RIP Dame Elizabeth

An extraordinarily beautiful repaint of the Barbie that looks photo real. Didn't you think at first it's a photo of the lady in her costume?

Here's Divine Dolls Creations page of Elizabeth Taylor face ups in costume repros from a selection of her best loved classic films.

Looks like the Franklin Mint portrait doll has sold out everywhere very quickly.

The "Father of the Bride" Barbie looks just like her from that sweet movie. Watch for it on TCM.

Colleen Babcock classes

Colleen Babcock will be teaching classes in the US and Canada during April and May. The full schedule can be found on her blog. She has one pattern that is exclusive to the class which is this very pretty Medieval stump doll lady with her cross stitch.

*new* Exhibit

The final show at the *new* gallery in Toronto will be Lois Schklar's "Thirty Years of Dolls".

The opening reception is tonight March 5, and then the show runs until March 20.

Lois blogged with Fiber Quarterly, seeking dolls from private collections for the exhibit. The fQaroundtown blog lists events, exhibitions and features the work of interesting Canadian textile artists. Worth browsing around.

Tiniest

Found on the beautiful blog of art doll maker Karagozlu Surey.

Highly Anticipated?

Or should that be constipated. It's been a while since I posted something with this particular tag.

I'm not sure which is more peculiar, the toy or the fellow promoting it. Also scroll down for a delightful coloring book page.

And the english translation is here.

Can't hardly wait.

IFDC Vegas

The International Fashion Doll Convention will be held July 6-9, 2011 in Las Vegas. The theme this year is Wizard of OddZ. Should fit right in to Vegas.
The Registration is limited to 250 participants, so if you plan on going I wouldn't wait to register. At the website are links to a couple of Yahoo chat groups connected with the conference. In addition to lots of fun events, dinners, artists' gallery and the awesome competitions, there are a number of inexpensive creative workshops - furniture, accessories, face ups. Past year convention dolls have looked gorgeous. Oh and don't forget - costumes are encouraged!

More Scrumptious Miniatures

Here is the blog of recent follower Kathy Olaf-Obrenski of Wee Little West. In addition to selling her delicious looking miniature food plates, she holds regular sweepstake give-aways on her blog. The colors are lovely and the food is highly detailed and beautifully presented. She doesn't say on her blog what her materials are; I'm guessing polymer clay. I only wish that there was something to show scale in the photos, like a coin. Some of these are so incredibly realistic it's hard to believe they aren't life size. Too bad they aren't; they look so yummy.

Soldier in Action

Found by my husband on Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide - Rupert Valero, a soldier in Afghanistan is assembling very interesting figurative sculptures from recycled found objects. Some have a robotic quality. He is interviewed here with links to his flikr, and sells his work on his Etsy store.

In a Treasury

How nice to have "Journey" included in a beautiful doll treasury on Etsy! I'm in the good company of a bunch of other doll artists who have appeared here in the past.

Thank you to EarthenJewels, who makes very lovely hand made earthenware beads. Seems to be a theme today!

Baubles, buttons and bright shiny beads, ting-a-ling-a-ling-a

It's not dolls, but it could be wonderfully related. The Bead & Button Show will sparkle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 4th through 12th with the first five days before the sales floor opens filled with dozens of awesome workshops for every skill level. There's bead weaving, wire wrapping, lampwork, polymer clay and metal clay classes, and more. The whole conference looks absolutely packed.

Fees vary and usually include the materials. I notice from the website that some classes are already sold out, while others have limited space, so if you want to book, be quick. Also the age limit for many of the classes is "at least 12 years old" - so I love that the event is teen friendly!

While you are there, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful beaded doll maker, Dot Llewelyn. Thanks for the heads up, Dot.

Groundhog Day

Incidentally Feb 2nd is my wedding anniversary.

You too can celebrate Groundhog Day with one of these adorable amigurumi from Mooncreation's Etsy store. This one has a top hat. Or you can make your own with planetjune's pattern.

Bewilderandpine has a charming miniature polymer clay Groundhog with certificate for your observances. Order by Jan 28 for timely free delivery.

Raggy Rat has a very hairy faux fur groundhog in plushteam's store.

Zfla makes plush critters from repurposed sweaters including a Sweater Scrap Groundhog.

Violastudio also has a recycled boiled wool Bandit Groundhog softie.

Feb 2nd is also Imbolc on the pagan wheel, dedicated to rebirth, first stirrings of Spring, milk, and the goddess Bridget/Brigid (various spellings abound.) Carioca Witch has a small cloth goddess figure with  images and symbols hand embroidered thereon.

You can learn more about Brigid at TheVioletSparrow when you check out her miniature Brigid figure with her cow and candles. Be sure to read the description.

Rounding it out, pixadoodles2 has a selection of well priced corn husk dollies for your Sabbats.

Another amazing Russian doll artist

Anna Zueva's dolls are beautiful a thousand ways. There is a magical whimsy about the faces and eyes. The textures of the costumes and the sheen of the skin. The necks. I love her color combinations. They aren't naturalistic, they're stylized - yet you expect them move at any moment. Little living characters.

Anna works in multi media - paper clay, paper mache, textiles, acrylics. Her website includes some video slideshows of her dolls, with lovely music, and an appearance on Russian television, without subtitles - but you can see her painting a face up. Plus she shows how the adorable little vignettes are rearrangeable.

Thanks Christine Alvarado, who is no slouch herself, for the heads up via Facebook.

Middleburg

Susan makes beautiful prim style folk art figures and other designs using a 100% recycled paper pulp of her own concoction. Here Etsy store is beautiful, not slightly due to the bright, light quality of the photos. Can you say Shabby Chic? There are lots of beautiful items that will enhance your spring decorating.

But winter need not be forgotten. These sweet snow sculptures which defy the meagre label "snow men", were featured on her entertaining blog about her life, art and ecology in North Carolina.

Gorgeous convention in Philadelphia in May

The Doll & Teddy Bear Artist & Collector Convention is being touted as three conventions in one and will happen May 12-14, 2011 in Philadelphia.

The listed participating artists and speakers are a veritable who's who of art dolls, and the workshop and topic outlines sound very incisive and detailed. Many really get into the nitty gritty of techniques or will present insights into the creative process and doll history. Examples inlude Ankie Daanen's How to Make Shoes and Krystyna Poray Goddu presenting her book Dollmakers and Their Stories: Women Who Changed the World of Play.

The website is worth visiting itself for the participating artists' gallery, most images linking to their websites.

The beautiful doll pictured above is by Nancy Wiley, who has recently created 3D illustrations with dolls in backgrounds for a new edition of Alice in Wonderland.

A Sad, Bad Business

I have been asked by beautiful doll artist Yve Hooson of Freaky Little Things to pass on a warning about a serious, sad situation in the doll world.

Usually I am posting websites where you can see and purchase beautiful dolls or related products. However in this case the post is caution against dealing with a BJD distribution company called Dollfair which is unfortunately leaving a growing trail of dissatisfied customers and frustrated doll artists in its wake. Dollfair is trading under the several other names as well including Limwha, Enchantment Doll and Atelier Nouveau.

A blog has been set up to keep customers abreast of legal and other developments, and Anita Collins of Sleetwealth (who needs a feature here all her own!) has also elucidated her story from the point of view of a doll artist. More information and discussion forums can also be found at BJDCollectasy.

Sometimes even the best intentioned projects turn to sordid mush. It can be hard in the face of desire and illness and desperation to just admit defeat and stop. I worked on a movie project once that collapsed and no-one got paid, neither workers nor vendors. In the beginning it was all optimism and plans - but there was a point when those in charge should have pulled the plug and we would all have cut our losses.

So in the doll business as with any other, Caveat Emptor, and always read the online reviews of any company before sending them your money.

Costume Class Giveaway

Edwina Sutherland is giving away her 1812 online costume class to three people who comment on any of her blog posts this month (January 2011).  Just to be clear: to enter comment at Edwina's "Not Carved In Stone" blog (not here - I mean please comment here if you wish, but it won't be in the sweepstakes).

You can see a preview of the relevant class at Edwina's main website. Isn't this a pretty thing?

Saraluna

Thanks to Patti Culea for the link to fiber artist and doll maker Sara Austin. She has lovely painted, dyed, embroidered work at her Etsy shop, as well as new blog. I'm very intrigued by her ongoing project using rediscovered vintage German doll heads.

Sara will be offering classes at Piecemakers Country Store along with a host of other artists. The Orange County Doll Makers Club meets there second Tuesday of each month.

Recent New Doll Publications

Sherry Goshon has just completed her book covering the basics of cloth doll making, including patterns - "So You Want to Make Cloth Dolls". 50 pages, spiral bound, on her Etsy store.

Pamela Hastings has produced her most recent "Hot Flash: A Celebration"  (pictured) available from her website. This joins her other doll making books and kits featured there.

Also the latest Winter edition of Adele Sciortino's Costuming and Trim newsletter is out. Honestly, are any of you not subscribers to this beautiful FREE publication by now? Really? Adele is part of a new online art teaching venue that looks rather special. A for Artisitic currently has a bunch of doll making classes, including a "Finishing the Doll" series zeroing in on specific skills, as well as a journal making class and accessories. There is a free doll wig tutorial there also.

Finally, not a doll publication per se, but I am being included in a new E-book by Instructables. My Wavy Edged Paper Beads - which I use as doll embellishments - are one of the featured projects in Jewelry Making edited by Scoochmaroo.

Look Alike Doll contest

Via Twitter:
Join Paradise Galleries on Facebook and upload your photo to win a free doll, which winners select. You have only until January 10th to submit your photos that show which doll and you look alike. Then viewers will vote. The three with the most votes win.
Paradise Galleries is an online doll store featuring commercial collectible dolls. One of the newest fashion dolls that looks quite nice is royal fiancee, future princess Kate Middleton. This limited edition 17 inch portrait doll comes with a reproduction of the "the" ring. I hope she has better luck and a happier life with hers than the last bearer. It seems so - at least this happy couple is of the same generation and have known each other a while.
Here's a prediction - I bet Paradise Galleries will do a bride version when the time comes, since they already have the face mold.

Retreats

There are very few spots left for Sherry Goshon and Jean Bernard's popular Iowa Retreat to be held in September, 2011. There is also a New York retreat on Staten Island in July and waiting list for the sold out Reno retreat. For a very reasonable fee you get to make a cage doll figure under the guidance of two doll artist teachers, as well as commune with other artists in an intimate studio setting.

Want to move to Blue Hill?

First post of the new year! With new work, time got away from me over the holidays, so I missed doing my usual holiday Etsy round up. Sorry about that. I'll do one in honor of Winter in the next few days.

In the mean time I hope you will enjoy the whimsical mixed media figurative sculptures of Laura Balombini. She uses kiln fired porcelain, polymer clay, wire and wood, and creates surface interest with glass and ceramic mosaics. Many figures are animated. Small birds are a repeating motif.

Ms. Balombini is currently selling her home and studio in Maine. It looks like a beautiful spot. As an urban apartment dweller I am very envious of a separate studio space as well as all the green.

Get Dolled Up

Making Ends Meet is holding an online doll auction to benefit breast cancer research. All the dolls have been donated by the artists, and are in a friendly competition by viewer vote for a nice gift certificate to MEM. You do not have to bid in order to vote for your favorite. Patti Medea Cularis has a doll in the group (pictured), as does 11 year old Jessica Baillee Carter-Collins, whose doll is currently the front runner.

Marwencol

                                  
"Marwencol" is the imaginary town that Mark Hogancamp has invented and populated with incredibly detailed 12 inch (1/6th scale) dolls and action figures who portray characters in his ongoing WWII photographic saga. Using Barbies, GI Joe and other highly posable figures, along with custom made accessories and a mix of made and purchased clothing, he is creating allegories as therapy following his horrible experience of being beaten by thugs, to the point that he lost all memory of his past.

Documentary filmmaker, Jeff Malmberg has already won a passel of awards for his feature film about Mr. Hogancamp and his art. It has just opened in Los Angeles. Both film and the photographs look extraordinary and fascinating. I'm thinking Oscar (R) buzz.

Textile workshop at CAFAM

My friend and homeschooling mother, Talitha, is holding her Family Tree Tapestry workshop at CAFAM again this Sunday, Nov 14. All the work is fusing, so no special sewing skills are needed. If you live in the Los Angeles area, or know people that do, please pass this on! It could be a beautiful and meaningful addition to your holiday decorations.

All Dolls Are Art Convention

Announcing the inaugural ADAA convention in Austin, TX July 28-31, 2011. The theme is Toys in the Attic.

Registration will open on the website December 3rd, but the outlines of the workshops are already up, and my conference experience says don't wait to book your hotel room.

Pictured is one of the dolls Lisa Renner will be teaching, "Reliquary".

Not Carved in Stone

Edwina Sutherland has just opened her new Etsy store for her beautiful needle felted figures. She also carries patterns for her cloth dolls and needle felting supplies.

Let's all buy handmade for the holidays!

That's Someone's Face

Thanks to reader Mary Shummer for finding this site, That's My Face, where you can have a custom head made for 12 inch, and some smaller, action figures. Apparently they will use full face and profile photos to create a computer model and custom mold of your face to fit a variety of doll necks. They can also do age ups and other mods, and create other custom products like masks and origami faces.

For some entertainment, check out the list of available celebrity heads which include the familiar, like Barack Obama, and a bunch of political guys I don't know, but probably should. Not that Bruce Schneier instantly makes you think "action hero doll". I guess I should be keeping up so that I would recognize Neel Kashkari in a plaid shirt.

AFIC artist profiles

I know I have posted previously about Artistic Figures in Cloth, the fabulous semi-annual convention next happening April 28 through May 1, 2011 in Columbus, OH.

However organizer Cyndy Sieving has started posting on the event blog illuminating interviews and profiles of the amazing artists who will be featured workshop presenters at the event. The most recent, just in time for Halloween, is Susan Barmore.

All Hallows Eve approaches

Halloween is a wonderful time of year for doll makers. Zan Asha of Vagabond Creations is celebrating with a month long Halloween blog carnival. Also check out the doll swap she is organizing. (But be quick).
When you visit, keep your sound turned on to enhance the mystical trippiness. I enjoy the soundtrack choices.

Beadie Give Away

Here's a giveaway from doll beader extraordinaire Dot Llewellyn. To win one of her cute Pocket Monsters comment to her via email by October 15.
And while you at her blog, be sure to browse around for more of her work and philosophy. It will surely lighten your heart.

Autumn Equinox

Autumn equinox is fast approaching. I like an excuse to showcase some dolls, so here is a little round up of some timely Etsy offerings.

Griselda has a lovely Autumn Tarot/Spirit doll amongst others that fit the theme.

My doll friend Kats in the Belfry (who also found that Equinox site) has her cute little pagan people.

Over at Painting Pixies you'll find a whole forest full of sweet felted mushroom people.

Bonnesinging is Ready for Fall .

From Brussels, Mademoisell G has some beautiful painted cloth dolls bundled up for chilly weather like Agathe.

For your dollies' Mabon celebration, here is some miniature bounty (pictured) by Afterdarkafterall.

Ankie Daanen in Albuquerque

Received today from Ankie Daanen:

*****************************************

Dear Dollfriends.


I am happy to let you know that I will teach a FOUR DAY DOLLMAKING CLASS in Albuquerque, NM.

This class will take place in February 2011 from Thursday Febr. 3 through Sunday Febr. 6.

Classhours will be from 9.00am until 5.00pm.


This class will take place in the SANDIA COURTYARD and CONVENTION CENTER and the roomrate is $49,- plus taxes.

The class fee will be $500,- per student plus a $25,- kitfee.


Attached on this message you will find some dollpictures.[see below]

If you are interrested in this class you can make a choise: What do you want to make?

1: A ´Big Belly Boy´, made out of Darwi stoneclay and paperclay.

2: A ´Heartbreaker´, made out of Darwi Stoneclay.

But!!!...You have to make a choise, and most votes win.

So, it will be OR a ´Big Belly Boy´, OR a ´Heartbreaker´ in the end.

For the ´Heartbreaker´ you need to purchase a costume ($65,-), or you have to make one yourself after classhours.

You will go home with a completely finished doll.

If you are interrested in this class, or if you have any questions, please let me know and I come back to you with more information!

Warm regards, Ankie Daanen

*********************************************

More info on Darwi here.

Fun for Toy Collectors

Afficianados of vinyl toys and other toys too will enjoy Rotocasted, self described online library for toy collectors. Members can upload images of their collectibles and anyone can browse the over 8000 images currently stored. The images are not only of commercial vinyl toys but also of mods, repaints and stuffies. Joining is free.

Incidentally, I found this site travelling circuitous path along twitter that started with a google search of Dylan and Cole Sprouse (Disney's Zack and Cody). Dylan is an artist and vinyl doll designer. His first collectible vinyl toy (William and Shady pictured below in brown) is in release through his design company, Sprousearts.

Margi

Get ready to giggle, or certainly smile with a sense of knowing, when you peruse the textile and mixed media dolls of Margi Hennen. They embody a whimsical feminism, and charming humor as well as a freedom in execution that I really enjoy. They seem to me to be living in the same strange universe as the wee people that populate Australian cartoonist Michael Leunig's art, or at least next door.

Dabida

I was only going to post once today, but I'm a bit too excited. From Esther's site I followed her link to Dabida - the Dutch and Belgian Institute of Doll Artists.

If you can't find enough beauty and inspiration to keep you busy for a couple of hours, visiting the 23 members' picture heavy pages, then I'm...I'm a catfish. Such variety and some familiar names too.

BTW scroll down each page for the info thereon repeated in English.

Van Essie

I love this website and the work of Esther Verschoor. She makes spooky, mysterious and intriguing mixed media art dolls, sometimes starting with found objects like bird skulls. Her site is a visually rich rabbit hole. Click, click and click again to get to the deatiled info about each of her intricate vignettes. Her links page is a feast as well.

Art Dolls in Gallery 9

Another cheeky post about myself. My Dream Star Dolls have been invited to be in the store at Gallery 9, in Culver City in conjunction with The Peace Project juried exhibit starting September 25. I'll also be donating a beautiful Dream Doll for a gala auction to benefit victims of the war in Sierra Leone.

Pictured is Best in Show "Look Within" by Kelly Drew

More info on The Peace Project and Sierra Leone on my blog.

Free the Girls

Want to help end human trafficking and get rid of some old bras at the same time?

OK it's not exactly dolls, but it is textiles.


Here's all the info from Free The Girls - with a nice double meaning.

Thanks, Lucretia for the heads up.

Doll and Teddy Bear Convention upcoming

Susan and Terry Quinlan are creating an Artist Doll and Teddy Bear Convention. The event will be held May 12-14, 2011 at the Ramada in Philiadelphia, PA. The convention will honor doll artist and NIADA co-founder Helen Bullard and bear creator Beverly Matteson Port. The sooner you register, the more you will save.

Susan and Terry run the beautiful Doll and Teddy Bear Museum & Library in Santa Barbara. Susan is passionate about promoting dolls and bears as fine art.

Beautiful Patterns

Textile artist Kathie Briggs has posted some lovely new cloth doll patterns for sale on her blog. Both blog and website are worth perusing for the beautiful quilt art.

Call for Submissions

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area, here is an opportunity to submit your work to an art gallery. ArcStudios and Gallery is creating a Dolls and Dollhouses themed exhibit to run December through January.

"Artists are invited to liberally interpret their concept of ‘dolls’ and ‘dollhouses,’ and bring to life a creature or world from your wildest imaginings".

But hurry - the deadline to apply is October 31, 2010.

Indiana

Here's the vibrant blog of Indy Cloth Dollmakers, a doll club in Indiana. There are felt and cloth items, mixed media, challenge results and lots of pretty pictures of the members' work. It seems like they welcome travelling visitors.

New ADO about awesomeness

Our new Art Dolls Only website is up and it is beautiful. Aside the opportunity to browse and delight in the scrumptious artistry, the site itself is also exemplary in its design and layout. Very clear and easy to navigate, easy for collectors to find ways to purchase. Brava to the organizers. I love the featured artist and new member spotlights. Dolls by Constance Dillon pictured.

New Artistic Figures Blog

Cyndy Sieving, wonderful doll and fiber artist and creator of the Artistic Figures in Cloth Convention, has started a beautiful new blog where she intends to profile other wonderful doll artists with in depth interviews and photo essays. The first featured artist is Liz Siebold, member of the Guilded Lilies club. I urge followers here to visit and follow that blog too.