Emily, Lizzie Borden, And Dolls In Progress

Wow! What a week or two I've had!
Seems like I haven't sat still once and I still have loads to do :)
Isn't it always the way when you want to settle down to do something important.

Well, Ok. Maybe dolls aren't the most important thing in the world, but they do always make me happy :)
I have somehow managed to get a lot done with my dolls, although it seems I've hardly picked up my needle. Emily and her dolly are finished and listed in my shop. And Lizzie Borden too. So here they both are for you to see.

Emily is a pretty, sweet little girl with a dark twisted heart. Murder and mystery surround her, but no-one ever believes that such a pretty little thing could be the cause.

It all started long ago when Emily was thought to have found her nurse-maid killed after what was thought to be an attempted robbery. Eight months later Emily’s mother was found to have died in her sleep after an apparently accidental arsenic overdose. And now her new step-mother has been found in the garden with her throat cut!
Emily’s farther is starting to suspect he may need some help with his strange little girl who doesn’t seem in the least upset that these events keep happening in her home.

Emily wears a pretty peach dress trimmed with white lace and ribbon, and has a full skirt and puff sleeves. Underneath she has traditional split crotch drawers worn under frilly lace legs to help hide her limbs. She has lots of lace trimmed petticoats to help hold her dress full. Her little doll has a lace trimmed white dress with pink ribbons, and behind her skirts she hides her favourite weapon – the knife she uses to cut her victims throats.

Lizzie Borden was accused of killing both her father and step-mother by repeatedly striking them with an axe. A terrible violent murder that caused a sensation throughout the country.

Lizzie was acquitted of the crime and chose to continue to reside Fall River, Massachusetts, but was ostracised by society. The case became so famous through the press that is even inspired a rhyme describing the event – Lizzie Borden took an axe / And gave her mother 40 whacks / When she saw what she had done / She gave her father 41.
No-one now knows who it was that killed Lizzie's parents in such a brutal manner, or even if she had in fact done it herself. There are many reasons why she or others might have been driven to do it, but I guess now we’ll never know.

Lizzie wears traditional white cotton underwear trimmed with lace and ribbon under her corset. Over a lace chemise covering her corset her cream silk blouse has a gathered front and fitted bodice, with a high neckline and puffy long sleeves with a row of pretty buttons fastening it down one side. Her tweedy grey skirt is tailored to fit her. And in one hand she carries a blood stained axe.

I've no idea why I choose to make two such violent bloody dolls right now but think the influence of Hubby's birthday doll might have something to do with it.
My Joker is all finished (apart from his playing card seat) and looking just as creepy as I first felt sitting up there on the bookcase. I'll have proper pictures of him soon to share with you, but want to use some vintage joker playing cards to make him something simple to sit on first before I take his portrait.

I've also managed to dress a small doll of Alice, and have sculpted her a White Rabbit in a waistcoat that I need to paint this weekend (as well as give poor Alice some hair). And have started on a Queen of Hearts ready for my next fair as well. You can see her here in her underwear and crinoline, but she's looking quite mad right now in a mad mix of red, cream and gold fabrics as I'm starting to plan out her dress.

Ok, so maybe I've done more than I thought I had :S !!!
I really want to get some new smaller dolls ready for the fair at Margam Orangery in July, but closer to the time I'll have received some of the wonderful wire lace from Linda for Beth and Cerridwen and I know I won't be able to resist getting back to work on them. I really can't wait to show you all these two very special dolls :)