
ps I must confess I for one am getting rather tardy with these posting dates.......

Yikes!

2008-12-03T09:55:00.005Z

Laura; your beautifully decorated and delicate bracelet has lead to the creation of an equally beautifully decorated and delicate doll; as you can see from this sneaky peek picture (yes, right).

Amy's last two...

2008-11-15T12:17:00.004Z

... knitting-based contributions:

an organic cotton knitted addition to Bee's doll...

and an adornment for Lady Vi (Kirsty's doll)!

Doll Project - the order we get the dolls

2008-11-06T17:34:00.003Z

I've been making my head funny reading the posting list from bottom to top to work out whose doll I will get next, so I have turned the list upside down to follow them down it; here it is in case you were wondering too.
Kirsty
Katy
Lucy Jane
Lucy May
Ruth

Laura
Mandy
Amy
Bee

Cheerful Chap!

2008-11-03T14:10:00.005Z

Here is a tiny look at Ruth's doll who is now on his way to Katy for additions. I LOVE what Lucy May has made for him, it is so, so sweet and I almost didn't want to add anything else, it was so perfect!

Mandy, Kirsty, Bee and Ruth, it was lovely to see you all on Saturday for the very official Doll Meeting (Kirsty is that what you were calling it?). I'm excited about the rest of the project very much from the little bits I caught about the dolls I haven't seen yet. Love Lucy x

It's Brilliant Amy

2008-10-15T15:14:00.005+01:00

I must admit I was completely flumexed (not sure that's the correct spelling) when Amy's doll arrived in the post. I tried to work it out by myself (honest I did) but after a few days of brain storming I resorted to asking her

"what is it?" !!

What it is, is BRILLIANT & this is my small contribution.....

More Dolls Clothes

2008-10-05T15:27:00.003+01:00

More beautiful, little, tiny clothes! The blue dress is a Barbie dress so the others aren't so tiny, but they are gorgeous - that coat and the funny bright red top. They make me want to sew right now.

Raymond

2008-10-05T15:10:00.003+01:00

I loved having Raymond to stay, he was a very sweet, quiet little thing and so delicate - I have begun his outfit. (I sent him on his way to you last week Katy - has he arrived? you will like him a lot!)

A peek at Raymond

2008-09-23T13:44:00.003+01:00

A sneak peek at Raymond the baby elephant now being dressed by Lucy Jane! They never forget you know...

Dolls Clothes

2008-09-17T14:30:00.003+01:00

I found these on a site called Rose and Radish made by Laura Normandin, she has been a craft editor at Martha (Jail Bird) Stewarts Living magazine for 10 years. They're so gorgeous!

A little look...

2008-09-14T06:03:00.004+01:00

...at the start of my doll. I hope she made it to you safe and sound Kirsty?

Introducing a special lady.......

2008-09-05T13:12:00.004+01:00

Please, please protect Lady Vi's modesty and give her some clothes to wear...and a face and some hair wouldn't go amiss either!

This is exciting! Hello fellow doll makers!

X

Can you...

2008-09-03T11:49:00.003+01:00

... tell what it is yet?

Rabbit....

2008-09-02T09:42:00.005+01:00

...is on her way. (here is a titchy sneak peek)

Laura.....

2008-09-01T20:27:00.004+01:00

......she is on her way

Doll Project - Doll Makers

2008-09-01T16:51:00.010+01:00

Seeing as we don't all know each other yet, here is a little introduction to the other doll makers.
(I've done a mini overview and link - let me know if you'd like it changed or added to, and I'll amend in a week or so, Love Lucy x)
In posting order...

Bee Hayes
Textiles and mixed media construction

Amy Twigger Holroyd
Knitwear
www.keepandshare.co.uk

Mandy Sutcliffe
Illustration
www.belleandboo.com
www.belleandboo.blogspot.com

Laura Cave
Jewellery, print
www.garudiostudiage.com

Ruth Martin
Art books, paper products
www.nothingbuttheruth.co.uk

Lucy May Schofield
Artist books
www.lucymayschofield.co.uk

Lucy Jane Batchelor
Paper products and textiles
www.lucyjanebatchelor.co.uk
www.hellomylittlefriend.blogspot.com

Katy Walker
Print design

Kirsty Reilly
Print design and knitting
www.bootieboutique.com

and... our 10th member is
Isabel Stanley
Lampshades
www.isabelstanley.com
who will try to join in for the next posting... fingers crossed.

I'm a little late but so so willing!

2008-09-01T15:36:00.002+01:00

Greetings ladies,

I come a little late to the proceedings however I am thrilled to be involved in the Doll Project, in fact I spent most of yesterday photographing a miniature world of ceramic animals for new book and am in the mood to get making my doll and get it on the road (or in the post bag at least). Can't wait to receive whatever delights come my way.

Lucy May x

Doll Project - How it works

2008-08-29T17:16:00.006+01:00

It's sort of doll consequences.

We will each make the start of a doll which then gets added to by everyone else in the group as it travels around over the next few months and at the end it is returned to the original maker.

Your doll can be as incomplete as you like when it begins it journey. If you’d like to have a record of it as it travels around you can send extra bits with it too – maybe a camera, a journal or a sketch book?

The posting day will be on the same day of each month, the first posting day is 1st September.

When a doll arrives with you, you are free to do with it as you like! Add body, head, face, limbs, outfits, accessories, environment, anything that you feel will fit.
You can spend as much or as little time as you have that month and you post it on at the start of the month. If you haven’t had a chance to work on it, or, if you’re running late or on holiday, you’ll need to make
arrangements with next dolly maker in the list.

We’ll post them with either Royal Mail Recorded Delivery, or with your courier if you’d prefer (and have one), so to keep the postage costs down, we’ll try not to make them too heavy (no stuffing with stones and bricks). We’ll also need to package them carefully to avoid breakages.

We thought it would be nice to have a place where we can share pretty ideas and photos of the dolls, so we’ll add to this blog over the weeks.

We also thought it would be nice to meet up and have craft dolly making meetings once a month on Saturday mornings. Provisional dates we’ll aim to meet: October 18th, November 15th, December 6th, January 17th, February 14th, March 14th, April 11th.

There is a mini–theme for the dolls: "You and your doll are invited to a tea party!"

We’ll have a final Dolls Tea Party in Summer 2009 where we can see all of the finished dolls.

hello

2008-08-29T17:04:00.003+01:00

hello everyone,
just thought i'd use this newfangled blog thingy to say, are we all systems go for posting off on monday?
i have done my first stage of doll.... i'm pleased with it now but in the process, i was a little worried for my mental health.
oh, and are we sharing what we've done at each stage, or is it a secret until you receive your package?
ok hope to hear from you all soon
going to a fancy dress night in a pub tonight dressed as hiawatha
amy x

Small teapots and some dolls in need of love

2008-08-19T18:59:00.009+01:00

The only trouble with putting up photos of really small things is that, unless there is something to show the scale, they may as well be normal sized things, so imagination is required here to tell that these are tiny teapots. Yep!

This little chap half worries me (the mouth and eyes more than anything I think) but there is something rather appealing about him (her?) too!

These two are the most lost, lonely little dolls I have ever seen. They need love and to be kept warm in a quiet place. Poor little things.

Monkeys, a cowboy, a sweet little girl (Katy and Mandy, I thought you would especially like her), a miniature sewing machine and a tea set, what a funny party. I'd be quite tempted if this lot came up at Greenwich Auction (but I wouldn't be able to keep the doll in the yellow coat in my house). They had a box of someones rubbish small bear ornament collection as a lot the last time I visited - there was a very nice polar bear and a tiny worn flock bear in a trailer.

Nice Outfits

2008-07-31T01:26:00.005+01:00

I was idly searching the pages of Corbis the other day when these charming outfits caught my eye. Every doll needs a little red dress in her wardrobe doesn't she?

2008-07-22T13:28:00.006+01:00

Ooh- I just can't wait to get started. I saw the Tim Walker exhibition a few weeks ago- beautiful pictures- anyway, these reminded me of the pictures you've posted up Lucy

Dolls from the olden days

2008-07-16T18:30:00.000+01:00

Oooh these little beauties are in an old toy catalogue that I have, such sweet little things and I'm not sure he'll like me for saying it, but I think the doll in the middle looks just like my brother when he was little. I especially like it that they are 'soft' and 'cuddly'.

'Delightful Novelty' here, I think, means 'Nightmare Inducing'.