Puppeteer

There's been some enthusiasm about puppets recently. Here's some more for the topic.
Alexander Mergold is a Canadian puppet, doll and figure maker working in polymer and air dry clays whose marionettes, jointed dolls and standing figures are just wonderful.
His main style is naturalistic (I mean hyper real) portraiture and caricature. Many of his people are recognizable celebrities. His site is very cool and nicely organized -tons of pages to see. Be sure to check out the video of his puppets starring in a tv commercial - which incidentally gives an idea of the depth of the realism.
However if you visit his blog, you will find a whole other world of creatures and monster puppets and a lot of charming whimsy as well. Not to mention cool pics of wips and the underlying jointing. Here's his Etsy store.

Spring Mayhem

There are still a very few spaces left for Magic, Mischief and Mayhem this April 8-11, in Shelbyville, KY.
The line up of workshop instructors includes some of doll making's most eminent figures - Patti Culea, Judy Skeel and Cyndi Mahlstadt.
More information from anniedolls@roadrunner.com

Fiber Art class

Not really dolls - but it seems like the techniques could be used for doll making. Susan Sorrell is offering a bunch of reasonably priced online classes on a range of Fiber Art and Mixed Media topics. I like the look of Funky Felt Pins and Doodling designs - faces and fabrics perhaps.

Cute Ninja

I am indebted to Craft Magazine for the news about Ninja of The Month from Shawnimals. For a single price you will receive 12 numbered limited edition plush residents of Ninjatown Academy with accessories and other stuff. They are 426 very cute characters in the Shawnanimals world.

New Art Doll Blog

Megan Butel, Australian doll afficianado, has started a new blog about art dolls.
Art Doll Artists will feature news, tips, interviews and resources about and for art doll makers. More dolls online - yay.

Enchanted Resin

Don't look now - Marina Bychkova, the Enchanted doll maker, is about to start producing resin BJD's - still painted with limpid delicacy. She has written about her process on her blog.

Book Giveaway

Craft Gossip is holding a random draw give away for what looks like a really sweet book written by a felting doll maker about felt dolls. It is called "Felt Wee Folk" by Salley Mavor. On her blog are more deets about the book and about some challenges based on the felt characters. How cute are they?

Short Hiatus

There will be a short hiatus from new posts for about two weeks. I'll be back with new websites and events in the first week of February. In the mean time please revisit some of the older posted blogs for updates of people's doll art doings, and don't forget the Dolls and Miniatures section of Etsy!

Haitian Earthquake

Cross posted from my other blog:

I'm pretty horrified by the ongoing news from Haiti. When I don't know what else to do, or how to help, I make stuff. I will be making a Dream Doll, starting at once, to sell with the proceeds going to assist - perhaps the Red Cross would be a good place to donate. I'll decide that later. In the mean time, I want to challenge my crafting and doll making friends to do the same. Perhaps we can set up a day of auctions on Ebay for Haiti Earthquake relief.

Monstrous

Cody Goodin is having a blog giveaway to celebrate his blogging anniversary. The prize is this goblin monster critter. Go to his blog, and follow the intructions (follow, comment with contact info) to win.

Then pop across to the other happy reason for his celebration and visit The Dark Artists' Guild, which has declared the Year of the Monster.

Twin Pines For Sale

Received today from Nicholas Hill at Twin Pines of Maine, a company whose products I use for my dolls and which I have featured here in the past:

You can own Twin Pines Of Maine.

All of the products offered by Twin Pines were made specifically for
dolls simply because there were no safe, effective, commercial products
available to do the job at hand. The need for each product was described
by my wife, Barbara, so she could manage her extensive collection
safely. I make all of the products. My name is Nicholas Hill. I am a
chemist. I am not a doll collector.

Over the years the demand for each product has grown significantly and,
at present, tens of thousands of collectors in virtually every country
of the world enjoy the quality, safety and effectiveness of Twin Pines
Products. There is no competition from any company anywhere in the
world.

Sadly, a few years ago Barbara passed away. Since I am not a collector I
have decided to sell the Company. There is an announcement on the
www.TwinPines.com web site.

The sale will include all product formulations, production equipment,
raw material inventory, containers, customer list, domain name, complete
training and a very complete doll reference library.

Seller financing may be available for an appropriately qualified buyer.

The selling price is in the low six figures. Serious buyers only please
e-mail me at Nick@TwinPines.com .

Nicholas Hill

*I will add that I have used their cold water wash, the translucent green liquid, as an awesome spot cleaner and stain lifter on our regular clothes as well as for doll clothing. It does better on oily stains than pretty much anything else, and tiny drop goes a very long way. I have also reduced vintage Barbie ear greening with 911. Nothing gets that gone entirely, but I am happy with my results.

Gals and Dolls in the news

Here's a lovely article in her local paper about the doll club in which my doll friend Em participates. Don't their upcoming round robin projects sound cool?

Online classes

It has been some time since I posted about online classes, so I thought it might be a nice time to remind everyone of the new offerings at Joggles. As well as the luscious fiber and mixed media art technique classes, there are numerous doll and figure offerings - everything from beginning needle felting through fairy wings to cloth and polymer clay figures and art dolls. Currently classes are scheduled all the way through April, with many well known and admired doll makers facilitating.
Here's Colleen Babcock's "Bamboo Oracle". (Her blog is always worth checking out anyway.)