Two Axl Rose dolls

[grenouille78]

My girls love Axl Rose (of course their knowledge is based on music videos and what I choose to tell them. ha!). They think he's so cool. It started with the 5 yr old wearing a blue bandana 24/7 for a few weeks this past spring. Since then, we talk about Axl so much, he's practically a family member. Shortly after the bandana phase, the 5yr old drew an adorable little paper doll which she played with and slept with. Paper Axl had to have his limbs surgically reattached a few times (scotch tape) and got awfully crumpled. The forlorn little girl came to me this fall and said with sad little eyes, "I wish I could have a real Axl doll." Her 7 yr old sister heard that and piped up that she wanted one, too. In theoretical terms, I asked which outfits they preferred and the 5 yr old stated unequivocally that she likes the clothes he wears in the "Sweet Child" video. The 7 yr old went with "Paradise City."

The doll pattern is actually the Indian girl body from Joan Russell's Women's Day Book of Soft Toys and Dolls. The clothes are mostly Frankenpatterns I made with lots of trial and error! I worked on these dolls every day (in secret!) for six weeks and put the last touches on Christmas Eve! Taking it down to the wire! Whew. I set them in front of the tree and on Christmas morning, when the kids rushed downstairs, the girls caught one look at the dolls and went nuts. It was awesome!

Here are some pics (there are more pics and details on my blog).

Paradise City Axl


Sweet Child Axl sans leather jacket. I forgot to put it back on him.


Tiny tattooed arms before I attached them to the dolls.


I had to steam-straighten Axl's hair. Before on the left; after on the right. Any hint of curl on red hair was going to make him look like Little Orphan Annie!


The GNR logo on the back of the white jacket. It's about the size of a silver dollar so the pic is bigger than real life! haha
There were lots of other details that I had wanted to add (the chains on his boots, his bracelets, painting on the t-shirts...) but I just ran out of time. The girls don't seem to mind, though, so I think we'll call the dolls finished!

[loudxmouse]

What a GREAT, unique, fabulous gift!
Not sure why this got a mature rating 

[mrsflibble]

not sure on the mature either, but well done they're adorable!

[grenouille78]

Thanks! They were fun to do up until I thought I wasn't going to make it! lol

Yeah... I don't know what the deal with the mature rating is either... 

[Smmarrt]

Totally cute and so funny that your girls squealed with delight.
Great job and great details.

[Taramor]

Great dolls and cute story!

[Wulf]

I love the idea of the home-made Axl paper doll being lovingly taped back together again and again.

I think Craftster has gone all weird about "mature" images. There seem to be lots that get marked for no reason now. Maybe a glitch in the the photo upload utility?

Wulf

[skaborsk]

Ha! Those are so great. You did and awesome job. And i think your daughters' obsession with Axl is hilarious!

[TheMistressT]

These are faa-aaa-aan-adultcontentword-tastic! 

[grenouille78]

Thanks, peeps! Axl must just be too risque. haha

I love the idea of the home-made Axl paper doll being lovingly taped back together again and again.

I think Craftster has gone all weird about "mature" images. There seem to be lots that get marked for no reason now. Maybe a glitch in the the photo upload utility?

Wulf

Paper Axl is practically laminated now with all of the tape! lol

Ha! Those are so great. You did and awesome job. And i think your daughters' obsession with Axl is hilarious!

They crack me up! You should hear them sing! Even my 3 yr old son can recognize GNR songs within just a few seconds. Quite fittingly, his favorite is "Bad Obsession." HA!

These are faa-aaa-aan-adultcontentword-tastic!