Brunhilde Hafthorsson

For the Art Dolls Only Burlesque Challenge, I finished a second doll. I am calling her Brunhilde. She isn't in the dancing business any longer, but she was, so I think that counts. Here is her story:

Brunhilde Hafthorsson, former Icelandic beauty queen, former heir of a pre-war German chocolate factory, former rising French starlet, reduced to near poverty by her indisgressions with a certain foreign Count, she spent her middle age as a dancer in a now defunct Left Bank French cabaret. A bit past her prime, she is now simply a lady in waiting. She knows not for what.



I listed her on Etsy the other day. I am waffling a bit -- should I keep her? I think lately most of my dolls are really for me, but for now she is for sale.

Her clothing is handmade and designed by me from hand-dyed apple-green washed silk charmeuse (I had a small piece left from the inside of my Marilyn's cape and seem to be in love with this color) and rayon deep green velvet. Her gown is strapless with a rolled rose embellishment at the waist and machine embroidery hem. Her cloak is washed and crushed deep green velvet with black maribou feather collar and front edging. Her slippers are medium green silk with gold thread brocading (also a leftover piece from Marilyn's gown) and dark green wool felt soles. She is wearing a maribou feather puff at the crown. She measures approx 14" tall. She is poseable. I went back to my old style and used wire and crystal bead joints for her elbows and knees. I think they suit her. She can flop about better that way. Her hair is raw silk. It is a bit fiddly and fragile, so though very beautiful and shiny, won't tolerate a lot of tussling.



I also made her a chaise. The lovely Stella Pesci, milliner extraordinare, recently sent me a gigantic box of some of her loose millinery scraps and some decent sized pieces as well. I have been making use of them quite well. Thank you, Stella! There was this smoky gray velour in there that was just begging to be a lady in waiting's chaise. I gave it bronzed metal legs.