new portrait, new style

[alicelovester]

That is amazing. Any tips on making one myself?

[sushimifune]

Amazing! You have a lot of patience and care for the details!!!

[krajackex]

Her likeness is all-out amazing.  Fabulous.  I'd love to see more, when you've got a larger portfolio.

[catherineblack]

Stunning! I love the detail in the eyes.

[FIFI]

You are so incredibly talented! This is simply amazing.
Fifi

[devilninny]

custom ones would be big money!

[LuluB]

Is that all embroidery and felt?  How did you get all of those amazing textures in the mouth and skin?

yes.  the textures in the skin come from the felt itself, it's not a solid flesh tone but rather has a silght mottled effect.  i also used the old doll makers trick and added some blusher to the cheeks so that it didn't look so flat.  as for the mouth, that's all embroidery.  i used 3 different shades of floss to get the depth and the glossy look that the original picture had.

now for the other questions (i'd quote them too but i'm html dumb, especially in the morning):
GhostAcademy: you sound like a stalker, but in the best way possible!

amybaby:  the piece is about 9" x 6"

alicelovester:  tips. . . well, it's a bit hard because a lot of it i make up as i go along.
i make the pattern like i make all of my embroidery patterns. tracing the source image several times, simplifying as i go.  i don't like too much detail in my pattern, i prefer to have the freedom to add things as i go, feeling out the piece.  so i have the basic patter with all the features, then i make seperate patterns for the background, face, eyes, and hair.  I then iron on the patterns to the felt and cut them out.  i do all the detail work on the face before i applique it onto the background. after i appliqued the face i added the hair piece and then just went to work on the embroidery, feeling it out as i went.  i started with a floss darker than the felt i used, then  one the same shade, then one about 2 shades lighter.  when i was done i added it all to a piece of black felt for a finished look. 
my biggest tip would be accept that the felt will stretch as you're working and the perfect square you cut will find it's own shape as you work.  also, don't use a hoop. once you're finished stitching, use a steam iron and all the puckers and wrinkles will flatten right out.

that might all seem a bit confusing, but i hope it helps,
erika

[706Designs]

Erika it looks great, as does everything you make.

BTW, Happy Birthday.

[Chelsea]

Amazing. I love the detail.  I thought the lips were made with shiny vinyl at first

[la_chrystelle]

amazing!