JEWELRY-MAKING There are two methods which I use for making doll jewelry. One is CONSTRUCTION and the other is SCULPTURE. In construction, one takes a few found objects and combines them to form a new piece. In sculpture, one works with a single medium to create a shape. Most often, I use construction. For my small scale dolls, (at one-quarter scale, they range from 14 1/2 inches to 18 inches tall) I need the tiniest of chains and pendants to retain the illusion of scale. So, as I go on my weekly thrift shopping excursions, I keep my eyes open for tiny earrings, chains, pendants, and buttons. I also shop for possible jewelry finds at office supply stores, craft supply stores, and hardware stores. The Egyptian Slaves are a case in point. They each have earrings made from brass grommets from a hardware store. Each grommet is made up of two pieces. One with a shank, and the other fairly flat. I chose the flat side for my earrings. I used a Dremel(R) motor tool (indispensable to dollmaking!) to drill a tiny hole in each grommet, and then secured the earring to the doll's ear with a brass pin. Of course, I had to drill a hole in her ear the same size, to accommodate the pin. Brass pins are found in craft stores, where sequins and glass beads are sold. They have the right color to imitate gold, and are easily bent and cut with needlenose pliers and wire cutters. Don't try this with stainless steel pins! They will leave rust stains on your cloth doll, eventually. Decisions, Decisions has a necklace made of tiny glass beads threaded onto brass wire (hardware store) and brass pins (craft supply store). The pins were cut to different lengths, strung with beads, and then the end of each pin was curled into a loop. I started stringing glass beads onto a brass wire and added the pins in their appropriate places, creating the look of an elaborate antique necklace. At the ends of the necklace, I formed a simple hook and eye closure by bending and twisting the wire. Nefertiti has a beaded collar based on this technique, but so elaborate that it took days to make. I had found a few pounds of gold and silver bouillon (wire curled into long spring-like coils) at a thrift store, and I used this as the main part of the collar. I cut hundreds of tiny lengths of it and threaded it onto brass wire which was woven back and forth between loops of beaded wire. The finished product is very intricate and adds to the look of the scaled-down figure. By contrast, Nefertiti's crown is sculpted from Das Pronto(R), a papier-mâché clay, similar to Creative Paperclay(R). I first made a pattern in cardboard and then rolled out the clay into a thin layer (about 1/16 inch) over waxed paper. Using the cardboard pattern as a template, I cut out the pieces in clay and put them together, using a moistened fingertip to help them adhere. I set the crown upside down to dry. I then used some thin fabric and glued it around the inside seams to make them stronger. When thoroughly dry, I sanded and painted the whole crown, finishing the edges with a gold paint marker, available in most art supply stores. The cobra was cut from a thin sheet of brass and then shaped. I fastened it to the crown by inserting the end through a tiny hole drilled in the crown. I added a small loop of gold bullion behind it, and wired it in place. You can use these basic techniques to create a myriad of different styles of jewelry. Always refer to contemporary paintings and/or photos to research the jewelry of the period. Then use your imagination to recreate it in the correct scale for your doll. The right jewelry will really help make your doll come alive! To find the tiny glass beads I use, I suggest you visit Patti Culea's webpage. She has some links to sites where you can buy beads online. Back to Workbook URL:jewelry.html