Figurative artists' call

The Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, CA has a call out for participants in a juried show "Figures and Faces" in the main gallery. They are looking for all media other than film and video. The deadline for jpeg submissions is July 5th for the exhibition in August. Fees apply which look commensurate with other similar shows, and there are also prizes.  The works must be for sale.

John Frame exhibit

Showing until June 20 at Huntington Library in Pasadena, CA is "Three Fragments of a Lost Tale" - figurative sculptures and carved wooden and mixed media puppet/dolls by artist John Frame. At the website is an 8 minute film of the artist at work including some stop motion segments. The scale of the figures is tiny, so the sculpting is even more remarkable especially jointed fingers. He sews costumes and incorporates metal armatures and acrylic/glass eyes.

Also interesting are segments showing John Frame gathering natural materials and using mud and dirt to color and stain wood for the figures and scenic elements.

Incredibly beautiful and thought provoking.

Big Book Big Mannequins

Writer, doll maker and illustrator Sylvia Ion is offering a couple of downloadable PDF How-to books through her Class Concious Big Books. I'm seeing one that is for a life size paper mannequin and another for a child size display stand. Both are built over existing forms, and I can see how the techniques could apply to all kinds of large scale sculptural work. How intriguing. The PDF's are part of a larger ongoing book project, something of a magnum opus for Sylvia, compiling all her life size doll work.

Kickstarter project

Mauricio Baiocchi is in the process of creating a beautiful independent film using puppets and miniatures. He needs what in the film world is a microscopic amount of money to complete the work.

Kickstarter is a "crowd funding" website. Individuals pledge to contribute any amount they can or want, to all kinds of projects and ideas. Some project organizers offer different rewards for different levels of contribution. Your credit card/paypal account is charged only after the deadline specified.

The catch is that unless the project receives pledges for the entire amount requested by the deadline specified, your card will not be charged. It's an all or nothing deal.

Please visit the site and watch the video trailer. I think you'll be as charmed as I was. He's getting there, and he has 37 days to go.

Chopoli breathtaking

Following the treasury images back to their various sources, I knew that I had to feature the amazing work of German doll artist, Tatjana Raum, selling as Chopoli. She crafts beautiful tiny polymer clay fairy creatures inspired by the colors and milieu of her home in Bavaria. The delicate coloring and fine textures of these brilliantly proportioned figures is second only to the vivid, lively expression in their faces.

But there's more! Her Wooden Spirits which fuse wood, bark and polymer into magical hanging or standing sculptures, are even more extraordinary and beautiful. They form the base of her art prints, but each one is hand sculpted and textured in such a way that you believe that they are portraits of the tree's Dryad, emerging from a fallen bough, perhaps searching forever for their original tree. The extreme realism of the expressions and proportions combines with the whimsy of the coloration from the natural source material. I love how there is one angle where the face is staring right into your eyes, your soul.

Doll Treasury

Abi Monroe, ADO member and fine doll artist, has been so gracious as to include my "Journey" (a different detail above) in her latest treasury. There are some other very interesting dolls there.

Sweety birds

Here is Ann Wood's site where she sells awfully sweet hand made birds. They really are delicate and pretty. On her blog she is showing a whole flock of bride and groom birds.

She also has raggedy fabric collaged owls and lacy spiders from upcycled vintage materials. Very cool.

Kate Middleton Doll Contest

Dolls Magazine is running a contest to win the Franklin Mint Kate bride (mentioned previously). Go Here. It's a pretty thing.

Amazing origami

This is just incredible origami. Brian Chan folds insects, critters, objects and figures, including the Iron Man featured on Craft. Seriously - this is genuinely stunning. Had to show two pics - can you believe it? Each uses a single piece of uncut paper.

Toodlesocks

Sue Anne at Toodlesocks Studio fills her polymer clay babies and fairies blog with useful sculpting tips and tricks. Her wee babies are utterly adorable, so the tips certainly work! Perhaps her most unusual OOAK's are her apes. Orangutan babies - really an overdose of cuteness.

That was quick

Ashton Drake's Catherine Middleton porcelain bride doll. The tiara's not quite right, but the dress looks good. Also they do say "fully poseable."

Mixed media to the max

I was browsing at the Recycled Art Dolls Flikr site and I found Lisa Rupp's repurposed and recycled dolls and dogs - Mixed Media Max. I love mixed media and found object art in general. I like the sheen many of these old wood pieces have, as well as the humor of the faces. You can buy her sculptures from her Etsy store.

Rabbit Round Up

Here is a selection of offerings from Etsy.

A Little Catty, whose work is perennial in these roundups, has a sad faced cloth bunny gnome, Bambi Bunny, amongst others.

The Snippet presents Contemporary Folk Art dolls including Bunny and Ellie.

A ten inch tall polymer clay and cloth OOAK Bunny girl is by Xpression Dolls.

She's Built for Speed is a gourd doll by Mamagourds.

There are quite a few prim style Easter Bunnies, including one from Dumplinragamuffin and Baggaragg's Magnolia's Parasol. Piecakeprimitives has a Spring Easter Folk Art doll that is very sweet, and not a bunny.

Also prim style are the hand painted Bonnie Belle Bunny Rabbit by Mustardseed and Miller Campbell's Bunny Rabbit Easter Doll.

The yarn afficianados are not left out.

Lazy Muse's Amigurumi Bunny has a lot of personality.

Out of the Frame offers an Amigurumi Love Messenger bunny.

MariannW's Hand Knit Bunny Rabbit in a Cashmere Dress has a lovely old fashioned prim look, as does Cuteycritter's Barnaby Bunny handknit.

For a dose of cute, try Totally Timmy's adorable needle felted White Easter Rabbit, or Grimitive's Needle Felted Jelly Bean bunny, all dressed up in pink.

You can knit your own bunny from one of the patterns at Dawn Toussaint's shop, including the sweet lop eared Laurel.

Chubby Creepy Bunny Plush is a minature that comes from Estonian shop 5erg.

Nonesuchgarden has some beautiful sewn felt bunnies in sweet gelato colors that are adorable, including Clover.

For something on the odd side of whimsy...

Here's Fiona Art's Easter Butcher Bunny.

Loopy Boopy has a couple of big eyed bunnies including Roy the Rabbit Boy Strange.

Clothmoth has a whole troup of embroidered bunnies that are beautiful including Mommy Bunny.

Pictured is Sir Cedric Goodhead's Harelequin the Rabbit Jester.

Tickletoot's Wooden Art Doll Bunnies are too cute.

Happy Spring

Gargoyle contest

My Feenix is sponsoring an art contest to create the visuals of a fictional creature, which includes a 3D category.

They mention sculpture, paper mache or stuffed animal. The character is described in the fantasy adventure book, "Blood Trinity", out now.

There is one thing - they do say that if selected as a finalist, you send in your original piece but it will not be returned. So that is something to consider as a doll maker. The Grand Prize is $1000 plus other goods.

Knitted figures

Fiona Goble's latest book is "Knit Your Own Royal Wedding". I think it looks charming. Ms Goble has also written other books including "Fleecie Dolls" and one about soft Monsters.
Her flikr stream has more photos of her textile crafts and soft dolls.

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.