Tiny Doll's Golden Stuffs

 

         I got a headache since this morning and I thought whether should update the blog tonight. Yes, I should as everything comes closer and closer more than a half way to my little Pocahontas. Truly, the pictures were taken 2 days ago, but I was still so busy that I almost forgot to do the blog update.  In my facebook, the Pocahontas slip is now on the soft fire green ware, a method that people usually do when they need to polish the doll in the water so as to make the seam line disappear.  It takes 2-3 days to let them dry and then put them to the final fire. I’m not so worried about the result of the doll color skin now, but it will be many days to finish her paintings. To paint a new head is like to meet a new friend. I need to learn about her characteristic, how would she look when she’s wearing the costumes and the headpiece. This is my first time that I will have to paint on the tan skinned doll. Also, I have painted several heads, the results are getting better and better. So I hope that she will show the satisfied result as I have expected. Now, let’s see what I have so far. This is the head that is now almost finished. It’s now on the coating process to make it look more shiny and sparkling. Not really shiny like a mirror, but a bit shiny and this will help to protect the golden color on her headpiece. The real headpiece on the doll is very “breath taking”. I love this head very much as it makes me feel as if I saw Sahara for the first time when she’s wearing her Indian headpiece.  Though it doesn’t have any tiny synthetic diamonds, it does have many gemstones that will be perfectly fit to her costumes. 

         To make the antler moose head stay in the right position of the doll’s head, I need to make a thin leather cap to hold and keep the headpiece more stable when I post the doll in different actions. The headpiece itself is not too heavy and it has a nice stability and good function enough, but it needs some decoration to make it more beautiful. It’s a kind of experiment that what the headpiece will look with the costume if it contains some colorful gemstones. If it doesn’t look good enough, I will have to take them out. The costumes themselves are quite heavy with many tinsels and beadings. So I have to investigate and try to see the whole things carefully.

 

         At her upper left arm (but in the picture I put it on the right), she has a decoration piece, a golden upper arm “bracelet”. I’m not sure what to call but it’s a very shiny metallic accessory that will looks very good, especially on the tan skinned doll.

         Lastly, it’s about her shoes. I was thinking that I should make some kinds of leather shoes with the beads. But there are beads and beads and beads everywhere so I think I just make them simple in a very high heel style that we can change and apply the shoes to another costumes. It’s a golden color. I really love them as they make the doll’s legs look more longer and beautiful like a model. I cannot wait to work on with my lovely doll. I hope you will enjoy this. Hugs to you all here.

 

Please note that the model in this picture isn't Pocahontas.She's a pale skinned doll.

Things Are Getting More Ready...

         I feel like I went away for too long to update the blog. Yes, I was so busy for the whole week because there are many projects in my hands now.  There are some questions what the next doll will be?  What are details about her? I think it’s not a secret to tell. Yes, I’m working on “Pocahontas” The reason that I’m making Pocahontas is because of her beauty and wisdom. She was clever than her age and she had an innocent look with the love of the spirit things surrounded by her like the stones, animals, trees, sky, water, and all living and non-living creatures around herself. I watched The Disney, Pocahontas, animation when I was 17. This movie broke my heart as I felt so down deep after the movie had ended.  I didn’t expect that Pocahontas and John Smith would part at the end of the story. It’s unlike other happy ending movies like Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast that Disney had produced previously. However, this movie taught me how beautiful love is even though the characters had to set apart. I felt very sad for all of them, both Pocahontas and John Smith.  There are many scenes that I keep watching so many times until now that I grow up and come closing to the middle age (oops).  I love to see when Pocahontas talks to her Grand Mother Willow (that it could be something that she talks to herself, or within her own mind in reality) and she sings a song “ Listen to Your Heart”.  The sounds and effects by Alan Menken are incredibly beautiful like there are some spiritual things moving around her with the colorful leaves and golden flickering signs. The echo of the humming sound with the beating drums are very emotional and they caught my feeling so much.  This is may be a reason that makes me love natures and I always find a perfect time to go for a hiking, walking through the forest and escaping from the stress whenever I’m available. Another scene that I like is when John Smith was caught by the Indians and tided before putting to death for the alleged murder of Kocoum in the next morning. Pocahontas came in and they sang a song together, “If I never Knew You” I really love the lyric especially this part: 

“I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we'd make the whole world bright
I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
all they'd leave us were these whispers in the night
But still my heart is saying we were right” 

         Yes, why do we have to hate each other, as we are human beings? Skin colors and the races are a big matter for us to live and become good friends? Why wouldn’t we choose to love instead of hating? I really like this song as it teaches me a lot apart from just the love of the couples. No matter what we are, we were born under the same sky and the purpose of life is the peace and happiness among us all. (I’m not persuading you to be a super man, but it’s a simply thought in my mind that we need to be born and live peacefully without fear, being harmed or threatened, or occupied.) The last song in the movie is “ Savages” between English Settlers and Native Americans. Both called each other “Savages” as they thought they had more human values than the other side. I remembered that my heart was pumping so fast and I was so terrified that there might be a serious war and death during the end of the story.  Luckily that no one dies from the serious situation. I also like some sentences during the movie like a conversation between Grandmother Willow and John Smith:

Grandmother Willow: Now then, there's something I want to show you. Look. (She dips her vine in the water in which glowing ripples begin to form)
John Smith: What about them?
Grandmother Willow: So small at first, then look how they grow.But someone has to start them.

John Smith: They're not gonna listen to us.
Grandmother Willow: Young man, sometimes the right path is not the easiest one.Don't you see? Only when the fighting stops, can you be together.    

John Smith: Alright, let's go talk to your father.

         This cartoon movie is not just a cartoon that has colorful pictures and beautiful songs, but it teaches moral sense, love, care, and tenderness to kids and everyone. This is how beautiful the movie is and also the whole composition of  “Pocahontas” by Disney’s.

 "Phocahontas",Disney 1995

 

         About Phocahontas's face,I like her face as I remember that the model for Pocahontas is Naomi Campbell.  It would be a very first character that has a very unique look. She (Pocahontas) has a very “thick” upper lip and the lower lip is thinner. She also has strong jaw. But her long dark hair naturally moves along when the wind blows, makes Pocahontas become more lively and beautiful. I started drawing many pictures of her but that’s ashamed when I moved to a new house, all the pictures were just gone. As I said in the FB, I’m still lucky that I can make a sculpt that I think it looks nice with some pictures of my own doll inspired by Pocahontas from my mind.  For my own doll, now I have a test on the doll skin after the firing. The factory said I should use cone 5 for the African American tanned doll skin color.  As I have planned, if the doll skin has a light tan skin, not very dark, I would paint her with a light blue eyes color. Or if the result gives a look of a very serious dark tan skin color, I would paint her eyes with dark brown green eyes color. My lovely friend tells me that lots of Native Americans-- pureblood and not and they have all manner of eye colors. That’s really helpful for me to know and have more ideas about the eyes colors painting. The experiment is very unpredictable now but at least I have find a solution for her. (Oh I forgot to tell that I ordered the African American from a factory in America (yes, that’s why I make this doll skin color:-), and it took a few weeks to ship a porcelain slip to my hometown. It’s such a long long journey as the customs is always so strict about shipping liquids to another countries. I also had to wait for days and days for the slip and I went to the customs in my hometown 3 times. The officers seemed very lazy and just told me to come back again in another day. I wasted my time and gas to drive to the customs just to ask and checked the slip. I called them so “many times” but no one answered the phone (what the phone is for? I asked myself). When the slip had arrived, I had to pay for a very expensive fee at the customs. I wanted to cry out but it would help so I just kept quite and tried to claim down. Sign!)

 A gallon that can make 4-5 dolls

         Now everything is ready for the mold and cast. However, to make a tan skinned doll color, it needs to use a new mold.  It’s a restricted rule that a light skinned doll mold cannot be used with the dark skinned doll as there would be some mixing of the colors slips and it would cause unexpected results after the firing.  So that means it must be a completely newest mold for my Pocahontas specially. To make a new set of the mold, it takes time around a week up or two as the doll consists of 19 pieces. Each tiny parts are very fragile and very complicated in making mold method. So I decided to have a minor modification on the doll’s body. Although it’s not a big modification, it took time to polish the whole parts of her body, added more muscles at her upper arms, modified some hip joints and her knees to make a better function for her several posts, and then coated with a spray to make the skin ready for cast in a plaster mold method. It took the whole days (Sunday and Monday) for 12 hours in each day with the correction and the beauty of a new doll for a new porcelain skin color.

 Set for making a new mold

            In the meanwhile of making two newest molds, the headpiece with the decoration with the antler moose head is on the wax process. How does it look? I decided to weave a net cap for the doll head as a part to attach the antler moose more steadily and strongly when the doll posts. The net cap will be decorated with  many gemstones like purple, turquoise and golden beads. This is the sample.

 an antler moose that is now on the wax process

         I also asked Mr.Jaruphan A., the artist who previously made a very breath-taking beautiful white feathers wig for Adriana, the Princess of the Sea, as a special bird for my doll. The bird is designed roughly with the spread wings. The idea that I’d like the doll head looks more natural that becomes as a part of her companion. I asked him to redesigned a new bird that keeps the wing to its body,looking cute and elegant at the same time. I believe that the bird by his creation will be very precious and beautiful as he has worked with several kinds of arts, not just the feathers, but the beading and embroidery works as well. Thank you to Mr. Jaruphan A. here.

 a roughly bird design before a real decoration by Mr. Jarupan

         Also, the outer, cape, is almost finished. It needs some decorative items like Swarovski, some kind of rocks, and stones. As the cape is mainly decorated with golden tinsels and embroidery work with beads and features, I decided to choose a violet cloth as a liner and the outcome is very beautiful.

 a front look of the cape

 and at the back...

         Now the only one thing is her main dress that is not starting yet. In a few days, the main dress will be started and then I will back to post more about the doll costumes and the doll working processes. I hope you will have fun reading this blog entry. 

 

          This is a test with the overall length and general look of the costume composition. The model in the picture is Adriana.(just a test, not the real doll for use).The real short dress inside haven't started yet. Now it's time to work again:-)   

Thank you for visiting. Hugs/Nune

Two Different Worlds...

”I thought our love would be so beautiful
Somehow we'd make the whole world bright
I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong
all they'd leave us were these whispers in the night
But still my heart is saying we were right”

         If you were really in to this anime, you would probably know it right away what the movie is… Now I feel better about good news I just got this morning. A few weeks ago, I wrote to a company in the US, asking about a special porcelain color slip. I will not be able to start and then continue this blog if the company cannot ship me the specific slip for my working project. Now I got the tracking number and I only have to wait it to reach to my home.(Hopefully, I wouldn’t have to pay an expensive tax by the customs.) Above is a rough design that is now on the making process. 

         From the picture, you will see antler moose as a particular headpiece for the main decoration. A hard thing to make this headpiece is a very well balance with the proper weight and good deign when it’s on the doll’s head. I choose many tiny beads in many colors as red, golden, blue, and some gemstones to make them look so harmony with the costumes. For this character, there will be 2 costume designs, beadings cape and beading short dress. The pictures attached below are the outer cape. Can you see their colors? It’s very fun to mix and match and choose some materials for a beautiful composition of the costume.

 

Here's the front look

 

and at the back

         There would be so many weeks to finish the whole things. As the new head is being sculpted, I’m searching more refs. to get more ideas of making doll and complete costumes. As I got a week for a short rest after sending Adriana to the doll owners, now it’s time to continue making doll again. Yes, a perfect time to move on.

Please note: As this character is based on a true story, I would modify and make some adaptations into my own doll making style. Everything may not be a hundred percent correct to the historical references, but please understand a combination between imagination and inspiration of the artist’s point of view. Thank you very much here. Hugs/Nune

Taking 3 Orders of Adriana in Mermaid

         After I had released 5 Adriana for sale in Human forms, there are some letters that would like to know whether I would remake and sell Adriana in Human form again. I have to say that I cannot remake Adriana in Human forms for sale / or selling Nude Adriana separately because of some reasons. (I also talk to myself that I will never make dolls in a big number anymore. Adriana, Princess of the Sea, is the final set of 5 dolls for sale. The next collection will be only 2-3 dolls for sale. This is not a really good idea, but it’s good for me as I can spend more time to put on more details to the dolls like body brushing, more sharp facial painting, more expressive fingers and feet from mold making, doll body’s assembling and everything related to the doll making. Also, I can spend more time to concentrate on the doll costumes with more high details of the accessories and jewelry that will show a good composition when they are on the doll’s body. I believe that the best effort takes time to make.)

         The purpose of this entry is to ask for those who would like to make an order/purchase Adriana in mermaid form only. It is like a continued part after the human production. The mermaid Adriana will have tan skin, long blonde fair hair, light blue eyes, nude lips, and the fish scale is metallic silver tinsel. The fish tale is a non-removable part. It fixed on the doll’s torso that it perfectly and beautifully blended with the curve of the doll’s hip. Inside the tail, I use 2 strong wires to make the tail move a bit in some directions. The upper part of her body is just like us. I mean the doll has two hands, arms, and fingers like us all. For the accessories, I plan to make a small Tierra for the mermaid, but I haven’t decided yet about the style. The main point to make an order of the mermaid is to show the beauty of the mermaid Adriana in my own style. Please note: "This order will be very good for doll collectors who really LOVE a story of the seas and those who strongly have a passion of the mermaid."

 

(Please click to view a large image)

         I accept 3 orders for the Adriana in mermaid form only. The Mermaid price is 1,250 USD. I will put the mermaid “on hold” until they are completely done. Once when the transfer is completed, I will start shipping the Adriana to the owner.
       If you would like to place an order or have any questions that you would like to know, please feel free write to immortalclassique@gmail.com 

Thank you very much for your time. 

Hugs to you all/Nune

Back from the Sea,So Let's See

         I came back home after a few days to the sea. The location that I went for the photographing is located at Phuket, the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of southern Thailand.  I chose “ Ya Nui Beach” as a location for my mermaid, Adriana. It took time for 2 hours to fly from my hometown to Phuket. At the beach, the sun shines so brightly; the seawater is blue and green colors. Sometimes it’s dark blue and gradually changes into light blue and light green, depending on the sunlight during each time of the day. The sand is white and soft to the feet. The sounds of the wind blow and the wave hits to the seashore make me feel very claim and become happier when I was there. The surrounding by the beach is very nice and clean indeed. I saw some fish and sea animals closed to me while I was taking photos there. Maybe,I was too happy and excited by the beauty of the beach, so I got a serious skin burned by the strong sunlight! Or maybe I work too hard and too concentrated on my workings and the ideas of how to make beautiful picture sets, so I forgot the pain during my work. I noticed it when I went back to the hotel and found out that I have 2 skin colors on my arms, face, and all over the body that were not covered by the clothes. However, the picture sets of the 1^st day of the mermaid that hasn’t transformed into human were very nice and I felt satisfied with my Adriana very much.

         For this trip, I brought 3 mermaids with me for the photo shooting. One is a mermaid with her tail, the second one is Adriana in human form with a complete costume and accessories set, and the last one is a naked Adriana. So sad to say that the naked Adriana is not used for this trip as the time ran very fast and I had to work so fast as the sun light changes the direction, the level of the sea water changes by the time, and there are many tourists there.

          That’s so ashamed as the plan for the under water photographing that I have planned ahead had to be canceled. The camera shop that I phoned to and made a reservation for an under water camera said a tourist rent it and didn’t return it yet. I really wanted to scream out loud! My dreams to see my mermaid under the blue sea disappeared! I still have hope in one day that I will be back and do the under water again in the future. I never give up to try this new things. Umm, so now we just see how it’s like by the normal light and picture style.

           I put my mermaid into the sea water and sometimes that I totally put her down under the water. (I carefully work with her). There’s no need to be worried as the springs inside are the stainless steel spring that are designed to protect the water and to get reddish. However, the submerge the doll in the water is not a good idea as the leathers that protect the joints can get some damages. 

          I remember very well that the 1^st day for the photo shooting was really tough as I have to learn the whole new thing with Adriana in mermaid form, as well as the environment surrounded by her. I stood and sit, sit and laid down, laid down on the hot sand, kneed down, laid down in the water, sit on the beach, soaked in the seawater! I did the whole thing until I forgot how hot it was by the sunlight…But this is the BIGGEST happiness ever since I work with the doll. It’s very worth for me. I really love my job. It’s like a miracle to see the whole thing grow slowly bit by bit until it’s done. I really admired my Adriana in mermaid as she worked so nicely and patiently with me and never complained at all. Cute!

        My second day was not working with the doll and the sea environment. But it’s about the ideas that I planned and tried to make it happen in real. I brought many props and I used them all. The most important part for this photo shoot is the antique mirror.  I chose the mirror to reflect Adriana’s dream of how it’s likes if she becomes a human even though she has no voice to speak and sing. I used some picture techniques to make the picture from my imagination to be so real in the photos. How does it like? Do you like this? I hope you will like this picture as I do :-)

         She takes a risk to follow to the dream in her heart. No matter how dangerous it is….Adriana is now becoming in a Human, a lovely Princess by the daughter of the sea. She deserves this…a beautiful affinity…Would you take a chance to pursue your own dream or for the one you love? 

                                       "My Beautiful Princess of the Sea"

         I’m so sorry for her that the white feature wig that I have prepared was lost. This is the 2^nd thing that made me get so sorry about this trip. It’s not the end of the world, I still have another wigs at home. I think this was enough for us all to see. 

          The ending of the story is,.... everyone knows this ending very well. I hope I will have enough time to make a slide pictures with the sound of an OST I have in my mind. I don’t know that I will have enough time for this or not. It will take 2 days to do this. But at least tonight,…I finished the blog. It’s almost 3 a.m. now. I should go to bed. Good Night to everyone. “As long as you have a dream, make it come true.” Hugs to you all here. Thank You very much/Nune:-)

It's Time Now...

         Adriana, my little mermaid’s name, is now ready to go to the sea. Now I try to make many compositions of how to shoot her photos there. I have a rough idea in my heard of how to present her story by the pictures. One thing that I feel worried about is how to cope with the white costume and the problem, as the doll will be so closed by the beach. I’m so afraid to make it dirty. I will try to get to the white sand beach and carefully working with her.  I prepare a trunk in case I need to be in the water and work on my photographing. It will be lots of fun there.

 

 

         Now the costume and the jewelry pieces are completely finished. The 1^st thing is about her crown. The crown is decorated with many synthetic tiny diamonds. One asked me that I used the real diamonds for the accessories and costume? Well, at this price, I cannot use the real materials of real diamonds. I wish I would be able to use the whole real things. But it can be happening in the future. Maybe just one set for the real diamonds. I really don’t know. But I have a small hope that the current work will be satisfied enough to us, doll lovers that can purchase her, collect and play with the doll we love. It won’t be too out of reach. Apart from the main head crown, the doll also has 2 small crowns at the sleeves. At the beginning, I aimed to make a tiny coronet that fits the doll white feather wig. But to compare with the real scale, it felt it’s quite too small for the doll’s head. I tried to put in and out of her arms, and I got a brilliant idea! The small crown fits very well on the white sleeves, so I decided to make the other one for the other sleeve. Incredibly, they become so beautiful when they are as a part of the sleeves. Moreover, the doll has got 3 crowns to play and share with another dolls. How nice :-)

 

 

         As the mermaid is very young with the charming of youth, I think a short white wig will be looking great with the doll. I consulted to Jarupan Ardisiri, a very skillful Thai artist who is specialized in making the feature wigs.  At the beginning, I needed him to make the swan head. He said it’s very possible to do this for my doll. But one thing that I think about is a story of Mirror Mirror 2012.  Lilly Collins comes with the white costume and she’s got a swan head decoration on her head. It’s better not to do, I think. Some people may ask why mermaid has a swan head? Or why the idea is the same as the movie...? I should forget this and do another thing.  I must thank you to him here for a big help to make a very charming white doll wigs for this collection. Let’s see how it’s like. Cute?

 

         The decorations in the white costume consist of blue earrings,a choker, a corset, 2 jewelry sleeves, and a crown. I mainly focus on the jewlery,not on the beading works for my little Mermaid. She looks some kind of a princess, and sometimes she reminds me of a character of Shakespeare's novel. How could I work with this white Princess costume with the sea?....I questioned myself.

 

         There is an idea that suddenly came up to my mind. I 'm going to the sea, so why shouldn't I make some thing for my mermaid? Yes, this is for my idea that it would fulfill an imagination of the mermaid by the Immortal Classique style! Even though, it's not completely finished yet, I will try to finish it by tonight. Actually, the tale is made of silver lace. But how come it looks in golden color in the picture? Maybe I need a very clearer camera for it. It takes 3 month to finish this..slowly bit by bit. Now it's quite ready to Adriana:-)

         I'm so afraid that the sea water will damage the silver lace tinsel. It's quite heavy, but beautiful in real. I hope to capture many nice pictures for this doll.Also, from the cartoon movie I mentioned, the mermaid has got a potion to drink and then transform into human. This is a picture of the potion that I bought a year ago. It seems that the mermaid has got many things to play now.The color of the water,..must be red!

         The doll stand that is decorated with blue diamonds fits very well with the shoes. Now the whole things are quite ready,..but I haven't packed my luggage yet. It's getting late for tonight and I should wake up so early tomorrow morning. Camera lens and battery must be checked. Ok it's time to go now. Thank you very much for your time. I hope and pray for the success. Hugs to you all here/Nune

Magic of Mermaid...

         
         Yesterday,I made a rough sketch with some photo shop techniques to see the result when the crown is on the doll head with a long black hair and a white feature wig. The comparison between of these 2 pictures gives me a nice feeling of how cute the doll is when the crown is on. I prefer the white feature wig,which they are on the making process. That would not be so surprised if the little mermaid dreams to have a hair made from white features. In the world of dream, everything is so possible. We used to dream and imagine that we were a bird when we were young and played with friends. That's the same when a fish may dream that it could be flying like a bird! This imagination makes me think that mermaid could become like a swan when she has legs and then dance along...

         This is the head crown that made of wax in the prototype. There's a mistake during it's on the making process,that the size. The 1st one is quite too big for the doll head. So the 2nd one is being made. When I put the whole things, white costume, choker, corset, and shoes, I noticed that the 1st one is NOT that big as I have seen at the first time. So, I use the second one as a decoration part on the doll costume's sleeves; while the first one is the final to use as the mermaid's crown. The blue picture as you have seen previously from the blog has changed. From the silver armors at the upper arms and lower arms are no longer needed. Instead, I use the tiny crown and do some modification to adjust them to fit with the sleeves. They may need beading and crystals to make them fit together.

         About the details of the costume. The costume is mainly made of white chiffon and Chinese silk. At the back is long white gown. The long white gown is decorated with a piece of old lace.I picked the beads and some tiny synthetic pearls for the decoration part. I chose to make the totally white costume because it shows a pure of love. It maybe like a bridal,but the mermaid has a strong love to the charming prince. She tried to save his life because she chose to love him,not for herself. She finally sacrificed her life at the end to save the prince life for the second time...That's why she should be wearing in white...a very pure of love.

         I imagine when the mermaid walks along the sea, the white gown would flow by wind blow. That's possible,but it shouldn't be too heavy with the beads and too many of decoration. This costume set is quite light when it's compared to the previous works you have seen. But there are many accessories like head crown, earnings, choker, corset, arm pieces, and shoes. I use the main color of the gemstone and tiny synthetic diamonds in the shade of white and blue. This is how the shoes look like when they are in the wax process until they are done.

 

         In the meanwhile that the heads are painted (There are 5-6 fires to finish. You can see them in the Facebook), I prepare to make a mermaid's tale. Just one mermaid tale for the photographing...Where's the best location for the photo shooting? I asked myself...that should be at the Sea!!! 

A nice location for my doll photo shooting, sea waves, Sunset, white sand,..so heavenly dreaming of. I'm so excited!

I remind myself not to forget a bottle of potion that I bought it a year ago before the production is being made :-)

Thank You for visiting/Hugs