Floradora Smiles
Before Face
In 2020, one of my lovely wooden-doll-carving friends sent me a dogwood blank to carve since we were prevented from getting together by the pandemic lockdown. I did manage to extract Floradora from the wood, though dogwood is one of the hardest woods I have ever carved. I loved her very much, but I thought she ended up a little serious and remote. So this year, when my carving friends were at last able to meet in person again, I brought Floradora with me, hoping to put a smile on her face and cute her up a little – this is her face before I changed anything…
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During Face
…and here she is after I gave her a nice cheerful smile!
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Before Hair
While I was at it, I “fixed her hair”…
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During Hair
…by carving a dogwood flower in it.
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Smile
I didn’t dislike her before, but I love Floradora’s new happy smile!!
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After Face
…and she seems to have more enthusiasm for everything…
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After hair
…and a pretty flower in her hair to remind us of the wood she is made from!
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Quimper Hittys 
This is a magical touches on her face… I loved too dear Hitty Lady, and without a doubt I am a lover of your photos. Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you Nia, sometimes it takes a little time to see what I want to change, and luckily I had my carving friends to advise me on how to accomplish it!
She was always happy, and now she’s sharing it!
I am happy too – thank you for helping me to help her share her smile!
She is superlative! The touch of the flower is a wonderful reminder of her origin.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of the dogwood flower before, but I am glad I did now, and glad there was enough room to add it in. She likes it!
OH my goodness! She is enchanting! I love all the changes! Congratulations- you must be over the moon 🙂
I am pleased…I keep learning new things, and trying them out on the dolls – Floradora is very pleased to have a little sparkle and enthusiasm now!
Your mastery is inspiring and delightful…. your dolls have such life and charm!
Magical developments both! How extraordinary, that you can bring out such a change in feeling in hard tough wood. Skill – and vision.
…and good tools, excellent teachers, and practice! I am happy with the cheerful Floradora!
Such a sweet, happy girl and it shows on her face.
Thanks! I think she will bring sunshine to the Hitty cupboard!
She used to be a little enigmatic and mysterious, a little ‘Mona Lisa-ish’. Now, she’s clearly plain happy. And I bet she’s grateful for the flower in her hair.
I thought so too, and maybe even austere…I do like her happy smile, and she does love that flower, after all I named her Floradora! She and Viola will have to get together and compare!
You have such skill and talent, both versions are gorgeous, I love how you’ve managed to adjust her expression and hairdo without appearing to lose any size/ volume. I hope you have the opportunity to show someone else how to do this.
perfection! What a gentle beautiful smile she has now. I love the flower in her hair also. She is simply adorable.
Thanks! She is a good positive influence in the Hitty cupboard -we all cheer up when she encourages us with that smiling face!
Such magic you have brought to the delightful Floradora. Her smile and twinkle were very much worth waiting for. Her dogwood blossom is the final touch that brings a smile to both her comings and goings. Thanks so much for sharing the transformation of this delightful being.
We are always happy to share our fun! Floradora is really happy to have the flower in her hair all year round, instead of having to wait until May!