Helpful Tips and Hints

Seeley's new Deco Dip can be used to repair soft-fired ware that has "stretch marks", pinholes and chips.  It is also wonderful for dipping flowers, cotton laces, etc., and placing on your greenware or soft-fired items.

I have also discovered that using line media on your eye bevelers (in soft-fired stage) prevents almost all chipping.  We have had wonderful success with this method at the shop.

For frayed and/or frizzed brush ends dip in boiling water, spray with starch then freeze.  Rinse before using.

Use area medium to rim cut-out heads and shoulder plates.  Helps prevent them from cracking.  You can also fire on a pancake of slip which I use often on big heads and difficult breastplates.

Glue a piece of leather around the inside rim of neck where ball sits.  Also a good idea to do breast plates in the same manner.  This will add extra strength.

Put dots between the eyes and above and below the mouth to center eyebrows and lips.  Brows are usually straight up from the tear duct and have slight curve to them and end around the last two thirds of the eyelashes.

Dying pearls; use Rit dye in the color of your choice.  Place pearls in an old nylon stocking for ease in and out of the dye.  Soak pearls in dye, remove, rinse and let dry.

For an antique look use Wood Tone floral spray and lightly mist flowers, straw hats, and accessories.  You can also tarnish clasps, etc. by placing the clasp and a hard boiled egg into a zip lock bag.

For ease of getting eyes out of a head, soak in vinegar and water.

Wig curls on a doll should never be wider than the eye.

For cleaning and restyling old wigs, spray 409 on a small piece at a time and then use a tooth brush to comb through that small portion.  Roll this piece to coincide with the picture you are copying; this takes a very long time but the end result is very much worth the effort.  This is a life saver for a lot of old wigs.  This needs to dry gradually in order to stay, no hair dryer.  You can use Toni plastic curlers; small, medium or large.