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.

Fuzzy Panda

Craftzine is holding its first Crochet-Along. Starting Tuesday September 8th you can join in crocheting this adorable amigurumi panda. I suppose if you can't make the online event on Tuesday, there is nothing to stop you from following the downloadable pattern in your own time. I like the mix of textures.

The pattern was created by Tamie Snow, the author of Tiny Yarn Animals.

Strange Moons

Was the full moon tonight or last night? I don't know - it looked full tonight. Last few nights it's been orange all the way to setting because of the smoke in the air from the fires ringing Los Angeles. It's looked creepy. The fires are out and the moon is getting silver again.

But for a few days it was a very strange moon.

Strange Moon is the name of doll artist and painter, Stephanie Alice Rogers's website. Her dolls do have a somewhat creepy air, a bit mystical, a bit strange - but also very beautiful and distinctive.

Baby Dimples

It has been a while since I have featured a reborner. Baby Dimples is the reborning site of creator Therese Perchard. On her site are slide shows of the nursery, astonishingly realistic full scale reborn babies, and information about the craft of reborning. Also check out her doll houses collection including several miniature Victorian repro stores.

New Newsletter

I am trying out a new service, Mail Chimp, to publish an intermittent email newsletter, as occasion warrants. It will probably be no more than once a month with sale announcements and new content related to my doll making, other crafting and book writing progess, and including the odd foray into reviews of craft/doll books and events.
The list is entirely opt-in, so if any one is interested please go to my Iggy Jingles Blog to sign up. The box is right there to the right below the welcome. I'm waiting until I have a few signups before sending out the first one.
UPDATE: Mac users who may have had trouble seeing the "Subscribe" button should be able to find it now that I have changed my blog template to a wide one. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Cat Spirits and Shamans

The website of Griselda - Spirit Art Dolls and Mixed Media Assemblage - is full of small totem figures with a very serene feeling. I especially like the feline ones, Bast and associates. The site has lots of slide shows to allow to flow over you. She also has an Etsy store, with dolls in a wide price range.

Whimsical Point of View

Fairy tales are just one of the inspirations over at Joanna Thomas Art Dolls. She makes dear little polymer clay figures with wistful faces, that aren't fairies, but story book characters or historical individuals imbued with fey and whimsy.

Wendy Ellertson

Wendy Ellertson's imagination is populated by creatures of other realms. Working from self-described "eclectic, modern and folk art" influences her figures incorporate natural materials and primitive, in the sense of ancient, motifs and shapes. I like them very much.

Handmade Portraits:Mimi Kirchner

Oops! I did not mean to leave everyone hanging for a week. I hope you all took the opportunity to check out some of the archives.

Etsy Storque sent me a link to a video interview, "Handmade Portraits", with the very wonderful Mimi Kirchner (who I have featured before.) Follow this link (and embed this video in your blog) for the chance to win one of her unique, adorable pin cushionsI love the opportunity to see into another doll maker's studio. She has an extensive collection of dolls as well as the one's she makes. We share a similar working method of using recycled and vintage materials. Like me, Mimi inherited many of the most interesting fabrics in her stash from her mother.

One to watch

Relatively new doll artist, Dewfall, in Lithuania, has recently started a new blog. Her work is whimsical, detailed and polished. I like the elongated elegance of her latest doll figure, "Mist Muse". More photos on her flikr page.

Early Christmas Shopping...

If you are travelling to Minnesota in the fall you might be in luck. Over October 16 -18, 2009 in Bemidji, MN will be the First City of Arts: Studios Cruise. This is not a boat ride, but the opportunity to visit the studios and workshops of artists and artisans in the area. Coolest part - the tour is free, leaving your funds to support the artists directly.

Participating will be miniature bear artist, Alice Strand of Alice's Animals. Her adorable little anthropomorphic creatures are also available through her Etsy store.

Kinetic

Steve Stackpole is a sculptor creating kinetic sculptures and automata from various materials. Very often his works include figurative element. The Gallery includes movies of some works in motion. Be sure to visit his links page (under the MISC tab) for a veritable rabbit hole of links to other fascinating sculptors.

More charming animals

Not content with showcasing Victor's work, here is a site linked from his of another animal doll artist. Natasha Fadeeva makes needle felted animals, and knitted stuffed animals of delightful character and charm.

Felt menagerie

OMG these felted animals (that MA found) by artist Victor Dubrovsky are both amazing and adorable. It is amazing how much naturalism can be created with needle felting. The galleries are rather wonderful, since each main photo is a portal to more views of each critter. Oh the patience to do these.

Destiny's Garden

Destiny's Garden is the title of doll artist Elizabeth Dye's beautifully organized website. There are layers of galleries and information to explore. Her work is meticulously detailed and polished, yet full of life and personality. Most of the figures are polymer clay, but she also has some limited edition resin castings.

You can see her work in person at the Doll and Bear Expo in Columbia, SC in October. Knights Doll Shows happen all over the south western US throughout the year.

Deconstructed Barbie

Check out Margaux Lange's very witty and clever Barbie redux jewelry portfolio. She has a blog and awesome Etsy store too.

I found her featured in the book my husband got me for my birthday - "Cool Green Stuff" by Dave Evans.

Canvas Within my Soul Blog Giveaway

I love blog giveaways. Doll friend Fran Parrigan-Meehan is giving away two doll related items to celebrate, and be revealed in, her 200th blog post on next Friday, August 21st. Comment there to be in the running. (Not here, just to be clear). That is one of her latest creations pictured.

2009 Hoffman winners circle

BTW here is the illustrated list of 2009 Hoffman Challenge doll winners. Breathtaking. Here's the link for the other categories. Wow. (Looks familiar - didn't I just feature Arley Berryhill? Why, yes, yes I did)

Bonnie Blog

I usually stick to posting doll/textile art blogs rather than general blogs that have dolls sprinkled through them. But I enjoy looking at fellow Hoffman contestant Bonnie Stewart's textured dolls so much, I want to encourage her to make more of them. Her fun with photoshop is enjoyable to look at also - maybe the genesis of some fabric works? Scroll down to older posts for WIP's and a nice gallery of earlier works.

Junk in the Trunk

A cool modern art gallery in Los Angeles is having a "yard sale" of assorted artworks including many figures. GR2, on Sawtelle, is calling it "Junk in the Trunk". It starts August 15th and continues for a month.

Star Wars Muggs

Check out this auction sponsored by Lucasarts of Star Wars themed artist reduxes of Mighty Muggs to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Auction ends August 14th.

Barbie Redux revisited

Here's the Barbie Redux window at 10 Women, Venice. But there's more!....on the other side of the black curtain are even more hanging dolls, and there are several more dolls (including my 9yo's "Acrobat" on the shelves of Trisha's space in the main room.

Super Nova

Nova Blossoms is the name of Stephanie Novatski's art doll business. She likes beautiful painted faces, hand dying, intricate embellishments and lots of fine detail. Yay, so do I! Here's her great tutorial on using Solvy from Sulky to create wispy light beautiful shapes and gauzes.

I've been resisting tibetan lamb for making my own doll hair, but this kind of gorgeous result really weakens my resolve....

Moxie Girlz

My dd and I visited the big toy store and saw these Moxie Girlz for the first time. They are evidently going to be MGA's replacement for Bratz when the latter leave the shelves forever.

Looking at the rather sweet and pretty faces of these four slim bodied/largish head fashion dolls, it seems to me that the designers over at MGA have taken some of the reservations/criticisms of Bratz by some parents to heart. These new girls have the appearance of being a few years younger than the Bratz core four with much less makeup and smaller lips, although each retain distinctive sassy personalities. They all have a code for a membership to an online community (Webkinz started a bandwagon on to which no doll or toy company will apparently refrain from leaping) and part of the focus seems to be promoting artistic activities - like color in/wipe off room accessories or vinyl clothing. Hmmm.

My 9year old likes the look of them, liking the faces and thinking the hair is beautiful, but she is not keen on the shape of the hands. We'll wait to see if the website is better than the mostly "chat and buy clothes" world that Bratz created. She doesn't care to chat online, and she likes actual games per Webkinz world and the wonderful free site Oyunlar. (Heavy on the virtual paper doll dress up games with manga style visuals.)