Scholastic Apptitude

I don't know why, but for a while now I have wanted a vintage letterman sweater. You know what I am talking about. With the right skirt you are suddently transformed into the captain of the cheerleading squad, or maybe dating the captain of the football team. The problem is that actual vintage letterman sweaters are fairly expensive.

So, of course I did the next best thing: I decided to make my own. I happen to have my own letter from high school, although I never had a jacket to put it on. Although my letter was for band and not for sports (yep, woodwind captain actually) I figured it would work. The only other thing I needed was one of those giant v-neck cardigan sweaters we all had in the 80's, and I would be set.

One of our local Goodwill stores happened to have this little beauty.

I dug out my letter from mom and dad's house over the holidays. I love that it says "woodwinds." There is absolutly no hiding the fact that I was a band nerd and not a cheerleader or a track star. I am, however, glad that my high school colors were pretty. Go Broncos!

I then just ran the sweater and letter through the sewing machine, and voila, a brand new "vintage" letterman sweater!

I think the only thing that might make this any better is if it said "math club."

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Slice of cake

I know it isn't exactly a paper doll, but this is another of my wedding cake toppers. There is something so glamorous about a Gibson girl. What man wouldn't want to marry her?

Only up from here

So, 2012 hasn't started out quite as I intended it to. After a fun few days spending Christmas with the family, we all ended up with a mysterious lingering sickness that knocked us all flat and left us drinking copious amounts of cold medicine and tea. Now that I am starting to feel human again, I decided that it is time for an update, and to let you all know about some of the things I have planned for the new year.

As I mentioned several weeks ago, I am currently working on a couple of book versions of my paper dolls. Some of the drawings you have been seeing over the past few weeks are going to be turned into a series of paper doll coloring books. Next, I will be doing a full color paper doll book, hopefully finished before the end of the year.

Next, for you hands on types, I am going to be offering some classes and workshops out of the studio. Soon I will be offering a paper doll workshop, for those of you that want to create your own paper dolls. And, because I hear from people all the time that they can't even draw a stick figure, I will be doing a stick figure class to teach you all the refined art of stick figure drawing.

And, as always, I am available to teach individual or group lessons in painting or drawing. Just email me for rates.

Finally, those of you who are on my mailing list know that up to this point my "monthly" mailings are far from regular. But, I have some new articles and ideas planned that I think you all will enjoy. It will no longer be just a list of show announcements, but will be packed with tips, stories, historical information, fun stuff, and things available only to newsletter subscribers. Plus, it will actually come out monthly! So, if you want to be a part of my mailing list, just click the link over in the right hand column.

Thank you all for your patience with me over the past couple of weeks. I hope your New Years was nothing like mine. I know it can only go up from here!
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Rolling my stockings down

Another glimpse at my little 20's paper doll girls. She is ready for a night on the town, stockings rolled down and arms on display.

Santa! I know him!

I totally saw Santa in the drive through of Starbucks this morning.

I am spending a few days in Atlanta with the family. One of my favorite things is seeing the joy on my two nephews' faces. I also like trying to put on all my gifts at one time. Love those traditions.

I hope you all have a wonderful and magical Christmas wherever you may be.

Smiling's my favorite

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

I spent the last couple of days finishing up the last of my super secret Christmas projects. In the midst of all that, there was not much paper doll making going on. But, the good news is, now that Christmas projects are done, the paper dolls are back in full force!

Here is a look at my 1920's paper dolls. The styling and cut of clothes during the 20's was so different than anything in other decades. Women went from the tightly corseted s-curved shape of the Victorian era, to the boyish figure and bobbed hair of the 20's. My favorite thing is that it became fashionable for young ladies to apply make-up in public.

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A little slice of cake

Some of you may remember when I painted a custom wedding cake topper for my friends Christina and Travis for their wedding. That piece got me thinking how fun it would be to make some paper doll wedding cake toppers. I have slowly been designing, cutting out, and painting a little collection of these toppers, and I wanted to go ahead and share one with you. I intend to have a wide variety of designs, and all the toppers can be customized to match your dress, colors, anything! I can even paint in your faces.

And, you will soon be able to order them on my new Etsy shop: A Toast, A Dance, and A Slice of Cake.

One last chance

Today is your last chance to take advantage of my Procrastinators Sale over on my Etsy shop. Just enter the coupon code SantaBaby for 25% off everything in the store. I am sure there is someone on your list who would love a paper doll (or a few) this Christmas. Go now!

Http://emilyclarke.etsy.com

Doubles Anyone?

Court's free.

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Paper Doll How To

I realized recently that I may be taking for granted that everyone understands the idea of a paper doll. And, for the most part that is true. All day long I have people (typically women) coming into the studio and sharing their memories of playing with paper dolls when they were younger.

 I have had to explain them to a number of small children (who look at me like I am crazy when I say that I played with paper as a child.) But I have also discovered that some people (mainly men) have absolutely no concept for what a paper doll is. 

So for those of you who have been wondering what in the world I have been talking about these past several months, and why I keep painting these headless figures, read on...

The concept of a paper doll is fairly simple. You have your paper doll figure (in the middle), dressed in her finest undergarments, plus an assortment of outfits, accessories, and hairstyles drawn in her same size and pose. It is like having the greatest closet ever, with everything already coordinated, accessorized, and ready to go.

And, just like for most real women, the difficult part is deciding what outfit to wear. (Another challenge with paper dolls is not accidentally cutting off the tabs or one of the doll's limbs when you are cutting her out. This is why I think the new magnetic "paper " dolls that come pre-cut are cheating. We had to work for our fun!)

After picking your dolls outfit, just line it up with the doll figure, fold the tabs back to hold the outfit in place, and, voila, she is ready for a night out on the town.

For you ladies out there who loved playing with paper dolls as much as I did, I hope this was a trip down memory lane. And for those of you who finally understand what it is I have been doing, you're welcome.

(And, a special thanks to August Vernon for making a few extra prints of my paper dolls so that I had plenty to cut out and play with all day in the name of blogging.)

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Helping in the Kitchen

Althought his wife was the cook in the family, Harold decided to give the little woman the night off and make dinner. Surely, if he could handle things in the business world, he could manage this, right? Now, what's that burning smell?

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At the Close of Day

There wasn't much Harold liked more at the end of a long day than a warm pair of slippers, a pipe, and his easy chair. That and a good ice cream sunday...

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Up at Bat

"Careers and higher education are leading to the masculinization of women, with enormously dangerous consequences to the home, the children, and our country. When our boys come home from war, what kind of girls will they be coming home to? And now the most disgusting example of this sexual confusion: Mr. Walter Harvey of Harvey bars is presenting us with women's baseball. Right here in Chicago, young girls plucked from their families are gathered at Harvey Field, to see which one of them can be the most masculine. Mr. Harvey, like your candy bars, you're completely... nuts." - A League of Their Own

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Daily Life

Now that the war was over, Bill was adjusting back to civilian life. At least the food was infinitely better at home.

Procrastinators Unite!

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I am one of those people who plans great gifts for her family members, but never gets around to buying/making them until the last minute.

So, for all of you who are like me, I am having a Procrastinators Sale on my Etsy shop. Just enter the coupon code SantaBaby for 25% off any of the paper dolls in my shop. Good today through this Saturday, December 17.

Http://EmilyClarke.etsy.com

I wish I was back in the army

Gary was proud of the service he performed for his country. And now he was glad of the woman he had left back at home.

Higher Education

Bill loved being in college. The sports, the friends, the freedom, even the classes were swell. And the women made for the most interesting study of all.

 

Flapper style

I have been researching 1920's fashions for another set of my paper doll drawings. The styles of this decade are so completely different from what I am used to with my 40's and 50's work. It has been fun diving into a different era for a time. Don't be surprised if I start wearing a cloche after this.

Equal opportunity

This one is for all of you who say I never include men in my work. I've given my 1940s paper doll woman a 1940s paper doll husband!

School Days

The school day would be dreadful if it weren't for the cute boy in front of her in English class. Too bad he only had eyes for the girl one row over. At least for now...

A Beautiful Sleep

There was no reason why one shouldn't be comfortable, and glamorous, while sleeping.

All in a Days Work

Betty clocked in for another day at the machine shop, knowing the boys were counting on her work. Besides, all this work was doing wonders for her figure.

In the Army Now

Dorothy decided to do her part while the boys were overseas. Besides, who could resist these uniforms?

Date night

Betty anxiously waited for Bobby to pick her up for their date. But the butterflies in her stomach would not keep her from this most important night.