Guinevere Paper Doll - Early Days

Guinevere - Season 1

Last week I started making a new paper doll of Guinevere based on the BBC's production of Merlin.  Although I cheated a bit in the first post I decided that I should make her costumes in order, charting her progress from a servant in the castle to Queen of Camelot.

Guinevere - Queen of Camelot

When we first met Gwen in Season 1 her clothing emphasised her lowly status and humble origins as a blacksmith's daughter.  Although brightly coloured, Gwen's early gowns were made out of fairly coarse hard-wearing material. The design of her outfits was functional - a pale linen under tunic covered by a tabard style outer garment.  Belts and ties were not purely decorative and were made of cord or twine.

Guinevere - Yellow Dress

Guinevere - Yellow Dress

Guinevere - Yellow Dress Sketch

When I first decided to make a paper doll of Guinevere I didn't think I would enjoy doing these early gowns all that much.  It was only when I began to study them more closely that I realised they have some lovely detail, especially around the necklines.

The crimson coloured cloak is also quite opulent for a serving girl and adds some nice detail to the red outfit.

In season 1 Gwen was overshadowed by Morgana with her glamorous wardrobe of beautiful shimmering gowns.  These early dresses have an appeal all of their own though - I think they gave Gwen a fresh and innocent look that was lovely in its own way. 

Guinevere - Red Dress

Guinevere - Red Dress

Guinevere - Red Dress Sketch

The original Guinevere paper doll post can be found here (posted 2 July 2012)

Guinevere - Season 2 and 3 Dresses can be found here  (posted 13 July 2012)

Guinevere - Season 4 Dresses can be found here (posted 19 Aug 2012)

Gwen Season 5 Velvet Burgundy dress can be found here (posted 6 Aug 2012)

The companion paper doll of Morgana can be found here. (Posted 1 Jan 2012)

 Sharon Souter - not to be used for commercial purposes

Whitman - Ballet Dancers #1962 / 1968

This is my latest paper doll purchase.  I have been looking for this set for quite some time to complete the trio of Whitman ballet paper dolls I originally played with as a child.  I have included posts on the other two before - Whitman Ballet Cut Outs -#1962/1964 (my favourite) and Whitman Now Playing Ballet Paper Dolls #1962/1966 .

I took a bit of a chance with this set, buying it with a job lot of 5 used/cut paper doll books.  I had no idea how complete anything was and what condition they would be in.  As I did not pay all that much for them I thought it was worth the risk and would have been happy enough to get three of the covers (including the one for this set) so the contents were a bonus.  I bought them from Jean Claude in Canada who was very helpful - his eBay shop toys and things 4u has all sorts of interesting items for sale.

I was thrilled to discover that this set was the most complete of the 5 in the lot and is in great condition considering it has been cut and presumably played with.  From what I can tell only one piece of headgear is missing - I have been able to find another scan of that costume and have included it at the end for completeness.

Of these three ballet paper doll books by Whitman (all numbered 1962) this one is my least favourite -  although I'm still extremely happy to have it purely for the memory factor.  I think I preferred dolls that were younger (closer to my age at the time) and I've never found the dolls in this set particularly feminine or ballerina-like.  With their muscular legs and athletic builds they look more like track athletes to me.

Strangely this is one set where I think I prefer the outfits off the dolls rather than on.  I think they look prettier somehow when the dolls are not wearing them!

This is the hat that I am missing - I've included the extra version of this costume here.

These Mist Covered Mountains are Home Now to Me ...

Last week I included a post about my past in I Had a Farm in Africa.  This week I'm on holiday and this is my present - the magical Wicklow Mountains.   Sometimes I'm truly in awe as to how I managed to end up here.  As a child in Africa I was always drawn to this type of landscape - straight out of a fantasy story.  Sometimes I think the fairies really must have brought me here.  

When I have time off work (as I have now),  all I usually want to do is stay at home.  As this is what greets me just behind my house I guess I can be excused for not wanting to rush off on a holiday somewhere else.  My job as an IT systems developer can be quite tiring and I spend hours commuting to work every day, so having a chance to stay at home is the most perfect break I can think of!

I took these pictures earlier today.  Of course my 'boys' are an essential part of my perfect holiday.

Anyone who is familiar with my blog by now will know that I like empty untamed landscapes.   The more remote a place is the more it appeals to me.  These views are timeless.

This next picture is the Powerscourt Waterfall taken from across the valley on the road we use to get to Enniskerry.  We went there this afternoon as I like to visit the garden centre at the Powerscourt Estate.  This is the same waterfall as the photo I chose for my blog title (just taken from much further away).

I don't really mind what the weather chooses to do when I am at home on holiday.  If it rains I sit in my study and write or paint and look at the trees in the mist through the window.

If the sun shines I sit outside - this is my favourite spot in the garden.  Sometimes I pretend I'm reading, but mostly I just sit and listen to the sound of the wind in the trees.   
    

I've noticed these roses (I call them my briar rose) are growing wild all over the hedgerows.  These are in the garden and twine themselves in between all the other flowers.

There are wild foxgloves in abundance everywhere also.  Some have seeded themselves in the garden but these are growing at the side of the road outside the house.  They seem to do exceptionally well there!

Guinevere - A Paper Doll (Lilac Dragon Dress)

                                               

Guinevere from the BBC's Merlin

I've thoroughly enjoyed making my paper doll of Morgana (and I'm not finished with her yet!).  It has been so much fun I decided to make a companion doll of Guinevere from the same series (the BBC's Merlin).

Guinevere is played by the lovely actress Angel Coulby.  Her sartorial journey has been the complete opposite of Morgana's.  Morgana started out in shimmering jewel-like creations but is now consigned to drab and dowdy black gowns that reflect her move over to 'the dark side'.

Gwen started the first series in unflattering sack-like dresses made of coarse material that emphasised her lowly position in Camelot as a servant and blacksmith's daughter.  With each passing season her clothing has cleverly evolved to match her changing status, until now as Queen of Camelot in Season 5 she is the one bedecked in red velvet and purple satin.

Angel Coulby as Guinevere 

      

In Gwen's case I think it is important to show her dresses in order, but having said that I'm breaking my own rule for this first 'Gwen' post by starting with her Lilac 'Dragon' dress.  I think this is the gown most people will associate with her character.  She virtually lived in it during seasons 2 and 3 but I never got tired of seeing her in it.

I think the dress is lovely.  The colour suits her, the material is soft and feminine and the styling very clever - it is pretty but still maintains her status during this part of the story as a maid in the palace.

Guinevere - Queen of Camelot

Guinevere - Lilac Dragon Dress

As with Morgana I'm including all the sketches for the dolls and dresses before they were coloured in.

Guinevere Paper Doll - Sketch

This was the initial rough sketch for Gwen.  Once I had decided how her basic form was going to look I traced this original drawing onto light cardboard for the figure above.

Guinevere - Initial Sketch

Gwen's 'dragon' dress before it was coloured in.  I tend to prefer the dresses in this sketch stage when they still leave more to the imagination.

Guinevere - Lilac Dragon Dress Sketch

Guinevere - Season 4 Dresses can be found here (Posted 19 Aug 2012)

Guinevere - Season 2 and 3 Dresses can be found here (Posted 13 July 2012)

Guinevere - Season 1 Dresses can be found here (Posted 10 July 2012)

Gwen Season 5 Velvet Burgundy dress can be found here (Posted 6 Aug 2012)

  The companion paper doll of Morgana can be found here (First post 1 Jan 2012)

 Sharon Souter - not to be used for commercial purposes