Creative Cloth Doll Making: New Approaches for Using Fibers, Beads, Dyes, and Other Exciting Techniques (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Art projects begin with basic techniques..." (more)
Key Phrases: skip bead, cloth doll making, peyote beadwork, Face Gusset, Center Body Front, Jacquard's Lumiere (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Though doll making is one of the oldest forms of artistic expression, contemporary artists continue to expand the boundaries of this craft by creating exciting new work that incorporates all types of media. In this book, artists from around the world release their creative forces with glorious abandon as they take three simple doll patterns and turn them into one-of-a-kind works of art featuring hand-dyed fabrics, beads, stamping, colored pencils, and much more.

Internationally known cloth doll artist and teacher Patti Medaris Culea brings together a collection of projects ranging from simple and elegant designs by emerging artists to elaborate dolls from premiere doll designers. These artists offer easy to follow instructions, tips and special insights, along with creative variations for each of the projects.

* Three new and exciting doll patterns included--all with interchangeable parts
* Detailed instructions on creating faces
* Variation ideas from world-famous doll makers

About the Author

Patti Medaris Culea studied art in Los Angeles and Japan and began as a painter and portrait artist. Her interest in the human figure evolved into working with cloth. Today, she combines her love of silk and dyes by creating extraordinary fairies, mermaids and other one-of-a-kind dolls. She has a full line of cloth doll patterns and her work has appeared in books, magazines and galleries. In demand as a teacher, she travels throughout the world.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Quarry Books (March 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564969428
• ISBN-13: 978-1564969422
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 8.5 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #296,465 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love color, you will LOVE this! What an inspiration!, January 16, 2005

By	MzQd (Peace on Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

Get out your scissors, girls, Patti Culea is taking you on an adventure in dollmaking creativity!

This is surely one of the most artful and inspirational dollmaking books to come along. There are three body patterns -- beginning, intermediate and advanced -- they build upon one another and are totally mix and matchable. The instructions for constructing each level of doll are superb -- clear and well-illustrated with the very best step-by-step directions for needle sculpting I have seen. Culea then details how to embellish your doll with fabric, with painting, with beading, with collage, with stamping, with Tyvek, [wow!] to make it your very own.

The best part of the book for me is seeing how all of the doll artists [and there are many in this book] get a full page to share not just their creative process -- but a close-up look at their interpretations of the doll patterns used in the book. What a cool idea, Patti!

This is a wonderful book! If you are looking for creative inspiration, or just want to see what's happening in the world of "doll as art," this book is it!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dolls for the Amateurs, August 27, 2003

By	A. Haddad "shalizeh2" (California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you don't have an Idea of how to begin making dolls this is the book that will take you from the beginning to the end. You want to get creative and make abstract projects this is it. If you already know the process of making dolls this book will only enhance the way to make them. The book has explanations on how to create a tye-dye fabric for dolls and also painted fabric. I think once you get into the process you will enjoy the book as much as I have.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cloth Doll Heaven for other crafters too!, March 31, 2003

By	Syntha Green "[e-mail]" (Petersburg, AK) - See all my reviews

This book contains 3 doll patterns, in levels so you can choose the difficulty of doll you want to make. The parts are also interchangeable so you can select the hand, legs or torso that you wish to create your own doll. There are plenty of pictures and step-by-step instructions for the novice, as well as lots of photos of what other doll artists have done with the patterns to inspire creativity galore. Definately eye candy for the crafty. Patti Culea's dolls are dyed individually for stunning effects.