Joyce Scrima

Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Joyce Scrima’s childhood was filled with dolls and their clothes. I'll let Joyce tell you, “I still have drawings of my first fashion designs and some poorly constructed garments. I would dream, imagine, and fantasize for hours and hours. Recreating that magical feeling is something that I strive for today. In my childhood I was satisfied with making tube dresses, today I need much, much, more. I inherited my art talent from my dad and my sewing abilities from my mom. They dedicated an incredible amount of time and patience to teach me these skills. During my teenage years, I attended classes at the Chicago Art Institute because I just loved to draw. After graduating high school, I was accepted at Pratt Institute in New York where I received my BFA with a major in fashion design."

Because of her training as both an artist and a fashion designer, Joyce chose to become a textile designer in New York. Working with many of the top fashion designers, she was able to create special printed fabrics for each designer as well as create her own line of textiles. Although Joyce had great success from the start, her decisions weren’t always the best! “At the very beginning of my career, as a print designer for the Emilio Pucci men's shirt collection,” Joyce recalls, “I was invited to participate in the fashion show for the new season. During the celebration, Mr. Pucci signed the original sketches that were framed on the walls. Well, the show was a great success and I was invited to the party afterward. As I was leaving, he asked me if I would like to take home the sketches. But at that time, my priorities were going to the party! So I left the sketches on the wall. What was I thinking?”

A few years ago, Joyce’s mother gave her a Bob Mackie Barbie®. Joyce has been collecting ever since! “I only collect fashion type dolls,” Joyce states, “but it seems as if I have to have them all!” Currently, she is most interested in the 15"-16" dolls and tries not to commit herself to one brand. “Each doll has its own unique personality,” Joyce states, “and I like different looks.”

Approximately two years ago, after seeing the most beautiful doll repaints and costumes on the Internet Joyce started designing her own dolls. “I was really impressed with the work I saw by doll artists.” Joyce recalls, “I just knew what I had to do. There was this whole art doll world out there. I didn't want to miss any of it. The Internet has offered us a means of communication so our dreams can become a reality and this can happen anywhere in the world.”

Joyce continues to consult on textiles to a limited number of fashion industry clients. This way, she stays informed on the latest trends, colors, shapes, and has access to new technology. Joyce has no desire to grow her doll business into a commercial type business. “As a fabric designer,” Joyce states, "I printed thousands of yards of fabric a year. As a doll designer, I want to be creative and have total control over the end product. There is a certain satisfaction gained from being able to use my time to experiment, make mistakes and become involved with a creation.”

"My inspiration comes from just about everything from vintage magazines to video games,” Joyce notes, “but mostly from the streets of New York. From the designer fabrics in the garment center to the SoHo art galleries, I only have to walk a block or two and my mind starts working. Sometimes I finish an entire gown in my head then have to return home to actually sew it! Usually, though, the amount of time from conception to finished outfit varies from a few days to a few months. I begin with quick sketches on Post-it® notes. I literally have stacks of them stuck to everything! I then draft the pattern or drape the fabric for special looks. Each fabric has its own properties, whether it is soft, crisp, slinky, etc. Construction of the garment entails special machine settings, tiny seams, linings, and interfacings. It must fit like a glove! No ill-fitting garments are allowed for these very special girls! Next, the final touches are applied: crystal beading, vintage embroideries and antique laces. Every detail is important to me as well as to the collector.”

When asked whether she starts with a design or a fabric, Joyce responds, “I work both ways, but usually the fabric sets the tone for the garment. It seems that whenever I sketch a design first, I can never find the right fabrics or details. Finding fabric in the right scale is a never-ending battle. Although I love the designing of a garment most of all, the actual sewing and finishing of the dress teaches me a great deal. It is from this experience that I learn what sketches can or can not be reproduced in a small scale. And many times, it is at this point that I will suddenly change the design! That's the beauty of creating a one of a kind; it only gets better!”

Joyce loves shopping for materials and trims. She also makes all of her own jewelry and accessories, traveling to all areas of the city to find something special. “Vintage shops are popping up all over,” Joyce notes, “and of course there is the 26th St. flea market where Andy Warhol bought so many of his deco items. The garment center has everything a person can image. Each block is dedicated to a specialty: fabrics, trims, buttons, imports, clothes, ties, handbags! The options are endless! My other big source is definitely the Internet. Just about anything can be found online!”

Living in a loft in the SoHo area of New York, Joyce has no space problems! “I can lay out all my favorite fabrics with my dolls.” She notes, “Luckily I have a husband who is a designer and two understanding children. Having lived here for many years, I am quite comfortable in this space. Creativity comes easily!”

Joyce doesn’t really do a lot of advertising. “Between my web site, www.sohodolls.com, and my eBay auctions, I'm kept quite busy.” Joyce states, “It seems as if my customers and I think alike. We know exactly what we are talking about and their ideas are very clear and specific. It is a pleasure to work with collectors who know exactly what they want.” Joyce's eBay ads are as exquisite as her gowns. Here's one from a year ago, followed by a close up of the dress!

Discussing how travel has influenced her work, Joyce notes that “as a fabric designer, I have traveled extensively and have been truly inspired by the wonders of this world. Nothing compares to the quality and workmanship that is still being used in many countries. I was specifically interested in fabric printing techniques and trends. I was most impressed with the printing of silk panels or engineered prints by Pucci®, Versace® and Hermès®. My new collection reflects my knowledge in this area and I am now designing my own fabrics, scaled to the size of the doll. They are hand painted, embroidered, embellished and printed specifically for each garment, similar to the way silk panels are printed in Como Italy. Artfully created, each gown has a personality of its own, magical, sexy, ravishing, extraordinary, or just downright beautiful!
My gowns are all one of a kind and that is what makes each one so special. Only one collector will own it.”

Joyce puts as much thought into repainting her dolls as she does in costuming them. “Many of my repainted dolls are fantasy oriented. “ Joyce states, “One thing always leads to another and my original ideas evolve into a whole new realm of doll art. The costume, facial expression and pose must all be designed to enhance each other in a balanced manner. Usually I begin when I simply want to change the lip color or hairstyle. Once I have a brush in my hands, look out! I am committed to creating something totally new. I remove all the original paint and let my imagination work overtime. I begin putting together the colors for the eye shadow, with snips of different fabrics for the costume, and think about the hair treatment. The jeweled details, the accents, the glamour of the gown, the glimmer of wings, compliment each other. The expression of the eyebrows or curve of the lips must all be taken into consideration for achieving a certain ‘look’. Again, as in the costume, the painting of the face must be in scale and absolutely perfect. There

are no short cuts when it comes to repainting. It's tedious and tight work, and yet each tiny brush stroke must show a flair or expression. It is that twist of a number 5x0 brush that does the trick. I try a variety of techniques to achieve the visual impact that I want. A certain feeling or mood is created by using color and texture. I sometimes dust the color on, or paint in very transparent layers. Many times I mix small amounts of metallic acrylic paints for highlights. Shadows must match the skin tone and be blended to perfection. Once I boiled the hair a bit too long and had a massive frizz ball. I guess that's called ‘learning from experience’.”

Joyce thrives on her freedom to create what she wants. “Being able to express my own distinctive personal style is something that means very much to me. There are no boundaries set in this environment. I do not have an art director, a marketing team or deadlines. A computer can not reproduce my work into a volume business. The complexity of the finished doll hopefully sends a strong message to the ultimate collector.” As they happily snap up her dolls and designs, these same collectors appear to be sending a strong message back to Joyce!