One of the big myths of costume history is that children were dressed like adults, but in miniature. While this is sort of true, I have yet to see a decade where there is not some, however slight, difference between children’s and adults clothing. The differences are often subtle and children were considered adults at a much younger age than we consider children adults today.
This is all by way of saying that I really wanted to make sure this fluffy dress (which has NO historical accuracy about it at all) felt like a child’s dress and not an adult’s dress. I think of the Poppets as between 8 and 10 years of age and I really hate it when I see child dolls dressed like adults, especially in historical outfits or psuedo-historical outfits.
So, to maintain the principle, I’ve shortened the skirts of her fluffy dress. See.. I have some principles (not a lot of them… but I digress.)
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Actually, I’ve been thinking about principle’s lately. If you read Liana’s interview from Friday (and if you haven’t than you really should), she talks a lot about the problems of paper doll poses and the complications of paper doll design. I think about these things when I design a paper doll as well, but I also find I think a lot about the principle of correctness. I made this principle up by the way, but for me I think it’s about the correct outfit for the correct paper doll at the correct time.
By my nature, I am scattershot personality. I tend to work on something in the grip of interest, give it up when I get bored, and then move onto something else. Paper doll designs, projects, work endevaors, whatever, all become mixed about in the messy world I exist in. If I’m reading up on women’s publishing, than somehow this filters into everything else I do. I am very envious of people who can have firm divisions in their heads between project A and project B, but I’ve never been wired that way. This means my paper dolls tend to be schizophrenic. Astronauts to mermaids all have happened over the years. I think this is sometimes the charm of PTP, but I also fear it’s a bad thing. I find I envy people like Boots who commit to a theme and then stick to it.
I can not imagine trying to limit myself like that.
bloomers! (or more correctly: pantalettes!) love it!
: D
your musings on principals is interesting; i sometimes get after myself about how generally sloppy i am with my work (i take an “it’ll do” attitude because otherwise it won’t get done).
that said, themes are great if you need a certain kind of cohesion or structure in your projects (and i really do if i hope to get anything accomplished). the themes i’ve picked also give me a pretty wide range to play in within the scope of my specific (and perhaps idiosyncratic) interests. i adored Liana’s paper doll blogging to the Oscars events of the past because i loved seeing all those gowns rendered, but i have no interest in doing something like that myself.
also, i enjoy the freedom with which YOU go in any direction with any doll at any time (my brain won’t work that way; i would implode). awesomely, i get to revel in the thrill of all that energy and creativity by visiting your blog!
so as they say, “vive la différence!”
It’s not that I plan on ever being less random… (like right now I’m working on anthropomorphic cat paper doll, doing research for a 1950s period set and working on an updated version of Lady of the Manor), but I sometimes admire people who can choose a subject or a long term project and stick with it.
Lady of the Manor! She is one of my favorites to color. I had six different versions before my last computer went “pft”.
And I like how “random” your posts can get. It just means that even if someone didn’t care for one day’s outfits (colors, themes, etc.) they know that the next time they come back you’ll have something completely different up that they will enjoy. Randomness can also be exciting.
Yeah… though I just finished penciling the doll and have decided I HATE it, so that one might need to get put on the back burner for a while as I try to figure out how to get a decent looking doll done.
Boots sums it up nicely! I love the randomness and spontaneity of your dolls. Mine at very formulaic and that’s exactly what I wanted. Your themes (and Liana’s and boot’s, etc) push me to explore outside of my comfort zone. Keep it up! I love every quirky new set!
I don’t think your work is formulaic. Serial paper dolls, by their nature, can begin to look similar.
I really enjoy the variety of your dolls!
Thank you.
I love this one. I think the ruffles are really cute and I also enjoy all the different styles of dolls you do. Keep them up.
Thank you.
I am a grown-up geek chick and I’m HOOKED on your paper dolls. It is so nice to see such diversity with your paper dolls, and Monica is my favorite. I’d love to see her in various Lolita styles as well as Victorian and goth styles.
She’s one of the newer paper dolls, so she’s slowly getting caught up with the others. Monica can, however, share any of the clothing of any of the other Marisole Monday & Friend’s girls. That’s part of why I make them all interchangeable. 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoy the paper dolls.