(You can read about Adalberta here.)
Want to buy my apples, dearie?

Adalberta the Apple Seller is a doll made by bashing a pre-existing figure.

The genesis for this setting was a McFarlane action figure of Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon album. I loved its twisted trees. I removed the figure and saved him for another use.

Then I added apples made from a berry sprig that I found among early Christmas decorations.

Lastly, I brushed on a thin wash of glue here and there and sprinkled fine model railroad foam to suggest the moss that grows on and around old trees in the mountains.
The base was ready; next came the Apple Seller....

Adalberta began life as a rather wild-eyed dollar store purchase. Made of a rubbery light stuff almost like hardened Jello, her arms could be stretched out quite long.

She was all in black, except that her bloomers and stockings were also painted the same flesh color as her face, and looked a bit odd, even for a witch. At first, I was going to give her striped stockings, but didn't like the effect, so wound up adding a coat of purple to match the purple I had given her sleeves.

Next I looked closely at her face; she had good detailing but her mouth and teeth were the same flesh color, too. I used a dark red for the interior of her mouth and then lightly touched her teeth with white.

I wanted her to look like a witch, but more friendly, and I also wanted her eyes to look less like fried eggs, so redid them a bit, too. I also wanted to add a bit more color, so decided to cut off her hat and give her a real scarf, instead of the one that was painted on.

Oh, dear, this is rather unnerving. She has a hole in her head!

And strange little balls were tumbling out, which made me cringe! I quickly pushed them back inside and stuffed a piece of batting in the opening.

Another recent purchase at the dollar store was these striped Halloween socks. I decided to use one to cut her a scarf.

Testing first with a piece of paper towel, I made a pattern and cut out a small triangle. I glued the scarf in place, taking a stitch in front with needle and thread to hold it together. After I glued her hat back on, I cut some tufts from a fur scarf and glued them sparsely around her face to suggest her hair. Then I painted the hat buckle silver and decided that was enough.

The last thing I added was her basket, a wonderful whimsical creation that was a swap gift. Unfortunately, I don't recall who made it, but hope to find out one of these days so that I can give her credit.
From that original rather ugly figure, Adalberta the Apple Seller had come alive for me. You can read the story of Adalberta here.