At Home Challenge #8

With out a doubt this has been the most challenging exercise yet for me. Most who know me, know me for my costuming and fantasy. The Fashion Royalty girls are very realistic and sophisticated and want real looking detail clothing. The doll has very large breast and a tiny waist so fitting her was a night mare, for me.
The challenge was to create a center piece garment in a new collection for the FR line. With the Designers point of view – not Jason’s (who is the dolls creator) but ours!
The collection is call “joie de vivre” or the Joy of Life. With the centerpiece set titled:”Clair de Lune” or Moonlight.
I have completely OVER thought this challenge to the point of madness and not wanting do anything AT ALL. But I started this journey and I am going to complete it.

(this is the truest color of the fabric)

My first thoughts were Joy.... what makes me happy...or joyous.. my kids.. well that wont work! Ahhhh... yes... leisure time... vacations so my thoughts turned to how I could fit that into my FR challenge.
I am thinking a cruise.. Romantic moon light strolls on the deck with the blue Caribbean water reflecting the moon. I pursued for about a week the idea of a sporty white outfit with accents in Caribbean blue... I imagined the ocean breeze blowing across the model with her scarf blowing freely. This took on a simple nautical feeling in white and blue. My first idea was to create a dress with pleats all in white very full to blow freely like the scarf. So I drafted the pattern and began my execution. This doll is hard to fit.. I had to abandon my design I could not get her to look good in it or fit this design well. After all that pleating on white fabric I dumped it! White was wrong anyway I lamented to myself. Joyous but no moonlight... hmmmmmmm....

I had found some delightful print Caribbean blue sheer fabric for my scarf. It is yummmmy.... nice hand and flows well. The color will read very blue not black yet strong and dark. Ok, back to my thoughts ... romantic stroll on the deck of a cruise ship.... Somthing smple and elegant, I know how impossible it is to create a ruffle on a doll this size to look good but the design in my head called for just that. That meant I was going to have to “Natizi” my fabric to do my bidding.

The thing I have most enjoyed about the Dollway journey has been that I am stretching myself as a doll designer. I am trying new stuff each challenge that I may not have before. I have been manipulating the fabrics with my steam iron on almost every challenge so I have dubbed my manipulation as “Natizied”. Dum I know...

I spent the best part of the week end working on this dress I DO NOT want to carry this over to the holidays and scurry around before the deadline to finish.

After Christmas:
OK.. I know I said it but... it did not happen. So I am scurrying around trying to finish before the dead line. I can say she is MOSTLY done ..yea...
I did complete my design on time. But I am afraid all I did was what I jokingly dubbed to my doll friends as a “Pretty Dress”. And I do believe that it is Just a pretty dress. only I can understand the relationship to the challenge.
I have to say also that this doll was hard to pose, for her photo shoot, she is loose and would not cooperate with my manipulations. She is also a wigged doll and I fussed a lot with keeping it on her head and could not make a decision on which wig to use.
I think I made this challenge far harder than it had to be. It took me more time than any yet and I was not satisfied with the result.. So in the end I stand by my challenge solution as just a “Pretty Dress”.

Congrats to my Doll buddie Dal.. for winning this At Home Challenge. Her dress was stunning.

Also my buddie Dot, congratulations! This is your best work yet!!! I am very proud of your perseverance. Keep on trying!!!

Dollie-ON,
Durelle

Fashion Royalty Challenge

This challenges #7 was to create a centerpiece garment in a new collection for the FR line, with the Designers point of view – not Jason’s (who is the dolls creator) but ours! The collection is call “Joie de Vivre” or the Joy of Life. With the centerpiece set titled :”Clair de Lune” or Moonlight. The contest is getting slim now only 6 designers this time. Andrea had a well deserved win with this beautify executed and well designed dress. She also won the popular vote. YEA!!! My pick as well. You will love her blog she is so creative and shares her process of creating. She also has a cute video .

http://andreajaques.blogspot.com/

I am no longer going to review the garment entries. With only a few remaining contestants it is just not fair any more to judge them. They are all wonderful. I will post only my top pics of the challenge, which were Andrea, and Brenda. And for the readership who are not connected with PDW I will post the contestant who was eliminated.

This week we have to say good bye to Debbie. An amazing and wonderful designer, whom I figured would finish in the top three. Good-bye friend and congratulations on coming this far!

http://debbie-frenchdressing.blogspot.com/

Here are the remaining contestants in no particular order along with their blog, which I recommend for excellent information on their creations.

http://leighslaughter.blogspot.com/

http://judithmarkich.blogspot.com/

http://900dreamstreet.blogspot.com/

http://900dreamstreet.50megs.com/photo6.html

http://magia2000.blogspot.com/

"I am ready for my close up now......"

“Sunset Boulevard”

Gloria Swanson

as

Norma Desmond

(photo courtesy of TED - thanks)

WOW... I am overwhelmed.. I won a second challenge! And this was a really hard challenge. Thank-you TED and Alexandria.

Truth is this is a design idea I have wanted to revisit for quite a while. I also was not interested in doing the challenge exactly by all the guidelines (doll) this time, because in the end I wanted to have a beautiful doll. I started a cocoon coat a few years back and lost interest in doing it when a new challenge presented itself. So when I told a coworker about this challenge she suggested “Sunset Boulevard” I snapped up that suggestion knowing it would give me another chance to play with that design idea again. When I first attempted (years ago) to do this design my fabric choice was just too heavy + my intention was to douche it in fur which made it sooo bulky. But now I have a chance to rethink and redesign. I tore my doll room apart to find the old project but I must have dumped it ..Luckily TED was gratuitous enough to give us the challenge early to research I was able to design and sew on my day off (Sunday). The biggest part of that day was designing the cocoon coat. Knowing the one I did before was a failure I could take some short cuts I would not have normally. Luckily the first mockup I made looked perfect and my test was out of some odd silk I had so I have a coat to spare, which I gave to Dot. I only had to tweak the hem line to get some additional drama I was looking for.
Early on I knew I was not going to use the Alex doll even though I had one. She is not articulated. I am so spoiled now I will not do a big doll with out actuation. I also knew to get the dramatic stance I wanted to project the character the doll would have to be articulated. I love this period in textile design but to get the really drapey effect on a small doll is not an easy task. So off I go on Monday’s lunch break to find silk georgette. No luck. So back to my fabric stashes...I did find the fabric I had for my original project and hoped I could get it to do my bidding.
I draped the dress mostly on the doll with out a pattern. The skirt is simply 3 half circles with an inset of silk down the front. After attaching the skirt it was not draping happily for me. So my next step was to my happy Rowenta Iron.
With pins and steam I stretched the bias of the skirt and created lots of little pleats. When complete I was thrilled for the skirt contentedly snugged into the body of the doll for the silhouette I was hoping for. One thing I have been thankful for doing PDW is that I have been doing a lot of experiments due to time restraints. Lucky for me experiments like this one has been successful and has added tools to my sewing arsenal.

Another truth about this doll is she is NOT finished. This doll “Screams” for beading and it is my intention to go back and add a lot of beading detail. Jim Farone has ask me to donate an OOAK for the Live Auction benefiting Children with Aids at this summers IFDC. This is the doll that I will be donating.

There were some questions on the group about where I got the cigarette the doll holds. Well I made it and it was so easy any one can do this. I used a round Tooth pick and cut off one pointy end.
I always keep black nail polish in my doll craft cart It comes in very handy for soooo many doll projects you would not believe. I painted the whole tooth pick black and when it dried I simply dipped the end of it in the bottle of white paint to what I thought would be a good size for a cigarette. When that dried I dipped just the end into a puddle of gold paint.
Sooooooo easy...right?

Dollie-ON,

Durelle

Alex challenge.... aye aye aye,,,,

http://www.projectdollway.com/Alex%20Challenge%20Runway.html

My #1 pick this week is Brenda... I am so proud to give her “MY#1” position. When the thumbnails came up on my computer screen and all the designs were revealed on one page I was immediately struck by the silhouette and colors of her design without ever looking at who, what, when or where. This is a treasure in the design mix. What I have admired about Brenda from day one of this competition is that, she is 'True to Herself' and her design style. She found the perfect movie and character to suite her style and created a dramatic and beautiful solution. Bravo Brenda...yea!!!

Another in my top 3 was Debbie... again.. She accepted the challenge and solved the puzzle. The sheer poke-a-dots were delightful and I loved the short gloves and pearls. I love the way Debbie has her design styled on her blog. And I agree “Why oh why would Ted not choose to use an articulated doll over the straight arms?” The white collar and full skirt on this dress speak “ICON” to me and very 50” But I saw no need for the ribbon shawl. http://debbie-frenchdressing.blogspot.com/

Always in my top 3 is Judith. This week I am a little worried that the dress has come off as a period piece and not as contemporary as the movie. BUT.... WOW.....the FIT...! the COLOR...! The DETAIL.. The jewelry is perfection. How can you not love it. Again on her blog the garments styling is a much better representative of her design concept than the runway show. Great job Judith!
Thank you designers who have blogs I adore reading your blogs on how you solved the design challenges and how your garment were intended to be styled. http://judithmarkich.blogspot.com/

I very much miss Kimberly . I would have loved to see what she would have done. Kimberly, the quality and style of your work was missed this week.


Once again let me say I mean no harsh feelings and I am offering my opinion only as a means of a constructive critique.I welcome critique myself. If all the feed back these designers get is just “PRETTY DOLL” then how can they grow. After all the theory of “Project Dollway” is to find the best! I respect the pressure these designers were under to complete this REALLY tough challenge! The research alone is staggering in a historical respect. Very hard challenge indeed I am having a hard time putting into words what I am thinking. For I have to admit that I was disappointed with the over all work on this challenge.
The sky was the limit as far as choices, Yet the creativity was lacking. I felt like some of the designers were still stuck on the “Over scale” challenge earlier Laces, trim and accent elements clearly out of scale... For the most part the fit was very poor. I think obviously these designers are much more adept in ready to wear than costuming. For it is clear they were out of their element.

Although a stunning costume and silhouette M &G’s “Hello Dolly” was still a miss for me. The swag overlay in front was bulky and fat - the folds did not hang well. A brilliant Designer friend, Judy once gave me a tip on doing this. She cuts a swag on a bias and hangs it wet... to “FIND” its folds... this is what I am missing here.. The swag on the front is bubbling out and distorting the look of the garment. The Dress is well made and a beautiful color but not period correct.

Andrea... oh my. wonderful idea and almost period correct. The details on the bodice are wonderful and very graphic and your accessories are fantastic, Thanks for showing us your under wear on your blog...hehe I liked the hat better on you blog too On the runway show I did not like it.
But the big mistake was the lace it is way over scale and due to the major color contrast causes it appear even bigger. I could not take my eyes off of it, and not in a good way.
http://andreajaques.blogspot.com/

Leigh’s “Blade Runner”.....OK you get Kudos for being original in your movie selection. But the design is blah.. and leaves me thinking .. is that all... take me somewhere... give me the future... give me color... (black is not so great in a competition like this. it is not eye catching or exciting and you loose the all detail of the design. I am not saying that black is wrong for this movie. But you could have chosen a movie that Rocked.. of ICON dress!

That just leaves Brandon’s “Titanic”.. Nice ideas and the color scheme and fabrics were clever. But in the end the fit was poor.. this is my #1 criteria for good design.. FIT...is crucial. This dress did not fit and the button details were sloppy. The neck line seemed too plain for all of the detail elsewhere. It needed some steaming which was not your fault. As far as period correct... hmmm not completely.

Susie in "Germany"

"Edelweiss"

Not much commentary to share here this time. I just jumped on my first idea (which is odd for me) and ran with it. We only had one week to come up with the finial design. I read the challenge out line at work Monday morning. I took out my sketch pad and dashed out my ideas and thoughts. When it came time for lunch I jumped in my car and drove to Johannes to make sure I could get the very important trim needed to make this design happen. Sure enough there is was “EXACTLY” what I wanted even the colors I envisioned. Grabbed it and took off with out any hesitation. Yahooooooo.... When I got home from work I was off and running. Got the outfit started that night.
Next day when I got home my doll buddy Beth, out of the blue had overnight ed to me her Susie...sooo thought full I never even ask I was just going to use a Barbie. (Thank you BETH) And as luck would have it she was a blond, perfect!!! Tuesday night I fitted the outfit to Susie and almost finished it. I took it to work Wednesday morning and bounced some details I had in mind off of some of the other designers. And that night she was finished....... her hair and all!!
I always love to share a few hints that I discover along the design “Trail” and this week I have a very simple solution to a common problem. I use one of my black trouser socks to make the knee high sock for Susie.. The lyrica in the socks was perfect and already washed many times so no need to worry about the black dye getting on the doll. Even cutting it off did not require any hems. So use this tip or not but I think it worked out great with very little effort.
Here she is .....she did not win but she got great feed back on the group and most like her very much.

~ENJOY~

auf Wiedersehen

#5 The Susie Challenge

The challenge concept:
Take Susie any where in the world and dress her in a contemporary outfit inspired by the local fashion, fabric and traditional dress. She must look contemporary but the local color must be obvious and reasonability authentic.
http://www.projectdollway.com/Susie%20Challenge%20Runway.html

Gee wiz.. this was a fun challenge to see. I am amazed at how wonderful each and every outfit was. The designers really did well on this one. It is going to be hard for he judges to pick a winner. Oh to pick my winner.. Again I am torn as to the clear winner for me..
But top 3 in no order or preference.......ARE

At first glance of the runway show I was in ahwww of Debbie’s London design. It is so tailored and so crisp. Love – love - love the plaid, (great colors) it is tough to get a plaid to work on any small doll but Debbie did it with ease here. The pleating details were awesome and the Eisenhower style jacket was wonderful and a good solution to this small doll. All of the jacket details were scaled perfectly. And ...OH that purse....yummmy..... So cute.. Love it! Loose the hat did not need it. Congratulations ... wonderful results.
http://debbie-frenchdressing.blogspot.com/


Oh Judith’s Greece .. so fresh and fun... you never disappoint us! I can see exactly where your design elements came from. Your research paid off and how you transposed it into street wear for a young girl is perfect. Your design was very detailed and those shoes... did you make them? Adorable. The styling on this doll is so much fun I can see this young traveler out on the streets of Greece with that cute tote taking in the sites. Great job....
http://judithmarkich.blogspot.com/

Another favorite of mine in this challenge was Kimberly’s India. Very simple idea with a lot of very difficult fabrication all done perfectly, one being the pants legs. The detailing is so lovely at the ankle, very striking. I loved the fabric choice here too, a very molded pink. This design was edited perfectly – in this case less is MORE. And with a perfect fit. Thank goodness you kept it simple that is the success of the design. I wish I could see that little hand bag.. Bet it is cute too. I read you were disappointed with the styling of the sari but in my opinion it did not negate the quality of the design. . Well done.. Good luck.
http://boxpleat.blogspot.com/

Karen has really stepped up her game these last 2 rounds I was disappointed that she got the lowest score last round. That was a wonderful design however the judges deemed that it did not follow the out line of the challenge. Sorry Karen. But with that said this round was great and did follow the out line of the challenge. Scotland... ..ah yes, here we go - plaid... yea-good scale for the element you used it on. Plaid is hard; I know caz I am on my own search for a plaid to use on a contest doll I am planning. I would have liked to have seen a crisper pleat on the skirt but the styling did created a youthful and fun feeling. The hat did not do much for the overall design and I felt it was unnecessary. I wish I could see that sporen/purse in detail it was just so clever and appropriate. Good luck and I hope we do not see you go this week. You have done a wonderful job.
http://wwwkolkmankreations.blogspot.com/

Brenda’s Japan..... I am always a sucker for anything Asian. I did like this dress The colors, although not really what I think of as Japan, were bright and happy and claimed an intensity to the design My best description of this outfit would probably be “Quirky” The Asian elements lend themselves well to defining this garment’s country. As far as street wear I do not think the sleeves would work but I personally like them they are fun and I adore how the juxtaposition of colors in the lining and face are done. The stylized Obie is adorable. Why a pink purse?
http://900dreamstreet.blogspot.com/


Andrea’s London ...another winning design. I have to say I appreciated her design much more after reading her blog and seeing her entertaining video.
From the runway show I did not know how many layers she had created. I also did not know that the Jacket was short and she had an attached waist band in red on the skirt. With the jacket open and relaxed this design was a lot more youthful and street worthy. I hope the judges got to see her original vision as she planed it, because I felt the runway made the jacket appear too bulky and stodgy. It gave Susie the appearance of a bell hop. Again, as with all the designs a hat is just wrong for this doll. I know from Andrea’s blog what she was thinking but it read as a pillbox hat on the runway. I love her blog I adore seeing her research process and I have thanked her for slicing open her brain so we can see in.Good job Andrea!
http://www.andreajaques.blogspot.com/

Leigh’s Native American... Dot and I both ooooooed and ahhhhed at this one when it came up. I bet you knitted that sweater... clever you. The colors were so bright and clear. The simple detail on the shirt was very representative of the concept. This was a very youthful and street worthy design, which grasped the challenge extremely well. Boots were cute too.. I now know how heard it is to find shoes for this girl. Nice design and a good casual feeling. Not my favorite but very well done.
http://leighslaughter.blogspot.com/


Brandon’s Paris.... I am surprised more designers did not do this city. Great job... it is such a sweet design but I don’t think the colors say “Paris” to me. I miss the color PINK... to me Paris is Pink (I know that is just me a little coo-koo but ..)
The little jacket is lovely and I like it styled open. The legging and flats are oh-so Parisian.. and the little skirt is cute and short. All very street worthy and wearable I can see any young girl in Paris wearing this... just need an accent color that says Paris... ...
http://www.wickedstitcherypd.blogspot.com/


That just leaves Mario and Gianni’s Spain. This is the only disappointing design in the runway show today. It is the only one that I had to question ...”Now where am I, what county am I in?” I love these guys and they are always spot on. But this was a miss for me... OK..I know you guys are throwing your mouse controllers at me now, but I feel like if I am going to do an honest unbiased review I have to say it. I just did not get it. Maybe it is a Euro thing but it was over designed and bulky. And way too much detail too much trim for this doll. The little lace in the hair.. hmmmm? You guys usually blow me away you are great doll designers but this one .. a miss.
http://magia2000.blogspot.com/

With that said Mario and Gianni are still in my “OVER ALL” top 4 picks to win this competition along with Judith, Debbie and Kimberly.

This “Project Dollway” has been such fun to see and participating in the “At Home” challenges has enhanced it even more for me. Once again thank you TED for the dolly fun.