Doll crafter Cari Mager explains how to create gorgeous, realistic porcelain dolls from head to toe.
- Begin by casting the doll's head, hands, feet and neck using "slip" (liquid clay available in varied skin tone colors) and pre-formed molds. Pour the slip through a strainer to remove clumps and debris before pouring it into the mold.
- Once the molds are poured, let the clay solidify according to the manufacturer directions. After clay solidifies, open the molds, and take out the castings of the doll head, hands, neck and feet. At this point, the castings still need to air dry for three days.
- After air drying, clean and prepare the castings for kiln firing. Erase casting seams by gently brushing them away using various sized artist brushes. Cari cautions to wear a disposable-type mask for this task because it creates a lot of dust.
- Add detail to the doll by using a sculptor's tool to carve out eye sockets, nostrils, and facial features. Add detail to hands and feet by carving in nails and knuckles.
- Fire the castings for nine to 10 hours at a temperature of 2350 Fahrenheit. Let the castings cool gradually and thoroughly. Firing causes the casting to shrink about 25 percent.
- After firing, add eyebrows, eye shadow, eyelashes, blush and lip color to the doll's face. Re-fire the castings (Cari recommends three separate firings to bring out the best color of the porcelain).
- Place doll eyes (available from craft and hobby stores) into the eye sockets.
- Attach the porcelain face, neck, hands and feet to a stuffed doll body. Buy a prefabricated doll body or make one out of cotton fabric and fiber filling. Make the arms and legs moveable by concealing a skeletal type infrastructure inside the body. Now the doll is now ready to be dressed and adored.
Want to learn more? Doll crafter Cari Merger recommends taking classes and reading existing literature about doll making.
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