This book has more bead embellishment than the last. There is page after page in full color of dolls to make you laugh, cry and desire. The Preface explains what the book is about and the introduction takes you through the process of how you think and create; obtainable goals and thoughts about what you want your dolls to be about.

There is a chapter dedicated to problem solving and has an example of making a doll called Lucy and all the steps that are required. Form and shape is explained along with information about making human and animal forms. How about a human form with a bird or dog head? Sure, it can be done, just read on. Shapes are broke down to abstracts to make designing easier, ideas for dolls with more than two arms or other body parts are fun ideas.

I especially enjoyed Neon by Deb Shattil, a 22" cloth doll; she looks like a happy clown lady. Woman Spirit Talisman by Pamela Armas has printed designs on the doll clothing that look like Eye of God motifs and has a baby or doll shape in hand and the beaded loin cloth on the doll was created by Harriet Turner. Delightful!

Design elements, color texture, pattern, balance, harmony and style are explored. You always see examples of finished dolls using the principles Susanna offers. The Whole Body is next and gesture and poses, illusions and delusions and proportion are detailed. There are illustrations of the human form with basic proportions of male and female, babies and adolescents. Ideas for developing patterns and how to make a template are included. Then pages of color plates of designer dolls follows.

Molds are explained with step-by-step instructions and illustrations followed by more wonderful dolls. Armatures are broken down into several techniques along with yummy dolls that have armatures in their bodies. Page 76 has some easy sweet dolls with wire and beads that would be very easy to make adding your own embellishment and include in your doll collection. New Perm and Hazel’s Pearl by Annie Wylde-Beem were some of my favorites. Susanna Oroyan’s Flapper is just a treat; she looks like she is dancing!

Sculpture shows you what to do with the face and figure and then you learn to assemble the whole doll together. Cloth bodies as armatures is next and then you learn to make figures that are dancers or look like they are in the middle of movement. More lavish dolls follow.