Suji Rising

One of the most interesting things about Suji (tm) Angels Pray for Peace dolls is seeing the development of the dolls over time, in the gallery. I'm seeing a doll maker blossom as an artist, and the increased sophistication and quality of the dolls. They incorporate beautiful quilting and fiber art techniques, mixed media and many different color stories and themes. I enjoy the organic, earthy angels and the geometric, ethereal ones equally.

Suji is a member of the Central New York Doll is Art Guild, dedicated to the advancement of art dolls and educating the art loving public about dolls as a collectable fine art. Stop by - there are some beautiful dollmakers (and their work ain't bad either).

Simpli Jessi

Jessi Halliday of Michigan makes sweet cloth figures in folksy/prim style with hand embroidered faces. Her blog has pictures of her dolls, also on Etsy, and if you want what looks like a kick-ass apple pie recipe scroll down a few days. (Sorry I missed your blog giveaway.)

Nina

When you visit Nina Originals you will find not only her beautiful art doll and mixed media work, but also photos from workshops and group events that Nina has attended over time. She has been a prolific participant in trades and swaps over time, with much beautiful work including jewelry to show for it.
I realize it's not strictly a doll, but this Halloween Mummy Cheese Log just tickles the heck out of me.

Must be something in the water

The Canadian Doll Artist's Association is a national association dedicated to the advancement of artist dolls as an art form and the many, many wonderful Canadian art doll makers (and some international members too). The association publishes a newsletter, facilitates workshops and mentoring, and holds a conference.
Save this date: In 2010 Celebration! will be held April 29 through May 2 at the Four Points Sheraton in Meadowvale Mississauga Ontario. The theme will be "Renaissance Dreams". Lots of inspiration there!
When you visit the site be sure to allow plenty of time to browse the member galleries, with links. Very beautiful.

Moonbeam Wings

Sashi Nayagam is a UK cloth doll maker, with some paper and mixed media thrown in for variety. She has just posted a pretty lace wing tutorial on her blog, where you will also find a nice finger turning tute and other WIP's. Check out her website for some free patterns.

Episode Guide: Science of the Movies : Science Channel

Episode Guide: Science of the Movies : Science Channel

Posted using ShareThis

Upcoming episode about stop motion animation with hand sculpted figures.

There must be more to this story...

From Fail Blog.

Dolls to Alaska

Received via Patti Culea...

We were hoping you might hit up your list of terrific doll-maker-friends, to
once again enter the Alaska Fiber Festival show.
This year we will be giving out a $250.00 viewers choice award for the
crowd's favorite doll. The entry fee is $20.00 plus shipping to & from the
show (if the doll maker doesn't sell or doesn't want to sell the doll at the
show). If they do want the doll to be listed for sale, the AFF will retain
20% of the sale price, sending the rest to the maker.

We would like dolls to be here by Feb. 15th, 2010. They can be shipped to:
Deb Hardman
5911 E 142nd Ave
Anchorage, AK 99516
907-345-5888

Doll maker should include
1. Maker's Name
address
phone number
e-mail

Any special set up instructions should include a photocopy of the doll
attached to the contact info.
Return postage including insurance

If dolls aren't sold they will be packaged up & shipped back on or before
March 20th.

The dolls will be on display at the Conoco-Phillips Atrium March 12-14.

Please let me know if you can help us out, & I would appreciate just an
e-mail for a head count on anyone who would like to participate.

Thanks so much,
Deb Hardman
AFF Doll Coordinator

Cyber Monday on Etsy

Thanksgiving is done and so is Black Friday. Here is a round up of some of the great doll deals that are available on Etsy now for Cyber Monday (aside from the shipping deals and free gifts at my store, that is.)

Anniemaize has a fairy riding a snail that is very sweet.

I like this whacky Mrs. Claus from A Little Catty.

Fairies by Nuria makes 5.5 inch tall polymer clay fairies with all kinds of professions and themes, including a Christmas Fairy.

Not everything has to be pretty-pretty to be cool for the holidays. Check out Dolls and Dead Things for some beautiful creepy Barbie redux dolls like the deceased but still magic Sugar Plum Fairy.

Offering free shipping on some extraordinary art dolls and busts is Nefer Kane. I love the character in the faces. They have a wistful, deep mood. There is another post here in Nefer's future.

Parker Farm includes this new vintage style Santa in their inventory.

Reminding us to give to those less fortunate, is the Deb the Doll Gnome's doll pattern called American Poor.

The Modern Quilter's all cloth Ginger Blue would be a great cuddly doll gift.

Future Rock Star has a couple of Harajuku inspired hand painted soft pillow dolls for kids.

Last, but not least Eufaria has a whole collection of charming polymer clay and fiber fairy ornament dolls in a multitude of colors.

Felt real

OK this needle felter, Robin Joy Andreae, is achieving an insane level of realism with her work. Just incredible finesse. I can only imagine the kind of time commitment each of these little animals takes. And her piggies are so cute too.

Monkeys In Space

If you have an I-Tunes account (or are willing to get one), here's a nutty contest with prizes for making a monkeys-in-space themed miniature diorama. One of the prizes is an amigurumi figure. Hurry - the contest closes Sunday, November 29.

Beaded dolls

Doll friend Lynn Manning makes beautiful beaded dolls and cloth dolls with bead embellishments. She is a prolific and enthusiastic participant in challenges with the Beaded Art Dolls Yahoo group. They also have a blog with many slide shows of people's work. Explore and be inspired.
But don't eat 'em, they only look like candy.

Eclectic visions

Thanks for the heads up, MA. I have been enjoying looking at the mixed media spirit style dolls of Michelle Marquette. The dolls are tall, from vintage fabrics with the patina of age - there is a simplicity about them that is quite compelling.

She is a featured artist at a couple of galleries including Show of Hands in Denver, and Albuquerque venue, Mariposa Gallery.

There are a few more mixed media and fiber art doll makers part of the stable there, including Sarena Mann and Nancy Corrigan whose sweet and bright stuffies have a colorful appeal that is quite different from Michelle's dolls.

I love art dolls - something for everyone.

Fashion doll collector

Fashion doll enthusiasts will enjoy Fashion Doll Empire, Cliff in Hong Kong's thoughtful and picture heavy collector's blog. He writes enthusiatically about his own doll collection, upcoming releases, gently compares and critiques different body types and sometimes includes tutorials, like some recent helpful tips about modifying doll neck holes to facilitate interchanging heads. It really makes you realize how crowded the BJD fashion doll field really is.

Magick Workshop

Well it's short notice but anyone planning to visit the Bethlehem, PA area on November 21st can enroll in a polymer clay miniature figure sculpting workshop facilitated by Molly Stanton of Elven Elysium.
Molly also has an Etsy store where her delicately detailed, fine featured fantasy creatures are available for sale.
Oooh, she also has a store at Custom Dolls, Houses, & Miniatures. I'll have to look around there some more. Stay tuned.

Plethora of Giveaways

Thank you Glo, for compiling this handy dandy list of other art doll and mixed media bloggers who are holding blog giveaways now and in the near future. Visit Mrs. Art Doll Maker for deets.

Art Opening in California

Opening this Saturday at The ARTery at The Lab in Costa Mesa, California is Animal Instinct. Benefiting the Humane Society, the exhibit will include the work of over 25 artists celebrating the beauty & wonder of animals with sculpture, photography, graffiti-influenced work, prints (including etching & letterpress), crochet, plush, paintings & more.
The picture is a Beastlie by participant Leslie Levings.

Danse Macabre

OMG - it's after Halloween but you have got to check out Freaky Little Things new website, the Nightshade Hall. It really is a total aesthetic package. There are great galleries of Yve's work, which displayed as they are really show the breadth of her talent.
Be sure to read the stories contained in the Ballroom and the truly original and fun way the ADO Halloween challenge has been enhanced to a new level of humor and artistry. Now I'm even more sick that I didn't finish my doll in time to attend the party. Very cool, very,very cool.

Sea Gypsy

I must admit to being drawn to all the different art in the Sea Gypsy Studio. I like her dolls - paper, polymer clay, cloth and found embellishments - very much. But it's worth browsing back through earlier posts to see some of her lovely vintage fabric hangings and colorful, highly detailed textural painted portraits of women. Plus she crochets - I agree, you can never have too many flowers.

Cloth, Paper, Scissors art doll challenge

If you get the Cloth,Paper, Scissors email newsletter, "Embellishments" you will have already heard about the ‘Mother Earth’ Art Doll Challenge.

Here's part of the description:
"Make an art doll representing Mother Earth and enter our reader challenge. We’ll show a selection of our favorites in the March/April 2010 issue of Cloth Paper Scissors and on our website.
But hurry, the deadline for submitting your entry via email is December 18, 2009."

Finalists send the actual work to the magazine (one of my favorites). The rules aren't up on the site quite yet, but you can probably subscribe to Embellishments and read all about it.

If you have questions about the “Mother Earth ” Reader Challenge, contact Barbara Delaney at 978-897-7750, ext. 207, or bdelaney@interweave.com.

Day of the Dead

Here's a quick round up of some of the Day of the Dead skeleton dolls and Catrinas around the place.

Mystic Voodoo has a selection of figures.

Spirit Mama on Etsy has a cool Rocker Muerto Doll

Du Buh Du Designs has a whole gorgeous DotD photo display on her website right now, that is lucious. That's one of her pieces pictured above. Also check out her ornaments.

Lynn Dewart is a mixed media artist and doll maker that I have only just discovered. She has a selection of Bone Dolls for sale through The Next Door Gallery and intriguing gallery Vintage Religion.

For a change here'e a Vogue Knitting pattern for DotD soft dolls. They are kinda cute.

Happy Halloween

Alas for my busy, busy October (my daughter's birthday month) - I have still not completed my ADO Halloween Challenge doll. But here are some Etsy sellers who have managed to complete some beautiful creatures....

UK craftist, RedFlannelElephant has a cool needle felted witch on offer.

Mystical Mara is a jointed cloth witch with paper clay face and hands.

Crone Cottage has a Folk Art witch with distinctive features and green skin, named "Winnie".

Mary Magpie has added a rather gorgeous green skinned Goth Witch to her shop full, which has removeable clothing and a planned wardrobe.

Berry Mice Creations presents Zelda the Witch, who is very cute.

Meanwhile Pamela Junks Minis has a whole collection of teeny tiny miniature witches available.

KaerieFaerie52 has a coven also, including the fun Theater Witch.

No Halloween would be complete without a visit to Mealy Monster Land. Wendy found a cauldron....

Save the date

Creations in Fiber will be held May 20 - 24, 2010 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The teachers so far include: Jean Bernard, Sherry Goshon, Arley Berryhill and Maurine Adrezin. There is also a doll contest divided into cloth dolls and mixed media dolls.

Fairy Godmother

Julie McCullogh makes fantasy themed cloth dolls. I especially enjoy her Broadway show characters, being an old theater person from way back. I worked in the wardrobe on the Australian production of "La Cage Aux Folles" in the early 1980's. Her website has lots of layers, history, pics of studios and dolls made from Julie's patterns. A fun browse.

Tribal spirit

Christopher Malone's remarkable large scale tribal themed sculptural figures are very beautiful and detailed. He seeks to imbue them with a spiritual sensibility. Many have been featured in galleries all over the country, including a current exhibition in Houston, TX and an upcoming one at the Stella Jones Gallery in New Orleans.

He has also been featured on another rather lovely doll related blog - The Art of Healing Dolls. On this blog, doll artist Barb Kobe features interviews, links and stories about doll artists working with dolls for spiritual, emotional and even physical healing, growth and comfort for themselves and others.

Susie's Blog Giveaway

Now here's a blog giveaway absolutely worth entering. Prizewinning Australian doll artist of note, Susie McMahon is celebrating her 100th blog post with a giveaway. Go comment on her blog to enter to win one of her dolls (probably be worth a fortune one day, and sure to be absolutely beautiful right now).

Whimsy

Karen Harzigeorgiou of Karen's Whimsy makes these beautiful, and rather wistful seeming, mixed media wall hangings from altered books incorporating dolls as found objects. Elsewhere on her site she has a huge resource of vintage public domain images, and tutes for a bunch of surface alteration techniques.

New NIADA book

Received from Ankie Daanen:

Hello, Dear Dollfriends.
I just returned from the NIADA conference in Gatlinburg, and one of the highlights was the presentation of the new NIADA book with 425 pages of dollpictures from the worlds finest dollartists. A 'must-have' for doll lovers!
Because the book is printed in limited edition, I just wanted to let you know that the book is available for $65,- + $6,- for shipping.
If you might be interrested in this book you can let me know, and I can take care that you will receive the book.
I only need to know your postal adres.
My warm regards, Ankie

Ankie's email addy: ankiedaanen@hotmail.com

Modern Doll Collectors' Convention starting

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Modern Doll Collectors' Convention, this year in Albuquerque, NM. The Dolls Diamond Awards of Excellence will be announced during the event. Here are the nominees. There are also a tremendous number of competition categories within the convention, including the one that I would enter if I were going, Ellowynne Wilde's Enchanted Adventure. Maybe in a couple of years, when my daughter is older we will be able to go together. We'll just keep dreaming right?
Elfdoll are offering some dolls for auction, and holding some workshops too.

Another Russian Doll Artist

Russian doll artist, niknik, maintains a beautiful, eclectic blog filled with fascinating works-in-progress pictures. She works in polymer clay achieving a wonderful lifelike realism on one hand, evocative fantasy on the other. As well as working in cloth, she also makes doll house miniatures. I rather love her dragon climbing over a throne.
Now the words are in Russian which I can't read, and can certainly be easily translated by clicking on the Google toolbar. But there's something very serene in just looking at the pictures, and the Russian lettering has a beauty all its own as well.

Swap-O-Rama-Rama

I'm so sad that I'm not going to be able to make the Hallow'een Swap-O-Rama-Rama this Saturday, October 10, in Venice, CA - especially since I have been one of the guest designers at the last two. It's a super-fun event.
I mention it here because one of the most popular activities every time is soft Monster Making. The photo shows the critters my then 8yo daughter and my (not 8yo) husband made. The Swaps are cropping up all over the place.

October 6th is German-American Day commemorating the arrival of German settlers to Philadelphia in 1683.

There have been a lot of wonderful German doll makers. Here's a link to a travel site specializing in doll tours of Europe, including the International Puppenfestival Tour in May, 2010. Pardon me while I dream for a few minutes.

I'm ready to pack my bags after reading about visiting the ancient buildings that were once doll factories in Waltershausen, Germany. The page contains a fascinating description of doll making as a family based cottage industry in the 18th century and earlier.

In a similar tradition and closer to home, Sowatzka's Dolls is a family of doll makers, collectors and expert restoration artists. Gary has several pages of useful tips for collectors and many restoration techniques. As well, they are collecting personal doll memory stories(and offering prizes!). Many of these moving tales are about love and loss and redemption - the importance a doll can have in a child's life, or an adult's.

I Don't Knit, But...

It looks like fall is finally arriving, in North America at least. You can dress your American Girl warmly in a pretty, and very reasonably priced, hand knit outfit from Etsy seller Knits for Kids.
You can also visit her arts and crafts round up blog, where amongst other terrific makers she has featured...Iggy Jingles (that is to say me).
If you prefer to knit for your dolls yourself, Etsy seller Stylin' Dolls Knitz has some nice looking patterns.

Antique Doll News

News from Skinner Auctions:
Skinner will be presenting the auction of The Richard Wright Collection of Rare and Important Dolls (Session I) on October 10th from 11am. The event is to be held in Marlborough, MA, but it is possible to attend virtually and bid online. Previews of the dolls will be held in the two days before the auction, and the pictorial catalog looks beautiful also.
In conjunction with this auction is another event of intense interest to antique doll collectors, The Rare Doll Gallery Walk (scroll down the page) on the evening of October 9th, discussing dolls from the Richard Wright Collection.

Wild at Heart

Self described "dreamer and hopeless idealist", Zan Asha is excited that it is October. I am too, because I also love Hallow'een.
Wild At Heart Art Dolls are mostly cloth dolls with sweet eerie faces. Many are anthro fantasy critters. They share soft colors and blended edges that make them accessible instead of scary. I like them a lot.

Paula Nerhus emotive dolls

ADO member and artist Paula Nerhus's painted polymer clay dolls are otherworldly. Some make me think of organic baby aliens, others have a steam punk influence. But their eyes are haunting, and the aged surface treatments very interesting.
On her website, under the "studio" tab, are interesting pictures of works in progress. Here's her Etsy store.

Photo Tute in Newsletter

Once again I am utterly blown away by Adele Sciortino's FREE newsletter - yes, yes I've featured it before, but this time it is even better than usual. There are several articles about Santas and Christmas doll costuming which are very cool.

But the truly priceless content is Marianne Reitsma's extraordinarily detailed doll photo tutorial, with side by side good/bad photo examples from her own collection. She has tips about everything from backgrounds and angles,even to the best weather for outdoor photography. This may well be all you ever need to know about creating fantastic product shots of your dolls for portfolios, submission to magazines and in your online stores.

If you haven't subscribed yet, now is the time.

Another Roundup Blog

Here is Fabby Dolls - another round up blog about ADO dollmakers. There are some beautiful pictures there, and some names familiar to followers here.
Blogger and doll maker Deena Maurus also has an Etsy store. All of her profits are in support of research for Choroideremia.

Linda Lee Sutton porcelains

Linda Lee Sutton is a porcelain doll maker. She creates sweet and pretty one-of-a-kind, limited editions and portrait dolls of mostly young children and ladies. She will make a commissioned portrait of your child with a 9 month lead time. However I think my personal favorites are her antique reproductions in period costume. These handpainted porcelain faces have a beautiful, luminous quality.

Ellen Benson

I am a sucker for mixed media figures and wall hanging. Ellen Benson's work combines both. She uses all kinds of vintage and found objects in her art, as well as creating a whole series of paper mache based works she calls "Divas".
Additionally she is a member of an intriguing group, Philadelphia's Dumpster Divers.

Pam Grose classes

There has been a lot of enthusiastic buzz about the continuing visit to the US of Pam Grose, Australian doll maker. Reportedly her classes are wonderful fun and she is very high energy and a truly inspiring instructor. She will be teaching for Making Ends Meet, October 3-4 and then again at Art Is You East Coast Artists Retreat October 8-12.
That website Fabric Addictions, based in Western Australia, looks very cool. Really fun to browse around and dream. I'm being very stern with myself - I will not buy any more supplies until I make some inroads into the treasure trove I already have at home! Really, I mean it.

Lynn Cartwright

I love Lynn Cartwright's hyperrealistic large scale work in polymer clay. Each OOAK is meticulously dressed with enormous attention to detail. For example in the pictured work, Eleeasuk and the Salmon, this Intuit wears miniature reproductions of traditional clothing down to hand knit mittens. That fish is 18 inches long.

More Winners

Kelly Riley-Duckworth has posted pictures of the winning dolls, along with some of the dolls standing nearby, from the Dimensions in Dollmaking show in San Diego last weekend. Congratulations to all who participated. Hopefully many of these will make their way into publications soon.

Hobbits

September 21st, 1937 was the publication day of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit". It is also Respect for The Aged Day in Japan.
Nuno has been making beautiful cloth dolls for a quarter of century. On the site are many photos of cloth dolls and various doll kits. One of the dolls is Merry, one of Frodo's hobbit friends from LOTR.
Meanwhile here is a gorgeous doll house version of Bag End.
Anyone else making Hobbits? Please comment with a link!

Rosie's store

Check out Rosie O'Donnell's Etsy store where she sells very nice altered Munnys (Munnies?)and other mixed media sculpture pieces. She donates all the sales to charity - she says that she personally matches the funds realized from sales.

Mary D's

Many doll collectors will know that Mary D's Dolls are closing their real life retail storefront as of this weekend. Luckily they will still be selling the wide (I mean truly enormous) range of superb collectible dolls over the internet. Their newsletter is cool and often includes coupons for assorted discounts like free shipping.

Coolaberration blog

A doll round robin, in which I am participating now has a blog. Art Doll Coolaberration 2009 will continue to have pictures of the dolls as we progress. The dolls are being given evolving stories too. Doll artists and writers, we are.

Absolutely Japanese

Absolute Japan is a website with dolls, doll kits and interesting doll crafting tools. If you buy a kit from the site, you can then access online tutorials. I'm interested in Kimonos. I'm working up a pattern for 18 inch dolls (American Girl style). These dollsa are very beautiful and inspirational.

Big Head Beauty

Silvie Cola is a repaint/face up/reroot artist specializing in Blythe, Momoko and other "big head" dolls. (My daughter is crazy for a Pullip right now so they are really on my radar.)Sylvie also has an attractive pictorial blog where she periodically publishes the ongoing saga, The Chronicles of Judith (pictured), the struggles of a smart girl journeying through a ditzy world.

Witch Giveaway

Doll friend, Gail, is holding a blog giveaway of this wonderful mixed media hanging Witch that she has made. Just go to her Dollistic blog before September 30 and comment to be in the drawing. Perfect timing for upcoming Halloween festivities.

Bead Tutorial

Celticat has written a very clear, simple and informative Bead tutorial for anyone interested in trying out beaded dolls. She includes links to bead suppliers and a handy bibliography for your next trip to the library or bookstore. Who knew thread needed to be or could be conditioned? (BTW the link to Celticalt's Bead Doll Booklet is defunct, and it is hard to get back to the tute - so don't click on that one.)
The gallery of work by members of the Bead Art Forum is spectacular. The pictured doll is by Lesley Conniff.