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.

Donna Sims

Here is the lovely work of Donna Sims, ODACA member. Many of her dolls and goblins are costumed in leather through a fascinating process, cuir bouilli. I love her use of color, combining bright, but still natural, hues with neutral earthy tones very subtly and delicately.
Her figures have so much character, and are featured in a number of fine art galleries. Seeing inspiring dolls of this caliber, appreciated for the art that they are, uplifts all of us who are working with dolls and figures as an avenue of artistic expression.

Retreat to Ennui

Ell's Twisted Tales is the title and theme for this year's Ellowynne Wilde & friends doll retreat. The event is in Bracey, Virginia, August 12-14. The very limited number of attendees receive an Ellowynne and other gifts - plus the chance to talk dolls with kindred spirits. The event is created by the doll artists at Moon Lily Dolls, makers of gorgeous OOAK doll fashions.

Doll Street Dreamers AOM

I believe I have featured Australian doll maker Linda Misa before, but right now she is Doll Street Dreamer's Artist of the Month. That means that there is a lovely interview with her and photos of her wonderful light filled studio on the DSD website. On Linda's blog you can find a FREE online doll class, as well as free pin doll pattern. Thanks!

Miniature Show

Small World Miniature Club's 32nd Annual Dollhouse Miniatures Show will be held on this upcoming weekend (March 13-14) in Phoenix, Arizona.
The website is worth checking out for the list of attending exhibitors - some of the links direct to e-mail, but many go to lucious websites.
It's actually tough to choose a picture for this entry because the miniatures have so much realistic detail that they don't look miniature! The pictured confection is from Lola's Originals. Thanks for the coin!

Froudian

The Spring schedule for Wendy Froud's three day sculpting workshops are up on the World of Froud website. She will be in New York April 2-4 and then in Chicago at the end of the month.

Kina Crow Figurative Art

Here is ceramic and mixed media artist Kina Crow's website. She uses clay and makes witty busts and whimsical standing or sitting figures, and uses small hand made figures in her mixed media work. Be sure to check out her busy schedule of art fair appearances.

Play with Metal

Intriguing, and beautifully photographed, series of metal found object doll figures with found paper embellishments over at Play of Light and Shadow.
She holds a monthly giveaway too.

Yummy Haute

Here's my new doll friend Miriam's website, Yum Yum Couture - beautiful, highly finessed and award winning creations for 16 inch fashion dolls. As someone who makes doll clothes, I really appreciate the level of fit and fine detail in the stitchery and finish. Milinery too...

Dreams of Tuscany

Received from Adele Sciortino:

"There is still time to sign-up for the upcoming “The Art of Creative Costuming” workshop in Italy. Just think, it will be around the same time as the Renascence Festival in Cortona, Italy. Imagine all the costumes you will see firsthand, the sightseeing that will take place will take your breath away, a field trip to Florence to visit some fabric and trim stores, museums and shopping. What a week of adventure in Italy!"

* That week is May 25 - June 1, 2010 *

"I have scheduled one evening to have an Italian cooking course for all my students. What fun that will be, sharing stories and making new friends.

The workshop will be all about costuming like you have not done before. It will be a special treat for those of you that have taken my other Creative Costuming classes.

It will be an intimate setting with a small group. Each lady will receive my personal attention to help finish their costume.

If you sign up before March 7, 2010 there is a $100.00 discount."

******



I can dream can't I?

Cate Avery

Fellow ADO member Cate Avery is having a sale on her 18 inch figures at her Etsy store. She makes beautiful, costumed, realistic polymer clay full sculpts with glass eyes and vintage fabrics, and finds that she prefers to work in slightly smaller sizes. I particulary enjoy the delicate luminosity of this character's face.

Eileen Sedgwick Miniatures

Sometimes I don't notice what is right under my nose. New on my followers list is art doll and miniature artist Eileen Sedgwick of Britain. Her tiny 1/12th scale figures are beautifully detailed - many are art dolls twice - from being OOAK art dolls and from being portrayals of famous art. Plus her blog is cool too - keep scrolling for WIP's.

Gregg Ortiz

I enjoy looking at the splendid costuming and delicate painting on Gregg Ortiz's sweet faced dolls. He has recently created this limited edition jointed hard vinyl doll holding her own antique style doll. I like the way his website is organized by category so that you can look at his dolls in groups. I think I like the "Theatrical" bunch best.

You'll think it's Architectural Digest

If you think that doll houses and miniatures refers only to Victoriana, think again and visit this awesome blog, Call of the Small. A beautiful, picture heavy blog largely about Moderne miniature architecture and furnishings, including a fine review of some uber-cool recent new stuff at the NY Toy Fair. I'm not going to waste any more of your time repeating any of it - just go there and look.

A Quick Dose of Cute

Celebrate Spring with some crochet! Sayjai of K and J Dolls has a charming selection of free amigurumi patterns available on her blogsite, as well as more for sale through her Etsy store. They really are adorable.

New Classes

Doll friend Edwina Sutherland has asked me to announce that her new schedule of classes and workshops is up on her website. She makes and teaches gorgeous cloth dolls and needle felted characters of great personality. And by the way, she is an awesome costume maker and bridal sewist - more info from her blog. Her work will be found in the upcoming Quilting Arts Gifts.

Win a Doll

OK I know it's a bit cheeky, but here is a post about me.

My upcoming column in Natural Life Magazine includes a miniature diorama contest, with the prize being an Iggy Jingles Dream Star doll in your choice of colors. The contest is open to all ages, with the proviso being to use recycled packaging as the foundation.

Photos of your entries to Natural Life Magazine by April 30th (so plenty of time).

Kimberley's Kingdom

Here's another lovely fiber artist, doll maker and Reiki practitioner. In Kimberley's Kingdom you will find cloth faeries with needle sculpted faces, and charming needle felted creatures and spirit dolls. I like the organization of the website also, with her Etsy link button nicely visible on each page, and large scale pictures.

Focus on Fiber

I love it when info just comes to me.

Kathie Briggs, quilter, doll maker and fiber artist, will be attending the upcoming Focus on Fiber Retreat March 15-21 in Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Following these days of communion and creativity she is presenting an art doll workshop - details on her blog, which is worth visiting even if you don't plan to attend. If you can go, over three days, you and your fellow participants will create one of three gorgeous cloth dolls and learn a ton of useful techniques.

Both of these events take place at The Atlantic Center for the Arts, a vibrant looking facility.

Gung Hee Fatt Choi

When I was a little girl in Hong Kong, children celebrated Chinese New Year by going out to watch fireworks in the evening carrying cellophane lanterns hanging from bamboo sticks. These were wire outlined shapes, like animals, birds, or butterflies, with colored cellophane filling them. In the center was a little well holding a tea light or votive candle.

So just to be clear - hundreds of small children in crowded streets carrying highly flammable items hanging from sticks with lit candles inside. And yet no one ever seemed to be burnt up.

They were very beautiful,like carrying around a stained glass window.

Here are some paper patterns to make traditional Chinese costumes for your 18 inch doll. Carpatina makes some nice looking playline dolls and dolly clothing actually, including a wide range of international traditional costumes.

Giveaway For Haiti

Yve Hoosen is giving away a couple of her Freaky Little Things in aid of Haiti. Go here to make a donation and be in the running to win one of two of these beautiful hand painted dolls. Great idea!

Valentines from October

October Effigies artist, Kerry Kate, is having a pre-Valentine's Day sale on her Etsy store of stuffed print dolls with heart themes and motifs. These dolls are beautiful, dark, wonderful gifts for your macabre loving beloved. She also makes OOAK hand painted dolls, and keeps a very cool artful blog.

First dolls

Someone was wondering about the header here on this blog. Those are the first cloth art dolls my daughter ever sewed. I believe she was six, since the photo is dated 2006. She cut out shapes for the body from some outgrown sweaters, and then very carefully used a largish needle (I had to thread it for her)to hand sew the dolls together AND embroider the little face. All her own work. She makes jewelry too.

Doll Auction

Absolute Auctions is currently holding a huge doll auction continuing through February 21st. There are some antique dolls, porcelain antique and vintage repros and contemporary collector dolls. The current bids on many are remarkably low - although that may change as the auction moves forward. Many pictures of interesting dolls - click for more views.

Doll and Teddy Bear Expo

The Doll and Teddy Bear Expo is back! It will be held October 1-3, 2010 in Winston-Salem, NC. Highlights include a lifetime achievement award for Helen Kish, the DOLLS Awards of Excellence, and The Golden Teddy Awards from Teddy Bear Review.

Reborn blog

Thanks to Twitter, I can today feature a site that is surely delicious to reborn afficianados and collectors with lots of information. My Fake Baby is a good resource with articles, book reviews, links and news about Ebay bargains. There are photos too, although some are missing, labelled "unavailable". Still, those I can see are lush and show very realistic dolls.

Of Paper. On Paper

It's been too long since I mentioned anything at all about paper dolls.

Altered Pages, a place that markets primarily collage, mixed media, scapbooking and paper art materials, is offering an adaptable kit for a very sweet paper doll by Australian artist, Linda Baldock.

Meanwhile Art Doll Quarterly is seeking ongoing submissions for a new department - Paper Personas.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Puppeteer

There's been some enthusiasm about puppets recently. Here's some more for the topic.
Alexander Mergold is a Canadian puppet, doll and figure maker working in polymer and air dry clays whose marionettes, jointed dolls and standing figures are just wonderful.
His main style is naturalistic (I mean hyper real) portraiture and caricature. Many of his people are recognizable celebrities. His site is very cool and nicely organized -tons of pages to see. Be sure to check out the video of his puppets starring in a tv commercial - which incidentally gives an idea of the depth of the realism.
However if you visit his blog, you will find a whole other world of creatures and monster puppets and a lot of charming whimsy as well. Not to mention cool pics of wips and the underlying jointing. Here's his Etsy store.

Spring Mayhem

There are still a very few spaces left for Magic, Mischief and Mayhem this April 8-11, in Shelbyville, KY.
The line up of workshop instructors includes some of doll making's most eminent figures - Patti Culea, Judy Skeel and Cyndi Mahlstadt.
More information from anniedolls@roadrunner.com

Fiber Art class

Not really dolls - but it seems like the techniques could be used for doll making. Susan Sorrell is offering a bunch of reasonably priced online classes on a range of Fiber Art and Mixed Media topics. I like the look of Funky Felt Pins and Doodling designs - faces and fabrics perhaps.

Cute Ninja

I am indebted to Craft Magazine for the news about Ninja of The Month from Shawnimals. For a single price you will receive 12 numbered limited edition plush residents of Ninjatown Academy with accessories and other stuff. They are 426 very cute characters in the Shawnanimals world.

New Art Doll Blog

Megan Butel, Australian doll afficianado, has started a new blog about art dolls.
Art Doll Artists will feature news, tips, interviews and resources about and for art doll makers. More dolls online - yay.

Enchanted Resin

Don't look now - Marina Bychkova, the Enchanted doll maker, is about to start producing resin BJD's - still painted with limpid delicacy. She has written about her process on her blog.

Book Giveaway

Craft Gossip is holding a random draw give away for what looks like a really sweet book written by a felting doll maker about felt dolls. It is called "Felt Wee Folk" by Salley Mavor. On her blog are more deets about the book and about some challenges based on the felt characters. How cute are they?