Paraparaumu doll maker's Jewel Eyes wins top prizes

HANDMADE: Carol Prockter with her award winning handcrafted doll Jewel Eyes. Photo: David Haxton / KAP040517DHdoll

A Scottish doll handcrafted by Paraparaumu woman Carol Prockter has won the best-in-show award at the world famous Adelaide Hills Doll Guild convention.

Carol spent a number of months creating Jewel Eyes in homage to her family's Scottish tartan and name Anderson.

"I had been putting it off for a while and then thought 'nah get into it'."

The doll's creation started in about October last year by making a head out of a mould, cleaning it, making holes for the eyes, firing it in a kiln, and then painting the face.

The head was then put on a composition poured body before Carol created a costume, wig, socks and shoes.

The convention, held in Hahndorf, South Australia, last month, featured a reproduction doll competition which attracted over 100 entries from around the world across 27 categories - Jewel Eyes was entered in the French 16" and over category in the antique reproduction class.

Not only did Carol win the best-in-show award, she won the best professional antique doll award as well as the prestigious Natalie Stewart award which is given to a doll that looks like an original.

"I was a bit overwhelmed actually.

"I've had success in the past but this was three awards all in a row plus rosette and all the bells and whistles including A$200 prize money."

Carol, a member of the New Zealand Doll Federation, has been involved in doll making for about 20 years.

"I've got a background in graphic design and display art and I like three dimensional work.

"I went to a doll show once and thought 'I really like the look of those', especially the antique dolls more than the modern dolls.

"And so I decided to give it a go and it went from there."