Hello lovelies and fairy folk.

Basically, the gist is you do something everyday for 100 days. Simple as. It doesn’t have to be for long each day 15 mins can do if that is all you have to spare. But even with 15 mins, constantly over 100 days, you improve. It’s about the commitment to your project. And projects are wide and far reaching, whatever you want to work on can be your project.

Last year, I decided I wanted to improve my wood carving and if I do say so myself, it definitely improved. And I managed to commit to the 100 days, which in itself is just as big a thing for me as commitment is not usually my forte. I find it very difficult as I am always being distracted by “bright shiny objects” aka new crafts I want to try. At the moment I am trying my utmost not to get swayed into basket weaving and making string from banana skins, believe me it is a thing. (I have booked up to go on a couple of workshops later on in the year, so I will get to play there soon, so I will/should/hopefully will wait patiently. Not easy!)

This Year’s Project

Anyway, this year’s project, I am equally excited about and it had been one on the back burner for a number of years now, in fact since I first saw this style of doll on Pinterest.
I intend to make a Ball Jointed Doll. And if I utilise the commitment and support that goes along with the community involved in the project, I can do it.
Check the hashtag #the100dayproject it has over 2.1m posts, so there is lots of love and support involved.
In actual fact I plan to make at least 2, one from air dry clay and one from porcelain. I can use the air dry clay one to make a mould to pour porcelain into and use to make porcelain dolls, but I also want to improve my sculpting skills with porcelain itself. It is a whole different beast from airdry clay and takes a whole different approach.

If you have been following me for a while, you may be shaking your head thinking here we go again. Yes here are 3 blog posts I wrote when I tried this last in May 2020. I still have all those body parts and will use lessons learnt from them to improve this time. And finish this time, I hope.

Day 1

To today I am planning my blueprint. The porcelain shrinks about 15% in the kiln so that will need to be taken into account and the doll made bigger than I want it when it is finished. This is a bit advantageous too as it is easier to sculpt bigger, not fiddle with tiny pieces. But 15% won’t make it that much easier.
I will mark my progress on Instagram Stories and in catch up posts on my feed, so as not to overwhelm people who aren’t all that interested. I will try to remember to post to Facebook too, but if you want to follow along, Instagram is probably the best place to do so.

So I have my airdry clay, I have my porcelain and now I have my blueprint.

Next stage tomorrow is to make the forms to shape the clay round. They need to be hollow inside to run the elastic through.

For instructions, I will be using this fab book for looking at pictures as it is in Japanese. Don’t be fooled by the English on the cover, it’s only the odd title inside. And a course from Adele Po who is well worth following if you don’t already. Her Ball Jointed Doll online course is great and she is so helpful answering questions. Check out her Instagram here.

Well wish me luck. In 100 days I should have a pretty little self-standing and sitting and all those things, doll to play with.

till next time, don’t forget to play in the meadows.

Ally x