South Devon, UK

Doll making groups often set challenge competitions on certain themes and sometime using certain fabrics or colours. Doll makers submit their dolls for judging to win prizes and rosettes

Sophie Goth
1st Prize Winner 2008

by Madeleine Sara
PATTERN AVAILABLE

 

Our Internet Group ClothdollmakersUK also set this 'Hot Flush Challenge' (above) in 2004. Entries from left to right by Linda Misa;  Myra Mylott & Teresa Maylon.

Our Internet Group set this Cushion Doll Challenge for 2005. This Challenge was inspired by a member’s encounter whilst trying to get local business to sell her cloth figures.  
She told us: ‘One gallery owner  said “fabric doesn't sell well in my shop; people just don't want to buy cushions.” I didn’t see the point of explaining to her the difference between a doll and a cushion and just left the shop’

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This comment sparked speculation on what a ‘cushion doll’ would look like and so the challenge competition was set.
Cushionella 1st prize winner 2005 
for group challenge set by ClothdollmakersUK   
Designed and made by Sara Maddocks  
PATTERN AVAILABLE

Cushion doll for me conjures up images of plump, soft, comforting, relaxing, zoftig (full-bosomed; having a full, shapely figure), flouncy billowing, puffs, folds, layers, sumptuous/opulent soft furnishing fabrics, tassel/ fringes/ piping/ bead/ ribbon embellishment. I also considered the different types and shapes of cushions and of course my colour scheme, which became red and gold. I felt that the ‘doll’ and ‘cushion’ should have equal emphasis, so I gave her a bust that looked like two cushions. I shaped the bottom of her body like a square cushion with tassels, resting on the cushion-bustle of her Marie Antoinette style skirt. Her arms were made to resemble combinations of round and bolster-shaped cushions, whilst her legs were made to resemble a combination of pretty, frilly square and bolster boudoir cushions. The whole effect was to look like a pile of cushions and yet look like a complete doll. Her hat gives her an almost Elizabethan flair. She is embellished with beads, fringes and trim.
Sara Maddocks

Indeed, many members had voted in a poll to say that they had joined the group, amongst other things, to take part in the challenges and swaps; learn; get feedback; see one another’s work; get tips and generally share information. 

As the group owner / moderator, I decided it was time to find out why there was such a huge discrepancy between those who said they’d like to take part and those who actually did. So in late 2007, I launched an interactive members poll. Several questions were posed and once the responses were collated, feedback was duly given, as follows: 

I don’t take part in the group Challenge Competitions because:

1. I am too busy to take part
   
   We are all members of the group because we enjoy making cloth figures. So it goes without saying that we would all take some hobby time for doll making, so why not a challenge doll? I am also a very busy person, but find such challenges broaden my knowledge, focus my skills and give me important feedback. Members are now given 3-4 months to complete their entries.
   
2. The challenge subjects have not interested me so far/DOESN’T FIT MY STYLE OF DOLL MAKING 
   
   Challenge is defined as: A test of one’s abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking.
   When presented with a challenge, I say to myself: How can I interpret the challenge brief within the style of doll I make? Then I brainstorm ideas for how I will make my cloth figure. It makes me think harder and be more imaginative & creative; it stimulates ideas and widens my personal resources. To achieve the goal and win the challenge I must step outside my craft comfort zone and stretch my abilities. In other words, I must rise to the challenge and in doing so, I learn so much along the way. Researching the topic may spark some ideas. Applying your mind to the challenge guidelines/brief stimulates creativity and encourages the development of skills that can turn a maker into a designer by trying techniques you’ve perhaps never tried before. Also, there is no reason why members cannot suggest a future challenge topic for their group, which best suits their style of cloth figure. 
   
3. I find challenges daunting and scary; I feel my entry wouldn’t be good enough
   
   Yes, I have found such challenges scary in the past, because they make you step outside of your comfort zone. This may make you uncomfortable, but that means you are stretching yourself, especially if you try something you’ve never done before. Putting your work on the line to be critiqued by others is a big step. We can only learn so much from observing and listening. There is no substitute for actually having a go ourselves. I overcame my fears by having a go just for me. Then I only needed to enter if I was happy with the results. I found this approach helped to broaden my knowledge and focus my skills and receive important feedback from which to mature as a cloth figure artist. After all, identifying your fears, personal limits and boundaries is the first step towards conquering them. 
   
   It is said that: If you do what you always did, you’ll likely get what you always got! What better way of challenging yourself and expanding your skills than by participating in a group competition? It is likely to be incredibly personally rewarding, even if your creation does not win the vote, because you know you have achieved a personal goal and surely that is worth celebrating? Of course another plus is that you are supporting your group and keeping the flow of ideas and chat going. I am happy to say that since our poll, more members are taking part in the challenges, which is brilliant!

   “I almost didn't enter, as the subject wasn't really my thing, but then I thought that really would be a challenge!”

   “It wasn’t really a doll I would have chosen to make, although I DID enjoy creating her enormously”.

   “When the challenge was announced I was fully determined not to enter. It didn't suit the style and age of my dolls, but after doing some research and talking to others, I realised that there was another style I could interpret under the same theme, so I decided to have a go”.

   Challenge Competition Voting Categories

   Beginner: Those who are still learning many techniques and need to follow instructions and direction to complete a cloth doll. 

   Intermediate: Someone who has good sewing skills, is still working through techniques, but has many skills already mastered and can mostly proceed on their own without step by step directions for every skill. 

   Advanced: Someone who has mastered those skills they wish to use for their doll making. They can usually look at a pattern and pretty much know what to do without reading it step by step, unless there is something really different about the doll. Many in this category are designers themselves. If you sell your work or design your own patterns, you are automatically considered to be in this category.
   

Doll swaps involve the making and exchange of dolls between pairs of doll makers only.

I took part in a private swap with the talented Sue Gibson. 

 The swap figure she made for me, was based on the poem 'Warning' by Jenny Joseph.

I swapped her for my  1970's hippy with textile classical guitar. Designed & made by Madeleine Sara Maddocks

Swaps Members of doll groups often like to make and exchange dolls that relate to certain themes of types of doll. One member will act as the contact person and co-ordinate the swap as Swap Coordinator.

They are then partnered with another swap participant so that they can begin the sharing and making process.

Information such as sign up and mailing dates, skill level preference, type of swap and whether a special pattern is to be used will all have been agreed at the beginning.

Participants are encouraged to keep in contact via letter or email to learn more about one another and enjoy sharing the paired swap experience.

So what makes a successful Swap?

• Participants should not enter into a swap-pairing unless they know for certain that they are prepared to commit and get the doll completed and posted on time or near to the time deadline. Whilst life gets in the way sometimes, you must remember that you have entered into an agreement and you should not let down your swap partner.
  

• Keep in touch with your swap partner. Get to know them and what they like. 
  

• If they are into animal character dolls or baby dolls and you are not, then you might get a shock when your expectations are shattered, so make it clear which types of doll you both like.
  

• If you do not smoke and they do, this can make receiving a doll unpleasant for the non-smoker.
  

• If you haven't heard from them and you feel you hardly know them, then you may end up being disappointed, so NEVER SEND OUT A DOLL until you feel you know that your swap partner is committed and reliable. 
  

• Once you are both ready to send your completed swap dolls, then agree on a date of posting and send them off. If it is possible, arrange to meet them; that way you can make good friends along the way.
  

• Dolls can get lost or ruined - pack them carefully, within a box, with bubble wrap or tissue. Also, en sure they are in a waterproof mail envelope. 

SUCCESSFUL SWAPS depend on the enthusiasm, abilities & commitment of participants.

Another type of swap which is increasing in popularity known as Round Robins involves groups of doll makers who would, over a period of several months work on each others dolls.

The rules: The dolls can be made from any pattern/textile material.

To the first name on their list, each doll maker sends off:

• an unfinished cloth doll or parts of a doll

• the doll's diary or journal

• disposable camera containing photos of the doll's making journey so far.

In this way it is possible to record the doll's transformation as it travels and alters. Each doll maker can add as much or as little as possible before sending it on to the next doll maker. Each doll maker waits to receive the next partially completed doll, to work on, until the seventh month when your own doll is returned to you, changed out of all recognition!

The fun of this type of swap is seeing the contributions of other doll makers to each and every doll that arrives on your doorstep over the next few months, adding your own contributions and receiving your completely transformed doll at the end of the period.

Have a look at 'Friends of Cloth Dolls' site if you fancy taking part in one. http://thedollnet.com/friends/index.html