Individual Dollmaking Sessions (Choose One or More) - Zandpol, Netherlands - October 10 and 11
Individual Dollmaking Sessions (Choose One or More) - Zandpol, Netherlands - October 10 and 11
A collection of focused workshops designed to build your dollmaking skills.
Join the complete series or register for individual sessions that interest you most.
Session 1 - Face Sculpting
October 10, 9 am-6 pm
Whether you're a fearless beginner or ready to elevate your skills, this workshop offers a fun and rewarding experience! You'll learn how to sculpt a needle-felted face, giving your doll its own unique personality.
We'll focus on creating the head for a 34 cm doll, but the techniques you'll learn can be easily adapted to other sizes on your own.
This class will teach you how to:
Sculpt a firm, durable head that will maintain its shape for years.
Build a sturdy neck as the core for the body.
Shape all the facial features - jaw, chin, cheeks, nose, and lips - using needle felting.
Achieve a balanced and realistic appearance without overemphasizing facial features.
Apply skin fabric smoothly for a flawless, wrinkle-free finish.
Pricing and What’s Included:
The total price for the workshop is 350 euro. A non-refundable 50 euro (=$58US) deposit is required to reserve your spot, with the remaining balance due on the day of the class.
IMPORTANT
If you register for this session only (or for selected sessions rather than the full two-day workshop):
All materials for this session are included, along with photo instructions for the techniques covered. The only thing you'll need to bring is a piece of your preferred skin-tone doll fabric, approximately 20 × 20 cm. Lunch is also provided.
Session 2 - Eyes Embroidery
October 11, 9 am - 11.30 am
In this class, you will learn how to:
Decide on the shape of the eyes by sketching them first on paper, experimenting with various shapes to achieve different facial expressions.
Determine the right placement of the eyes on the doll’s face.
Use a template or trace the shape on the skin fabric properly to avoid distortion.
Avoid distorting the skin fabric while working with the embroidery for a clean, smooth finish.
Ensure symmetry and proportionality of the eyes, making sure both are evenly placed and sized.
Achieve the right thread tension to create smooth, filled-in eye surfaces for a realistic look.
Create eyelashes and eyebrows based on the desired facial expression.
Pricing and What’s Included:
The total price for the workshop is 100 euro. A non-refundable 30 euro (=$35US) deposit is required to reserve your spot, with the remaining balance due on the day of the class.
IMPORTANT
If you choose to take this session individually (not as part of the full workshop), you will be requested to have a doll's head without eyes to work on during the class. This will allow you to apply the techniques directly to your own doll as you learn.
Session 3 - Bendable Doll Legs: Natural Sitting & Proper Stuffing Techniques
October 11, 11.45 am - 1.15 pm
In this class, you will explore the proportion and construction of doll legs and learn how to:
Build a leg that holds its shape while still allowing gentle bending at the knee, creating a natural, relaxed sitting position - without using beads or any internal hinges.
Stuff it evenly for a firm, smooth finish without bumps or lumps
Pricing and What’s Included:
The total price for the workshop is 75 euro. A non-refundable 30 euro (=$35US) deposit is required to reserve your spot, with the remaining balance due on the day of the class.
IMPORTANT
If you choose this session individually (rather than as part of the full workshop), the leg pattern will be emailed to you in advance so you can pre-stitch the leg before class and bring it with you. You can easily adjust the scale of the pattern to suit your desired doll size.
Session 4 - Torso Sculpting
October 11, 2pm - 6 pm
IMPORTANT:
This session is recommended to be taken either together with the Face Sculpting session or as part of the full 2-day workshop. The torso pattern will be emailed to you in advance so you can pre-stitch the torso before class and bring it with you. The pattern can be easily scaled to suit your desired doll size.
In this class, you will learn how to:
Shape a balanced and supportive body structure that brings your doll to life with subtle realism and charm.
Sculpt the shoulders so they gently support the tension of the skin fabric and hold the arms in place without collapsing or sagging.
Properly attach the torso to the head.
Create a cute little bum - smooth and crease-free, as well as a delicate, well-placed belly button that adds character without breaking the harmony.
Pricing and What’s Included:
The total price for the workshop is 100 euro. A non-refundable 30 euro (=$35US) deposit is required to reserve your spot, with the remaining balance due on the day of the class.