Ball Jointed Dolls

I have been experimenting with sculpting ball jointed dolls on and off for a while now, and thought I'd share some of the one's I've done. This is one of my favorites. My daughter thinks she looks stoned, but I really like her! Her wig is removable, and I have a blonde one I did for her also, but I like this dark one the best. Her eyes are not removable. Her ankles are ball jointed, but I've made her socks a bit to tight and they are a pain to remove so you'll have to take my word for it! She's about 13 1/2" tall, and sculpted from polymer clay.
These are just some fabrics I've pinned on her to try and get an idea of how I will dress her. This poor thing doesn't have her hair yet.....and, she has a splitting headache! Literally!!
I don't know if you can see it in the photo, but her little head is splitting from under her chin on her left side, and is slowly creeping up past her nose. A problem brought on by the tension of the stringing cord and probably a weak spot in the clay on that side of her face. This is a problem I'm finding with using polymer clay for the bjd's. She is about 9"

This one was the first ones I did. Her head is not jointed, and I've sewn the clothes on her so I can't remove them to show you her body. She measures 10"

I really love the poseability and being able to "play"with these jointed dolls. The majority of my dolls I make are free standing, and posed in one position, and this is so fun to be able to interact with them! I just wish there was a FASTER way to do them! It's definatly not instant gratification!!!!! Always, when I'm about half way done with one, I start wondering what the heck I was thinking as it feels like I'll never get finished! I just want to get done and see the finished doll! For me it's the costuming that I enjoy the most..and I'm VERY impatient!


I call this piece "fairy funeral". She started out to be a ball jointed doll. Her head is jointed but her arms are cotter pinned at the shoulders and her elbows are put together more like the old balinese puppets. By the time I got to her legs...I just couldn't stand it, and so her torso and legs are totally sculpted in one position. She has human hair and is 13 1/2"

If I get one really good body I like, I may just get it molded and then sculpt different heads for it.... in between all the other things I want to do.....aaahhh.. so many ideas and never enough time!!