Steampunk Dolls

What is steampunk?  It has been all the rage for the last few years.  It is a cross between Victorian-era style with scientific-futuristic style.  It is full of nuts, bolts, gears and filigree.

I had fun making my steampunk crows (Frowning Francis pattern) and my steampunk troll (Ute Vasina pattern).  They are full of zippers, keys, filigree vintage sewing embellishments and rusty household bits (look at the outdoor tap fixture on my wee troll's head).  

The crows are made with cloth, stuffed, painted with gesso and then let dry.  Then painted black and let dry.  Finally dry brushed with bits of blue and red to simulate light on crow feathers.  Now the fun part begins:  embellishing with sewing parts, keys, watch parts, old jewellery and whatever else makes the crows come to life in their steampunk glory.  The troll is also all cloth (made with suede cloth), hand sculpted and painted with chalks.  As with the crows, the troll is embellished to look like a steampunk character.  This little guy has a sweater (made from an old sock), a steampunk vest, pants and hand made shoes.  He is quite proud of himself beside his buddies.  I hope you enjoy them and give steampunk a try yourself!

The three amigos.  The smaller crow sits on an old bicycle gear shift.

The smaller crow, notice the keys for wings.  The zipper is on his back.

The steampunk troll, full of gears and keys.

Close-up of troll.

The larger ceow with sewing gauge wings.