Beware of The Black Belsnickles

I adore sculpting old-world Belsnickles! Several months ago, one of my visitors asked if I had ever made any of my belsnickles black? I said that I would look for some old photos to show some of these from my own collection and here they are. These versions are sculpted entirely in paper mache pulp. They are approximately 21 inches tall and very heavy. I use an old method of sculpting and it takes many hours to create each Santa figure.

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Papier-mâché, Life-size Baby Doll

I made this papier-mâché baby doll several years ago. It is life-sized and can be dressed in real baby cloths, size three months.

Close up of the baby’s eyes.

The head of this doll is attached to a canvas body and has prefabricated limbs.

A view of her head from the side. I used acrylic paints for her head. Her lace bonnet belonged to my daughters.

This particular papier-mâché head is made with a layers of sanded pulps. Stockinette is stretched over the head and impregnated with Gesso at the end of the process before the head is painted.

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Doll Inspired By A Pin Cushion

I crafted this papier-mâché doll from processed pulps and
wood glue many years ago. I based the design on a vintage pin
cushion, pictured below.

The top half of her body is made from papier-mâché
and the lower half from scrap fabrics.

Here is a photograph of her back side. I used old lace
and vintage satin ribbon to dress her properly.

My great aunt gave me this half doll pin cushion for
Christmas one year when I was a very young girl.

Eventually, I had to replace the old
satin skirt with a new one.

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