Cult of Doll Almanac Published

The Cult of Doll Almanac is a collaborative project made of a collection of beautiful dolls with their own intriguing stories, all around a theme. You can read for free here.
Congratulations to Yve and the whole team.

New A for Artistic Site

The new A for Artistic Site is up and looks lovely. Finally Adele is charging a tiny fee for that incredible newsletter she puts out (it's worth three times the price). The list of teachers reads like a who's who of doll artistry. Very best of luck with it!

Adele Sciortino Pinterest board

Here is Adele Sciortino's  art doll Pinterest board. I'm not sure if the dolls inspire me to do better, or make me want to give up altogether. I think I'll choose the former. What amazing beauty and wonderful photography too. Please follow.

IDEX has ended

A few days ago I received the dreadful news that IDEX, the doll and teddy bear trade show, has been cancelled most likely forever. I immediately contacted Dolls Magazine to confirm that this was legitimate and not some hacker type prank. Unfortunately Joyce Greenholdt, the Editor was able to confirm for me that the news is true.

However the good news is that Dolls Magazine and Jones Publishing does intend to continue conducting the Annual Dolls Awards of Excellence.  The contest is two tiered with the Industry Choice awards going out, which then become the nominees for the Public's Choice ballot. This year's voting has ended but everyone interested in that preeminent contest for doll artists should pay close attention to the upcoming December issue of Dolls, when the winners will be announced along with next year's contest.

I don't know why the show has ended, but I do know that magazines only stay afloat if people buy them. If you are not a subscriber to Dolls, which is available digitally and newly for Nook tablets, maybe now would be a good time to become one.

Horrible Adorables - MS American Made nominee

Here's another cool soft critter maker on the Martha Stewart American Made contest. They are hand made of felt over foam - animal friendly reimagined taxidermy, according to artist Jordan Perme. You can see more on the Horrible Adorable website - the visual design of which echoes the humor, and retro influenced aesthetic of the animals.

Shawnimals stuffie dolls Martha Stewart American Made nominee

...and can use votes. It's easy to log in and vote - including via Facebook. I've seen these happy little toys before. I think they did a kickstarter for something fairly recently.

Atlanta Ball Jointed Doll Convention

They are all over the place! Awesome. This time it's the Atlanta Ball Jointed Doll Convention with some terrific special guests. October 18-20, 2013 - coming up very soon.

Saint Louis BJD Convention

A small but sweet convention in St Louis sponsored by the local doll club, Dolly Playmates. I'd like to join the League of People Who Dress Like Their Dolls. November 15-17, 2013.

ScraPerfect Design Team Call

Beading with the Embellie Gellie by ScraPerfect holding my seed beads.

It's not dolls, but it does relate to mixed media art, as I know many of you make. Plus I use the products in my doll making - especially the Embellie Gellie to hold beads.

ScraPerfect is looking for some artists to join the Design Team. I've been a member for a couple of years, and I love, love, love the products. You can read all about here on the blog.

Cult of Doll Call for Entries

Attention Doll Artists: here is the latest project from Yve Hooson and Grace Garton. 

They are looking for artists whose dolls "have a story to tell" for their proposed almanac series. Read all about on the new Cult of Doll Blog. This interests me a lot. Since the sad demise of ADO, I've felt the lack in the world of a strongly innovative art doll design focused group, and I definitely plan on joining their Etsy Team (if they will have me!)

From the Team page:

Cult of Doll has 3 membership requirements:
* All artists joining must undertake to create one original doll every 2 years which will feature in a bi-annual online publication which will promote all Cult of Doll members. That doll must debut in the "almanac" and not have been featured anywhere else before its publication.
* All members must use a team tag on all of their relevant Art Doll etsy listings
* All members must feature the Cult of Doll logo on their blog, facebook, etc... to help promote other team members work

Not too difficult at all.

By the way - do check out Yve's new doll shop - Nightshade Dolls and Grace Garton's Little Black Crow Studio.

Please Pin!

Call for Submissions - IDEX memories

From the e-mail:

Best of IDEX - We Want to Hear From You!

Whether you have attended IDEX as a collector, exhibitor, buyer, member of the media, or just tagged along with a friend or family member, chances are you have a great memory from a recent or long-ago show. We want to hear about them! We have our own list going, and it grows from year to year, so now we want to hear from you. What is your best memory from IDEX? Did you attend an extra-fun event last year, or recall a moment from a show over a decade ago that stuck with you? We want to know! We are enjoying the relaxing summer months and hope you are too. Stay tuned for more information to come throughout the summer about next year's IDEX. We have many exciting things in store for everyone! _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Send us your Best of IDEX moments and memories Sincerely, The IDEX Team

The Word Is Art Gallery Art Doll exhibit opening.

A selection of the exhibits.

I felt very starstruck, in exalted company, when I joined fellow art doll artists at the opening reception of the Art Doll exhibit at The Word Is Art Gallery in Culver City, CA last Saturday evening. I have three dolls in the exhibit but what was most exciting for me was meeting and seeing the works of Vega, Nola and Ute Vasina.

Nola and one of her box dolls (with its own teeny dolly).

Vega's work is magnificent - creepy, cool and very detailed.(Keep your sound turned on for her website.) Nola uses vintage and new-but-retro-looking materials to create sweet, delicate prim style soft dolls with a wistful air, while Ute's needle sculpted Trolls of great renown have so much character and humor. Visit her site for patterns and other fabulous art doll supplies.

Vega, Ute and Troll friend.

Along with the art of these three, are dolls in every style and of many sizes, including a portrait doll of Jackson Pollock by Wendy and some beautiful cloth stump dolls. Be alerted however that the exhibit goes only for the next 2 weeks until April 14th. 

After that you will still be able to see and purchase some of the dolls by gallery co-op members as well as enjoy the fine art and functional pieces, including some beautiful hand made jewelry, felted art, photography and acrylic paintings. I was especially drawn to the modernist mixed media work of painter Christine Binns (one to watch, IMO).

Christine with my favorite of her paintings (with a special guest by Renee Troy peeking out).

Don't forget there are some cool classes linked to the Art Doll exhibit - see the Gallery blog for more details.


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If you see the exhibit, please let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Also as always, please Pin!

Miniature Artists' Call

Linus Gallery in Pasadena, CA has published a Call for Artists with the theme of Miniatures.

The maximum size of the art piece is 8 x 10 inches. Work must be wall hung to be considered, but they are interested in wall sculptures, and mixed media, so I'm thinking shadow boxes with tiny worlds could work well.

The deadline for application is .June 03, 2013.

Colliii Awards Registration Date Announced

I just received my Colliii.com newsletter which includes the announcement that registration for the 2013 Colliii Awards will open July 1st and run for the month of July. Time to peruse the categories and start making! To learn how your business can sponsor the awards contact them via e-mail j.carlsson@colliii.com .

The winners and images from last year's awards are on the website. This is a truly international competition for every category and type of doll. The site is full of news and interviews. I recommend signing up for the newsletter.

Art Doll Juried Exhibit call

Denise Bledsoe - The Word is ART co-op member.

From Renee Troy:

OPEN CALL FOR ART DOLL ENTHUSIASTS.....

The Word is Art Gallery located in Culver City is having a juried Art Doll Exhibit starting March
25th running through April 14th. The three week exhibition will give artists the opportunity to show
and sell their creations. We encourage ALL artists interested to submit.

During the three week show, dolls will be on display in the front window of the gallery as well as
throughout the gallery. On March 30th, we will be hosting a "Meet the Artists" event from 4-8pm
where you will get the chance to introduce yourself and mingle with new and old followers, fellow
artists and collectors. There will also be doll centered art classes taught by local artists in the
gallery during the run of show. If you are interested in teaching a class please contact us!

The fine print:
Entries must be submitted by March 5th
All artists will be notified by March 10th of acceptance
The first entry is $15 and $5 for each additional doll accepted
Entry fees are due upon acceptance
Limit 4 dolls per artist

All accepted work needs to be delivered to the gallery between March15-20. Late entries may
not be displayed.

If you are mailing your dolls to the gallery please include return postage including insurance and
tracking fees to:
The Word is ART Gallery
9349 Venice Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232

All remaining dolls must be picked up on April 16 - 20th. Any unclaimed dolls will become
property of the gallery as of April 25th. Dolls being shipped back to their makers.

*The gallery will take 40% of the sale price for each doll sold with 60% going to the artist.

When submitting your work please include on each piece: If there is no price, it will not be sold.

Name
Mailing address
email address
Phone number
Price of Doll

Please submit your work via email with subject line Art Doll Submission to
Renee - thewordisart@gmail.com
Shari - oldsouldollco@yahoo.com

Or, you are welcome to bring them in to the gallery on
Thursdays between 11-2 or
Fridays between 4-7

The Word Is Art
9349 Bagley St.
Culver City, CA
(310) 558-0856

Colliii Online

Colliii.com is an online resource for lovers of dolls of all kinds, with a strong focus on reborning. They hold a prestigious international baby doll/reborn competition annually, and also collect doll related news and blog posts from all over. This link is for the English website, from where international readers may find the site in German, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish.

Robin Sullins Benefit Art Auction

"Sugar Fae" created and donated by Kat Soto

Recently I received shocking and sad news in the regular newsletter from Duirwaigh Studios. Robin Sullins has tragically had to have her legs and some fingers amputated after contracting a sudden rare blood infection after a nip from a beloved family dog over the holidays. 

Duirwaigh Studios are holding a fundraising auction, (click this link to preview some of the items already donated) on Valentine's Day, February 14th, 2013, and asking for help from the arts community.

They are asking for donations of art works, including art dolls, and collectibles. They are asking us to help publicize the auction and fund raising efforts, and of course they are asking us to visit the auction and bid.  

There is a second Facebook page for the Relief Fund with links to some of the press the event has received, and a website where you may read the full story, and learn more about this little known canine bacteria.

"Pinkett" by Wendy Froud.

Duirwaigh are accepting donations until February 10th. Please contact them via e-mail at: donations@duirwaigh.com . 

And please spread the news of the auction in all your blogs and FB pages! Thank you.

New Resource for Doll Makers

I have just received notice about the new Handmadeology Market. It is not a storefront, but it is a promotional opportunity to showcase your art works that are for sale at other online storefronts, like Etsy or Meylah, or directly from your own website.

From the email:
"The Handmadeology Market is not another selling venue, it is a live market place to show off your items.  Items added to the market are only live for 90 days, so the content it kept fresh! Sellers from across the web can list their items and link back to the items in their shops and websites. We welcome sellers from all sites and ones that have their own site.  There are no transactions happening here in the market.  Potential buyers can click through to your items and even contact you through the contact form.

Our new market is directly connected to Handmadeology and we will be utilizing our social media network and readership to get exposure for the sellers that list their items. "

I plan to put my dolls and paper crafts on the marketplace, and hope to see an uptick in traffic to my store. I'm not sure I'm very happy with the new "Browse" search paradigm on Etsy, which seems to favor jewelry and handbags, so anything that brings new eyes to my products is welcome. I plan to try the free version first, but closer to holidays, when I have some new pretty dolls, I may opt in to the $5 advertisement.

Has anyone listed yet? Have you noticed any increase in traffic?

American Made Awards seeking nominees

Martha Stewart is looking for American crafting and design entrepreneurs for the Audience Choice American Made Awards. Nominate a friend or yourself by August 25th with photos, info and a video. There is a teddy bear artist, a knitted toy maker, and previously featured artist, the beautiful Keri Joy Colestock in the list of nominees so far.
We will be able to start voting September 7th.

Upcoming Doll Auction

The estate collection of long time doll collector and restorer, Kathy L. Hipp, is being auctioned without reserves on July 14th by Auctioneers John McInnis in Amesbury, MA. You can set up absentee phone bidding. 

On the website is a lovely slideshow of just a few of the over 700 items that will be available. The doll manufacturers included is a who's who of fine doll making. Her eclectic collection spans French and German antique dolls, Madame Alexander right through to Barbies, G.I. Joes and Star Wars figures. Also included are miniatures and accessories. I should think just visiting the previews would be like attending a doll museum.