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The Boyer Sisters

Real-life Advise + Inspiration for the Creative Gal.

What I Made // Honoria Julia Tuesday

08/04/2015

What I Made // Honoria Julia Tuesday, vintage mannequin, vintage mannequin head, handmade mannequin, DIY, hand painted, hand painted mannequin head,  1940s mannequin head, millinery mannequin, vintage millinery mannequin, vintage hatstand, hatstand

Hello dears.  Let me introduce to you the guest star for today’s What I Made post–Honoria (pronounced: ah-Nore-ee-uh) Julia Tuesday.

Over the last few years Brigi has been collecting hats. Anyone knows that when you have a hat collection, they need to be shown off, however Brigid was missing this one key element–a beautiful mannequin on which to display them! Having realized this fact she began looking over the (what I would call meager) selection of mannequin heads available on eBay and Etsy. She found some promising ones, but she was always turned off by the going rate of vintage mannequin heads; a price that starts after the triple digit mark. I certainly wasn’t going to let her hat collection suffer from want of a display, nor was I about to spend a pretty penny just for a vintage mannequin. So I made her this fine lady instead.

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Honoria was crafted out of four ingredients:

  1. Styrofoam
  2. La Doll air-drying paper clay
  3. Acrylic paints
  4. Paint sealant
  5. Wooden base

I wanted Honoria to be able to be handled, thus a styrofoam core was needed to make this so. I also wanted her to be light, not too heavy, so that if she ever fell (let’s hope its on a carpeted floor) she wouldn’t break. Also, I wasn’t going to try to fire any kind of porcelain because 1) the stuff is expensive, and 2) I don’t own a kiln. La Doll paper clay air dries, so I don’t need to fire it, and it dries in such a way that the finished product is remarkably lightweight.

Once I bought the styrofoam core (a cheap, pre-shaped mannequin head at Joann Fabrics), I went to work filing down the lopsided facial markings. After that I began to cover the styrofoam in the paper clay, using grape tomato sized chunks at a time. As I worked with the paper clay, I had a little cup of water handy to keep it in a sticky-putty like consistency. Having the clay be more putty-like allowed me to smooth the new additions of clay to the ones already applied to the head, if that makes any sense. I began with the face and worked my way to the back of the head, and on down to the neck.

Sculpting the facial features onto the base was probably one of the more enjoyable, and tricky parts of the process. It takes a lot of time, patience and skill to get the features just right. Oh yes, and working with an air drying clay only made this all the more challenging; you’re trying to beat the clock before the clay becomes too dry, always reapplying water to keep everything supple.

The very last touch was the addition of her curls. That really made her look vintage, if you ask me!

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Well, at last the sculpting was over, and I could get on with the best part–painting! I began with Honoria’s hair line, working my way back down to her curls, and finished it up with an application of several more coats. I wanted to save her face for last, as this is the most exciting point in any mannequin’s construction. You get to bring life into the still features, working in depth and character as you go. And to me, the best way to capture all of this is through the eyes. I worked long and hard on Honoria’s eyes, even using a closeup picture of human eyes to give me the best perspective. In the end I think I succeeded.

Besides depth, I wanted very much to capture a few of Brigi’s lovely facial elements in Honoria, giving her very pronounced eyebrows, sad but peaceful drooping eyelids, and setting off the whole look with a pair of iconic 1920’s cupid’s-bow lips and blush just along the tops of her cheekbones. A couple coats of the paint sealant and Honoria was finished.

The styrofoam core had a hole in the bottom of the neck which fitted quite nicely over the wooden nob in the center of the OOAK wooden base (I have no idea what that wooden base was before I bought it, but it was something weird…). There is an obvious one inch gap between Honoria’s neck and the rim of the base, which makes for a good excuse to wrap something around her neck. A bunch of beads, lace collar, or a scarf do very nicely.

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Dears, I enjoyed the process of creating Honoria so much that I have already purchased more supplies to make her a sister. No, these ladies are not really going to be our new “dolls”, instead I hope to sell them. This is still an idea, and Honoria is part prototype, part gift to Brigi. All I know is that for years I have been wanting to use my artistic skills–sculpting and painting, using my ingenuity to make something besides dolls that I would enjoy creating and would be useful. I hope, oh how much I hope, that there is a market out there for all the ladies I plan to make! The Lord knows.

What do you think of Honoria?

Do you have a vintage mannequin head for your hats?

What skin tone and hair combination should I do for Honoria’s sister?

Happily in Christ,

Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer

CREDITS // Author: Jessica Boyer; Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited w/ VSCO Presets

Creativity 30 Comments Tagged With: Vintage, What I Made

About Jessica

I am a lover of beauty, the color green, and nice long walks. I believe in neat orderly spaces, gardening, and a good night’s sleep.

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Comments

  1. Miss pond says

    08/04/2015 at 1:25 PM

    Wow wow wow, just wow! This is the most beautiful mannequin head I have ever seen. The ones on eBay and in vintage stores are just silly money. What a truly wonderful, thoughtful gift. You should definitely do more and use your wonderful God given skills, I know that others will definitely be snapped up. How fabulously creative you are.

    Reply
  2. Madison says

    08/04/2015 at 2:44 PM

    Oh, she is beautiful Brigid! I absolutely love her. I don’t have a mannequin head for any of my hats, but maybe one day I will make one too?:)
    By the way, you are a wonderful artist!!!
    -Madison
    http://www.1minniemuse.blogspot.com

    Reply
  3. Maria says

    08/04/2015 at 3:04 PM

    Wow, Jessica, that looks amazing!!!!! Good job, and I think that selling them will be a success 🙂

    Reply
  4. Racheal says

    08/04/2015 at 3:44 PM

    She’s beautiful, Jessica! I can definitely see a little of Brigid in her, too. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Sierra says

    08/04/2015 at 3:50 PM

    She is beautiful Jessica! I would definitely love to own a mannequin like Honoria. You have a lot of talent. How did you develop those skills?
    I am an artist as well-though I do acrylic canvases. I paint vintage fashion shots.

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      08/05/2015 at 4:03 PM

      Hello Sierra,
      I developed my sculpting skills in an art class I took with my sisters. It was a kind of work shop class, outside of the main watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting classes that I was taking around the same time from the same teacher, that involved working with polymer clay. Like you, I too am an artist, and have the ability to draw, paint and sculpt just about anything I see. As soon as that first “clay class” was over, I the girls and I realized that we could make our own polymer clay dollhouse dolls. We spent several, several years working on theses, playing with them, fixing up their little wooden houses (the kind you buy in kits from Hobby Lobby). However, as the years progressed, I became caught up in school work, and other things besides, that took me away from working with clay. I haven’t sculpted in a couple of years now, and so when I succeeded with Honoria, it was quite a thrill to find that I still had the knack!

      Wow! I would love to see your work, Sierra! To be able to paint vintage scenes would be a great deal of fun!

      Thanks for commenting, dear!

      In Christ,
      Jessica, the eldest Sister & Singer

      Reply
  6. Jane says

    08/04/2015 at 4:29 PM

    What a clever girl you are! Honoria is lovely.

    Reply
  7. Amber Rhodes says

    08/04/2015 at 5:22 PM

    This is amazing! You have so many talents. You will definitely have no problem selling these, go for it! Good luck!
    Amber

    Reply
  8. Allison says

    08/04/2015 at 5:25 PM

    Jessica, she beautiful! You did an amazing, amazing job! She is lovely. She looks so real.

    Reply
  9. Abby says

    08/04/2015 at 5:30 PM

    You might be one of the most creative people alive, Jessica. I love how you took just a plain old mannequin and gave it such beauty and personality! You are very talented, I am laughing right now just trying to think how I would do if I tried to make something like that… 🙂
    She is such a thoughtful gift, and I can see some of Brigid in her, so neat!
    (I love the pics of her in the purple and rust orange hats, isn’t it funny how flattering accessories can be to a piece of Styrofoam? 🙂 )
    If you ever open an etsy shop or something to sell them on, I can imagine what fun you’re going to have giving each girl a special name, and modeling fabulous hats and accessories on them! 😉
    What is the story behind her name?
    Oh, and if you ever start making lots of these, a blonde and a auburn red-head are a must. 🙂
    Bravo on your creative endeavor! Can’t wait to see more of these beauties!
    Blessings!
    ~Abby

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      08/05/2015 at 3:55 PM

      Hmm… I was thinking of those very same color palettes for the next one, but I am still not sure… We will have to see!

      Love,
      Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer

      Reply
  10. Clare says

    08/04/2015 at 6:04 PM

    Oh wow she is just so beautiful! and the scarves and lace just add to the hats!

    Reply
  11. Kaitlyn says

    08/04/2015 at 6:43 PM

    Wow! You have some skills there. What a perfectly touching present

    Reply
  12. Genevieve Rose says

    08/05/2015 at 7:23 AM

    WOW! Jessica, your talents never cease to amaze me. (All of you Boyer girls are blessed with such talent!) I think I am still a bit in shock that you actually hand-made this lovely mannequin head!!!

    Reply
  13. Abigail says

    08/05/2015 at 7:57 AM

    Gorgeous!! Your mannequin head is beyond better than anything you’d find online! Most definitley marketable! I adore her, most especially her curls! Well done! Looking forward to seeing your future creations!

    Reply
  14. Rebekah says

    08/05/2015 at 8:08 AM

    Wow, that’s amazing -you sure have talent! She turned out beautifully! Hmmm… would olive be a pretty skin tone for the next one?

    Your blog is absolutely beautiful, by the way!
    Rebekah
    http://www.moreradiance.com

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      08/05/2015 at 3:53 PM

      That sounds like a good idea, Rebekah! Thank you!

      Love in Him,
      Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer

      Reply
  15. CGrace says

    08/05/2015 at 8:12 AM

    Oh, goodness! Jessica, this is true talent. I would definitely buy a mannequin head from you ladies! So sweet and fun to have around. 🙂

    Reply
  16. Esther says

    08/05/2015 at 10:04 AM

    My goodness!! You are one very talented lady. I can’t believe you made her!! Brigid must be absolutely thrilled. I am sure these lovely “hatforms” will sell like hotcakes! 🙂

    Reply
  17. Sarah says

    08/05/2015 at 10:14 AM

    I like yours much better than any vintage one I have seen. You did a great job, Jessica.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca says

    08/05/2015 at 2:02 PM

    At first glance, I didn’t know it was home made. She is gorgeous. I too have an ever growing hat collection. I own an old milliner’s form that belonged to my great grandmother that I use to display my hats. It is great fun to find hats like these. Do you ever wear them out? I do!

    Love Always,
    Rebecca

    Reply
  19. Jessica Cangiano says

    08/05/2015 at 6:28 PM

    Simply and entirely breathtaking work!!!

    ♥ Jessica

    Reply
  20. Esther Olson says

    08/05/2015 at 8:27 PM

    Honoria is beautiful, Jessica!!! Amazing work. I have an artistic bend as well, but nothing quite like that. 🙂 Looks like it was a super fun project.

    Reply
  21. Anne says

    08/06/2015 at 3:04 PM

    This is lovely! You did a wonderful job. I would buy one from you! You should certainly make more!

    Reply
  22. Maria Tseytlin says

    08/07/2015 at 2:14 AM

    Wow, this is just gorgeous!! I was shocked it is handmade!
    I love all the features you gave her, the colors, and shape.
    Such an addition to a vintage inspired room 🙂
    I wish you did a tutorial!

    ~Maria☼
    (from A Golden Picnic)

    Reply
  23. Samantha Snyder says

    08/08/2015 at 10:23 AM

    I know I am several days behind in commenting on this post, but I had to tell you how extremely impressed I am with your beautiful piece of art, Jessica! Her gorgeous, expressive eyes, her elegant nose, and her charming little mouth are all so well done, as are her skin tones and her pretty hair. You are a true artist!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      08/08/2015 at 10:27 AM

      Thank you, Sam! That means a lot! <3 🙂

      In Him,
      Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer

      Reply
  24. Eleanor says

    08/09/2015 at 8:17 PM

    Okay, when I saw the first picture I immediately though was ” that looks just like Brigid!”
    I think the next one should be a striking red-head with freckles or maybe more like Lucille Ball.
    Anyway, you are a very talented young lady!

    Reply
    • Jessica says

      08/10/2015 at 2:49 PM

      Grand idea, Eleanor! More and more I think I am liking the idea of making a red head mannequin. 🙂

      Thank you, dear!
      Jessica, the Eldest Sister & Singer

      Reply
  25. bonita says

    08/11/2015 at 10:27 PM

    Goodness! When I first saw the pictures, I thought you where going to talk about making the hat, or the scarf or something of the like ~ but the mannequin!! :O Wooow! She’s stunning! Truly you are an extremely talented lady Jessica; all of you gals are! ❤

    xox,
    bonita of Lavender & Twill

    Reply

About the Boyer Sisters | Real-life Advise for the Creative GalHey, gal! We're Charlotte + Jessica, the Boyer Sisters. Around here, we present a raw, vibrant perspective on what it means to be a creative gal after God’s own heart. We believe in the breath-taking freedom that is found by putting Christ first in our lives and letting everything else follow.

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