Victorian Winter is a new doll company that first opened last summer. “Victoria” creates and casts all her dolls and has designed her own unique doll eyes. Her first doll was the Tylwyth Teg Faerie Odette, and she has recently released faerie Gwendolyn and tiny Bwca Mostyn. She is currently working on a new doll inspired by Gibson Girl illustrations.
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Q: Could you give me some background on yourself and on your company? How did you become interested in creating your own dolls? How did you decide to develop your fairy line?
A: I have always loved dolls since I received my first Porcelain doll when I was very little. Around 2006 I had come across BJD during my senior year of High School. I had only seen a few surfing the net, so I had no clue about exactly what they involved. After that I enrolled in Collage and had my first experience with a ball jointed doll in person. The beauty of the doll overwhelmed and fascinated me to the point that I had to see more (I believe it was a Luts CP Tanning Lishe). Being a collage student of course I had no money to buy one of my own. And that is when my love of doll making started. I have done pretty much every medium of art you can think of, so sculpting wasn’t new to me. I researched all over the Internet, trying to figure out joints and how to sculpt something hollow. I finished sculpting my first doll and it was finished in late 2007 for a class project. He was MSD size and was made out of polymer clay. He wasn’t the best, but he was my first, and I was dearly proud of him. I had made another which was a lot better then that, and for my 20th birthday my Mom and my God Father had gotten me a Fairyland Puki Pong, which had really flared up my love to sculpt dolls since I had one in person. I’ve made about 4 more since then, mainly tinies, and a 50cm one I’m still working on (Those are not including my fae’s).
A: Yes, art has always been my life, and I enjoy how to learn and use different mediums. I started with drawing, but eventually branched off using many other mediums during my teen years. Then during College, Sculpting began to be my favored medium. I just love creating things.
Q: How did you learn to cast dolls?
A: Trial and error. Molding was the hardest part, however, over time I’ve figured out some tricks and methods in making a better mold. I’ve also gotten help from the internet well.
Q: What materials do you sculpt your prototypes with?
A: Mainly Paper clay, it’s more forgiving than other clay. I also use Apoxie sculpt for smaller details, since its a little stronger.
Q: Do you own any other dolls besides your Puki?
A: I have an Idealian Gluino, I named Gammon.
Q: Do you have some favorite companies or doll types?
A: I have quite a few; SOOM, Fairyland, Luts, Unoa, DIM, Crobi doll; Its hard for me to find a doll I don’t like.
Q: What does Tylwyth Teg translate to exactly?
A: Tylwyth Teg translates to “Fair Folk”. It is a common term for Faeries in Wales. They are usually portrayed as benevolent, but capable of mischief; neither entirely good nor completely evil, unlike the Scottish division into and Unseelie. Seelie
Q: Can you tell me more about your new size of doll, Bwca?
A: During my work on the Tylwyth Teg line, there was an issue with things going missing. I had an ongoing joke about the fact there must be a Brownie running a muck in my workplace. I decided to finally create a brownie to please the one taking my things, thinking he may just be jealous the Fae’s are getting all the attention. Things haven’t been missing as much, AS much. 😉
Following the Welsh language as I did with Tylwyth Teg, Bwca (Boo-kah) is Welsh and means Brownie.
I’ve always loved Celtic Mythology, to me it seems to be the base of all things fantasy. I wanted to name them something that would give them that otherworldly feel, to the roots of Celt.
Q: Will all the doll lines have similar names?
A: My fantasy lines will.
Q: Will you be making more small dolls?
A: There will be more in the Bwca line, along with Anthro’s of the same size. I also have another that’s about 27cm. I have plans for smaller dolls than the Bwca.
Q: Do you have any anthro dolls started?
A: I have a few started. One will be released in the upcoming month.
Q: How small might your smallest doll be?
A: Possibly just a few centimeters or more.
Q: I noticed that your new faerie Gwendolyn’s red eyes are quite unusual, then I saw on your blog that you make them?
A: That’s right, I wanted to make something that would add an extra element of fantasy to my Fae.
Q: How are they made?
A: I use a combination of clear resin, paint, and black resin.
Q: Who makes the clothing for your dolls?
A: lovely person who owns The Monkey that Sees.
A: I come up with a couple of sketches of outfits I would like to see and then send them to her. The Monkey that Sees then uses those ideas to create a costume design that she can create. She sends those back for the OK, then proceeds in making the costumes.
Q: Did you design your website?
A: I’ve done a bit of coding and web design in the past. So I constructed mine and hope it is up to par with others.
Q: Will you be offering additional fantasy parts for your dolls?
A: Eventually, I’m currently working on a lot of horns, hands, feet, wings, and ears.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about your future plans regarding new dolls?
A: There are nine dolls I’m currently working on and 4 drawn up. One of the next is a 50cm doll, with a more Victorian style feel, no fantasy parts for her at the moment.
Q: Can you tell me more about your 50 cm doll?
A: I started her a few years ago, and recently decided to revamp her.
Q: What makes her “Victorian” to you?
A: I loosely based her face off of Charles Dana Gibson’s art (My favorite artist). Her body is less exaggerated and more reality-based.
Q: What plans do you have for the Victorian dolls you are working on?
A: The first one to be released is somewhat of a young teen, in design. I plan on releasing adults and younger children relative in scale to the first release.
A: What interests you about the period?
A: To me it is the most elegant era of all. Its very modest, I love the clothes, furniture, architecture, jewelry, carriages, hair, just everything about that period.
Q: How do you plan to convey it in your dolls?
A: The faces will be more of the portraits of women and children during that time. The hands and feet. Their joints and body shape, and also their clothing.
Q: When do you hope to release the first one?
A: In April.
