Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Scribble Picnic - Curly

Hello friends,

This week, Michael's prompt for Scribble Picnic is CURLY!

 I just knew I had to sketch my doll, Bess. She was given to me for my first Christmas when I was only nine months old. She is now 58 years old and a little worse for wear after all these years.


Bess was made in England and has the word 'RODDY' imprinted at the back of her head. She is 17" in height. I did a little research a while ago and it seems 'RODDY' dolls were made in the 1950's and are now classified as 'vintage'. She has a hard, plastic body with soft, vinyl/rubber head and arms.....when you squeeze her head, Bess squeaks. She has sleepy eyes too which means they close when you lie her down and open when you stand her up. One of her eyes are a little wonky now and she's lost a bit of hair around the forehead. Her tootsies are a little worse for wear too which goes back to when I was still just a toddler and one of our German Shepherds decided to snack on Bess. Thankfully, she was saved from the jaws of death just in the nick of time...with just a few teeth indents to mark the experience. I've had a lot of different dolls growing up but Bess is the one I chose to hold onto...maybe it was that garish yellow hair?...but I loved her dearly!




I have sketched Bess a few times over the years...this one was done back in 2009


And today's effort. I plan to add another layer or two and blend her face more but I'm pleased to see my sketching skills have improved a bit.

To see what my Scribble Picnicker friends have done for this week, click HERE.
The prompt for next week is TIE IT UP....why not come along and join in on the fun? To find out how, click HERE.
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23 comments:

  1. Christine30 August 2017 at 22:27

    Beautiful curls you drew of your treasured doll, she is in fabulous condition despite all her adventures. She is very unusual for the times with her black skin I am thinking.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:52

      Thanks, Christine. Looking back, a black doll with bright yellow hair would have been unusual for the times. I wish I could remember what her original clothes were like.

      Delete
  2. Unknown31 August 2017 at 00:12

    We've all got that one childhood toy don't we? Loved to bits and utterly precious to us. I think your drawing of Bess is great.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:53

      Thanks, Paula. We surely do remember those favourite toys with love.

      Delete
  3. Latane Barton31 August 2017 at 08:47

    I loved meeting the real life Bess. Your portrait of her was so good.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:54

      Thanks, Latane. I was pleased that I got closer to her likeness this time around.

      Delete
  4. Rita31 August 2017 at 10:10

    My! Your skills have improved a lot over all these years. Bess looks more like herself and charming in your sketch today. I have my rag doll I got on my first birthday so she's 65--and quite the worse for wear--LOL! ;)

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:56

      Thanks, Rita. I'm tickled that you also have a special doll from childhood. :)

      Delete
  5. Tammie Lee31 August 2017 at 13:12

    How wonderful to draw your doll that has been with you all these years. Both are wonderful to see. That yellow hair seems so unique to me.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:56

      Thanks, Tammie. I agree about the yellow hair...very unusual for the times.

      Delete
  6. Victoria Zigler31 August 2017 at 20:45

    I think it's great that you still have her. I have a doll I got when I was not much older than you were when you got Bess. His name is Jo-Jo and I got him when I was 13 months old.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 06:58

      That's great that you also have a doll from your childhood years, Tori. They are obviously special to us.

      Delete
  7. Mary31 August 2017 at 23:00

    How wonderful you have kept Bess all these years - she has definitely been loved. Her hair is so unusual - know what you mean about receeding hairlines haha! Did you make the dress and matching hair bow?
    Your illustrations are just lovely Serena - I know you must love her a lot, and it's so nice to think you get inspiration from her.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 07:00

      Thanks, Mary. Yes, the hair is definitely an unusual colour for the times. I didn't make that particular dress or bow but I used to sew a lot of dolls clothes for my daughter's Cabbage Patch dolls. I'm currently looking for a new set of clothes for Bess...might have to sew some for her.

      Delete
  8. Shashi Nayagam1 September 2017 at 07:19

    She is bearing up very well I must say. Looking at her one can't say that she was loved so well. She looks to be in pristine condition. She is rather unusual looking too. Love your sketch of her and your skills have not only improved, but they are brilliant now.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 07:02

      Thanks, Shashi. I guess the darkness of her skin hides the flaws in the photo but her feet are a little chewed from the family pet many years ago...and sadly, her hair seems to be falling out around the hair line. I dare not try to comb her hair for fear it will all just pull away. Yikes!

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  9. Jennifer Rose1 September 2017 at 08:32

    in pr3etty good shape for being so old :)

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  10. Lorraine 1 September 2017 at 13:45

    She is such a special keepsake and you've really done a good job with that sketch bringing her to life.

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 07:04

      Thanks, Lorraine. I may do more sketches of her in the future.

      Delete
  11. Janis Cox1 September 2017 at 22:23

    Oh this is awesome. I too collect dolls. I even made two baby ceramic dolls and sewed their clothes. I find it interesting who likes dolls and who doesn't. :)
    blessings
    Janis

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    1. Serena Lewis2 September 2017 at 07:11

      Thanks, Janis. I don't collect dolls but I have definitely held on to Bess all these years. Cool that you made ceramic dolls and sewed their clothes. I sewed lots of dolls clothes for my daughter's dolls when she was little. I used to sew her and her dollies matching outfits. She was rapt! In honesty, my sister was more of a doll fanatic than I was. I did have a lot of dolls when growing up but there was just something about Bess that made me keep only her all these years.

      Delete
  12. Alexandra MacVean6 September 2017 at 03:00

    As I mentioned on your IG, this is super cool but also a bit creepy. LOL I LOVE the dress. :) You've done a wonderful job here, Serena. My apologies for visiting so late! :)
    x

    ReplyDelete

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