Cruising

Here's some awesome doll making fun - Cruising to Wonderland Soft Doll workshop cruise around the Caribbean. The ship leaves Fort Lauderdale February 25th, 2011 for 11 days of fantastic workshops, plus all the fun of being on a cruise ship (food!) The all-inclusive costs vary depending on your cabin, starting at a little over $1500.
Significant other loves cruising but not interested in the doll workshops? The workshop fees will be deducted from the main price.
The workshop leaders will be Cyndi Mahlstadt and Patti Medaris Culea. How cool to have such intensive access to two of the most eminent people in cloth doll making.
Patti recently had her head shaved to benefit cancer research. Here's the story.

Team BJD

Here's a great Etsy Treasury featuring shops that make clothes, including some knits, and accessories for Ball Jointed Dolls.
Pictured, from the Treasury, is Aldwen's Rococco Countess Dress.

Spirit Clay

Figurative artist Amya Crawley works with polymer clay and other materials to make both light-hearted figures, like happy cats in their pajamas, and serious spirit dolls. These aren't at all somber. When I look at them, besides enjoying the ripple of color and the intricacy of the pc tiling, I get a sense of deep contemplation and serenity. They are simple in shape, but rich in detail.

Soup

Here's a really charming blog, with a rather enjoyable sound track to it too. I don't usually have my sound on but I'm glad I did when I found Garb-oodles Soup. There are sweet prim style dolls as well as paintings and what look like paper doll WIPs.

Mini Diorama contest ongoing

More entries to my Miniature Diorama Contest sweepstakes, using recycled packaging as the base, are trickling in. I'm glad I am choosing the winner by draw, because otherwise it would be just too hard a job.
There's still time to read my article online and enter. Contest closes April 30th, and is open to all ages. The prize is an Iggy Jingles Dream Star doll (and I'll put in an Either Way play doll if the winner is very young.)
Pictured is the totally awesome "Stormy Night" by Olivia Costes, age 13. Kinda channelling Tim Burton...The rest so far up on the magazine site are fantastic too.

Easter Etsy round up

It's Easter and here is some of the delightful doll work being done by Etsy sellers. In no particular order:

Loopyboopy's just a little strange Rhonda the Rabbit Girl (pictured) shows her signature beautiful spooky eyes.

Sycamore Moon's felting is just gorgeous, as always.

The Gothic Bunnies at PinkyToast are just cool.

If a more prim style is your preference try Buttons In The Attic for Itzy Bitzy and others.

LittleBlackCrow's prim Autumn Bunny Boy is charming. Actually all her bunnies are charming.

TheCattsUglyBabies Primitive Folk Art Bunny is not in the least ugly.

Is micro-needle-felting a trend? EclecticGarden and TotallyTimmy seem to think so.

For something a little different, DollStop offers a selection of Kokeshi style sweetly painted bunny folk, like Rabbit Girl 1.

But enough sweetness. More goth. How about a Zombie bunny from Creepydolls?

More large eyed oddness from maker MissMillicent - Winnie Bunny.

FionaArt makes some very unusual bunnies including an Easter Butcher.

I could do this all day long, but I should leave you more to discover. I'll end with a dose of cute to bring a smile. Here is a pattern for a very, really very, sweet little bunny by VivianneGalli. Makes me want give it a little kissy.

Happy Easter everyone.