Bean, a journey into doll-making

Months ago, I pondered the idea of challenging myself with something different: going back to a more classic style of doll with a twist.

Sketches, research, and more sketches, and lo and behold, I had my idea: a sitting doll with my signature “Awww” factor, that expression that makes collectors go, "your dolls are so cute!"

The funny, sweet face on a chubby stuffed body, chunky little hands and feet, and the charm of a cute little rascal.

The shape of the head gave me the idea for a name, something pretty and unusual. I felt like Geppetto looking at my creation and naming it!

The sculpting of the original pieces, the making of the plaster molds, and then slip casting, sanding, firing, sanding again, firing, coloring, firing, and coloring, and firing again!

What a journey 🥵

But I wasn't done yet. Now I had to create the fabric body, a pattern from scratch that would shape this new doll from my imagination into something real.

After a few trials and errors, I finally came up with the final pattern. Now, I could make hundreds of beans, in theory...

But the project wasn't even close to being completed; now came the time for styling:

Shoes, hair, and outfit.

Everything must be handmade and special for this little doll.

I wanted Bean to be the artistic expression of all the techniques I've learned and developed in the long years of doll-making.

So I made her real leather shoes, and create a special wig pattern to be able to use faux fur in different colors and style. And then it came the time for the outfit, bloomer's pattern for a sitting doll like Bean required a special adjustment to fit the chubby tushy.

The dresses where already set in my mind so it wasn't to hard to translate the ideas into a real piece.

I also had the prettiest sweater ever that fit perfectly my two Beans so I had a great piece to complete the ensemble.

Soooo (drum roll sound) without further ado, let me introduce my new porcelain doll creation Bean!

They will be available in the next few days on the website, hopefully tomorrow will be a decent day to take good pictures outside.

Have a happy weekend :)