Monday, May 14, 2012

LITTLE DONNER O'DELL

Donner O'Dell is finally ready for you to meet. This little boy is Dory O'Dell's  younger brother and should have been finished days ago but I kept putting off giving him hair. I couldn't make up my mind as to how I wanted to proceed with this part of him. I had originally thought to give him crepe wool hair like his sister but then I had to decide what color to give him. I'd been leaning towards blond but it wasn't set in stone even with his blond eyebrows and blue eyes. Then I had to decide how to style his do.  Should it be short or should it be longer? Was it going to be thin and straight or thick and curly. I'd almost decided on shading his scalp with paint and then giving him a few loose curls on top. Because I couldn't decide he sat patiently in the little rocker waiting for me to make up my mind.

Here's what I finally went with....



He has been given a short thin do with a side part, and he's blond like I thought he might be. I see he's been to visit Mrs. Claus because he has two of her gingerbread boy cookies in the pocket of his romper.



For days Donner sat on my work table wearing nothing but his socks and shoes and his white hoodie. I finally got around to designing and sewing him a blue denim romper and red knit
T-shirt for that patriotic look.

Here are some photos of Donner with his sister. Dory takes after their father in looks while Donner favors their mother. Dory is nearly 13 inches tall and little Donner is nearly an inch and a half shorter.






 

Both dolls have paper mache clay heads and both are wearing paper mache clay shoes. Their bodies are made of muslin with painted arms and legs. Their rompers are sewn from the same blue denim that was a work shirt in a former life. Both dolls have movable arms and legs and can stand on their own if carefully positioned. Their heads can be turned side to side.

Speaking of heads. They keep multiplying and I now have 19 heads sitting there giving me dirty looks. Making bodies and clothing should keep me busy and out of trouble for a very long time. Especially if the heads keep multiplying.

We've been having some unseasonably warm weather this past week and the forecast is for another day or two of this before it cools off. I couldn't resist taking a trip to the nursery for tomato, pepper and strawberry plants. What I really wanted to find was an Italian plum tree but can't seem to find one. I know they grow here because my brother-in-law's mother had one on her property so I'll keep looking.

My granddaughter Ariel who is going to school in Colorado will be here for a visit and should be getting here sometime tonight so I may not have much time in the next few days to visit your blogs but will catch up when I can.

Have a great week and as always thanks for stopping by.

Hugs,
Maddy

19 comments:

carmen said...

son encantadores!

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Maddyrose,

I sure hope Donner shared those cookies with his sister. Mrs. Claus will know if he didn't.....

Hugs
Prudence

Bren Graham Thebeau said...

It's always amazing to me to see your dolls come to life, each with such unique faces and features. Wonderful

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Yeah, Donner's got hair. I'm sure he was such a happy boy. And I love his outfit with the cookies and all. You are such a creative person. I never would have thought of the fact that he had visited with Mrs. Claus....but then I hadn't had a chance to visit with him yet.
Speaking of visits.....I hope you have a grand one with your grand Ariel.
Talk soon, Oma Linda

Crystal said...

Love your work! Then again I've told you that before...but I just have to say it again and again! :-)

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Maddy,
Oh, Donner must be SO happy now with hair,red-shirt,denim romper♡♡♡
And he's visited Mrs. Claus; I love the gingerbread boy cookies♪
Donner and Dory sounds really good siblings. You said Dory takes after their father in looks while Donner favors their mother. This is totally mirrors my childhood,haha.
You always amaze me with lots of wworks!

Please have a splendid time with your granddaughter Ariel♡♡♡

Lots of Love and Hugs to my bs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Ascension said...

Fantastico slos dos, una linda parejita.
Cuanto miden?
besitos ascension

Hill Top Post said...

So pleased to meet Little Donner...so adorable. But, nineteen heads...amazing! I am struggling with two! I know you will have a lovely visit with Ariel...love when my granddaughters visit!

Katy Cameron said...

Phew, so glad the poor boy is dressed and has hair now!

Have loads of fun with Ariel :o)

yoborobo said...

Anyone who likes cookies is okay by me! They are both charming! I hope you enjoy your visit! (Eat cookies!) xox

Kays Kids said...

I see he is quite happy with is hair do. His sister looks so good with him, congratulations.
hugs

Jan said...

They make a cute pair. I think you are making good use of your old denim shirts instead of making rugs out of them. Nice work!
I'm sitting here looking at my basket of bunnies from you. I intend to string them up one of these days and hang them like a banner. thanks again!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

They are so adorable! They have such sweet personalities...each one unique! Enjoy your visit with your precious granddaughter! Have fun!

Jody Wakefield studio said...

Cute!! I love that the dolls are paper mache, so neat.....

Hugs
Jody

Kayzy said...

How clever you are! They're both lovable characters, but I think Donner has sad eyes, and needs a hug, so give him one for me.
Kayzy

Maggie said...

I didn't know you posted Donner! He turned out perfect! I love the painted hair. His outfit is just too cute. Now Dorrie has someone to play with.
BTW, you should be able to find an Italian Plum tree. Also known as a Prune Plum. I had one in the yard of my last house, and those plums were SO good. Made wonderful pies!

Boo-Bah AKA Iris said...

Those gingerbread cookies look awfully good. I hope Donner shared with his sister.

Donner O'Dell and Dory O'Dell are really cute. I love so much seeing
all these wonderful things that you and others make.

Hugs
Iris

Leny said...

Sweet Dolls,look like real antique ones...

Have a great weekend,
Hugs,Leny

Anonymous said...

My sweet Maddyrose, Donner is just adorable and I love the choice for his hair. He looks quite dashing with that do.

Both he and Dory are amazing works. I am so impressed that you can take supplies and create dolls, clothes, hair. You can see I have no concept of this process. Well, I did attempt to make a Barbie skirt...I will not be showing it. ;-) Perhaps when I retire and have more time to spend on actually practicing such things I will try again. For now I work far too many hours with this full life.

Huge kudos on the origami. I understand that is another tricky thing to master. Hugs and kisses to you always, my wonderful friend. Mina