Tonner Scarlett: Receiving guests with Melanie portrait
Showing posts with label Tonner Gone with the Wind dolls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tonner Gone with the Wind dolls. Show all posts
First Commissioned Scarlett
A couple of months back...no, it must have been way, way back (and I deeply apologize for it, I had been feeling sick since January and my hands were trembling too hard; disaster would follow if I indulged in a repaint), a Prego member mentioned her desire to have a repainted Scarlett.
It was flattering, but since I am no professional I was having second thoughts about it. It is different when you're doing a craft for yourself and when it's being done for someone else. That's something called "pressure". My brushes were all worn, the last of it was not as effective too. But the joy of a repainted Scarlett was and still is something I felt I needed to share. I wish that repaints were more affordable really.
So this first commission is a "practice" commission. My gracious client was willing to take the risk. She seemed really nice. So arrangements were made. She sent me a Scarlett and Melanie head (only), shipping was much, much cheaper. Here now is my first commissioned Scarlett doll. She is a "Travelling with Mother to Savannah" doll; my client and I like the hairstyle on this version
I hope Cynthia will enjoy her. I hope I did justice to your doll. And sorry Cynthia, ailments got in the way. I am much better now. Your doll will come to you on March 18, 2010 via FedEx.
It was flattering, but since I am no professional I was having second thoughts about it. It is different when you're doing a craft for yourself and when it's being done for someone else. That's something called "pressure". My brushes were all worn, the last of it was not as effective too. But the joy of a repainted Scarlett was and still is something I felt I needed to share. I wish that repaints were more affordable really.
So this first commission is a "practice" commission. My gracious client was willing to take the risk. She seemed really nice. So arrangements were made. She sent me a Scarlett and Melanie head (only), shipping was much, much cheaper. Here now is my first commissioned Scarlett doll. She is a "Travelling with Mother to Savannah" doll; my client and I like the hairstyle on this version
I hope Cynthia will enjoy her. I hope I did justice to your doll. And sorry Cynthia, ailments got in the way. I am much better now. Your doll will come to you on March 18, 2010 via FedEx.
Here is a picture from Cynthia with the doll head now on its body.
Tonner Scarlett: Vivien Leigh OOAK repaint in Ashton Drake's Creme Cassis
A beautiful purple dress with an overlay of black lace by Ashton-Drake for Gene. And Tonner Scarlett seems to just love it!
Doll fashions by Alana Bennett: "Scarlett" (1994) ballroom gown
Three portraits of Alana Bennett's interpretation of the ballroom gown worn in "Scarlett" (1994) miniseries.
The ballroom gown worn by actress Joanne Walley-Kilmer in "Scarlett" the miniseries (1994) from the Winterthur.org site (Fashion in Film).
Last year, I emailed Alana Bennett with the idea of having a gown made for my Tonner Scarlett. There are a lot of possibilities in costuming this doll from Victorian to post-Victorian to even modern day dresses. I thought of having a gown done close to the theme of GWTW but one that has never been seen in the film. "Scarlett", the miniseries was replete with wonderful gowns and dresses which were in period, and in my opinion were truthful to the way dresses were made in that era.
Unlike the movie Gone with the Wind, I think these were more accurate. Sadly, "Scarlett" in the miniseries, had so many costume changes it was so hard to keep track of their detail. I found a photo of this gown in Winterthur.org site which featured an exhibit of fashion in film. Alana was most interested in doing this gown upon presentation to her. I was actually amazed at how beautiful it came to be. It is not a direct doll version of the gown but it definitely gives the doll an elegance befitting of the character it represents.
Alana gave me additional gloves, pantalents, a nice beaded night bag/purse and hooped skirt with it. A great value for a dress that didn't cost so much.
The costume designer for Scarlett TV was the great Marit Allen ("Brokeback Mountain", "The Secret Garden", "Love in the Time of Cholera", etc). For Scarlett, Ms. Allen earned the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Miniseries or Special. A refined woman whose attention to detail is evidenced in the research she did for the miniseries and her other works. Ms. Allen died of brain aneurysm in November 26, 2007 at the age of 66.
Alana Bennett continues to do wonderful fashions for dolls. Visit her website at www.dollfashionsbyalana.com.
Doll Photography: Tonner Scarlett Gone with the Wind (repainted)
Here is an example of what photoshop can do. The picture on the top was shot against a mocha-colored sofa. With photoshop, the background can be changed to put the subject in let's say a "toile" background. There are immense possibilities here in terms of backgrounds. Of course it is better to have actual things behind, but for lack of a toile background (for instance), as it is a difficult material to find, one can create the material for it.
The mood of the lighting can also be fixed in photoshop. There is no need for a actual directional lighting. Everything can be controlled. And the opportunities for play and imagination can be maximized to your heart's delight.
Doll fashions by Alana Bennett: Jezebel Gown Recreated
I have always been enchanted by the virginal white gown worn by Bette Davis in her Southern movie, Jezebel. Its voluminous layered skirt edged with lace detail creates a cloud on which the bodice stands, fluttery shoulders of lace move down the front. I thought this a nice gown for Tonner Scarlett which I had just recently attempted to repaint. My best bet was one who loved GWTW dolls, enjoyed sewing and had the patience for detail. And so I found myself approaching Alana Bennett (www.dollfashionsbyalana.com). What you see are her re-creations of the Jezebel white gown. The layers are not as much but what is important is it captures the look of the dress. This is also my first repaint -- my first attempt. I repainted on the existing factory paint of the Tonner Scarlett doll. I had no 20/0 brush and no magnifying lamp. An very tedious task indeed. Doll in between legs, magnifying glass in one hand, paintbrush (the smallest available) was how the repaint was done. After this doll, I think I found the gumption to proceed with a complete erasure of factory paint on my next Scarlett doll. It was daunting considering the dolls are pricey. It was also very enriching, as you discover the process of repainting -- thru hit and miss. Well, here she is, The Jezebel White Gown by Alana Bennett! Enjoy the pictures.