DIVA IN PROGRESS

I STARTED WORKING ON A NEW "CANDLESTICK DIVA" DOLL TO TAKE TO THE "GALA" DOLL CONFERENCE IN OHIO (I'M TEACHING THERE IN 2 WEEKS).

I DON'T START WITH ANY SPECIFIC IDEAS WHEN DESIGNING THE "DIVA" DOLLS. MOSTLY, IT EVOLVES FROM THE CANDLESTICK, FABRIC & TRIM I HAVE AVAILABLE. THIS ONE STARTED WITH A BASIC COLOR SCHEME (RED EMBOSSED VELVET W/ GOLD ACCENTS) AND A PERIOD SILHOUETTE (FITTED BODICE WITH 2-PART SLEEVES AND CENTER ACCENT).

HERE SHE IS AFTER I'VE ATTACHED THE ARMS. (I TRY TO FINISH AS MUCH OF THE SLEEVES & HANDS BEFORE STITCHING THE ARMS TO THE TORSO):

I CUT THE UPPER SLEEVES EXTRA LARGE, AND WHEN I PINNED THEM ON, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. THE LARGE PUFFY SLEEVE AND THE RICH RED VELVET-- IT REMINDED ME OF A RENAISSANCE SILHOUETTE. SO, THAT INSPIRED THE GOLD LACE COLLAR AND THE FOCUS ON THE CENTER TRIANGLE:

MORE SPECIFICITY, THIS LOOK REMINDED ME OF A FAMOUS RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT I RESEARCHED BACK IN COLLEGE WHILE DESIGNING A SHAKESPEARE PLAY-- "PORTRAIT OF A LADY..." BY LORENZO LOTTO:

WHICH ALSO REMINDED ME HOW THIS PAINTING INSPIRED ONE OF THE COSTUMES (the fabulous & striking) ELIZABETH TAYLOR WORE IN FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI'S "TAMING OF THE SHREW" (A FAVORITE FILM OF MINE):

FUNNY HOW THE MIND WORKS -- HOW YOU CONNECT AND ASSOCIATE ONE THING TO ANOTHER?

SO, NOW I HAVE A DEFINITE CONCEPT AND VISION FOR THE NEW DOLL -- AND HER NAME: "RENAISSANCE DIVA".

I'LL POST MORE WHEN SHE'S FINISHED.