On Saturday, I finally attended a paper-doll-making class taught by the skilled and extremely kind Chisako, a certified doll-making teacher who lives about an hour away from me. Nearly everyone I know has taken one of her classes and every doll they've ever shown me has looked incredible, so I was excited about the class.
I'm fairly certain this type of doll is called anesama ningyo (big sister dolls), but Wikipedia is not giving me a lot of history on them. Chisako called this the "temari doll" because she is holding a paper replica of a temari, an elaborately thread-wrapped ball used as a toy in olden times.
We got to pick the paper for the kimono and obi and I went for an autumn theme. I haven't done paper crafts in quite awhile, but I think all my sewing and knitting came in handy; I seemed slightly less terrified than everyone else in class about messing the whole thing up. Chisako seemed completely unconcerned about that possibility and the whole process was almost easy. Looking back, I realize it is because she took over the more complicated steps, but since she was always explaining what she was doing, it never felt like she was doing it for us.
The coolest technique was making the hair. We started with a plain, flat piece of black paper and -- through a series of scrunchings with various implements -- transformed it into something soft and striated that looks more like real hair. I keep staring at it, maybe because I wish my hair could do what her hair is doing.
Chisako has a class nearly every month, so I'll definitely be going again. I want to get to the advanced level soon!
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Comments (14)
Wow, it does look incredible!
Posted by Barbara | September 18, 2006 7:26 PM
You made this? Wow! It´s amazing, and looks totally complicated!
Posted by malin | September 18, 2006 9:53 PM
wow! that is an amazing looking doll! how beautiful!
Posted by gleek | September 18, 2006 10:20 PM
Very beautiful. What a treat and what a beautiful piece of art to bring home and remember your adventure.
Posted by Lori | September 18, 2006 11:32 PM
OMG! Her hair is paper?! What an awesome technique. Your doll turned out beautifully.
Posted by persephone | September 19, 2006 12:30 AM
Beautiful! Makes me think of the book I read recently: The Makioka Sisters. You'd probably love it.
Posted by Linda | September 19, 2006 6:19 AM
wow - that is gorgeous! the hair is really impressive... wish I could take her classes!
Posted by Kelly Stevens | September 19, 2006 8:30 AM
Beautiful! And insanely professional looking. You should make a whole bunch while you're there and sell them.
Thanks for your e-card! The orange cat was fitting indeed. I wish you could be here to celebrate with me (or that you had a verizon cellphone so i could call you for FREE!). I love you and miss you so much!
Posted by sonya | September 19, 2006 10:17 AM
Hard to believe that's your first doll. You're really talented. I would *SO* buy that doll!
Posted by ax174 | September 20, 2006 1:32 AM
my dear, you`re talented for real. To create this you have to be a "crafting queen" *smile*
By, FeLI
Posted by FeLi | September 26, 2006 8:22 PM
wow, that is the most amazing paper doll I've ever seen. Soo beautiful - will you do more?
Posted by Hanna | October 1, 2006 9:09 AM
hi, it's very beautyful ! i tried to make a doll, but it was not nice like your doll
In France we haven't got teacher !
Posted by maccho | April 11, 2007 11:32 PM
gorgeous!!
Posted by dini | July 7, 2007 1:32 PM
How beautiful!!!!WooooWWWW!!!
Here in the Philippines, we don't have the teacher for this nor any books that would teach us to do this....Is it to much if I ask you to please teach me?
Prettttyyyy pllleeeeaaaaase?
thanks.
Posted by che_lho | November 22, 2007 6:18 PM