Repurposed dolls

This was the last of my mixed media frenzy while cleaning out the studio. These teacup junk jar dolls are made of old bottles filled with little bits of joy like cracker jack prizes, small toys, marbles, buttons, beads, snippets of cloth, jewelry parts and ETC! Then they are colored with alcohol inks and you can pretty much tell the rest. Old doll heads (from dolls worn out with love), vintage silver spoons for arms and lots of other fun accoutrements.

I search for porcelain and baby dolls in resale shops, online, garage/yard/rummage sales, etc. On the average, I’d say I pay about $5 for a doll depending on the condition. I prefer to use dolls that are in sad condition. I have purchased broken (porcelain) dolls and have a collection of parts so the table in my studio sometimes looks like Frankenstein’s laboratory! I’ve paid as low as $1 (RARELY!) all the way to $28 (shopgoodwill.com and ebay.com) for a doll (including shipping). But when…

~ Vintage Inspired Collectible Dolls -

I found a bin of these doll heads in a dime store. They were all 25 cents a piece and I really liked the delicate faces. Each package has arms included. I wanted to purchase them all but I restrained myself because other than making pin cushions with them I really don't know what to do with these treasures. I don't want to make dolls. Does anyone have any ideas?

Altering dolls is still one of my favorite things to do. circa 2008

I've got a thing for pincushion dolls...especially the Marie Antoinette and Madame Pompadour ones. Can I tell who's who? Nope. I just love them all. I decided last year that friends and family I love needed to share in my wealth of these beauties, instead of them being squirreled away in the cardboard box - after all, I bought them for that very purpose. AND, for some reason, I kept running into the same doll, over and over...and worse yet, BOUGHT HER, over and over. SO...starting two…