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Introducing Pomme with a new articulated Needle felted doll body by FELTOOHLALA

12/9/2015

2 Comments

 
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I will share a few of what dolls makers might deal with , and how influenting for the working process.

Sometime ago I had a costumer who was so pleased with my dolls that she even bought another one right after her first purchase, in a heartbeat.
We communicated a bit in private and she was so kind as to show me the dolls once home, in their environment.
I love those kind of pictures. It makes me feel that the love  put in them just continue spreading...

But she also had undressed them....
I mean completely and totally.
And those were not intended to be undressed ever, and they even had a head piece that was well fixed upon their head.... never would it have come to my mind that it would  be removed (I always indicate the parts that are fixed and the ones that are removable in my descriptions).

Passed the shock mixed with sadness, I accepted that the dolls were in new owner' hands therefore had a new life beyond my control and that it was all right. ( but boy, how violent was this to me!
I am not attached any longer to dolls I sold, because I know they are welcomed in their new home and that it is the way to be. But I was totally unprepared for actually seeing a radical intervention on the doll).

In a bad reflex I often have, I thought my dolls were not good enough so that it needed the change, or worse cheapy enough to just be costumised...(I need to work on my self confidence I know.)
 
And then after thinking and thinking  and crying inside, came  peace .
Because after all, not only the dolls are not mine anylonger, and were not even intended to be mine, but they actually were so loved by their new mum who  indeed reowned and cared for them in a dearest way.  

And then I became happy again, but something still in the back of my mind kept running...
(This is going to be a long post, I held so much since this summer....please feel free to grab a cup of tea if you plan to stay along with my story.)

I also could not enjoy my needle felting the way it did, having a big difficulty to actually focus on one project.
Well , I had guilt feelings (did I said I need to reconsider some of my emotional relationship toward my work?) because anything that concluded to making a doll did interfere with my needle felting technique that bored me.
 I had attempts at other things, also gave a try to some kind of new jointing system with my Puppy doll...but nope I was not in the mood after that. (true, in the meanwhile I also had a custom work that gave me worries and breaks, did I mention I am much too sensitive a person too?).

I kept wanting a doll that would be more of a doll doll, yet not a toy, but less an art doll to be seen or held in the hand, but one that could be manipulated with courage.

And that was the beginning of a big conflict for me.
Needle felting allows as much freedom in shapes as you wish. It can be hard and soft ,holds the shapes and yet be pliable, like a softie....You can add a structure inside and it will hold the movement, and even better, all this without seam, without break in the line .
Except  and even though I did some advanced researched and improved greatly the actual pipe cleaner insert as an armature, I kept feeling that it did not make the job, that  it was still difficult to handle for the person without more knowlege in basic anatomy or who did not care that much about it ...(did I mention I have an over control thing over everything issue yet,...?)
I also work needle felting slowly, meaning I have too few dolls to be available as to make a proper income for it. Try to find a system.(or die)
Came the idea of jointing with discs....like teddy bears are.That was the first version of Pomme as you might have seen.
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I very much liked the result in term of line, but it involved a lot of little parts to be put together and to make...and... back to thinking .

Then I decided that there was no way I could have the "Frankeinstein aspect" on a doll with all the seams when I could just needle felt a piece as a whole.(guilt guilt guilt) .I am speaking of the joints, Pomme was first sewed in felt for gaining me time in the working process, but I intended to needle felt those parts)
I thought again over the piece I made this spring with Puppy and how the joints were made. I decided the beads should be covered all the same as the doll.
Then do I have to mention my main wool supplier to cease activity and the search for a new local reliable one? sigh...

And then came the actual Pomme.
 I have issues to resolve, and compromise to do over her proportions.....but overall I am quite happy with the posing she can make. She is around 20 cm tall (8 inch) , barely bigger than my pixies. and hey! I will create new dolls!

Yes, I am a doll maker first. AND I needle felt. My dolls are needle felted, also. 
But most importantly,  I know who I am again, I am making dolls and that is what they are!

Could  have I  spared myself so much suffering? Probably yes, jointed dolls are not a new thing, even as a cloth doll.
Well, probably not, as we all need to experience ourselves the means and why of our own path.... 




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The body is not yet shaded on these photographs, Pomme is in her sketchy white self.

I plan to have a few similar dolls available in my shop, before christmass if I can, I will also update a few of the changings that has ocured.
2 Comments
Vishwarupa
2/14/2016 11:16:23 pm

I believe it is from the depth of your feelings, dreams, compassion and care so deeply expressed about the elfin and otherworldly magical beings that you bring to astounding, magical and captivating "life" through the artistic vision endowed within, that you are able create the beautiful beings that blossom from within the domain of your spirit heart. And in that same spirit, i don't feel an artist should allow themselves to lose sight of that which holistically grounds and balances themselves as a harmonious, thoughtful and integral being. We would not not want you cutting off an ear like Van Gogh or worse. Your art seems to also be an intrinsic catalyst towards personal self-transformation...something most beings, I believe, hope for in their life journeys in order to be true human beings.

I leave you with two favorite quotes:
"Wise artists respond to the call of creation by peering into their own hearts. Their heart is the studio where their soul works constantly."
Alex Grey

"It is not your business to determine how good it is; nor how valuable it is; nor how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open."
Martha Graham

With love on Valentine's Day,
a beginning artist

Reply
Shaker E
5/5/2022 04:45:39 am

What a remarkable doll. I've seen jointed dolls and felt dolls, but never a combination of the two. She's beautiful!

Reply



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    My name is Laurence Bergeot Veréb.

    I create art dolls out of wool with the help of needle felting technique.

    You can find my old blog here:
    http://feltoohlala.wix.com/feltoohlala/apps/blog

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