Wednesday, August 19, 2009

BEFORE & AFTER

A Before & After project I thought I would share....perhaps it will get you inspired to do one of your own :)

I have had this vintage clown doll for a couple years now...he/she has this fantastic composition head & arms with a very delicate straw filled body and felt legs. I always knew that someday I would give him a new outfit and so I finally got inspired to get started on a little "creative altered" makeover.

Well, I loved the doll but not the clothes ...even if by chance they were the original....I still didn't care because I hated the clothing....that nasty green & orange felt outfit just doesn't make for a cute old clown......especially when the colors are more shabby chic pinks & creams.

BEFORE



Sooooooo here is what I did......I started by ripping the old clothes off and discarding them in the trash. I just had the naked doll as my canvas. I gathered up lots of vintage trims, fabrics and dolly clothes.....sorting them out by color.....I was going for vintage pinks & creams.....trying to get ideas as to what I was going to end up doing....it, of course, had to be a clown theme outfit ...my fave!

I had this wonderful vintage dolly top that fit him perfect. It has these gorgeous lace ruffled sleeves.....that was my base. Then I found a sleeveless sheer pink dolly dress that would fit but I didn't want to put just the dress on......so I did a bit of altering on the dress.

I removed the collar, added vintage striped cotton fabric strips to trim the bottom of the dress. Then I altered the bottom of the dress into pants. Added vintage cloth covered buttons to the sides of the cuffs on the pant legs. Then, I made a little clown ruff with the same striped fabric and stitched it to the neck of the dress. I then added vintage cotton pink pom poms to the toes. I tied a piece of vintage pink silk ribbon around the neck...then added a tiny vintage chipped pinkish jingle bell to the front......and here she is AFTER !!!



Just the most darling little clown doll ever! So don't be afraid to try a little bit of a makeover on something that you like ....but that it could use just a little bit more to make it something you REALLY like!
Have fun with your creativity!




3 comments:

vivian said...

he turned out perfectly YOU!! and he looks great with his little friends!
hugs
vivian

Olive Grove Primitives said...

I really love the way the vintage clown doll turned out. I would really love to own one of your bears. Do you post internationally (Australia) I love all your work. Have a beautiful Evening Lisa.

Lana Manis said...

Wendy! Your makeover is wonderful! Just one more thing to add to my list, lol!

Hope you're doing well ~ been thinking about you. :)