How to make Apple head dolls

freebiegrl22 · 04-08-2001, 01:35 PM

This is soooo totally cool. I'm going to do this with my nephews for their mom's b-day. She likes dolls.

Apple head dolls are an early American
Folk art whose roots may belong to the
Iroquois Indians. The doll like figures
were thought to have been used in sacred
rituals. They are still being made today
as a reminder of a time before dolls were
mass produced.

Supplies needed
1 large apple
paring knife
peeler
lemon juice
16" wire
salt
newspapers
doll body
hair
hat
cloves
clothing etc

To make 1 doll start with a large apple.
Peel it leaving some skin around the stem
and blossom ends. Make as smooth a surface
as possible.
Starting with the nose use the point of a
knife to make a triangular cut in the middle
of the face about 1/4" deep. (wide base down)
Cut a flat plane on either side and below to bring out the nose.
Gently soften the lines of the nose by
scraping it with the knife.
Deepen the areas that will become the eye cavities to create a brow and make a
horizontal slit for each eye. Scraping three lines out from the eyes will make laugh lines
or crows feet.
Just like you did for the eyes cut a slit for mouth about 1/8" deep either straight or
curved upwards in a smile. As it dries it
will open up. To make the lower lip scrape a parallel shallow line below the mouth.
If you want the apple to remain light color immerse in lemon juice for a few minutes.
Poke a wire through the apple from the bottom
to the top and bend over one inch from each end. Hang to dry out of direct sunlight. Sprinkle it heavily with salt to hasten the drying process and prevent mold formation. Place newspapers underneath to catch any drips. After one week
the apple will become pliable and you can pinch added character to the cheeks and nose if you like.
In 3 - 4 weeks you'll have a head to add to any doll body. Cloves can be pushed in for eyes.
Eye glasses can be formed with wire and pushed into the hair and head. Add fleece hair, a hat, clothing, and whatever embellishments will add
to his or her character.

HaveKids,LostMind · 04-11-2001, 10:21 AM

Well, I thought this sounded cute from the subject, but I read it and found out you have to let the apple rot for a month! EWWWWWWW! yuck-o!

And after letting it sit for a week I dont think I would like to pinch some cheeks into it.

I wonder who thought this up in the first place. Maybe someone who peeled an apple then forgot about it for a month, and in the mean time lost the head to their favorite doll, then found the old apple and decided to attach it to the body of the doll?
You Freebiegrl22 or anyone else tries this, let me know how it turns out.

And thanks for posting!

freebiegrl22 · 04-11-2001, 12:20 PM

This was made by Indians. I too thought it sounded bad when I read the whole thing (It's my mom's recipe) I would still like to try it though, just to see, ya know!

HaveKids,LostMind · 04-11-2001, 01:22 PM

With my luck, my crazy kids would actually try to eat the things! A month old rotten and all!

crystel_rose · 04-11-2001, 07:24 PM

I know this sounds like a gross craft, but I actually made them in grade school and they're not all that bad. I remember thinking it was totally cool at the time and it was a big hit with my entire class. Thanks for the post!

RedRidingHood · 04-14-2001, 04:11 AM

I did this years ago when I was a teen. It turned out great ... The apple looked just like a little ole lady.. It was great.. Thank you freebiegrl22 for the memory. and I think I am going to try this with my daughter. she will love it

Red

Missysmom · 11-02-2002, 02:53 PM

Just Bumping this, I've seen these made up before,
they are really cool!

allyoop42 · 11-02-2002, 03:17 PM

These are cool, I remember making these years ago. Thanks.

Electric Chameleon · 11-03-2002, 01:14 AM

My sister did these years ago. I however have never tried them and wanted too. I am having a small problem though, I need a visual aid. Does anyone have a finished picture? Or a step by step picture site?

Maybe I am just brain dead today, but it sure would help me.

EC

04-08-2001, 01:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
freebiegrl22 The Lizard Queen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indiana/Ohio Posts: 3,735 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This is soooo totally cool. I'm going to do this with my nephews for their mom's b-day. She likes dolls. Apple head dolls are an early American Folk art whose roots may belong to the Iroquois Indians. The doll like figures were thought to have been used in sacred rituals. They are still being made today as a reminder of a time before dolls were mass produced. Supplies needed 1 large apple paring knife peeler lemon juice 16" wire salt newspapers doll body hair hat cloves clothing etc To make 1 doll start with a large apple. Peel it leaving some skin around the stem and blossom ends. Make as smooth a surface as possible. Starting with the nose use the point of a knife to make a triangular cut in the middle of the face about 1/4" deep. (wide base down) Cut a flat plane on either side and below to bring out the nose. Gently soften the lines of the nose by scraping it with the knife. Deepen the areas that will become the eye cavities to create a brow and make a horizontal slit for each eye. Scraping three lines out from the eyes will make laugh lines or crows feet. Just like you did for the eyes cut a slit for mouth about 1/8" deep either straight or curved upwards in a smile. As it dries it will open up. To make the lower lip scrape a parallel shallow line below the mouth. If you want the apple to remain light color immerse in lemon juice for a few minutes. Poke a wire through the apple from the bottom to the top and bend over one inch from each end. Hang to dry out of direct sunlight. Sprinkle it heavily with salt to hasten the drying process and prevent mold formation. Place newspapers underneath to catch any drips. After one week the apple will become pliable and you can pinch added character to the cheeks and nose if you like. In 3 - 4 weeks you'll have a head to add to any doll body. Cloves can be pushed in for eyes. Eye glasses can be formed with wire and pushed into the hair and head. Add fleece hair, a hat, clothing, and whatever embellishments will add to his or her character. __________________ The Lizard Queen sees and knows all. Do not tempt her wrath!

04-11-2001, 10:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
HaveKids,LostMind ¤¤¤Heather*Mama¤¤¤ Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,212 iTrader: (11) Thanks: 5 Thanked 34 Times in 8 Posts	Well, I thought this sounded cute from the subject, but I read it and found out you have to let the apple rot for a month! EWWWWWWW! yuck-o! And after letting it sit for a week I dont think I would like to pinch some cheeks into it. I wonder who thought this up in the first place. Maybe someone who peeled an apple then forgot about it for a month, and in the mean time lost the head to their favorite doll, then found the old apple and decided to attach it to the body of the doll? You Freebiegrl22 or anyone else tries this, let me know how it turns out. And thanks for posting! __________________ ♥Still in love with my highschool sweetheart♥ My Old Feedback Link

04-11-2001, 12:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
freebiegrl22 The Lizard Queen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Indiana/Ohio Posts: 3,735 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	This was made by Indians. I too thought it sounded bad when I read the whole thing (It's my mom's recipe) I would still like to try it though, just to see, ya know! __________________ The Lizard Queen sees and knows all. Do not tempt her wrath!

04-11-2001, 01:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
HaveKids,LostMind ¤¤¤Heather*Mama¤¤¤ Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,212 iTrader: (11) Thanks: 5 Thanked 34 Times in 8 Posts	With my luck, my crazy kids would actually try to eat the things! A month old rotten and all! __________________ ♥Still in love with my highschool sweetheart♥ My Old Feedback Link

04-14-2001, 04:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
RedRidingHood Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Lost in the forest, looking for Grandmas house Posts: 111 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	worked for me I did this years ago when I was a teen. It turned out great ... The apple looked just like a little ole lady.. It was great.. Thank you freebiegrl22 for the memory. and I think I am going to try this with my daughter. she will love it Red __________________ BUT Grandmother what big Samples you have.

04-11-2001, 07:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
crystel_rose Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Alaska Posts: 228 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I know this sounds like a gross craft, but I actually made them in grade school and they're not all that bad. I remember thinking it was totally cool at the time and it was a big hit with my entire class. Thanks for the post!

11-02-2002, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Missysmom PT Cruisin' Mama Join Date: May 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 2,146 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just Bumping this, I've seen these made up before, they are really cool! __________________ Some people find fault like there is a reward for it. ~ Zig Ziglar ~

11-02-2002, 03:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
allyoop42 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2000 Posts: 148 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	These are cool, I remember making these years ago. Thanks.

11-03-2002, 01:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
Electric Chameleon fortune say......... Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Alberta, Canada and proud to be Canadian! Posts: 990 iTrader: (0) Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	My sister did these years ago. I however have never tried them and wanted too. I am having a small problem though, I need a visual aid. Does anyone have a finished picture? Or a step by step picture site? Maybe I am just brain dead today, but it sure would help me. EC __________________ WORLD PEACE, IS THAT SUCH A HARD THING TO DO?

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