Atlanta Ball Jointed Doll Convention

They are all over the place! Awesome. This time it's the Atlanta Ball Jointed Doll Convention with some terrific special guests. October 18-20, 2013 - coming up very soon.

Saint Louis BJD Convention

A small but sweet convention in St Louis sponsored by the local doll club, Dolly Playmates. I'd like to join the League of People Who Dress Like Their Dolls. November 15-17, 2013.

ScraPerfect Design Team Call

Beading with the Embellie Gellie by ScraPerfect holding my seed beads.

It's not dolls, but it does relate to mixed media art, as I know many of you make. Plus I use the products in my doll making - especially the Embellie Gellie to hold beads.

ScraPerfect is looking for some artists to join the Design Team. I've been a member for a couple of years, and I love, love, love the products. You can read all about here on the blog.

Cult of Doll Call for Entries

Attention Doll Artists: here is the latest project from Yve Hooson and Grace Garton. 

They are looking for artists whose dolls "have a story to tell" for their proposed almanac series. Read all about on the new Cult of Doll Blog. This interests me a lot. Since the sad demise of ADO, I've felt the lack in the world of a strongly innovative art doll design focused group, and I definitely plan on joining their Etsy Team (if they will have me!)

From the Team page:

Cult of Doll has 3 membership requirements:
* All artists joining must undertake to create one original doll every 2 years which will feature in a bi-annual online publication which will promote all Cult of Doll members. That doll must debut in the "almanac" and not have been featured anywhere else before its publication.
* All members must use a team tag on all of their relevant Art Doll etsy listings
* All members must feature the Cult of Doll logo on their blog, facebook, etc... to help promote other team members work

Not too difficult at all.

By the way - do check out Yve's new doll shop - Nightshade Dolls and Grace Garton's Little Black Crow Studio.

Please Pin!

Nefer Kane's Circus

OK you MUST go and visit Nefer Kane's site to see the extraordinary new line of resin ball jointed figures. These are not your typical BJD fashion dolls (although of course those are beautiful also). These are divergent dolls - creepy cute - very solid on their legs, and sublimely stylized. And then there are the different face ups.

You can see more and purchase at Oobie Dolls - another fine site to visit and browse.

Right - off to follow Nefer Kane on Facebook.

As always, Please Pin!

Scary Godmother Doll Kickstarter

At last an awesome doll related Kickstarter that needs support! The project is for a new jointed character fashion doll, based on the comic character The Scary Godmother, that is a very cool doll from a very cool artist. I love the actual pitch too, because if you scroll down you will see the creative process of designing the prototype illustrated.

In addition to being an intriguing concept, and a creepy-cool character that so many of us love, this project is a way of supporting a female comic book artist. I don't know if you have noticed, but comics do seem to be a pretty testosterone dominated field. I suppose doll design might be the opposite.

The perks are terrific too. The perk of the actual doll starts at $50 - so very reasonable in comparison to say Fashion Royalty or many Barbie collectibles. And she comes with tiny wings and a ghostly cat.

Please visit this kickstarter!

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Simple Simon and Company Doll Pattern

Here is a free downloadable pattern and tutorial from Simple Simon for an adorable little cloth play doll. I like that the tutorial shows stuffing the arms and legs separately.

It shows embroidered facial features and felt hair. I think it would be a very nice base pattern for portrait dolls of your children or grandchildren, or story book characters. It would be simple enough to turn the skirt into a pair of pants as desired, or make the legs from patterned fabric as "tights".

Please Pin!

Win a Queen's Treasures Fairy Tea Set from Doll Diaries. You have until midnight July 30th.

Call for Submissions - IDEX memories

From the e-mail:

Best of IDEX - We Want to Hear From You!

Whether you have attended IDEX as a collector, exhibitor, buyer, member of the media, or just tagged along with a friend or family member, chances are you have a great memory from a recent or long-ago show. We want to hear about them! We have our own list going, and it grows from year to year, so now we want to hear from you. What is your best memory from IDEX? Did you attend an extra-fun event last year, or recall a moment from a show over a decade ago that stuck with you? We want to know! We are enjoying the relaxing summer months and hope you are too. Stay tuned for more information to come throughout the summer about next year's IDEX. We have many exciting things in store for everyone! _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Send us your Best of IDEX moments and memories Sincerely, The IDEX Team

Marianne Loyd's Teddy Bear Poems.

Author and fine Teddy Bear artist, Marianne Loyd has published her book of poems about Teddy's in both paperback and Kindle forms. The book is called Teddy Bear Poems: straight from the paw. The Kindle edition is 99cents, at least today.

Nicky Epstein - "Knits for Dolls" book review and giveaway!

I'm thrilled to have been sent a copy of eminent textile artist Nicky Epstein's new book for review. It's called "Knits for Dolls: 25 Fun, Fabulous Outfits for 18-inch Dolls", published by Sixth&Spring Books.

Now here's my full disclosure. I can't knit, only crochet and loom. So I can't speak to the clarity of the actual pattern instructions from experience. However given that Ms. Epstein is a star in the world of artistic knitwear, with numerous well received books to her credit and regular contributions to knitting magazines, I'm pretty sure that the patterns will give the desired results.

I love the outfits she has designed for the dolls. I personally love wearing knits and would probably like most of these garments if they were my size. The colors as pictured are luscious and vivid. Some of the garments are more formal and have sweet lacy textures. I particularly like the dress with the beading knitted in to the pattern.

Others are funky, hip or boho. There are textures, different stitches, twists and turns - I should think working your way through these lovely patterns would be a great course in fancy knitting techniques. There's even one sweater that resembles a nordic pattern.

Also included are many accessories - hats, purses, socks, shrugs - and some delightful ideas for making coordinating doll sized jewelry. Finally there are some recipes - for people food - treats for doll tea parties. Oh, and I nearly forgot - a vintage style knit bunny.

I really appreciate the styling of the photos, with the props both miniature and full size. They are fun, and exemplary for anyone who takes photos of their dolls as product photos.

I'm really looking forward to Nicky Epstein's "Crochet For Dolls" that a little birdy told me was coming soon.

The book is available from the Nicky Epstein website (through Barnes and Noble as an affiliate link I suspect so I encourage you to go that route.)

Now that I have this book that I can't use, I think I will run a contest. Any one who comments on this post - maybe tell me about your favorite knitted toy or doll - will be in the drawing to win my copy of this charming book. Let's say around two weeks - so comment before 4th of July to be in the drawing. 

Please tell your friends about the contest, and share on Facebook too!

Free Doll Tutorials E-book

Here's a lovely surprise! It's a free E-book from Cloth, Paper, Scissors containing four tutorials for making some soft art dolls/stuffies from some of our favorite doll artists - Nola Hart, Diana Trout, Kelli Nina Perkins and Paula Nerhus. Download your copy and be added to the newsletter list. (Well the bounty just keeps coming.)

More classes from Ankie Daanen

Dutch Touch doll class.

During the NIADA conference in June in San Francisco I will teach:
A 2-day class: How to make an Arty-Heartbreaker face 
A 1-day class: How to make the perfect doll body         

June 2013 New Online class´How to make the perfect doll body":
www.aforartistic.com
Host: Adele Sciortino : adele@adelesciortino.com

February 22 through February 26, 2014 Five day class in Chapel Hill,NC : How to make a lovely Girl
Host: Lynda Baddour : lyndabaddour@gmail.com

March 3 through March 7, 2014 Five day New Dutch Touch Class on Vancouver Island with Marlaine Verhelst and Ankie Daanen
Host: Marla Limousin : marla@ehrlerlimousin.com

Dollmaking Holiday Class in Spain for 2014. 
Because many students are interested to come to the Dollmaking Holiday Class in Spain
I can offer this class in June and in September.

The classes fill up quicly!!!
For more info: ankiedaanen@hotmail.com

April 17 through April 20, 2014 Four day class in Manahawkin, NJ : How to make a Cute Boy
Host: Colleen Athens : theartsysoul@yahoo.com

April 23, 2014 One day class in Mount Vernon, NY : How to make the perfect doll body
Host: Gwen Jackson : mamagdolls@msn.com

April 24 through April 27, 2014 Four day class in Mount Vernon,NY : How to make a Lovely Girl
Host: Gwen Jackson . mamagdolls@msn.com

Artists Doll and Teddy Bear Show in Philadelphia
April 30, May 1 and 2
Program will be announced later

Dear Dollfriends, you can always ask me for information, and within a few days my website will be updated too.
On my website you also will find more details and pictures of the class dolls.

Doll Auction at Bonhams

Los Angeles Fine Art, Antiquities and Collectibles Auction House, Bonhams, will be holding an auction on June 24, 2013 featuring the gorgeous dolls of the Alexandra and Sidney Sheldon collection. Predominating are numerous Lenci felt dolls all in remarkable condition, and some including extraordinary accessories such as trunks or the easter egg trouseau pictured. However there will also be a selection of antique teddy bears, bisque head dolls and other character figures on offer.

The online catalog is beautiful, clickable and detailed. Plus there are viewings of the collection in Los Angeles during the three days prior to the auction. It really is an extraordinary collection.

Sidney Sheldon was a best selling and award winning novelist, screenwriter and tv producer. The couple were well known as collectors of American Arts and Crafts as well as dolls. Alexandra Sheldon now serves on the board of the Bighorn Institute, dedicated to conserving native wild sheep.

A Fanciful Twist

I love Vanessa Valencia's aesthetic as revealed on her website and blog. I love the colors, the stories, the lettering. I love the way her sweet faced dolls are dressed in crumpled text. The word that comes to my mind is "enchanting".

I also enjoy how her message is consistent across different media and sites. You will always know one of her pieces, and her sites are well organized and fun to explore. So kudos on several counts.

And by the way, she has a bunch of tutorials that feature free printables, both doll/miniature related and just charming graphic applications, as well as an Etsy shop.

Dioramas at Mission San Carlos Borromeo at Carmel

Inside the Mission at Carmel, behind glass is a miniature village scene that looks more like Renaissance Europe than ancient Bethlehem (other than the Greek Temple to one side). It's interesting. Opposite is a Good Friday scene of the Crucifiction. There are several beautiful icons and large scale figurines of The Blessed Mother with baby Jesus wearing richly ornamented Renaissance and Baroque fabric clothing complete with encrusted embroideries, as distinct from the statues where the clothes are stone, marble or plaster.

The Word Is Art Gallery Art Doll exhibit opening.

A selection of the exhibits.

I felt very starstruck, in exalted company, when I joined fellow art doll artists at the opening reception of the Art Doll exhibit at The Word Is Art Gallery in Culver City, CA last Saturday evening. I have three dolls in the exhibit but what was most exciting for me was meeting and seeing the works of Vega, Nola and Ute Vasina.

Nola and one of her box dolls (with its own teeny dolly).

Vega's work is magnificent - creepy, cool and very detailed.(Keep your sound turned on for her website.) Nola uses vintage and new-but-retro-looking materials to create sweet, delicate prim style soft dolls with a wistful air, while Ute's needle sculpted Trolls of great renown have so much character and humor. Visit her site for patterns and other fabulous art doll supplies.

Vega, Ute and Troll friend.

Along with the art of these three, are dolls in every style and of many sizes, including a portrait doll of Jackson Pollock by Wendy and some beautiful cloth stump dolls. Be alerted however that the exhibit goes only for the next 2 weeks until April 14th. 

After that you will still be able to see and purchase some of the dolls by gallery co-op members as well as enjoy the fine art and functional pieces, including some beautiful hand made jewelry, felted art, photography and acrylic paintings. I was especially drawn to the modernist mixed media work of painter Christine Binns (one to watch, IMO).

Christine with my favorite of her paintings (with a special guest by Renee Troy peeking out).

Don't forget there are some cool classes linked to the Art Doll exhibit - see the Gallery blog for more details.


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If you see the exhibit, please let me know what you thought in the comments below!
Also as always, please Pin!

Summer News from Ankie Dannen

Dear Dollfriends.

I like to give you an update about my ´dolly´ life!

April 11 I will teach a one-day class in Orlando, FL. ´How to make an innocent dollface´.
For info: www.idexshows.com / ankiedaanen@hotmail.com
And from April 12 until April 14 you can visit the show and see my brand new dolls!

From April 17 through 20 I will teach in the wonderful studio from
Adele Sciortino in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
´How to make a Big Belly Babe´.
We only have ONE opening!
For info:  adele@adelesciortino.com / ankiedaanen@hotmail.com

From April 25 through 28 I will teach in Mount Vernon, NY. in the great studio
from Gwen Jackson ´How to make a Flat Brat´.
We only have ONE opening!
For info: mamagdolls@msn.com / ankiedaanen@hotmail.com

From May 2 until May 5 you can find me teaching a one-day class
´How to make the perfect doll body´ on May 5 and see my new dolls during the
ARTISTS DOLL AND TEDDY BEAR CONVENTION
in Philladelpia, NY. on May 3 and 4.
For info: terry@quinlanmuseum.com

If you like to see what´s going on in the Bay Area from San Francisco, CA. from
June 24 until June 30, please go to:
www.niada.org or ask me for more info!
and you might like to sign up for my two day class
´How to make an art Heartbreaker face´ or ´How to make the perfect doll body´.

2014
From September 15 through September 21 I will teach my 

Dollmaking holiday in Spain!

The costs for this class are Euro 975,- ALL inclusive,

except airfare to and from

 Alicante airport EL ALTET in Spain.

More info: ankiedaanen@hotmail.com.

Miniature Artists' Call

Linus Gallery in Pasadena, CA has published a Call for Artists with the theme of Miniatures.

The maximum size of the art piece is 8 x 10 inches. Work must be wall hung to be considered, but they are interested in wall sculptures, and mixed media, so I'm thinking shadow boxes with tiny worlds could work well.

The deadline for application is .June 03, 2013.

All Dolled Up

The All Dolled Up Beaded Art Doll competition run by Land of Odds is open. The deadline for submissions is August 13, 2013. The site has links to images of the gorgeous work from past years.