Hawaiian Hula Dancer Portrait Art Doll

[EriChanHime]

This was my third cloth art doll (after Severus Snape - my learning doll, and Ted Raimi as Hank from "Lunatics: A Love Story"), and my first female doll, so I had to completely re-design her torso. Also, this happens to be a doll of me! I made her as a present for my mother while I was living in Japan (so around 2009), and she is dressed in a replica of a Hula costume I made for myself, using scraps of leftover fabrics from the project. I have been a Hula dancer since I was 9 years old, and I performed for some of my friends and students while I was in Japan, so I thought this was something my mother would love (she did).



I made her long lei from folded and gathered ribbon, her hei (head decoration) from small fake leaves that were sold for scrapbooking supplies, and her kupei (wrist and ankle ornaments) and smaller lei from small wooden beads that I thought resembled kukui nuts. She is dressed to perform Hula Kahiko, or old-style Hula dancing with chanting and gourd drums. The whole project was spread out over about a month, but I would estimate she took between 15-20 hours, especially since she has individually sewn in and tied strands of hair made from embroidery floss. Her face pattern was also redrawn to resemble me, specifically, and her hands are wired so she can pose. Her joints are all button-articulated.



And here's the photo of me in the original dance costume:

[kittykill]

Wow! She is amazing!

[PerfectlyBohemian]

She is SO awesome. I love cloth dolls. The clothing and accessories are so detailed! Such a wonderful piece and a fantastic present!

[craftylittlemonkey]

Very cool, that is an awesome gift to give your mom. Super significant with all those personal details.

[endymion]

That’s your avatar, right? Very cool! I’d been wondering if it was a doll you’d made to represent yourself. Do you have any other pictures that show the details? (And as a tip, if you crop your picture even a teensy bit, Craftster’s photo hosting won’t distort it.) Again, great doll!

[The Raging Sloth]

Looks fantastic and expertly made! I was wondering if you would post the one in your profile picture! 

[rackycoo]

Congrats! This has been chosen as a Featured Project!

[EriChanHime]

Thank you so much for the kind words kittykill, PerfectlyBohemian, craftylittlemonkey, and The Raging Sloth! Being able to share exciting and meaningful projects with people who understand that urge to create is so rewarding!

Thank you, endymion, yes! This is totally the doll from my avatar. Thank you so much for the photo tip; I will start trying that out. I DO plan to add more detailed photos, but the doll is at my parents’ house, so that has to wait till the next time I go home. I’ll also take photos of the me-doll I made for my Dad (she wears a kimono, since I lived in Japan!)--I'm thinking over the Easter weekend.

And thank you, rackycoo, for naming this a Featured Project!   I am absolutely blown away. I’ve not been on the board for too long, and already I am so tickled pink by the kindness, enthusiasm, and encouragement that this board promotes from people all over the world coming together to enjoy things they love together. THIS is how the internet should be! *heart*

[EriChanHime]

Updated project pictures have now been added to the original post. 

And here's the teaser for my next art doll post: Kimono Doll!

[kittykill]

OMG-that kimono doll!