Melangell's Miscellanea and Artwork
Let's have a look at the stages which go into the creation of a Mystikal Maiden - the photo is the Moon Chalice Maiden, currently residing in Maryland, USA.
Firstly she needs a dress - all my dresses are carefully made here at home, to our own special pattern, using a nice lightweight velvet which drapes prettily and has a beautiful surface sheen....I usually choose deeper shades (and of course the perennial favourite, jet black) such as forest green, chocolate brown, plum, charcoal grey and burgundy, but you will occasionally find ivory, white and silvery shades too. And if I find a garment in a charity shop which has exceptionally attractive fabric, I may use that too.
Trimmings include lace, ribbon, plaited ribbon, jewels and all manner of lovely trims from my local fabric store. (www.abakhan.co.uk), all carefully chosen to compliment and enhance the mood of the doll and her particular theme.
What next? Some doll-sized jewellery of course! Most Maidens will have a rather nice medieval-style girdle, which will be ornamented as the fancy takes me with charms, beads and jewels - usually there wil be some reference to witchy and pagan motifs (as that is the inspiration for my dolls after all) She will require a necklace of some sort - maybe a choker, or simple beads, or something more elaborate - so another rummage through the jewel box will usually supply the wherewithal for that.
It is only befitting that each doll should have a tiara, circlet, garland or similar on her dainty head - whatever best reflects her theme. And most dolls have some small accessory or other too - it might be a tiny bouquet, or a miniscule Book of Shadows, a diminutive genuine crystal, a chalice, a charm or anything at all!
I should also say that before being dressed, I carefully enhance each Maiden's eyes using acrylic paints, in order to change the colour and accentuate the shadowing in different shades to go with her outfit, and make her rather different from the original factory-produced doll she once was.
After being sewn into her dress and adorned with all her jewellery and bits and pieces, I closely look over each doll to make sure she is as lovely as I can make her and that she will fully live up to the expectations of her eventual owner.
Then it's off for photographs, a write-up and away to the land of Ebay! I would of course prefer to sell my dolls on here, but sadly I cannot afford to miss the opportunity of the much wider exposure they have on Ebay.
So there we have it - each Maiden is the end result of hours of close and careful work! I love creating these dolls and if you would care to look in my galleries you will see I have made quite a few!
For further information email me at christine@melangell.co.uk