Kewpie Paper Dolls

Kewpie dolls were very popular when I was growing up.  This paper doll book is not complete and has been enthusiastically played with, but what has survived is still very cute.  I think much of its appeal is the dinky size of the dolls and their clothes.  There must have been six dolls originally.  I am missing number 1 - if I find it tucked away with some of my other possessions (together with any of the other dresses) I'll post it at a later date. 

One more outfit for doll #5 can be found at the end of the Cinderella-Jack-and-Jill-Story Favourites paper doll post.  It is an extra one I discovered when looking for the dresses for that post.

While I was sorting through some of my old paper dolls this week I found this dress.  It belongs to my original set of the little ballerinas that I posted in January (25th).  This is one of the extra dresses that was not in the book I bought on eBay recently but was included in my older version of the set.

Click here to see the full Little Ballerina's book (posted 25 January 2011)

Homage to Embleton

Last week I posted a paper doll I made when I was in my twenties.  This week I'm including the last of the completed dresses I have for her.  All except one were copied from my favourite artist Ron Embleton (who has already featured more than once in this blog.) 

Once again I'm showing the original illustration, followed by the dress I made from it.

Ron Embleton - Snow White

Ron Embleton - The Secret of the Trolls

Ron Embleton - The Three Soldiers

Ron Embleton - The Tinder Box

The last dress is another whose origin I've forgotten although I seem to remember that it may have come from an illustration for Rumplestilskin.  This dress would have been copied from another artist.

 Paper dolls copyright Sharon Souter - not to be used for commercial purposes 

Hidden Dublin

I'm not usually a fan of graffiti but I think this pretty ballerina is an exception.  It appeared a few weeks ago on the back door of a restaurant near to my work. 

And finally for this week another photograph taken early in the morning during my stroll to work through St Stephen's Green.  The light and tranquility of the scene were perfect and I love the image I managed to capture.  I will probably end up with hundreds of photos of the park by the time I am finished.

A Paper Doll of My Own

I'm moving house this week so my blog entry is a couple of days earlier than usual while I still have the time!

Earlier this month I celebrated my birthday. One of my closest friends from early childhood sent me the card I've included at the end of this post together with a comment about the paper dolls we used to make and play with as children.

I'm not sure if any of those dolls still survive, but I do still have this doll I made in the 1980's when I was in my early 20's.  Her dresses were all copied from my favourite illustrators. In those days there was no way of scanning anything and books were the only source of reference. Everything had to be copied by hand!

The first 3 dresses I've decided to post this week were all taken from the story of Sleeping Beauty in the Splendour Book of Ballet.  (I devoted a blog post to this book in January although none of these illustrations were included.)  They are the work of the Italian artist Maraja.

In each case I'm including the original illustration followed by the dress I made from it.

I'm also including the following two dresses although I can no longer remember what I based them on.  I think the Elizabethan dress came from a Nursery Rhyme book but am not completely sure.  I've posted half of the dresses I have for the doll this time and will include the rest next week.

This is the card that made me think of the doll again.  It's from Australia and I think its lovely. Thanks Vivienne!   

 Paper dolls copyright Sharon Souter - not to be used for commercial purposes 

Nadir Quinto

Nadir Quinto - Sinbad the Sailor

Nadir Quinto (1918-1994) was an Italian artist, born in Milan.  As with the other artists already featured in this blog he was extremely versatile, working as both a cartoonist and illustrator.  From the mid 50's to mid 60's he contributed to a number of English publications such as Treasure, World of Wonder and Look and Learn.  The illustrations included here are a selection of my favourites and are taken from various issues of the children's magazine Once Upon a Time.

Nadir Quinto's style as an illustrator suits these paintings perfectly, combining clean lines, clear colours and an exquisite attention to detail.

  

Sinbad the Sailor

Stella and Her Magic Carpet

Thumbelina

Tiny Tom Thumb

Trinity College Dublin - Spring Flowers

This tree in Trinity College's 'secret garden' is one of the loveliest sights of Spring.  The blossoms only last for a couple of weeks in April but are a magnificent sight while the tree is in bloom.

Another picturesque part of the college in Spring is the path leading towards the Campanile. The magnolia tree always makes me think of a fountain of flowers.