Dev

Dev is so very special to me, since he is the first 1:12 scale male doll I ever made. He is an Indian prince, dressed in white kurta pajama, a sage green sherwani intricately decorated with golden paint, and a pair of nagra shoes from Jaipur.

Created: November 2008

In the Collection of:

Patricia Townsend, CA

Dev and Sunehra were featured in UK's Dolls House World November '09 Issue #206, and Spain's Miniaturas Issue #143.
http://www.dollshouseworld.com/imag/issue206/pageflip.htm

Chandra

My Chandra was inspired by Chandramukhi from the movie Devdas. She is dressed in gold ghagra-choli, and is sparkling from head to toe in traditional Indian jewelry: the tiara, vindi, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets. Her hands and feet are decorated with henna.

Madhuri Dixit as Chandramukhi

Created: November 2008 

 In the Collection of : Patricia Townsend, CA

Parvati

Parvati is dressed in a peacock-blue sari embellished in jewel tones. Her hands and feet are painted in alta, a very traditional adornment used by the women of Bengal. Parvati has been in the private collection of Eileen Gorham, MA since April '08.

For a long time now, I have been looking at the film-still from Devdas and dying to create a doll inspired by Parvati played by the beautiful Aishwarya Rai.

To read the story of Devdas, visit:
http://devdas.indiatimes.com/story.htm

Reshma

My Reshma: as sensuous and soft as the silk that is her namesake. She picked bangles, necklaces, anklets, earrings and tiara that complement her peach and cream complexion. Her hands, arms and feet are adorned with traditional henna designs. Her bronze curls are arranged in an artfully braided chignon.

Reshma's ensemble was inspired by the peacock-feather that graces the mask she holds. She is dressed in antique gold Indian lehenga-choli: hand-embellished in gold and turquoise paint.

Created: May 2008

In the Collection of : Patricia Townsend, CA

Suhana

Princess Suhana: as dazzling and regal as the star that is her namesake. She is an incomparable beauty of the Orient, dressed in Indian brocade and exotic jewelry. Her wrapped dress, draped in the style of a sari, is made of a chocolaty plum silken fabric shot with gold: an intricate floral design woven on the achal. Her jewelry is accented in faux turquoise. Her hair is arranged in a braided chignon, but most of her thick shimmery copper curls flow freely about her shoulders.

In Hindi, Suhana means beautiful; in Arabic, it is the name of a star. Princess Suhana will grace a Persian Harem as befittingly as she would an Indian Palace.

I had a wonderful time making this doll, but the journey has been strange to say the least. When I started out, I was quite set on making a blond beauty wearing a Regency styled gown. I had even set aside the goldenrod chiffon fabric for the dress, and made yellow polymer clay roses to make into a bouquet. But when the doll was ready to be adorned, it was almost like she insisted on wearing a different dress: very much like the princess she is! I had been saving this fabric for later, but had to give in. She preferred copper curls to blond that I had in mind for her. And she had to have all the jewelry: even the anklets although they are normally covered up by her long skirt.

Created: March 2008 

In the Collection of: Susan Furfaro, NY

Medusa

I loved Medusa when she was a child,
Her rich brown tresses heaped in crispy curl
Where now those locks with reptile passion whirl,
By hate into dishevelled serpents coiled.
I loved Medusa when her eyes were mild,
Whose glances, narrowed now, perdition hurl,
As her self-tangled hairs their mass unfurl,
Bristling the way she turns with hissings wild.

Her mouth I kissed when curved with amorous spell,
Now shaped to the unuttered curse of hell,
Wide open for death’s orbs to freeze upon;
Her eyes I loved ere glazed in icy stare,
Ere mortals, lured into their ruthless glare,
She shrivelled in her gaze to pulseless stone.

-- Thomas Gordon Hake, The Infant Medusa.

As told by Ovid in Metamorphoses, Medusa was a beautiful young woman whose crowning glory was her magnificent long hair. She was desired and courted by countless suitors. Yet, before she could be betrothed to a husband, Poseidon (Neptune) found her worshipping in the temple of Athena (Minerva) and ravished her. Outraged at her sacred temple being violated, Athena punished Medusa by turning her beautiful tresses into snakes and giving her the destructive power to turn anyone who looked directly at her into stone.

My Medusa holds a stone heart in her palm -- blazing red with the torment that burns within her.

Created: October 2008 

In the Collection of: Dr. Shaukat J. Amanullah, Maryland

Jahan

This doll was a wedding gift I made for my aunt. Dressed in salwar-kameez, Jahan is a vision in gold and turquoise. She is adorned in traditional jewelry: bracelets, anklets, necklace, tiara and bindi. Her veil or dupatta is hand-embellished in jewel-toned fabric paint.

A Wedding Present for my Aunt. 

August 2008

Sabah

Princess Sabah: as beautiful as the glow of the rising sun. Her pearly complexion, dreamy brown eyes and soft pink lips have stolen the sleep of many a prince. Her ebony hair falls unbound to her waist. She is a vision of innocence in her billowy white dress trimmed in gold.

Created: February 2008 

In the Collection of: Susan Furfaro, NY