Tangkou Customization Update

 I am happily making progress on the customization of my tangkou doll. =)

The first thing that I did was remove her wig... which was a lengthy process in and of itself! When I was research the Tangkou France (Paris) doll before buying her I knew that there was some issue with the glue. Apparently some of the dolls that were sold in that first batch had wigs that were over glued, so I pretty much had a 50/50 chance of getting one of them..... and it seems that I did!! 

After a bit of tedious work with the flattened end of a plastic paintbrush handle, used to gently pry up the glue, I was able to get the wig off without doing any major damage. There was quite a bit of glue left on her head, but I was able to get that off really easily with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel.

Here she is modeling her new Sinead O'Connor look.

 The rubbing alcohol method is how I managed to get most of her original makeup off too, but there was still a bit of a stain left. That was ok though, because I was planning to sand matte her anyway.

Once I was able to get her face plate off I decided to do a bit of carving to add some unique personality to her face. I really was wanting her to resemble my painted girls a bit, so I did some shaping to her eyes, adding the tear duct area and rounding out the bottom of her eye socket a bit with an exacto knife. This was tedious work because I really needed to literally shave off tiny bits of a time so that I wouldn't over carve anything!! I also used the exacto knife and a stone file from my dremmel tool (used by hand, not actually IN the dremmel!) to carve the philtrum (above her upper lip), her lips and her nose. I didn't care for the extreme point of her nose, or the way that her top lip stuck out and went also to a bit of a point at the top, so I carefully modified them to make a cuter more "pixie" like lip.

I think her new eye shape makes her look a bit more like her Pullip cousins.

 Then after much sanding with a very fine grit sand paper, 400-600 grit to be exact, I started applying layers of ground up chalk pastels in a neutral palette. 

I just love how her eyes sparkle!!

I still have quite a bit to do before she will be ready to put back together, and I am not completely happy with her nose, so I will work on that a bit more. So far, though, I am pretty pleased with the changes, especially considering this is my first time!

More to come soon =).

Tangkou and the Doctor!

 So excited!!!

My Tangkou baby arrived, and she is just as sweet as I thought she would be! She is my first ball jointed doll.... and will be my first customization.

Look how cute she is sitting on my computer desk, watching my every move. She has made fast friends with The Doctor and Amy, and only wonders if she would ever be able to fit in the Tardis... it is bigger on the inside after all, so there is hope. Maybe she will become the next companion.

Ohhhhh, I see period costumes in her near future!!! Maybe something Steampunk...... ;)

Move over Amy!

 Hubby shot a couple photos for me that came out really nice. Here she is wearing the hat that I made for her while I was waiting for her to arrive...... it fits perfectly! Having two boys, and a husband, our home is usually overrun with superheroes, legos, Star Wars and Doctor Who..... as you can see. Now... don't get me wrong, I do enjoy all of these things, but sometimes it's nice to have something girly around (hence the ongoing theme of my art).

Like my pretty new hat?

So, when this lovely lady was on her way it felt almost like a new baby coming to our home. I instantly felt the maternal need to make her pretty things. It will be nice to have "someone" in the house that I can make pretty dresses and accessories for..... you know, without starting WW3!

I have actually threatened my boys that I would start making pretty dresses for their "action figures"..... wouldn't Iron Man look so sweet in tulle and lace????? ;)

So sweet

The only thing I am a bit disappointed with is her hair. I knew it was a felt wig, and it wouldn't be perfect, but it's really pretty sloppily made, and was put on a bit wonky. I will be making her a new wig soon... after I get around the huge amount of glue that they used adhering it.

Also, that pink makeup has got to go!!! I think she needs something softer..... and maybe some freckles =).

Exterminate!!!

Her purple "hooker boots" were the first thing to go!!

Well, that's my introduction to the newest member of the family. I haven't picked a name for her yet... I think I will wait until I have fixed up her makeup and see what kind of personality she gains and go from there.