Santos Doll

I finished the Santos cage doll I was working on. I think it turned out pretty good for a first attempt. This is "Our Lady of Fatima" It really didn't take that long to make. Had I been more diligent and worked consistently on it, I could have finished this in about 3 days total--- including drying time for the clay. But you know, life happens. *wink*

 I didn't follow any particular face or style of any I'd seen online while looking at the antique ones. 

 I wanted this to be my own... I made articulated arms using copper wire to hinge the pieces together. The bones of the arms are Popsicle sticks I covered in clay. I cut the popsicle sticks with my wire cutters, rounded the cut ends and then drilled a hole in them to feed the copper wire through.

 I made the hands out of smaller pieces of popsicle sticks that I taped wire to and then formed into fingers. Once the fingers were formed, I wove some floss through the fingers and around the popsicle stick for added strength. Lastly, I covered the hands in clay...


The arms I added to the torso with a peg joint. If I were to make another Santos doll, I think I would have the shoulder joint flush against the body. I might redo the arms at a later date... who knows.
 
I have my Lady of Fatima Santos cage doll standing on my dresser in front of a beautiful wooden cut piece. This amazing piece was cut from one solid piece of very thin board--- there is the Hail Mary prayer cut into it surrounded by beautiful scroll work. I found this piece years ago at a thrift store for only $3.00....

 I have half a bag of clay left.... I need another project to work on before I get withdrawals!
big hugs,