All of my fantasy art dolls are one-of-a-kind pieces, carefully designed and hand fabricated. I use strong metals, like brass and aluminum, to construct the intricate armatures that act like real skeletons to hold the sculpey clay or soft sculpture materials. I fill out the body around the armature with carefully hand molded pieces of crushed aluminum foil. The clay is applied in thin layers over the aluminum foil, like skin over muscles.
I design all my doll clothing, too. From these designs I prepare my own patterns. I hand cut all the materials and both hand and machine sew them. The clothing is fitted to the doll, just like clothing is fitted to a person, which achieves an entirley realistic look. Boots and shoes are hand made, as well, from real leather. In fact, my doll boots and shoes are fabricated just like boots and shoes for people.
I loves fantasy stories, faerie lore, mythology, legends, folklore, magic, action adventure. Every time I make a doll, I draw on these sources to express a story or to capture a moment in time, a fantasy character poised in an instant of exploring, considering, or being surprised by events that are about to occur.
Because I am a trained metalsmith and enamelist, I add hand made jewelry to many of my dolls. I use the same metals as used in jewelry for people, like 14k gold, sterling silver, fine silver, real stones and glass beads. I make a doll's jewelry at a scale appropriate to the size of the doll, quite a task at times, but achievable with effort and patience.