Doll Repairs

 Well, inadvertently I have now embarked on the mysterious world of doll repairs.  It’s a bit of a long story but anyway, I acquired a half completed porcelain doll without legs or hair.  I have absolutely nil experience in doll making or doll repairs, but she is such a beauty that I knew I had to try.  

She has a soft body and porcelain face, chest, arms and legs.  After viewing many videos on utube to find out how these dolls are actually made, it became clear that the attaching of porcelain legs to the soft body is actually done before the head is attached.  You turn the body inside out, attach the legs with wire or string on the wrong side and then turn the body right way round so the method of attachment, i.e. wire/string is invisible and there is a neat join between porcelain and fabric.

Ok… so a bit of a hurdle, but I’m always up for a challenge!  

I could go one of three ways:-

1. Remove head, stuffing, arms and start again with inside out body attaching to legs;

2. Leave her legless and hope no one would notice;

3.  Try to fit the legs on with the method of attachment perhaps more visible.

Well, 1 and 2 were out, number 1 because I would probably wreck the doll in trying, and 2 even if no one else noticed I would know and she is such a beauty, she deserves to stand on her own two feet.

It was soooo hard trying to prise her little legs into the fabric, but eventually I did it and fixed them in place.  The hair was easy, just attach a wig and you’re good to go.

 Here is my little beauty.  Gorgeous, isn’t she?

The clothes are borrowed from another porcelain doll that I now own, which is a whole nother story!  I will post about her shortly.

Best wishes

Shari x