Continuity

Portia Sperry was an entrepreneur and crafter during the Great Depression. She created a rag doll called "Abigail" as a teaching or activity doll with buttons and ribbons, which she employed local women in Brown County, Indiana to manufacture. The doll became so popular that she wrote a book called Abigail about a pioneer family. In this picture she is holding her second doll called "Nancy Hanks", and here is a sweet article and photo about one of them being donated to the Smithsonian after being a beloved plaything through generations.

Old Souls whispering

Another dollmaker whose work fits into the primitive/folk aesthetic is Shari Enge, of Old Soul Doll Company. I have seen her dolls at the 10 Women Gallery in Venice and they initally appear deceptively simple, but quite large in scale. But they have an aura about them. Fine details and surface treatments really make them seem ancient, or at least part of a continuum through the ages, and they draw you in to looking again. She was featured in Craft magazine Volume 4.

Lincoln with a dolly

Here is an illustration of President Lincoln holding a doll. I'm guessing this is a metaphorical moment rather than historical incident, but it's a nice little doll for historical reference.

This is another picture of little Mary holding a doll from the another issue of the same publication.

Presidential speakers

OK I know these are relatively lighthearted for such a serious historical moment, but in honor of the inauguration of a new President of the United States, here is a series of commercial dolls, Talking Presidents - and a few other loquacious individuals.

And to connect with the previous post: Jessica Acosta is just one of the fabulous artists who will be running workshops at yet another fabulous upcoming conference, Convenzione ZNE in Pleasanton, CA April 29 through May 3, 2009. Strictly speaking it's a mixed media artist conference, but it looks like half the workshop sessions are doll/figure related.

Really one could spend all year travelling to all the events all over the place. Oh yeah....now I have a goal in life...

They're watching you

These dolls made by Jessica Acosta are some of my favorite dolls, and an ingenious use of clothespins. I love them. I love their personalities, I love how their eyes follow you, I love the teeny props, I love the delicacy of the line work and the soft coloring on their faces. Jessica makes polymer clay dolls too. Did I mention that I love 'em?

New Dunny Series from Kidrobot

Little vinyl figures, I guess an offshoot of Japanese Manga/Amime art, are a whole collectible art form in themselves. My husband loves them, and they are often witty, strangely disturbing, and adorably cute all at once. Ever since the Kidrobot store in Santa Monica closed, we have to schlepp all the way over to the store on Melrose.

Here's an event even further afield (at least from us) - Custom Toy Lab has posted about an upcoming toy launch at Magic Pony in Ontario, Canada on January 22nd.

The new toy line is Kidrobot's Ye Old English Dunny series.

There are a lot of visual artists and surface design makers working with blank figures as starting points. They can be painted, altered and embellished. Or beaded, like the mind boggling work of Etsy seller elJan, Jan Huling, beadist.

18 inch play dolls & a photo contest - sorta

Doll Diaries is running an Emily Rose photo contest - or actually it looks like it is a photo audition to continue taking Emily Rose costume photos in exchange for the prize of Emily Rose stuff for your 18" dolls (like American Girl). So if you like taking photos it's fantastic! The contest closes midnight January 30th, 2009.

I love the AG accessories, and the antique repro mini dolls all the historical doll characters have as their dolls. Personally I make lots of outfits for my daughter's AG & similar dolls. I like this free pattern from Infinite Freedom for size, and have adapted it to make other patterns, like this summer dress and headband.

My daughter dressed as Elizabeth, Felicity's friend for Hallow'een. She wore a full size version that I made of the pink ball gown.

IDEX imminent

I nearly missed posting about the upcoming IDEX 2009, in Orlando Florida January 29th through Feb 1st.

So many workshops (lots of reborning) it would be hard to decide which to attend. The exhibitor list is a genuine who's who of doll designers and vendors.

Plus a book signing with Hildegard Gunzel.

Reborn roundup

Personally, I'll probably never be a reborn artist nor collector. However I can certainly appreciate the artistry, finesse and passion that reborn creators bring to their work. The hyper-realism that is the hallmark of fine reborns, whether life size or miniature, can be astonishing.

The pictured baby is by Cathy Rowland of Cathy's Original Babies. Her rooted baby hair is so extremely realistic.

One source for information about reborning is the magazine "Life Like Dolls". It's possible to purchase for download PDF versions of back issues.

Angel Keepers is one site with many reborning kits available for sale, waiting for the artist to paint and bring them to life. The site features a re-creation artist of the month, and has handy dandy page of links to retailers and artists around the US and elsewhere.

Cloud 9 Nursery has a free Basics of Reborning tutorial, while Angels Unawares offers a number of photo tutes and a couple of nice video tutes for painting techiques, like pouncing.

Mimi Kirchner's originality

I love Mimi Kirchner's vintage style tattooed dudes which she sells on Etsy. Well actually I enjoy looking at all her dolls. But right now she is making the most adorable miniature house pincushions - tiny felt landscapes nestled in teacups. Too cute to use? Her photography is a fabulous how-to for anyone wanting to take better shots of their dolls for sale or portfolio.

She has been looking for craft interns to join her in her business, so if you live in the Boston area... I wonder if she has found anyone yet. What an opportunity. And no wonder - she is really prolific - she made 72 remarkable dolls in 2008.

Another fabulous convention

The Figurative Artists Consortium convention will be held June 11-14, 2009 in Ottawa, Canada. Registration is open now for an international lineup of presenters, including Pearl Moon (that's one of her dolls pictured). Classes and workshops, challenges, swaps, lectures and presentations, vendors and auctions, show 'n' tell display. Sigh. Makes you wish you had an unlimited travel budget, doesn't it?

Idea for Change to be presented to our new President

Many doll and other crafters in the US have been concerned about new legislation mandating lead tests of all children's products, created by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Various protests have been organized to alert legislators and the public about the possibly devastating unintended consequences to small local manufacturers, crafters, indy vendors and charities.
In some good news about the situation, Save Small Business from CPSIA is one of the top ten "Ideas for Change" being sponsored by Change.org chosen by popular vote.

Rabbit Hollow Prims

I find these primitive style dolls very interesting. I also like the website design with the clickable photos and two slideshows. Be sure to scroll down to see the busy little mice and the "Spring Dolls" featuring many strange rabbits, which play with shape and form as part of the folksy, vintage aesthetic. I have a feeling that close examination of the dolls would reveal really interesting surface treatments too. Many, included the pictured doll, are available as pre-order items.

Sue sells patterns via a linked site, Pattern Mart, that looks worth spending some time exploring also.

Don't call them dolls; they're historical figures

February 2nd is the last chance to hear George Stuart's historical monologue about Chinese Imperial Gardens at the Ventura County Museum.

What has this to do with dolls? Mr. Stuart makes the most gorgeous, highly detailed, and meticulously researched one fourth scale figures of historical characters as the visual aids to his monologues. I've seen some of them and they are truly breathtaking. He constructs a skeleton, adds skin and makes every part of the costume and wigs. According to his biography, available from the museum gift shop, he has slowly increased his skills over the years to make each figure all his own work, including learning millinery, beading, embroidery and miniature cobbling.

Six of his magnificent figures will be on display as part of the monologue, I believe in addition to the rest of the permanent collection. The museum is nice place to visit anyway.

Dale Zentner's beautiful children

So you look at the pictures of Canadian artist Dale Zentner's adorable child figures and think that they are utterly delightful 18 inch porcelain dolls. Think again! These are pictures of amazingly detailed OOAK polymer clay figures most of which seem to be about 8 inches tall sitting. Admire their smooth skin, the embroidery and fine stitchery in their diminutive costumes, their precious tiny teddy bears clutched in their perfect little hands.

She also designs gorgeous clothing for BJD's of different sizes under the label Pink Grapefruit. I love, love, love the crochet. I want those dresses for me.

Magazine calling for contributions

Cloth Paper Scissors is calling for contributions for Mother's Day and Father's Day articles. I'm sure some of us have crafted dolls for our folks that would be good possibilities. The deadline for emailing in low res images is January 29th.


They are also offering a nice discount on the book "Cloth Dolls for Textile Artists".

Beaded Doll Contest

All Dolled Up is beaded art doll competition. This year's theme is "Earthen Mother" - there's a poem as the jumping off point. The deadline for entries is August 31st, 2009.

The site is worth checking out for the magnificent pictures from prior years, like this leaping doll called "Azure" by Ralonda Patterson.

I really must make this my last post for the day and get on with some actual doll work!

Artistic Figures in Cloth Conference

Don't wait to register at AFIC , a bi-annual conference, this year running April 30 - May 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Registration is open now, and classes are finalized by March 15. Some fill up well before that date.

Gosh it looks like fun. The Exhibition is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday for the teeny tiny admit fee of $2 and under 12 free. I love an expo that invites and encourages kids!

Don't forget to check out organizer Cyndy Sieving's dolls while you are visiting the site.

Digital Dolls

I received an email about the digital edition of Dolls magazine for February. According to the issue if your email addy is in their system the mag will automatically be forwarded to you free through May, as a trial of the new digital delivery method I guess. The email addy to contact if they don't have yours is: jonespub@jonespublishing.com

It sure is a nice looking issue. Here's what I loved. When you open a page, and click on the Links tab, appropriate links automatically pop up, including to Lisa Perrin's Etsy store where you can buy a copy (without the copyright info of course) of her featured paper doll. Cool. I want to be in Dolls. I want this blog to be one their links. Hmmmm.