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I didn’t want to write this in her character profile, but it took three attempts to turn Ivy into Viveca as she is now. I really struggled with this doll, but I am very glad I didn’t give up on her.

Ivy arrived in August 2021. I wrote a review of the New Slim body but she went back into her box after that. She looks very gentle and almost docile in the promo pics, but her sculpt really offers a lot more. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go with her, so I thought I’d store her safely until I could figure her out. She isn’t the first Raccoon face that surprised me with a lot more sculpted detail than what the promo pictures show.

Ivy’s black haired promo pics looked so lovely that I ordered a black wig for her, and my original plans were black hair & blue eyes. I painted her the first time and just couldn’t bond with her. So I wiped her blank again and made a second attempt, just to drop her head after spraying her. Thank god nothing broke, just her face up was ruined. But I was so frustrated that I boxed her again after wiping the head.

She stayed in her box until March 2022. I had a lot of time to rethink her character, find a name and go in a completely different direction. I decided to trust that the eyes would be enough to make her look gentle and emphasize the strength in her features. A lighter, confident and fresh look in combination with those doe eyes. I was really worried that I wouldn’t be able to bond with her, but the third time is the charm: I absolutely love her now. She can look gentle and sweet, and she can look strong and confident. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s something about her face that reminds me of Botticelli’s Venus, and the Dollshe Venitu sculpt, at least at a certain angle. Anyway, she looks great at any angle. Beautiful profile, too.

But enough of the talk, here’s more of this girl. Viveca in some of her new clothes. I have made more for her, but I am going to split the pictures into two posts.

This is the tunic and pants combination she wears in her character profile. I had those tiny salmon colored buttons for ages, and they never really looked right with any other fabric, but they are an absolute match with the tunic print.

 

 

More flower print dresses. This is the same fabric used for two different patterns, unfortunately the light was not that good when I took these. The sleeveless version has an under-bust waistline and is shorter than the one with sleeves. I will probably take pictures of her in these again, so you will see the difference.

 

 

This is a dress with a curved waistline, slightly puffy sleeves and a layered skirt, I am not sure if this pointy waistline has a name. If any of you guys know what this cut is called, please let me know in the comments.

 

 

This shirt+skirt combination needs a friend who wears the counter-part. I made the pink layered muslin skirt for Viveca, but the green shirt fabric doesn’t suit her that well. But since it’s the same pattern as the pink shirt, Ludivine was happy to wear it and borrow the pink skirt. Viveca’s green skirt has a fake button panel, it closes in the back.

 

 

And last but not least a plaid dress. I have a lot of this fabric, it was a bargain, and I just wanted something cheap for a pattern test. But nonetheless I took the trouble to match up the checks as far as possible. And I am glad I did. I love her in this dress. (And it fits, pattern tested succesfully).

 

 

And while I was happily sewing away I spilled coffee over my good old needle book. It was already falling apart, so I thought I’d make a new one. Just in case you sew a lot by hand and want to make one, here’s the pattern. I found a nice video tutorial I will link for you, just in case you want some instructions. Mine looks a bit different, it has a flap and closes with a button and an elastic loop.

 

15 thoughts on “More Viveca”

  1. Viveca is a beauty, I agree with Wendy: I’m glad you persevered, it was worth it. 🙂 Love all the dresses, and they really suit Viveca. I see what you mean about the Venus! She does remind of her a bit! She could be a relative of the beautiful Venitu, too (the mouth). A needle book is something I am not familiar with, but it looks very handy.

    1. Thank you! I am glad you see the Venitu-similarity too, I thought maybe I am just imagining things. I thought needle books/cases are something everybody had to make at least once in needlework class, like crocheting pot holders. :D. I approved your other comment before I really read it. It’s deleted now. I tried to comment on your post (very interesting btw), but got an error message.

  2. It still needs some work, sorry for the error message, I have to look into that. The one post on it is a try-out. 🙂

    1. I see :). I suggested to ask at a historico-anthropological department for help :)- But maybe we should continue this conversation via email 😀

  3. Nope, never done it! We knitted long dogs to put in front of a door in winter, and baby clothes and socks. I guess they wanted us to be prepared for motherhood hahaha! Yes, Viveca has similarities with Venitu, also, the expression is similar I think.

  4. Now that you mention the Venitu, the second photo (right column, top photo) really channels the “Venitu” characteristics. Could you share a profile photo of her? I haven’t seen her from that angle! In any case, I love the flower-print dress, it looks beutiful on her, and it’s very well done!

  5. Vanessa Flanigan

    I love your Ivy! She looks unique but also more ‘real’ than other dolls somehow….tempts me to get my own every time I see yours 🙂

    1. Thank you! I think she is very versatile, she could be a tomboy or a queen. I have not seen any other customizations of her yet, and I am very curious to see more of her.

  6. She is amazing. I love her face, her wonderful eyes and the gentle look. As you wrote – even with those big eyes she looks like a girl who knows what she wants.
    Her new wardrobe is great. 🙂

    1. Thank you! The more I photograph her, the more I love her. I would never have guessed from the promo pics that she has so much character. But that’s what I love about Raccoons- there’s always so much more.

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