Candy dolls

Thanks go to Shari Harel, who has sent me notice of a series very special events coming up in November of intense interest to doll collectors.

Theriault's Antique Doll Auctions will be presenting for auction "Many Wonderful Things" 19th and early 20th Century dolls and automata on Saturday November 19, 2011, and  "To the Manor Born" 350 Madame Alexander dolls from Candy Spelling's spectacular collection  on Sunday November 20, 2011 at the historic Waldorf-Astoria in New York. These gorgeous MA dolls will be on display, open to the public, for 2 hours that morning from 9am-11am, after which the auction will commence.

Catalogs featuring the dolls from both auctions are available from the Theriault's website. (There are some nice links to informative sites there also.)

The press release description of Candy Spelling's well chosen and cared for collection makes me wish I had the wherewithal to participate:

"early portrait models such as Victorian Bride, red-haired Pink Champagne lady, Judy portrait, and Deborah Ballerina. There are Godey ladies and gentlemen, rare models from the Coronation series including Estrella, dolls from the Me and My Shadow series including Mary Louise, Victoria and Agatha. “Most of these dolls are so rare that they only appear on the market every ten years or so”, notes cataloguer Florence Theriault, adding “And to find them in such impeccable condition is just pure pleasure”.

The collection also includes four examples, Rachel, Joseph, Ruth and David, from the rare biblical series, a number of Wendy models inspired by Gone with the Wind including Aunt Pitty-Pat, Cousin Grace¸ Nana, Cousin Karen, and Aunt Agatha, and a baker’s dozen of rare dolls created exclusively for FAO Schwarz during the 1950s. There are plentiful and exquisite examples of the Alexander fashion icons, Cissy, Elise and Cissette, and legendary Alexander models costumed by the couturiers of the Ice Capades. The 8” Alexander child charmer, Wendy-kins, has been a special favorite of Candy Spelling, and rare and bountiful examples are offered including fashionable children, ballerinas, storybook princesses, brides, clowns, and dolls in historical fashions."

On Saturday November 19th, in the evening Candy Spelling herself will attend a Gala Reception, ready to sign copies of the catalog, to be held at Alexander Doll Company in New York - with the opportunity available to make more special purchases.
Please call 800-638-0422 or email info@theriaults.com to RSVP.

Debate at Dolls

"Arriving at the Grand" by Joan Greene

Winner Fashion Dolls $500 and under.

Here is an interesting article and subsequent discussion over at Dolls magazine, the current issue of which has just come out online. Stephanie Finnegan is asking about the fine line between definitions and words. Do you define yourself as a maker or an artist or something else? What is the difference between an Art Doll and a Sculptural Figure? Could be fun.

You can also see a video illustrating the Dolls Awards of Excellence 2011 and revealing some cool news about plans at Dolls for the future.

Kaliningrad

Here is the site of recent follower, Oksana of Koenig-Artdoll. The dolls that she makes, from polymer and paper clays, wood and all natural textiles, stuffed with sawdust and embellished with encrustations of beads, are so beautiful and delicate looking. Where many other European doll makers tend to the lean and pointed (also beautiful!), Oksana's sweet faced figures have round baby faces, with tiny features, reminiscent of antique dolls from Victorian times. But the clothes are far more aesthetically linked to Russian and European folk art and I want to say Rococo, than Victorian costume.

I notice that she credits past featured Anna Zueva as one of her teachers.

Just looking at beautifully made, gorgeous dolls never gets old at all.

Froud in New York

Ah, fortunate denizens of New York and environs, you have two opportunities in the near future to participate in one day workshops with Wendy Froud.

The days are Saturday, November 19th or 26th at the Animazing Gallery in Soho.

Animazing Gallery is hosting an Art of the Frouds exhibit from early December to mid-February. All of this is to celebrate the Froud's book. Also visit the Facebook page.

This is a very fun Etsy store

I've just discovered CurlyCueDesign - an etsy store that describes itself in part as "Steampunk Adjacent" - which I love. The collage style jointed paper doll puppets are really gorgeous and evocative. They come with small accessories, and you can get clothes for some.

Much ADO E-zine!

Click here for the beautiful, beautiful, beautiful Much ADO E-zine from Art Dolls Only. I sit amazed to see that all this beauty is free.

A collaborative effort with gorgeous art work, tutorials and useful information, this is a must for any art doll enthusiast, maker or collector.

I have a brief article in it (about the mini monthly challenges) and there are pieces from some of the most familiar and hardworking doll artists around. There are even downloadable pattern pieces included.

Summer Dreaming

Here is the blog of recent follower Summer Smith, Dreamspirations Gallery. I love the depth and clarity of her sculpts, especially what she can achieve with paper clay, and delicacy of her paint and chalk work. Scroll down past the fine crochet work for more sweet elves and other sculpts.

She also has an Etsy store.

Doll project on Kickstarter

I've found a few doll related projects on Kickstarter, and this ambitious one from Bezel Dolls, is current.

I'm posting it because it is doll related, even if it does have a bit of a "too good to be true" air about it. Let me explain. These folks intend to release licensed celebrity likeness dolls (aiming for extremely high resemblance) to the collector market, in both talking and non-talking versions, at what sound like rock bottom prices.

Now I love a good celebrity doll, and the company has a somewhat undefined relationship with incredible repaint artist Noel Cruz, who is "helping" with the designs. The photography on the project site is of his repaint/face ups of assorted fashion dolls that are amazing looking. These one of a kind dolls start at over $800 on Ebay, and the pictured Angelina BJD reportedly sold for $3,350.

In the light of these prices, using Noel Cruz's extraordinary dolls as illustrations feels a bit "bait and switch" in referring to dolls that will retail at under $40, if you know what I mean. The project is certainly a lesson in marketing and promotional buzz generation - google Bezel Dolls and see for yourself. Everything on line seems to be self generated.

However other than saying the Bezel dolls will be good likenesses and will wear clothing reminiscent of styles the celebs have worn, there is very little info about the proposed dolls themselves. I gather from looking at the shipping box size (for the rewards) that they will be 11.5 inch fashion dolls - but do they have joints? What kind of hair? How many will be made of each edition? I have to believe that at the price points they are not going to be hand painted, or very limited editions. But then again look what Jason Wu could achieve for amazingly low prices.

So I guess, since I am here to promote doll art and doll collecting, if you have $25 (+ shipping if outside of US) to spare for something sight unseen and brand new then maybe go for it. I honestly don't have any idea what the doll will look like when you receive it - but they say they are going for Nicki Minaj, so it should be colorful at any rate.

Boxcar Fair

OK, they have all their funding, but you can still be part of something wonderful.

Here is another amazing puppetry and film art project from Kickstarter. The project is awesomely cool, as are the artists participating. There is a nice video summary showing some of the automata in action.

The puppets are from the mind and hands of Tom Haney. You don't want to miss these. Many of the gallery items have quicktime movies of the delicate, whimsical motion. Click on the most recent figurative vignettes in the portfolio to find work in progess shots, interior workings and design sketches. (Love seeing other artists' processes!)

Steampunk Animals

New Jersey artist, Tere Hurst makes gorgeous anthro figures and animals. One store sells sweet little figures of cloth and paperclay, including pins, that look like they stepped directly from the pages of Peter Rabbit or The Wind in the Willows. In another the animals are steampunk characters and Victoriana, sculpted and delicately painted. There's a simple clarity to the shapes and colors. Steampunk but still sweet, rather than gritty. A blog for the dolls, and another for the creative journey.

Coupla Etsy cloth doll artists

Amanda Sue Myers is a tattoo artist with a line of pretty cloth dolls in her Etsy store. They have big painted eyes with a painted illusion of deep 3D and layers of costuming.

Jennifer LoveJoy, with her shop JenFey, makes beaded and embroidered Dragons, Animals, Fairies and cloth Spirit Dolls with beads and embellishments.

Just like 'em. Different from the usual, different from each other.

Here's an Etsy Sale

Shabby Chic Shreds is having a big sale, including a bunch of cute prim style art dolls, to celebrate a wedding. Hit the store, enter the coupon code MUSTHAVEIT and get a nice discount.

Then go ahead and visit Evie's interesting and pretty blog.

Brigitte Doerner

This is the web portal to the fascinating world of a puppet maker and doll artist, Brigitte B. Doerner of Czech Republic. There are links to blogs and etsy - but the most interesting part is the step by step photo essay detailing the carving of a marionette. Be sure to follow the Projects links.

Free Tee Tute

Here is a tutorial and FREE downloadable pattern for a tee shirt for 18" dolls - would probably also fit 16" American Girls with little fuss. Thank you New Green Mama.
That is all.

She's A Pirate

Noticed on Craft Magazine...

Here is the website for "She's A Rebel" a short stop motion animation film being independently realized by artist Daisy Edwards. The site documents the process and progress with lots of cool WIP stuff early on as well as shots of the working puppets and sets. Really cool to see and read. The story, by the way, is about a female pirate.

Win a Bear, Oh what a cutie bear.

Oh yes, this is a truly adorable little bear. Go here to Wendy Walker's site and scroll down for all the deets on winning this sweet wee jointed bear, and see all her other beautiful and prizewinning miniature work.

All Things Small

All Things Small is a maker of highly detailed miniature plants and flowers for doll houses and other miniature uses. They are so pretty and fresh looking. I especially love the potting station. The material used for most of these plants is rice paper. Also available from the simple and clearly organized website are kits, tools and accessories.

The sizes for each flower pot or basket are in the descriptions. Once again, I wish miniaturists would include something standard like a coin for visual reference in their photos. But you can't have everything.

Haunted Dollhouse

Here is a Flikr set of an interesting miniature doll house. The Blogess isn't usually about dolls, but this is a cool thing to examine. Can't show a photo, but do follow the link.

Wee Peeple

Kendra Niagra's website, Wee Peeple Dolls, is huge and fun, and her cloth dolls and animal totems are beautiful. Clearly she has a delightful sense of humor. But seriously, the website goes on and on. Just keep scrolling. And there are stories too.

I especially enjoyed exploring her recycled materials tutorials.

Contest to win Supplies

This might seem a little odd for a doll post, but the products are wonderful. I'm on the ScraPerfect design team and of course I use the Best Glue Ever, Embellie Gellie, Perfect Crafting Pouch and Perfect Cleaning Cloth in my scrapbooking and paper crafting.

But they are also fantastically useful for doll making. The Best Glue Ever is great for fabrics, as well as putting beads or rhinestone embellishments on to surfaces. The Embellie Gellie is a tool that I use for lifting and placing small items, as well as  holding small items down while I alter them. The Perfect Crafting Pouch prepares all kinds of surfaces - including fabrics! - for clean and crisp stamping or printing, AND is a fantastic mold release for polymer clay in silicon and other molds. The Perfect Cleaning Cloth is anti static and removes Pouch residue and cleans your spectacles beautifully.

HOW TO WIN? Go to Facebook.com/ScraPerfect and post a response on the thread that says: 

WANT TO WIN A PRIZE??? Just tell us where you heard about this contest for ScraPerfect Products.  We'd also like to hear questions or comments about our Magically Perfect Craft Products...Where's you first heard about them? What do you love about them? How you use them most?....

THE PRIZE: The Best Glue Ever, Embellie Gellie, Perfect Crafting Pouch and 2 Perfect Cleaning Cloths. 

Contest Details: Contest ends November 15, 2011. Winner will be drawn at random form the Facebook posts. Paid shipping to the US, as well as Israel & Brazil where we have DT members. (If winner is from another country, they may choose to pay shipping or forfeit the package.)

There are also TWO online articles:

Cool Techniques & Tools for Papercrafting

Courtesy of ScraPerfect Products
Create a card and learn how to instantly dry pigment without heat, archieve inkjet printing on vellum, apply glitter to acetate with no static cling, and more!

How to Scrapbook Using Homemade Adhesive Dots
Courtesy of ScraPerfect ProductsNeed tiny adhesive dots ones for beads or micro-gems, long ones for fiber, or giant ones for making flowers? Read how to make them any size or shape, save oodles of money, and be "green". 

More info and ideas at the ScraPerfect blog.

Lucille

Lucille Ball would have been 100 today. Google Search is marking the event with a vintage tv that shows clips from "I Love Lucy" on the search engine home page.

Mattel has been making beautiful portrait dolls of Lucy, sometimes with Ricky, sometimes with Ethel, since 1997. Here is a fan site with a list of the entire line. I didn't realize it was so many. As portrait dolls, they are very nice because they really do capture her face and her expressions and the costumes are splendidly detailed renditions of the tv show garments. We have a couple ourselves.

Franklin Mint released a beautiful 16 inch vinyl portrait of Lucy in 2002 to celebrate 50 years of Lucy on television. This doll had a bunch of wardrobe accessories including a trunk. Check collectors' sites for sales or auctions of that one.

Effanbee made a collectible Lucy doll in 1985, but in my opinion the face and hair looks more like Ginger Rogers than Lucy.

Finally, here are some Kelly dolls styled as Lucy.

Danger ahead

If you knit at all you will love Rebecca Danger's critters. She sells knitting patterns and sewing patterns that you can download instantly for cute animals and monsters too. Be sure to visit the FAQ tab for useful links to how-to videos and other helpful info. Now all you have to do is choose really cute yarn to end up with really cute stuffed toys.
Oh - want to try before you buy? Under the shop tab, she has some free patterns.

Upcoming Doll Classes in NM & NY

Marlaine Verhelst - Taking Care of the Chicken

Received from Ankie Daanen:


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


Hello, Dear Dollfriends.
 
I like to let you know news about upcoming dollclasses.
You might be interrested!!
 
MEET ´THE DUTCH TOUCH´.
Marlaine Verhelst and Ankie Daanen will come to Albuquerque, NM!!!
In a five day class Marlaine will teach hand sculpting into airdrying stone clay, based on human forms and proportions
and painting the piece with watercolor.
Ankie will teach inspiring lessons in clothing and finishing the doll in a personal way.
All students will go home with a finished piece!
 
DATES: Monday October 15th through Friday October 19th, 2012.
PLACE: Sandia Courtyard Hotel & Convention Center, Albuquerque, NM.
Roomrates are $59,- for two persons, incl. breakfast / excl. taxes.
The total fee for the five day class will be $ 875,-, payable in three terms.
Kit fee will be $25,-, payable the first class day.
For more info on this class you can get in touch with Ankie: ankiedaanen@hotmail.com
 
ONE OPENING in the ´DUTCH TOUCH CLASS´ in Rye Brook, NY!!
DATES: October 25 through October 29, 2011.
For more info on this classyou can get in touch with our host Barbi Kantor - Goldenberg: dollart29@aol.com,
or with Ankie: ankiedaanen@hotmail.com
 
TWO DAY CLASS IN WESTCHESTER, NY, MOUNT VERNON:
Ankie will teach a two day class : how to make a ´doll out of the box´.
You will learn how to sculpt a fantasy dollhead and hands from air-drying clay.
How to make a body, how to paint and finish the doll and how to decorate a box-on-wheels and finish the complete project.
 
DATES: November 1st through November 2nd, 2011.
For info on this class you can get in touch with Gwen Jackson: mamagdolls@msn.com
Gwen has extra bedrooms for students.
 
NOTICE: Find out all about classes Marlaine and Ankie teach in August during the NIADA convention in Denver.
www.NIADA.org
 

by Ankie Daanen

*******************************************************
I've been to Albuquerque. The old town is pretty, there are nice Mexican food restaurants especially and there is lots of art to see in the region.


Please contact Ankie directly for more information. These are all wonderful opportunities to work with masters of the doll making arts.

Filigree Fantastic

I never ceased to be amazed and inspired the creativity in the world. I have just found the adorable and whimsical site for The Filigree, a Fairy Tale Newspaper. The site features information about the paper, gorgeous fantasy animals and anthro figures ("filigreetures") made using polymer clays over armatures and repurposed silk fabrics for the skin textures, Art Dolls and the most gorgeous Paper Dolls.

The paper dolls are a big feature of the Etsy store. The whole concept and brand is most intriguing.

Gather at the Old Farmhouse with Junker Jane

Junker Jane's Monster on Etsy

I was explaining my slow progress on my Aesthetic Preferences Profile quiz on my MMM blog. I mention shabby chic/prim as a major style look. Here's the group blog of an Etsy team, Old Farmhouse Gathering, that make many beautiful prim and american folk style things for the home including beautiful dolls.

For anyone interested in running down a sweet rabbit hole the artisans button on that page takes you to a plethora of links to their blogs and shops. There delectable foodstuffs, traditional recipes, shaker furniture makers and of course dolls, like Prims Gone Wild, Angelbug Prims, and Night Owl Studios.

I think Junker Jane may be my current favorite, though. These go beyond the typical prim rag doll, to be prim rag monsters. Her work has an unmistakable look, lots of assymetry, lots of layering. Even though she appropriates elements of the prim aesthetic like aging, distressing and raggedy edges, you never think you are looking at an antique. They feel both aged and contemporary.

The Junker Jane website is also nicely organized. Her photography is exemplary.

Harry Potter all gone

As it happens most (but not all) of these dolls are sold out, but they sure are fun to look at. We have Tonner's Hermione and Ron at the Yule Ball, and they are truly beautiful detailed dolls.

Win a Kokeshi

...courtesy of the Craft and Folk Art Museum store in Los Angeles. In conjunction with the current exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, you can win a sweet kokeshi by artist, Kathy Yoshihara, by going to this blog post article and commenting before July 19th - so hurry along.

A world of teddies

Here's an online show of artful teddy bears. You can vote for your favorites but only for 3 days, July 15-17! There are some adorables amongst the miniatures and the full size.

Lego art

Ok this is just highly amusing to me. There are tons of ads on the site but scroll down for the famous album covers recreated in legos. Beatles predominate, but there are some others too.

International Art Doll Registry

Here is a community site for doll artists, the International Art Doll Registry. At this site there members can access tutorials, get critiques and help, and participate in challenges - but most of all show their dolls to the world with links to their sales sites. The annual membership is a reasonable $39.00, and there are also annual contests.

The next associated learning opportunity will be a Polymer Clay Sculpting Seminar hosted by Deb Wood. This will be in Minnesota August 17-21, 2011. Details from Deb directly.

Ric Rac Softies

Here's Jodie of Ric Rac's tutorial for making a personalized plushie doll. A quick browse around her blog finds other soft dolls, whimsical stuffed miniatures made by reducing patterns, and a general fondness for clean shapes,  pretty felt colors and a sharp eye for retro influenced design. I like it.

Vote for your Bu

Bu's are little droplet shaped vinyl figures. Joining the trend started by Kid Robot and Munny figures, various artists have transformed these blank canvases into art dolls and other decorative things with paint and mixed media. You can vote for your favorite until June 30th.

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.