The highly talented Joe Coloff shows us an outfit he created using red brocade fabric with a pattern of gold flowers. The jacket is lined with gold Asian-style fabric. To make the hat a material called Fosshape was used – a heat-activated non-woven fabric that will hold a shape, in this case a tea-candle holder. Joe made the obi belt from the same material. He was inspired by the Dior Spring 2007 collection.
While living in New York, Joe entered the Project Dollway Contest, choosing “intermediate” from the three contestant categories. One challenge was to be inspired by the Kimono. This outfit was Joe’s submission. Although not chosen, it didn’t deter him!
As with most designers and craft people, the fabric was already in his stash. He had originally selected it for a different project that didn’t happen, but realized it would be perfect for this outfit. As he explains, “I think the biggest challenge is finding the right scale of pattern on fabrics; you have to look at the pattern as it would look on a human. This gets harder the smaller the doll.”
Joe has been sewing and making dolls, doll clothes, and bears for more than 15 years. His biggest and most proud moment was winning 1st place at the 25th Anniversary Tonner Convention for his “Sisters” dolls, He almost didn’t make the outfits, but was encouraged to by Joe, his partner, to do it. Joe points out that, “My most favorite part of making doll clothes is when I make an outfit for someone, and they are happy. Another favorite part of the process is simple, it’s the design, the hunt for the right fabric, the right notions and even the right doll. I guess my least favorite is sewing on snaps, those things are tiny and hard to see, but velcro is not very nice to use on fashion of any sort.”
Joe chose Tonner’s Knave of Hearts, to model this outfit. She is the Cami sculpt and is from Joe’s first Tonner Halloween Convention. The doll was dressed in a simple outfit embellished with a heart, and was the first doll received at that convention. When he needed a doll for the Project Dollway competition she was a not only a natural choice, she was the only choice as most of his dolls were in storage. She wears all of his outfits well, and remains an inspiration for Joe.
Visit Joe’s blog at: http://fancylad-fancylad.blogspot.com/
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