Dart the Dragonfly Nymph

It seems like forever ago that I started working on this project!  I've had Pale Pink Coco (by Kaye Wiggs) since September last year.  She is very finely featured and has a lovely, very posable body, so I decided to bring to life the vision of a little Dragonfly Nymph that was playing in my head.....hence the name Dart.....that's what dragonflies do; dart around the surface of the water :)

I made her bodysuit from a piece of lycra dance fabric I had tucked away in my stash.  It's made from resizing and adjusting an MHD Designs pattern.  I love Magalie's patterns, they are so well designed and detailed.....and the instructions are wonderful.  I have a few of them now, waiting in queue to be made up.

I couldn't find the right wig for the look I wanted so I moulded Dart's headcap from some Magic Paperclay I had in my papercraft stash.  "Stashes" are such handy things to have lol  I covered her head with cling wrap to protect her face and then moulded the clay over the top.  It's very difficult to get a really smooth finish with this clay, which frustrated me a bit, but it's so easy to work with.  I tried using Fimo too but spat the dummy with it when it wouldn't do what I wanted it to!!  I finished the look with a coat of acrylic metallic craft paint and a little clear glitter paint, then added the two cabochons to represent the jewel-like dragonfly eyes.

The wings were a problem.  I really didn't have the time for a wing-making learning curve so I approached Christina from Stitch Soup and asked if she'd consider making a dragonfly wings machine embroidery file.  I was so excited when she agreed to do these for me.  There is now a set of wings on the site with five different designs in three sizes!!  It turns out that Christina loves wings :)  I hope to make more of these for a couple of my other dolls when I get time.

Then there was the problem of how to attach them to Dart's bodysuit without them drooping or dragging the stretchy fabric down at the back.....I settled on designing a little corset belt that I have attached the wings to.....works a treat :)

I haven't decided whether to give Dart a fantasy face-up or not yet.  This is the original factory face-up.  One day I might get brave enough to have a go at a OOAK face for her!

I was lucky enough to find the exact shade of sapphire blue I wanted for her eyes.  I've considered getting some fantasy eyes for her so I'll see how I feel if I change her face.

Overall I'm quite happy with how she turned out.......it's close to the vision I had in my head.  I find it frustrating when I get a creative idea that I can't bring into the physical, so this one is a win for me!

Thanks for coming to visit......have a wonderful day :)
​Lynne xx