Barbie disaster here!

Doll friends I need help!
We have a 1970's European issue Busy Hands Barbie Equestrienne and last night while checking to see how her head was attached, I accidentally popped the head right off. It attached with the little double ended plastic "mushroom" shaped thing - which came out of the neck.
Now her head just won't go back on and not wiggle and flop.
My daughter, who bought the doll with her own money at the Barbie convention here in LA a couple of years ago, is devastated and I'm persona non gratis.
Does anyone one know an expert Barbie doll doctor who could help me? I'm going to haunt some of the forums and see what I can learn too.

Happy Fourth of July

Here are some patriotic themed dolls on offer at Etsy.

People are making nice outfits for your American Girl dolls to wear to your celebration, including Betsy Style and Doll Closet.

Blythe will also be well dressed at your summer barbeque by Rozrank.

There are some nice prim dolls ready to celebrate, including 1897 House's Olde Liberty Anne.

Raggedy Ann collectors won't be disappointed. I like this one from Wandering Whimsies.

There are some teddy bears and other critters bedecked in old glory including a grungy prim bear from Harmon's Country Crafts and a Bear by Sandi.

I like the artistry in Cat and Fiddle Folk's Fire Kracken Kit Kat.

Usagi Rabbit, maker of crisply finished hand sewn plushies, has a Red, White and Blue Wool Rabbit.

The only thing in Hophopjingleboo's shop is a this Little Liberty Girl vintage redux. But she is rather nice. I hope to see more.

There is no shortage of scrumptious themed miniature food for your dolls to enjoy on their holiday. Sarah Maloney's Dollhouse Kitchen (pictured), Humming Bird Miniatures, and Crown Jewel Miniatures can all cater my doll's party anytime they like.

Finally, there are plenty of small animal offerings, but I just like this paper clay Cheshire(?) Americat on a star from The Snippets.

Treasures

Here is a delightful, doll heavy Etsy treasure Weird Cute by Juliani. I found it on the front page (awesome!) A couple of familiar shops there too.

Realism in Cloth

My friend Sandra sent me a link to this person's site. There are no words other than "thanks!". Go to Lisa Lichtenfels' site - you won't be sorry. You won't want to believe it - but these are cloth figures over batting, felt and wire armatures. Be sure to check out the Techniques tab. Look for some celebrity portraits in the galleries too.

Paper Doll Children

I've been making paper dolls, and it is great fun. Here's another site that has paper doll packages for sale, for play. At Lily and Thistle MiniMe you can have dolls made to resemble your kids. The clothing for them is really sweet and pretty. I especially like the line inspired by characters from literature. The prices seem very reasonable to me too.
Paper dolls are an old fashioned but still charming toy. Did you know that the genesis of Barbie came from Ruth Handler noticing how her young daughter and her friends loved playing with the fashions on their grown up character paper dolls?

The Party Never Dies

Oh yeah. Adorable cute. Cool concept. Anime and Harajuku influence on the aesthetic. Monster High Dolls are set to come out in August, but my 10 yo daughter has already seen some at that big chain toy store and she is in love. Very poseable. Very cute litte accessories and pets. Fun mini-vids introduce the characters on the home site. If my daughter's reaction is anything to go by, Mattel has created something to replace My Scene dolls that will blow the memories of Bratz away on the breeze.
Is it just me, or are mass market commercial manufacturers appropriating more and more visual motifs and style elements from handmade indie crafts, including art doll makers? Yeah, it's not just me. It's something I've been watching increasingly for at least a year. (Another case in point - Littlest Pet Shop plush toys.) Although in fairness, it's not just toys. I'm seeing it in things like hang tags on mass produced garments, made to look as if they were hand stamped with rough edges.

Bargain Books

Interweave is holding their annual blow out sale of hurt books at bargain prices. These include many tomes of interest to doll makers including Ray Slater's "Cloth Dolls for Textile Artists", and a number of other technique and theory books.

Oddities

One of the really cool things about UK felt and doll artist Anthropomorphica, is the number of work-in-progress shots on the blog. There are doll starts shown that are basically their wire armature and their head, yet they have a wonderful vitality. The words are poetic and the photography exemplary. These gorgeous jointed polymer or paper clay and mixed media dolls have an odd whimsy, like Bette Davis woken up suddenly and carrying the ghost of her dream into the daylight. Go look, then tell me if you don't see what I mean.

Wild Art

I've been browsing around at text dense site Wild Art Dolls, where there are "fabulous and zany" pin dolls, fashion doll redux, paper doll info and Aisling's free patterns. But the big draw is the interviews with a bunch of doll and fiber artists. There are also some informative tutorials, and links to art doll books on Amazon. Pop goes my wish list.

Seminar in July

Deb Wood, maker of the Enchanted Heart figurative sculptures, is offering a Fairy Sculpting and Costuming Seminar in Omaha, July 14-18. The details are on her blog, where you can also dive in to beautiful pictures of her astonishing and lifelike polymer clay figure sculpts. Scroll down for a selection of free helpful tips and tutes.

Jenny's Paper Dolls

Here is Jenny's Paper Doll News blog. This is a great resource for anyone interested in paper dolls as an art form, with links to OPDAG and some nice publications (see picture), as well as event news, such as the OPDAG Convention in July.
I've only recently started exploring paper dolls myself. Stay tuned for a link soon to my downloadable free paper doll designs.

Cart full of Stuffies

Here are a pair of artists whose work I just really love. I first saw one of their dolls in an Etsy treasury, and followed back to their store, and then their blog (free stuff!- scroll down and look for the tutes on the right) and beautifully designed website.
I love the sweetness in the painted faces, the muted yet clear colors, the charming shapes, the wistful feeling in the expressions. They also have a fine finished quality - finesse, delicacy. So many superlatives, so little time.

Harem6

Sometimes words can get in the way.

Sometimes art needs no translation.

Click on the little face to the bottom right. The word that comes up is "papusi".

There are more words too, on the blog.

New Dimensions

Very interesting news! This year Dimensions in Dollmaking will be held in conjunction with the enormous, awesome and famous Comic Con in San Diego. Entrants will have the opportunity to reach a whole new segment of the doll and character collecting community. The necessary forms and info are at the website, which also has a link to the Imitation of Life Construction Company Google group.

Cruising

Here's some awesome doll making fun - Cruising to Wonderland Soft Doll workshop cruise around the Caribbean. The ship leaves Fort Lauderdale February 25th, 2011 for 11 days of fantastic workshops, plus all the fun of being on a cruise ship (food!) The all-inclusive costs vary depending on your cabin, starting at a little over $1500.
Significant other loves cruising but not interested in the doll workshops? The workshop fees will be deducted from the main price.
The workshop leaders will be Cyndi Mahlstadt and Patti Medaris Culea. How cool to have such intensive access to two of the most eminent people in cloth doll making.
Patti recently had her head shaved to benefit cancer research. Here's the story.

Team BJD

Here's a great Etsy Treasury featuring shops that make clothes, including some knits, and accessories for Ball Jointed Dolls.
Pictured, from the Treasury, is Aldwen's Rococco Countess Dress.

Spirit Clay

Figurative artist Amya Crawley works with polymer clay and other materials to make both light-hearted figures, like happy cats in their pajamas, and serious spirit dolls. These aren't at all somber. When I look at them, besides enjoying the ripple of color and the intricacy of the pc tiling, I get a sense of deep contemplation and serenity. They are simple in shape, but rich in detail.

Soup

Here's a really charming blog, with a rather enjoyable sound track to it too. I don't usually have my sound on but I'm glad I did when I found Garb-oodles Soup. There are sweet prim style dolls as well as paintings and what look like paper doll WIPs.

Mini Diorama contest ongoing

More entries to my Miniature Diorama Contest sweepstakes, using recycled packaging as the base, are trickling in. I'm glad I am choosing the winner by draw, because otherwise it would be just too hard a job.
There's still time to read my article online and enter. Contest closes April 30th, and is open to all ages. The prize is an Iggy Jingles Dream Star doll (and I'll put in an Either Way play doll if the winner is very young.)
Pictured is the totally awesome "Stormy Night" by Olivia Costes, age 13. Kinda channelling Tim Burton...The rest so far up on the magazine site are fantastic too.

Easter Etsy round up

It's Easter and here is some of the delightful doll work being done by Etsy sellers. In no particular order:

Loopyboopy's just a little strange Rhonda the Rabbit Girl (pictured) shows her signature beautiful spooky eyes.

Sycamore Moon's felting is just gorgeous, as always.

The Gothic Bunnies at PinkyToast are just cool.

If a more prim style is your preference try Buttons In The Attic for Itzy Bitzy and others.

LittleBlackCrow's prim Autumn Bunny Boy is charming. Actually all her bunnies are charming.

TheCattsUglyBabies Primitive Folk Art Bunny is not in the least ugly.

Is micro-needle-felting a trend? EclecticGarden and TotallyTimmy seem to think so.

For something a little different, DollStop offers a selection of Kokeshi style sweetly painted bunny folk, like Rabbit Girl 1.

But enough sweetness. More goth. How about a Zombie bunny from Creepydolls?

More large eyed oddness from maker MissMillicent - Winnie Bunny.

FionaArt makes some very unusual bunnies including an Easter Butcher.

I could do this all day long, but I should leave you more to discover. I'll end with a dose of cute to bring a smile. Here is a pattern for a very, really very, sweet little bunny by VivianneGalli. Makes me want give it a little kissy.

Happy Easter everyone.