The History of Voodoo Dolls

When I think of Voodoo Dolls my mind automatically conjures the image of old New Orleans. I was surprised to learn, however, that using dolls in magic rituals is as old as mankind.

For the most part these ritual dolls were used for fertility, healing and empowerment. Other types of dolls were used in harvest customs and burial rites, made as talismans, or used as teaching aids for children. But in the ancient Greek culture these dolls were often used to bind enemies.

Voodoo dolls (or kolossoi as the Greeks called them) were quite popular in the Greco-Roman world. Voodoo dolls were made from lead or bronze while wax versions were also found in ancient Egyptian cultures. Voodoo dolls used to curse enemies had arms and legs bound or pinned and occasionally mutilated with head, arms or legs missing. Wax versions were found to have limbs melted. The dolls were often inscribed with the name of the victim.

Placement of the cursed dolls was crucial and often was a place relative to the intended victim. While the dolls could be placed in a variety of places, graves were among the most popular. Other places included homes, sanctuaries, and water. If the dolls were found, the curse could be lifted.

Today we think of New Orleans when we think of Voodoo dolls. Dolls found the on Louisiana plantations of the 18th and 19th centuries are thought to be based on the bocio figurines found in the Western African regions of Benin and Togo. While these figures were created as magical objects they were also artistic assemblages.

Often these dolls were created out of a specific need and believed to influence certain events in their lives and could be used for positive or negative means. In a time of social and political crisis slaves would have used these as tools to protect themselves from brutality and for keeping their families safe and some would have employed them for revenge.

What I found most interesting as an artist was that often the creation of the these dolls usually involved more than one person. Often an artist created the form of the doll while another activated the doll by adding personal items and finally the doll would make its way to the user.

Contemporary voodoo dolls are created for many purposes, 90% of which are used in healing, finding love and guidance. Modern Voodoo practitioners make an effort to distinguish today's voodoo from its malevolent image of ancient times which is considered a form of Bokor Voodoo or sorcery.

I hope you've enjoyed learning about Voodoo dolls with me. I hope, as well, the info provides you with some artistic inspiration.

ADO Elements Challenge Part III

Hello Lovelies! It's Monday again, and you know that means: it's time to continue with our ADO Challenges! This week, we peek in on some of our members as we continue to profile the Elements Challenge. Here, our members (and non-members!) create a doll (or several) that represent Air, Earth, Fire, or Water.

Enjoy!


Catherine Coyle of Art By Cat

1. What inspired you to join the Elements Challenge? Which element did you choose to create?
This was my first challenge in this group. I have always been inspired by life... the four elements having so many endless ideas for creating a doll. I choose "air" and I am creating fairy babies. I wanted to make a fairy for a long time and this challenge motivated me to start. I also plan on creating an angel, but the fairies have taken up most of my time.

2. What materials did you use to create your doll?
The materials used for this doll are polymer clay, mohair, a baby sock, material for clothing, paper for wings, wood burning tool, modpodge, glue and crystals. Still working on the display.


3. What was the easiest aspect of making the doll? What was the most difficult?
The easiest aspect of making the doll was sculpting the baby. There were many difficult aspects while creating this doll. One was creating the wings, I wanted a unique process. I used my dragonfly designs and burnt the design through the paper. After many failed attempts, I got the hang of using the tool to my advantage. I then sanded and painted with a glue mixture. I wasn't sure how they would turn out. I finished with sparkly modpodge. And I like them! The other challenge was sewing a fairy out fit. I am not good with a needle and thread. But I managed with a little glue.


4. Did you learn anything new while creating your piece? Are you satisfied with your piece?

I learned a new process creating my wings. I learned that I am resourceful.

I learned that I can sew a little.

I am satisfied with my piece. I think the entire process was very uplifting and forced me to use my creativity. This was a fun challenge. It has inspired me to continue being creative making one of a kind dolls

Flora of Bone Head Studios

1. What inspired you to join the Elements challenge?

I figured that I needed to do at least a couple of the challenges for Nicole, but honestly I was drawn to this one in particular because it sounded like something that I could do. It " spoke " to me, hehehe! I'm usually at a loss when any challenges come up. The Shakespeare Challenge spoke to me too, but previous commitments kept me from doing that one! I guess you could say Zan was my inspiration for her, she was doing an "Under the Sea" doll swap, that and the fact that I have long wanted to do an anthropomorphic sculpt, turns out that I thoroughly enjoy making these kind of sculpts!!!

I knew from the start that I didn't want to make the usual mermaid and I loved a catfish doll that Zan had done, it encouraged me to do some looking, so I did a google "search" for something different. In the end I used another sketch and saved this " From the Sea" doll for another project.

When this "Elements Challenge" came up, Sprite, my online friend, encouraged me to enter her here and Nicole graciously allowed me to do it! So here we are!!

2. What is your art piece and what is it about? What does it represent, literally or figuratively?

My doll is an anthropomorphic piece, I love creating sculpts that have a strangeness about them, the term "creepy " describes most of my art very well. She is a child-like sea creature, half human and half sea horse with her pet fish, the mask is in case she doesn't want to show her true self, cause, after all, a girls gotta have some secrets!

It took me a bit longer to come up with an answer to the second part of this question, I think it's representative of what I feel about myself most of the time, I want things to be innocent and child-like just enough to be likable, but the creepy factor assures that no one person can get too close? Psych 101....hehehe....

3. How did you create your piece and what materials did you use? How long did it take to create?

She is created with air-dry clay,I use a foam core base with a wire armature for the head, arms and tail, with acrylics, glitter and mica powders. Plus fabric ribbons and a wooden dowel and ball.

I started around the latter part of May and finished about June 8th, I think. Although it felt like I took

a lot longer, because I couldn't work on it continuously....

4. What were the easier aspects of creating your art? What were the harder aspects?

Sketching it out ! Pencil to paper is definitely the easiest for me!
The hard part comes very early in the "OH NO!!! WHAT WAS I THINKING?" and "what am I going to make?" phase. Then the last part when the" I'M LATE I'LL NEVER FINISH IN TIME ! " hits you and you realize it's crunch time!!! Seriously that does happen more times than not, I'm so disorganized and time challenged , it's a wonder I ever finish anything on time.

But I do have a hard time with getting the subtle coloring, the washes, just the way I want them, I had to repaint her 2 times; it was hard because I knew I could do it , my hands just weren't co-operating! I also had a vision for her features to come out a bit different from what they did, but again I wasn't able to translate what I had on paper to the clay. I re-did the eyes 4 times before they were finally acceptable.

5. Are you satisfied with your piece? Did you learn anything in the process of creating this work?
I'm somewhat satisfied with how she came out. In retrospect I think the tail should have had more detail, such as ridges and the tail tip was supposed to have had a more pronounced curl. If I had looked at my drawing more I would have seen that, I almost didn't do the hip fins either...

Yes I did learn that little isn't always better, I have been doing smaller and smaller sculpts because I simply love little-bitties, but I realize that a doll doesn't necessarily have to be small, little or tiny to be appealing.
I also have to learn organizational skills or I will always get behind.

Sarah Pogue of Archetypal Theater

1. What inspired you to do the 4 Elements Challenge? Which element(s)
did you choose?
Nature and the elements are important themes in all of my work, so it was easy for me
to come up with ideas for this challenge.

I decided to do the element of Earth because I
liked the image of an earth spirit holding a piece of turf with roots and a flower growing out
of it.

2. What materials did you use to make your art piece?
I used paperclay over a wire armature, glass eyes and mohair. Also some naturally dyed
wool fiber for the dress.


3. What was the easiest aspect of creating the piece? What was the most difficult?
The easiest part was sculpting the face and the most fun was painting it because I am never
sure who my sculptures really are until I paint them.

The most difficult part has been figuring out a way to alter the overall composition to make it
a bust instead of a head to toe figure, as I had originally planned.

4. Are you satisfied with your piece so far? Have you learned anything new
while making this art?
I am happy with her so far, but I really am nervous that she will look bizarre if I don’t
handle the rest of her body carefully! I’m excited about the idea of maybe treating her
like a reliquary bust and having the flower be inside a glass door in her chest, but that
could easily get creepy (not that there’s anything wrong with creepy, it just isn’t what
I was going for!)

Vee Tannehill of KitschWitchery

1. What inspired you to join the Elements Challenge? Which element(s) did you choose to make?

As a new member of Art Dolls Only, I couldn't wait to take part in my first challenge. I'm a red-haired Sagittarian, so I had to choose Fire as my element. I love making goddess figures, so I decided to make Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes.

2. What materials have you used to create your doll?
My doll is Sculpey over a wire and aluminum foil armature, and I sculpted her volcanic crater on a ready-made wooden base. She's painted in acrylics and I gave her yarn hair, a floral headpiece made out of recycled artificial ferns and flowers, and a cloth skirt. Truth to tell, she cost practically nothing.

3. What is the easiest aspect of creating the piece? What is the hardest?
The easiest part was sketching the doll and sculpting her. That's also my favorite part, BTW. I wanted to make it seem as if she's erupting from the volcano and I tried to do that by making her arms very fluid. The hardest part was probably trying to make the lava in her crater look as if it is moving, swirling, and hot. I did a lot of online research on lava and it was really hard to duplicate in clay. I redid the lava quite a few times before I was happy with it. It looks much better now that it's painted.

4. Are you satisfied with your piece so far? Did you learn anything new while making this piece?

I'm about 90 percent satisfied. I wanted to give Pele a sarong-style dress, like Dorothy Lamour used to wear in those old movies, but I over-sculpted her bust and the material wouldn't hang right. Clothing my dolls is always the worst part of any project for me -- I'm definitely not a seamstress. So I gave up and let her go topless with just a skirt, and she looks fierce and fiery and very feminine. Lesson learned? I learned that I've got to think more about the costuming BEFORE I sculpt the doll!

~ Next week! More doll-making mayhem! Stay tuned!

Did You Know...

Under books, on Amazon.com, if you search for art dolls, you'll get 4,903 results (as of June 27th)? Here's the breakdown:

• Printed Books (4,789)
• HTML (23)
• Calendars (3)
• Audiobooks (2)
• Kindle Books (1)
• PDF (1)

That's a lot of reading!

Vintage Photos...What Stories They Tell

Happy Saturday Every...We hope you have a wonderful and creative weekend!

CHEERS!

Fairy Wing Tutorial

I am so excited to share this wonderful tutorial on how to make fairy wings by Cynthia from The Fairies Nest! Thanks Cynthia, now I can't wait to go try making a few wings myself...




There are a few supplies that you'll need to make fairy wings:

plain white paper (copy, notebook, whatever)

32 gauge Florist's cloth covered wire ( the kind on a spool is best)

small sharp scissors

pencil

non-toxic craft glue

textile paint (I love Lumiere!)

a sheer shimmery fabric

dimensional or puffy fabric paint

applicator bottle and metal tip ( This is very important for those fine lines. Available here.)

an old towel

wax paper



Now that you have your tools assembled let's go! The first thing you need is a wing design.
Look at pictures of butterflies and just make one that works for you. Here's one of mine:

You'll need to have veins drawn on your wing and you will need to have a reverse copy. You can make this with your printer or simply tape the drawing to a sunny window and trace the pattern on the back side of the paper. (I like this; less wasteful of paper.)



Now take your wire and shape it to the outer lines of your pattern. Twist the ends together at the base of the wing and leave a tail. Easy peasy! How long of a "tail" depends on what type of doll I'm making. For the small dollhouse size pixies I need about 3" so I can wrap it around the doll.



Paint the wing on both sides with the fabric paint and let it dry. I like to use an egg carton with small holes punched in the bottom for my drying rack, it works great!
























When the wings are dry, you'll need to cut a piece of the sheer fabric. Cut it bigger than the wing on all sides.







Here's where the old towel comes in. Apply the glue to ONE side of the wing. Remember you need a right and left wing so make sure you take this into account when gluing. I do this on top of an old towel and then gently blot the glue so it is evenly distributed and not too thick. Then lay the wing on the sheer fabric and gently press together (I use the towel for this as well.)



















Put your wing on a piece of wax paper. Once you've finished gluing all your wings, place another piece of wax paper on top and then weight them all down with a heavy book or two...at last those high school year books come in handy! You'll need to let these dry for 4-6 hours and then open the wax paper and give them an additional 30 mins or so. The glue needs to be completely dry.




Okay, now it's time to cut away the excess fabric from the outside of the wing. Be patient and cut carefully, right next to the wire. If the fabric is not sticking in any areas apply a tiny bit of glue and press together with your fingers; let dry again and then trim.


The next step is to mark the veins on the wing, this is why you needed a reverse pattern. I do this in pencil, but it depends on the fabric, a dark silk may require a white marking pen.


















Now for the tricky part. You can use the tip that is already on the demensional paint but I just don't think that they have a fine enough line. I switch out the tip on the bottle for a one of these in a size 5. This makes a very fine line. Hold the wing slightly up and go carefully here when applying your lines as it's easy to make a mistake. If you really mess up you can blot the wing with a wet cloth, let it dry, and start over. When you're done place the wing in a slightly bent position to dry. You don't want the wing lying flat at any point in this part of the process as the paint will soak through and spread.





















Once the wings are dry, which takes about an hour, you're ready to go!
I hope this is helpful, please ask away in the comments section if you have any questions.

See more of Cynthia's work in her FairiesNest shop on Etsy.

It's Wordless Wednesday.......(!)

Well, ok, so maybe I just can't keep to the wordless wednesday rules, so I'm just going to continue breaking them! Each week, my task is to find an inspirational picture for the current challenge... which is.... of course, The Four Elements. Today, is a photo and a video! to me, they are both firey, empowering and absolutely inspirational!

One of Bergdorf Goodman's holiday window displays featuring the 'Fire' Element.
(Photo: by courtesy of Thoughtful Day )


'Love Story meets Viva La Vida' Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt (Thanks Dessa Rae for sharing this!)

how are your dolls coming along?

Hello everyone!!
wow!
Do you see how long the list is already, Awesome.
thanks to all of you who have signed up!!
I am super excited to see all the dolls that are created!
it is not too late to sign up if you still want to participate.
to sign up just follow the instruction here

if you have already signed up, please check to make sure you are listed, if you don't see your blog just email me at artdollsonly@hotmail.com and I will make sure to add you.

ADO Challenge: The 4 Elements, part II

Greetings Everyone! Once again, it is time for an update on our ADO Challenge! This week, we continue profiling the works in progress our members as they tackle the 4 Elements--Air, Earth, Fire, Water; each member may either do one or a combination of the 4.

*Don't forget! If you'd like to participate in our 4 ELEMENTS challenge, you don't need to be a member of ADO! Nope! Just bring your imagination and crafting skills and CLICK HERE for more information! *

In the meantime, enjoy these offerings!


Yve Hooson of Freaky Little Things


1. What inspired you to join the Elements Challenge. Which Element or Elements did you choose?
I joined ADO BECAUSE I kept hearing about the challenges and wanted to play! I chose fire because I wanted an excuse to make a dragon, he's supposed to be the one on the Welsh flag so I want him to be proud and fierce! The mermaid is for water and just because I love mermaids and don't think I've made one I'm totally happy with yet, so keep trying, right?

2. What materials did you use to create your art piece?
The mermaid is basically made from calico with gesso and paperclay on her upper body, the tail "skirt" is some stretchy sparkly stuff. Much the same with the dragon, except here I attached the sparkly fabric to the calico before sewing up the pattern so the material would keep it's shape. It's very stretchy so when I came to stuff it I wanted a rigid form. He's wired inside to give him some stability. I'm still worried that his face may turn out cute rather than fierce, we'll have to wait and see.



3. What has been the easiest aspect of creating your piece so far? What has been the most challenging?
The easiest part is conceiving the ideas and the most challenging part for any part time doll maker is keeping that enthusiasm going when you have to stop/start all the time. These are just 2 of 8 dolls I have on the go at the moment and they all scream "me, me next" whenever I go near the sewing/painting desk!


4. Are you satisfied with this art piece? Did you learn anything new while creating this art?
Am I satisfied with either piece? Well, they both have a way to go yet but there are always things you would do differently. I wish that I'd done a split button joint on the mermaids arms because it would look much neater, so that's annoying. With the dragon I am REALLY disappointed that his stomach ribbing didn't turn out. I spent ages quilting little humps into his belly piece , I was really pleased with it, but once he was all stuffed, the quilting evened out and so it was all for nothing. They do say pride comes before a fall! Did I learn anything new? I do with every piece but still make a few of the same mistakes next time round, c'est la vie :o)



Denise Lynne of DLynne Art Dolls

1. What inspired you to participate in the Elements challenge? Which Element(s) have you decided to do?
I have always been spiritually connected to the 4 elements. So this undoubtedly was a challenge I would not miss. I have chosen Fire, Earth, Air, and Water.

2. What materials were used in creating your pieces? How long did it take you to create your piece?
Over the last few months I have been working on my Spirit Doll Series dolls. Therefore it was appropriate to incorporate the 4 Elements challenge into my Spirit Doll Series dolls. This was very exciting! My Spirit Dolls are a cloth body with a polymer clay sculpted face. I mostly use cotton batik prints for the bodies as I just love these prints.

The clay faces are sculpted and then hand painted with Genesis Heat set paints. Because the bodies are cloth, the face is very important and I try to give most life and theme to the doll in the face. This is who she is. Once the face is sculpted I hand dye the fabrics that will be used for the costumes. Hair is also added; either of Tibetan lambswool or hand combed mohair locks. Each doll is then given a clay sculpted spirit face to wear on her waist along with a feather. For Earth, Fire, and Water it took me a week and half from start to finish.

3. What was the easiest aspect of creating the piece? What was the most challenging?
The easiest aspect of creating the piece was perhaps the theme. I am very connected to the 4 elements as I myself am Water (I am a Pisces). I clearly saw these dolls in my vision when the 4 elements challenge was started. The most challenging was the Air element hence, I have yet to create her, however, she is calling out to me. I am still trying to see her in my vision. I would like to have all 4 of the elements in this set (*note: as of this publishing time, the element of Air has been created)

4. Are you satisfied with this art piece? Did you learn anything new while creating this art?


I always learn something with each doll. I have learned to let them guide me instead of me having a complete vision for the doll. They will tell me how they want to look and how to proceed. I am learning not to struggle with my will of what I want and allow the piece to guide me and my work. More or less, learn to have confidence in that she will turn out exactly how she should when as long as I allow myself to listen to the artwork along each step of the way.





Sprite of SpriteBites/The Broken Planet

1. What inspired you to join the Elements Challenge. Which Element or Elements did you choose?
I was interested the moment I heard about it but wasn't sure I'd be able to participate and complete it on time. I've always felt very close to nature, the trees and our surroundings.. My element is Earth.Versions of this piece have been in my heart, head and have shown up in my drawings for many years.


I've had the armature sitting on my work table for at least two! As luck would have it the urge to finally create it came at the same time as the challenge. The challenge will be great motivation for finishing it!

2. What materials did you use to create your art piece?
Polymer clay, sticks, foil and wire for the armature. Finishing will be mixed media.

3. What has been the easiest aspect of creating your piece so far? What has been the most challenging?
The sculpting was easiest and very enjoyable! :) I get these strong urges and cravings in my
hands to sculpt at very unideal times! This one came around 2 am I was beat, could barely stand up but I needed to sculpt. Glad I did! When I grabbed the clay it just poured out, I love when that happens.

I'd have to say the most challenging part at this point is/was figuring out how to cure something fully detailed on each side, and large.

4. Are you satisfied with this art piece? Did you learn anything new while creating this art?
I still have quite a bit of work a head of me but so far, yes. It's amazing to be able to finally see and feel something you've envisioned for so long.

Absolutely! I'm always learning something new. I think that's one of the greatest things about sculpting, the learning's are always renewed. It'll never get boring! On different pieces, even similar techniques can produce such different results and effects. This piece in particular has also taught me a lot about myself and letting go of fears






Esther Verschoor of Vanessie
1. What inspired you to join the Elements Challenge. Which Element or Elements did you choose?
When I read about this challenge I almost immediately thought about the fire element and the bold colors which belong to fire, in my opinion. I never work in such strong/bold colors so I thought this would be a nice occasion to experiment with these colors, a real challenge.

I chose the fire element not only for the color scheme but also because it fits in the line of my normal work: deep human feelings. I've tried to show the fire that burns inside this doll. In this case hate, a feeling that burns you up from the inside.

2. What materials did you use to create your art piece?
For this doll I used Aves apoxie for the torso and living doll for the head. Normally I paint my own inserted eyes, but this time I used German handmade glass eyes. I used variegated leaf for her torso, base and jaw, and acrylics to paint her face.

Her hair is black viscose and her corset is from red patent leather and silk/satin ribbons. Her corsage is a hand painted (by me), silk flower and feathers. I don't know yet if I will use ornaments in her hair after her hairdo, we'll see.

3. What has been the easiest aspect of creating your piece so far? What has been the most challenging?
Her torso and clothes are by far the easiest part to do. I so love to decorate my dolls and make the clothes for them. But the hardest part is, as always, the painting and the proportions.
I so suck at that but I will learn in time, I've only been sculpting for seventeen months now.


4. Are you satisfied with this art piece? Did you learn anything new while creating this art?
I don't think I'll ever be satisfied with what I make. I've got a bad habit where I only see the mistakes in my own work. But that habit also makes me improve myself with every new doll.

With this piece I experimented with the variegated leaf for the first time. I've got to say I love that stuff!


~Until next time, Friends!

Studio Idea

Most artists have the need for work stations. Stations make it easier to streamline production without having to clean up a mess over and over. Doll artists can use different stations for sculpting, sewing, wigging, painting, etc. This double desk is a neat solution for studios without a lot of space. Here you can have two separate stations in the space of one. You can find the directions for making this cute little double desk and other do it yourself projects on DIY Ideas. I am not much of a builder, but I'll bet you could easily replicate this look with thrift store or garage sale furniture.

Vintage Doll Photographs - Saturday

Good Morning Everyone...We Hope You All Have a Wonderful Weekend and CREATE DOLLS!

ENJOY!!!

Boy What I Would Do to Have A Bunch of These Old Vintage Dolls...Just Imagine The Life You Could Bring To All Of These Little Souls...

I believe this one is my favorite. Just check out her little expression...hmmmm She obviously has a mind of her own and she is expressing it very clearly in this picture! LOL

This one is precious too!

Until Next Time...CHEERS!

Dolls With Tales

Bobby, by OddDollz

"Born out of wedlock to a young girl due to an unfortunte event, he was never wanted. The moment he was born, she turned her back and shouted" take him away!!"

He was nameless, motherless and homeless at birth.

One of the nurses, Marion Jones, who assisted in his delivery offered to take him home until they could place him.

She named him Bobby. See Bobby was her one and only love......and that was in grade 5

Well only after a few weeks she realized that this baby Bobby was more then she could handle. He cried morning and night and nothing seemed to settle him. Marion gladly surrendered him to the courts.

He went from foster home to foster home and they all said the same thing. " this baby Bobby is NOT a happy baby!"

As he began to walk and talk it was clear he was just a bad seed and all hopes of him finding a home had vanished. They had no choice but to take him to Mrs. Blathersby's Orphanage for the Unattractive and Mentally Unsound. Bobby was 3 when he came to live at the orphanage four years ago.

He bites, curses, spits and all kinds of other vulgar acts but deep down inside he just wants to be loved."




Lily, by Little Black Crow Studios

"Lily once belonged to a little girl named Jackie. Jackie would play tea parties with all her dolls but Lily was always the favorite. She would have the best china cups and plates and was always allowed a second helping of jam biscuits.

Sadly those days are long gone. Jackie has now grown up and no longer plays or has time for her childhood imaginary games and friends. Left alone for years in a dark closet Lily now a little old and worn looking is looking for a warm and sunny home, somewhere she can have a view of a garden and reminisce about those warm sunny days in the back garden filled with the smells of honey suckle and the sounds of bees buzzing with her best friend Jackie."

Lokelani, by Spirit Mama

"Lokelani (lo-kay-lan-ee)is a Hawaiian mermaid activist. She started a group called MPETH (like "empath") which stands for "Mer People for the Ethical Treatment of Humans".

Lokelani speaks out about speciesism, focusing on the poor treatment of humans, who are believed to be of low intelligence, and are known to be very gullible.

MPETH is particularly concerned with the sirens, a group of merbeauties who lure human sailors out to sea, often causing them to be lost or drown. The sirens have been known to sink a ship, then loot the treasure for sport.

Lokelani holds a pearl of knowledge and hope. She implores all merpeople to end speciesism, and to work with her to build a bridge of trust between the mer people and humans. "

Did You Know...

During the Victorian era, Godey's Lady's Book (one of the most popular lady's books of the 19th century), was the first magazine to publish a paper doll in their November 1859 issue; included was a page of six figures for “the little girls who read Godey” to color, plus a page of hand colored costumes to cut out.

we challenge you to make a art doll with us!

Art Dolls Only invites you to create a art doll along with us!

We challenge you to make a art doll along with us.

sign up starts today and will run until July 16th.
to sign up simply email
artdollsonly@hotmail.com
please include your name and a link to your blog.
then get working on your doll!!

your inspiration is the elements, and we challenge you to make a art doll using one, two, three, or all four of the elements as your inspiration.

On Friday July 17th participants post their art doll to their blog.
Saturday July 18th and Sunday July 19th begins the fun of seeing all the art dolls that have been created! All participants will be listed in the ADO sidebar for easy visiting.

any and all artists are welcome to participate, including non members.
Here is your chance to explore the wonderful world of art dolls, first time doll maker, old hat, or have not created in while, all are welcome to join in on the fun!

Please use this badge to show everyone you are participating with a link back to the ADO blog.
*if for you have signed up and can no longer participate, no biggy just be sure to let us know so we can remove you from the blog roll.

**don't have a blog but still want to participate**
Deanna over at Blue Heron Dolls has graciously offered to host your finished dolls pictures.
simple visit her blog and let her know!