Much ADO About Art Dolls

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T04:53:00.000-05:00

ADO Facebook Fan Page Feature

2012-01-24T06:58:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Tracy Swartz for sharing her gourd art doll on ADO's FACEBOOK page.
CLICK HERE to visit Tracy's Facebook Fan page. CLICK HERE to visit Tracy's website.

Want to have your doll featured on the ADO blog?
Take part in the MMC and create a doll keeping the exaggeration theme in mind.
post it to our wall with a link to your blog/etsy/website and you may just find your doll featured on the ADO blog!
Runs from now until January 31st. 2012
We would also like to see your latest art doll creation or a doll you made for ADO's First Quarterly Challenge of the year, which is Birds.
**Please note**there is no guarantee that if you participate in the challenge or share an art doll picture on ADO's Facebook page that your work will be posted to the ADO blog unless you are a ADO member.

~ Treasury Alert ~

2012-01-23T13:48:00.001-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Alana Garmonsway

2012-01-22T16:17:00.004-05:00

It's time for another new member spotlight and today the light is on Alana Garmonsway who sells her dolls under the name Witchylana. Alana says that she trained as a classical animator, now teaches computer animation and that she has, "a nigh compulsive need to MAKE THINGS" ... with her passion being dolls! You can find more of Alana's fascinating work in her Etsy shop, her blog, and her Flickr stream. Welcome to the ADO team Alana!

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2012-01-21T21:06:00.000-05:00

Sarah Louise Davey

"Opening this coming Saturday at Philadelphia’s Jinxed Galleryis a solo exhibition of new sculptures by artist Sarah Louise Davey. Featuring the mounted heads and disembodied limbs of the ceramic figures, the works explore the dichotomy of grotesque humor and beauty in the nuance of their facial expressions and poses. Often accompanied by odd pieces of hardware embedded into their hard skins, the figures hold confrontational gazes with the viewer, inviting them into a narrative, playful dialogue. View more images of the quirky sculptures after the jump" (Text from Hi-Fructose Mag)

Wednesday Question

2012-01-18T23:29:00.002-05:00

Ok before 2012 advances any further, did you make any New Years resolution in regards to doll making?
Did you learn any new skills last year, what were they?
What would you like to try this year?
Answers to today's questions will be posted onto this post later.

ADO Facebook Fan Page Feature

2012-01-17T07:27:00.003-05:00

"Pregnant Ballerina"

Thank you to Evelina Evelinukas for sharing her beautiful art doll on ADO's FACEBOOK page. Be sure to visit Evelina's blog by clicking HERE, and also check out her Etsy shop by clicking HERE.

Would you like to perhaps see your art doll featured on ADO's blog? Just share your latest pieces on ADO's Facebook page wall..whether it is an ADO MMC challenge doll, or an ADO Quarterly Challenge doll, or maybe your newest original art doll. We love seeing all your works on our Facebook wall! Please note that not all non-ADO members' dolls will be featured on ADO's blog. Thanks so much!

TREASURY ALERT!

2012-01-16T05:18:00.002-05:00

~ Treasury Alert ~

2012-01-12T14:07:00.002-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-11T19:40:00.001-05:00

Agnes by Evelyn's Wonderland

mmc 2011 december: Recycled materials dolls!!!

2012-01-10T08:00:00.004-05:00

Hello!

This is the last mini challenge for 2011!

And how appropriate its theme: recycling!

We all have junk in our studio (sometimes in our yard as well...), how wonderful for the creative ones to find inspiration in these, and create something treasurable!

I wish this will inspire us to see the other side of all objects, the life after life of little things...for a brighter world!

Thank you Nicole for hosting this challenge!

by Laura Lee Burch from Laleebu

by Carla Trujillo

by Anastasia Georgiu from Anastasia dododolls

by Shauna Henry

by Sahaya James from Radical Miniatures

by Grace from Little black Crow Studio

by Jesi Ferguson of Once Upon a Moon

by Marsha Mees from Sassy Mini Dolls

by Paula Brinkman from Spirit Dolls by Paula

by Waterscissorspaper

by Jessie Lawson

by Kandra Niagra from Wee Peeple Doll Construction

by Stitchy WooWoo

See you for our next mini monthly challenge, we will exagerate!!!!

New Member Spotlight - Debbie Weimert

2012-01-08T11:21:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday, ADO readers! I hope the New Year is treating you all well, so far!?!

Today we are shining our New Member Spotlight on Debbie Weimert of DayDreamerDebbie.

Debbie is a self taught artist who works in both polymer and paper clay. She has worked in polymer clay since 2003 but just started using paper clay in 2010. She says she loves " bringing my imagination to life, into the 3D world for others to see. And believe me, I have quite an imagination." Well said, Debbie! I think we can all relate to that!

Get to know Debbie and check out more of her amazing work by dropping by her Etsy shop, and website.

Welcome to the team, Debbie!

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2012-01-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Art by Tati Suarez

~ Doll Hair & Tutorial ~

2012-01-06T09:50:00.001-05:00

I am regularly asked where I get my doll hair from... I get it from here

~ OOAK Artist Emporium ~

Judy also created a tutorial on hair wigging

Click on the image for the link

Thanks Judy.

~ Treasury Alert ~

2012-01-05T08:48:00.002-05:00

Wednesday's Question

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Firstly let me just say thank you everyone for your comments last year to my 'Wednesday's Question' posts and I wish you all a happy and creative 2012!!

I recently read an article about an art doll class where the teacher provided her pupils with the same doll template and instructions. She had taught the course many times and each time, had the same result.
Every doll was completely different even though they followed the same pattern..once more each doll was like a self portrait of the maker.
I have been told that my dolls look like me...I can't see it myself, apart from the black hair in plaits but I guess others do.
Have you been told that your dolls resemble you?

2011 4th quaterly challenge, GOTH! (part 2)

2012-01-03T05:20:00.002-05:00

This is the second part of our GOTH challenge, more dolls, more proposals over gothic !!!! Enjoy!

By Lorraine, from PieCake Primitives

By Lulu MoonWood from Lulumoon

By Natasha Morgan

By Mariet Caris from Emce

By Melinda Wood from Mindy's Fairies and Babies

By Mindy Bush from Little Bird Artistry

By Marina

By Sahaya James from Radical Miniatures

By Nicole Johnson of Mealy Monster Land

By Georgina Cecilia Diaz

By Rosanna Pereyra

By Sue from Barton Originals

By Feltoohlala

By Yve Hooson from Freaky Little Things

I hope you liked them all, till our next quaterly challenge, and very fist of 2012:Birds!

Happy new year!

2011 4th quaterly challenge, GOTH! (part 1)

2012-01-03T05:19:00.002-05:00

Our last quaterly challenge for 2011!!!

Our theme was hosted by Abi Monroe : GOTH dolls!!!

We were many from the team to be inspired and give an answer for the challenge, so please, check the second post which goes along with this one as well!

And most of all, enjoy the dolls, and enjoy the new year!

May it be as creative and inspiring as the last...

By Anastasia Georgiu from Dododolls

By Pandora Rose from Filialuna Designs-The twisted Poppets

By Michelle from Crow Haven Farm

By Cynthia Toy from The Fairies' Nest

By Debbie Smith from DebiDesigns

By Deidra Doan

By Dorote Zaukaite Villela from Tirelessartist

By Nancy Perennec

By Evelyne Santiago from Evelyn's Wonderland

By Bari Read from Bari's Fairies

By Grace from Little Black Crow Studio

By Hoopie

By Jade Perez from Newagedolls

See you for Goth part 2!

A New Year!

2012-01-01T13:02:00.000-05:00

A Place in Time by Barton Originals

Happy New Year from the ADO team! I think this quote from Neil Gaiman is exactly right for today...

May your coming year befilled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read somefine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don'tforget to makesome art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. - Neil Gaiman

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2011-12-31T22:46:00.000-05:00

I was trying to find something with a New Years Eve theme, since it's New Years Eve, and my google search came up with this blog at the very top... Not exactly what I had envisaged for today's post, but it is a wonderful blog, offering a wonderful giveaway. Weird eh!
You can find the giveaway here ~ Crazy Mom Quilts

~ From all at ADO ~

It's wordless Wednesday!

2011-12-28T23:00:00.002-05:00

Big Dolls take over Berlin

*The photos I've shown here are creative commons-licensed photos from flickr. by azrael74, derSven ¶ and derSven ¶.

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-12-26T10:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

......

2011-12-24T14:23:00.002-05:00

ADO Featured Artist: Tracey-anne McCartney

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

This week's artist feature is Tracey-anne McCartney of Jasmoon.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name?

Tracey-anne McCartney aka Jasmoon Butterfly

Where do you live?

SW London

What makes you tick?

Hmm, I am still trying to work that one out lol I guess my love of knowledge. I have to learn new things all the time, inquistive thats me.....My mind can not ever remain comletely still. It ticks away with ideas & daydreams all the time. :0)

When did you start making dolls?

I started making cloth clay dolls with Jane (Gritty Jane) via her online class. Then Nancye's folk doll online class about two years ago.

Why did you start making dolls?

I needed to express my connection to folklore with a medium that was more sculpured, had a more constructed presence.

Who or what influences you?

Fairytales, old folk lore...Nordic saga's. Anything implying that knowledge that has been lost in some way, usually of a mystical nature. I feel I need to share this information with others via my art because we all need a little piece of magic in our lives.

Inspires you?

I have to mention Suzi Blu here, she is a therapy goddess for artists !
Suzi is the visual form of the book 'The Artists way' ....I was so totally inspired ( still am) by her limitless, genuine love & sharing. Through my creative journey with Suzi I moved on creating more soulful sketches, later transfering them via my doll creations ... I have not stopped since, thank you Suzi :0)

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

I doodle & research folk lore a lot and so my creations usually derive from those sources. My favourite being of the fae, tales relating to nature enities, beliefs in some form or another.
I am still I feel on a journey. Upon the road of finding a way to fully express the feeling from my thought process through my end creations.....a continuous road ;0)
I prefer working with original sculpey clay to express my more childlike, prim folk dolls.
For a story such as the nordic tale of Idunn I tend to use cloth & clay as clothing/detail can be experimented with more.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

OOooo thats a tough question....
I am inspired by so many artists creations!
I do prefer medium to be clay or cloth & clay, to have the handmade look , makes them appear like they are more touchable, huggable...ie: aged through so much love given.

I will have to start with Black-eyed Suzi, upon first seeing her dolls for the first time I just had to find out more about doll making. They spoke to me, they expressed the magical visuals of a fairytale doll in my mind perfectly!
LoopyBoopy dolls - Colleen Downs creations have the same effect on me :)

So ok I am drifting again....if I had to pinpoint one that stayed in my mind it would have to be : (Drumroll plz)

The White Queen - Black-eyed Suzi

Banshee - Marina Bychkova

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

I am studying - Adult teacher training course.
I am a happy mum of three.
Creating mixed media art such as wall hangings : pyrography/beeswax, paper dolls, codex type wooden books with decorative aged pages & small curio's (Unicorn horns, wands, fae doors) experimenting with clay to create ooak pieces jewellery & soldered altered bottles....its so exciting! :0)

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

Films: Moulin Rouge. Lord of the rings. Departed. Photographing fairies. Twilight. Bourne saga. Arn. Pride & prejudice. North & South (UK version).Whistleblower.Swept from the sea. Tristan & Isolde.

Books: luv books to list just a few: Mists of Avalon, Twilight saga, Crystal cave, Mixed media mosiacs, Faery wicca 1 & 2, of course zillions of art 'n' craft books.

Websites:
http://pinterest.com
http://plumevine.com
http://afancifultwist.typepad.com
http://dubuhdudesigns.typepad.com
http://tirelessartist-tutorials.blogspot.com
http://mosshill.blogs.com
http://allnorahsart.blogspot.com
http://adotravelingdollproject.blogspot.com

Mags:
Cloth paper scissors, Art doll qtrly, Contempary art dolls
TV shows: The tudors, Legend of the seeker, Camelot, Vampire diaries

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

OOoo let me think about this one...
I love the UK countryside....so I actually think I would stay here, it is rich in lore and some places have a definate special magic quality about them.......I would love to live in a quaint little house with quirky walls and small doors! A nice size garden/land so that my dogs x2 & cat could have more freedom, the garden to be overflowing with nature and smelling dreamy in the summer!
Streams & pretty walks nearby... hmmm bliss!
Wales, Devon & Cornwall....

Where do you see yourself in one year?

Teaching mixed media

Five years?

Living out of London in my dream location, creating art for a living & sharing via teaching

Ten years?

To be happy with what I have achieved within those last ten years & now nurturing those dreams with a big smile :0)

Where can we find you on the internet?

BLOG http://www.jasmoonbutterfly.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/jasmoonbutterfly
WEBSITE (In progress) http:/www.jasmoonbutterfly.yolasite.com
FOLKSY http://www.folksy.com/shops/jasmoonbutterfly
ETSY http://www.etsy.com/shop/jasmoon

jasmoon butterfly )

Wednesday's Question

2011-12-21T00:30:00.000-05:00

Feeling nostalgic? This time of the year certainly makes one feel so. I just received an amazing old doll book, The complete Book of DOLL MAKING AND COLLECTING, 1971, by Catherine Christopher. The book has many black and white photo's of old dolls and patterns...there is something about old dolls that draws you too them...do you feel the same and where do you think this special attraction stems from?

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-12-20T07:36:00.003-05:00

Thank you to Anne Marie Gibbons for sharing a picture of her lovely little dollies on ADO's FACEBOOK page.
CLICK HERE to visit Anne Marie's blog, and CLICK HERE to see her dolls on Ebay.

Thank you to all who have shared their art doll creations on ADO's fan page wall this year. It is so much fun to see all the different styles of art dolls. Please continue to share your dolls, whether you participate in a MMC or Quarterly Challenge, or if you have a lovely new art doll you'd like to show off! Please note: not all non-ADO dolls will be featured on the blog, just ADO members. Thank you so much! Happy Holidays! :o)

ETSY TREASURY!

2011-12-19T21:07:00.000-05:00

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-12-19T12:07:00.002-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Lulu MoonWood of Lulumoon

2011-12-18T15:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday afternoon, ADO readers!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Today our New Member Spotlight is shining on Lulu MoonWood of Lulumoon.

Lulu is a doll artist from Portland who has been making dolls for about 30 years. She has an art degree in which she specialized in textiles and says that "dolls are a perfect vehicle for me to combine textiles with sculpting and painting"

She says she loves painting faces - especially quirky expressions - and also does 2 dimensional mixed media paintings of her dolls.

Get to know Lulu by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, and flickr photo stream.

Welcome to the team, Lulu!

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2011-12-17T15:11:00.000-05:00

Bergdorf Goodman Christmas windows.

~ Photo show ~ rEcYcleD MaTEriALs Art Doll ~

2011-12-16T11:16:00.001-05:00

StitchyWooWoo

~ Photo show ~ rEcYcleD MaTEriALs Art Doll ~

2011-12-15T17:42:00.000-05:00

N... is for newspaper... Thanks BuryMeBaubles

2011 november, mmc, A Child's Dream

2011-12-14T08:13:00.000-05:00

A Child's Dream...
so much to recall, so many memories...let's see what inspired ADO members to create their novembery dolls!
This mini monthly challenge was hosted by our own and very Helen Fern!

by Caleigh milne-keeley from Daffidolls

by Evelyne Santiago from Evelyn's Wonderland

By Nicole Johnson from Mealy Monster Land

~ Treasury Alert ~ x two!

2011-12-12T09:41:00.000-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Mariet Caris of Emce

2011-12-11T19:47:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday evening, ADO readers!

Today our New Member Spotlight shines on Mariet Caris of Emce. Mariet is a doll artist from the Netherlands who splits her time working in health care and making mixed media art dolls. She says the process of creating is what fascinates her the most and that "in the end the total impression is important and not the small detail." For most of us who get bogged down in the details, I find this a marvelous and refreshing way to look at making dolls!

Mariet also says that she finds mixed media an excellent way to express emotions and she loves searching for new challenges in each project she works on.

Get to know Mariet by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, and website.

Welcome to the team, Mariet!

~ Saturday SHOUT OUT ~

2011-12-10T11:04:00.000-05:00

Deb Jackson ~ "I'm doing a craft show at the Brooklyn Historical Society from Dec 7th to the 11th, so if anyone is in Brooklyn- please come say hello! The show is free and has wonderful craftspeople. It's run by NY Creates"

Jenny Sparrow

Need a shout out? let us know :O)

Tips & Tricks Friday ~ Christmas Edition

2011-12-09T12:18:00.002-05:00

Do you have a fresh cut tree or one fresh from the box? I grew up with fake trees and it wasn't until I started dating my now husband that I experienced a fresh tree. I haven't looked back. Some people call me Griswold this time of year.

That isn't to say I don't have fake trees. Because I do, four to be exact, and they don't drop their needles!

This year I learned a neat trick to keep our real tree from littering our floor like we live in a forest. So far it's working, so I'm going to share it with you. Ready?

Pour a Sprite into your tree's reservoir.

That's it! The sugar helps the tree prevent needle loss. Good stuff, right?! How much depends on the size of your tree. We have a 12' tree so we used a 2 litre. There's no exact science to it and it doesn't really help if you forget to water the tree properly so remember to check it daily, maybe even twice daily, especially in the beginning.

Do you love vintage ornaments as much as I do? If you do then you probably know that unless you were lucky enough to wind up with your great-grandmother's collection, it can be quite expensive to fill up your tree with them. Simple solution? Make your own!

Simply take nail polish remover (or Acetone because it's what I had on hand) dab it on using a cotton pad. Try not to rub since that will just give wipe off the entire coating. Try dabbing here and there instead for a more authentic look.

Now you can almost afford to put them anywhere!

VIA

Merry Christmas!!

ADO Featured Artist: Ayala Art

2011-12-08T15:19:00.000-05:00

This week's artist feature is Martha of Ayala Art.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?

It's always a bit hard to talk about myself, what can I say? I have a good sense of humor, a very restless inquisitive mind. I love to learn, I like to make things, paint, play with clay, among other things.
All my work goes under my name Ayala Art. (first name is Martha), but I go by Ayala which has a meaning in Hebrew, Arabic and Basque, none of those languages spoken by moi, unfortunately, I have to say. It is pronounced ah-JA-lah

I live in one of the hottest towns in California. That is, weather wise, it is very hot. Located In the Central Valley, just north of the Grape Vine.

I love colors, Nature, little kids, bubbles, sunshine on the water. Chocolate.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

I started sometime in 2006 and it was basically an experiment on a 3D rendition of my little paintings of girls. I had been making these little girls on art cards, and I thought, well, they would look cute as dolls, and I went to hunt for information on how to go about it. The road has been long, and I was not sure what materials, clay, style etc I liked best... so I have been trying them ALL.
Basically what I enjoy the most is tiny babies made of polymer, and small (though bigger size) paperclay with moving limbs.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

Colors and paintings inspire me. Unfortunately, not all my inspirations end up as finished dolls. There's a lot that stays in a "WIP" box indeterminately, as I learn to do better and different.
Anybody that can be a constant creator is also an inspiration for me. There are a lot of great artists out there who have the momentum and focus to keep a line going.
I get too fascinated with learning, which can be a good thing, and a bad thing as well!

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

As mentioned, I have tried a little bit of everything. I enjoyed for a while doing very rustic primitive dolls, but then I discovered a more subtle country way... Then I made plushies, just to move on to fantasy and goblins.... all the way to delicate babies.
Out of the materials I have tried, my favorite materials are polymer clay, paperclay and painted cloth. I love glass/acrylic eyes. For hair, definitely mohair, although once in a while other fibers are fun to use.
As for sketches, well, I love drawing and painting, and my whole doll experience was based on my drawings, but so far I don't follow my own drawings very closely, so every doll ends up looking the way she wants, not the way I intended. The very first one I made... it looked more like an old Asian man, not a little girl!

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

Perhaps is wrong for me to say, but every time I finish a doll, that is my favorite one. Until I make a new one and so on.

From my childhood, my 2 most loved dolls were a baby Drowsy (who I still have, bald and missing a painted eye, poor thing!) and a doll named Crissy who had "growing hair" with a button in the back.

... which of course I had to give a hair cut and that pretty much was the end of her long hair look. The orange dress was worn by my chihuahua dog, who LOVED playing dress up with me.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

I am very art inclined. When I was just a little thing, I decided I was going to be an Opera singer. When I started school, my first love was acting, then ceramics. Then due to my studies, I became a graphic designer, had my own business and was teaching ceramics on the weekends, combining with performance in the theater in the evenings. Later in life after getting married and moving from the East, south of the border to the Pacific, I became a mom, had an accident that left me with back problems for years and for a good while the only thing I could do was drawing. Which eventually lead me to painting, which was a way to get into doll making.
I do this full time. For a hobby I do laundry and cooking on occasion ha!

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

I love romantic comedy. Period movies and books. I don't watch much Tele, but when I do, I like DIY shows. Websites: I love art blogs and youtube! and magazines... I enjoy so much Cloth paper scissors, and all the art related magazines from Somerset Studio

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I have lived in so many cities, I would not know what to pick. I would select something with clean air, nice weather, with Nature all around, but not too far from a city, where I could plant something and it would grow. As it is, not being a great gardener, it takes me lots of efforts just to have grass being green!
I grew up in large cities, so I know even when you have lots of culture and shops, it is not a place I would like to live. Maybe some smallish town, relatively close to a larger city.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I don't like to make plans far into the future. Life has shown me that you plan, and something random unexpected happens. All you can do is adapt and learn new ways to keep going. So hopefully, I will still be doing my art, learning new techniques and enjoying my family.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

Doll Blog

Art blog

Etsy shop

From there, more links can be found to see my work, like youtube, flickr, etc

Martha

~ Photo show ~ rEcYcleD MaTEriALs Art Doll ~

2011-12-07T23:33:00.000-05:00

By Shauna Henry

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-12-06T06:39:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Rita Dolan for sharing her dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK page. These art dolls are perfect for ADO's 4th Quarterly Challenge-Goth. Please be sure to visit Rita's blog by CLICKING HERE, and also go and check out her Facebook page by CLICKING HERE.
Please continue to share your works of doll art on ADO's Facebook page, whether it would be one of our MMC's or Quarterly Challenges. Our MMC for December is Recycled Dolls. Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members work will be featured on ADO's blog. Thanks so much!

~ Treasury Alert ~ x two!

2011-12-05T13:55:00.000-05:00

Mindy has been busy...

New Member Spotlight - Nancy Hall

2011-12-04T06:59:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the first new member spotlight of December...wow, how did it get to be December already? Our spotlight this time is on Nancy Hall of Whimseydoodles Art Dolls. Nancy loves dollmaking for the same reason many of us do, she says "It lets me use so many skills and techniques - metal and woodworking, painting, beading, dyeing, mixed media, jewelry making. I never get bored and I am always trying to find a new skill to use". Nancy's skills are definitely on display in her amazing cloth art dolls, they are simply marvels of craftsmanship and beauty. You can find more of her lovely work in her Etsy shop and Website. Welcome to the ADO team Nancy!

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2011-12-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

The Filigree ~

"Fairy Tale Art Paper Dolls Dragons and Nonsense"

Visit the Filigree ~ HERE ~

~ Photo show ~ rEcYcleD MaTEriALs Art Doll ~

2011-12-02T10:57:00.000-05:00

First up we have Marsha of Tattered Chick

Thanks for sharing!

~ Thursday's Theme ~

2011-12-01T12:12:00.002-05:00

This months ADO mini challenge is ~ rECycLeD MaTErIaLs ~

Let's see what you come up with ~ post your images to our Facebook fan page, and we will add your work over the month of December to our blog, right here..

Open to everyone.

~ TREASURY ALERT ~

2011-11-28T11:54:00.002-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Debbie Smith of DebiDesigns

2011-11-27T11:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday Morning, ADO readers!

Today our New Member Spotlight shines on Debbie Smith of DebiDesigns.

Debbie is a doll artist who says that she came into her creativity in her late 30's and is trying to "catch up"!

I just love that quote! She says her "creative mind is never in rest mode." After checking out her work, I have no doubt about it! In addition to art dolls she also works in fiber arts, florals, quilting, embroidery, and jewelry making. Her beaded fairy imp pins are particularly charming!

Get to know Debbie and check out all the wonderful work she does by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, website, flickr stream, and twitter feed!

Welcome to the team, Debbie!

~ Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfuL ~

2011-11-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

ADO Featured Artist: Bari Read

2011-11-24T10:33:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

This week's artist feature is Bari Read of Bari's Fairies.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?  

My name is Bari Read and I live with my husband, my dog and a pack of formerly stray cats in Mesa, AZ.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

Probably 10 years ago I started exploring polymer materials - I currently use Cernit. I would say that the dolls I make now are an extension of the figurative sculpture I had been doing in clay. I'm not sure that I consider myself a true doll maker -- I think I'm probably just a sculptor that likes to work in polymer...

Who or what influences you? Inspires you? Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

I normally work with an aluminum wire armature, reinforced with skewers so it only bends at the joints. Most of my dolls have polymer head, hands/arms, feet and legs with soft, stuffed fabric bodies. I like the flexibility of having a soft body so that they can be re-posed (one of the big advantages of dolls over clay sculpture).

I never do sketches, and have no idea what will inspire me from one moment to the next. I usually have an idea about something that made me feel a certain way, and eventually I'll come up with something that will allow me to recreate that feeling.

I did do a ball jointed doll in Ladoll paperclay, but I can't say that I love the material as much as I do polymer. I may try another ball jointed doll in polymer if I can figure out how to do it a way that makes sense.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.  

I'm not really a doll collector or even a doll lover although I have seen some dolls that I love. I just like to create them.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.  

In addition to doll making, I try to work with clay from time to time - I've got some hand building for functional ware scheduled for next month, which should be a nice change of pace from tiny detailed faces and hands.

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

I'm an avid reader -- Larry McMurtry, Ann Beattie, Laurie Colwin, E.L. Doctorow, John Irving, Kaye Gibbons, Barbara Kingsolver are a few of my favorites and I try to re-read all the Jane Austin novels as often as possible because you just don't get dialogue better than hers, although Larry McMurtry is also awesome.... I'd be hard pressed to name movies, because I can rarely remember titles. We love to watch foreign films though -- I think it's because they tend to be more 'slice of life' focused and not 'slice of exceptionally rich and amazingly gorgeous people's life' focused, as so many American films are. I also love pretty much anything with Will Ferrell. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, anyone?

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I haven't been everywhere, so I don't know where I'd most like to live. I live in Arizona now, and while I don't love the heat I do love the sky. It's huge and nearly always amazing looking.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I don't know what the next few years will bring -- I imagine I'll still be sculpting, still making dolls and still playing in clay every chance I get. In 10 years I will hopefully be retired and living somewhere with a bigger studio so I can work spend all the time that I spend now making a living, making art.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

My etsy store is Bari's Fairies. I also have a website - bariread.com. No blog, I'm too boring for that, although I do enjoy reading other artist's blogs.

~ wOrdLesS wEdNesDaY ~

2011-11-23T08:54:00.000-05:00

OOAKningyo

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-11-22T08:15:00.003-05:00

Thank you so much to Abenaa Rukiya Montsh for sharing her spectacular doll the wisdom child...she made the disk from black and red thread black and white bone beads. You can subscribe to Abenaa's Facebook feeds by clicking HERE.

Please continue to share your art dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK whether it is a MMC doll or ADO Quarterly Challenge doll, or your latest art doll creation! Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' dolls will be featured our ADO's blog. Thanks so much and keep sharing your dolls! :o)

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-11-21T10:24:00.000-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Anastasia Georgiu

2011-11-20T06:59:00.001-05:00

Hi! Welcome to another New Member Spotlight from the ADO team. Today we focus our spotlight on Anastasia Georgiu of DoDoDolls. Anastasia lives in Greece and she says that for her, "doll making is a reflection of my inner world..every experience in my life, a favorite song, a dream, a secret desire is a reason for me to make a doll." Her dolls are beautiful, delicate creations with an air of wistfulness about them that pulls you in and creates a story. You can see more of her work in her Etsy shop, and in her Flickr feed..so go take a peek. Welcome to the ADO team Anastasia!

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2011-11-19T10:53:00.001-05:00

~ Isabelle de Borchgrave's Paper Dresses ~

~ Hope everyone has a great weekend ~

Wednesday's Question

2011-11-16T17:25:00.001-05:00

Today's question is...what get's you frustrated? As much as we all love making our art dolls there are moments when one could just scream! Why is it that more often that the cotton breaks, gets tangled or magically gets knotted on the last stitch? While trimming your dolls hair you discover one side is too short. Button's you've sewed on are not straight. Eyes are not aligned. Share with us your frustrations and if you have remedies for making life that bit easier.

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-11-14T16:46:00.001-05:00

mmc for 2011 october, Tragic endings!!!

2011-11-14T11:58:00.026-05:00

Poor, poor little dolls!
This month, our own Brigitte Doerner hosted the challenge about those young lives too soon taken away, too soon ended in dramatic circumstances...beautiful and terrible, or beautiful because of the tragic ending , how inspiring!
I hope you will enjoy these dolls, they are so delicate and lovable in their own way each!

"The litttle match girl" (Andersen tale) by Sahaya James from Radical Miniatures

"Lizzie Siddal", by Natasha Morgan

Shakespeare's "Juliet" by Evelyn Santiago from Evelyn's Wonderland

"Beatrice the Creep" by Athena Workman from Miss Millificent

" The little Mermaid, Ariel" (Andersen's tale)by Rosanna Pereyra

"Anne Boleyn" by Lisa Johnson from Skunk Hollow Country Store

"Madame Butterfly" by Anastasia Georgiu from Anastasia Dododolls

We will be hosting dolls for a Child's dream next month, happy dolling!

New Member Spotlight - JoEllen Laurita of BeFruiTFuL KReaTioNS

2011-11-13T12:38:00.000-05:00

Happy Sunday morning, ADO readers!

Today we are shining our New Member Spotlight on JoEllen Laurita of BeFruiTFuL KReaTioNS.

JoEllen is a self taught artist who works in a variety of mediums. She says this keeps her fresh and she loves "learning and growing in the arts". Her designs run the gamut from paper mache to rug-hooked dolls and from animals to mermaids. She says "the sky is the limit with what I might try my hand at making". And, I noticed that she sells patterns for many of her wonderful dolls in her Etsy shop.

JoEllen and her husband recently sold their house and hit the road in their fifth wheel trailer, but she says this

hasn't hindered her creativity one bit! I should say so!!

Get to know JoEllen and see more of her work by checking out her Etsy shop, blog, website, and twitter feed.

Welcome to the team, JoEllen!

Tips & Tricks for your Handmade Gifts ~ Tips & Tricks Friday

2011-11-11T10:31:00.002-05:00

Well I hope you got more treats than tricks last month but this month I'm guessing you've already gotten started on those handmade gifts for Christmas. So, I'm thinking you might prefer some tricks this month. Here goes!

First, if you've got a vinyl cutting machine you will love me for this first one. LOVE. I suspect you hate buying the transfer paper for your vinyl projects. I further suspect (or at least I hope I'm not the only one) that you've tried to get by without it and failed miserably. Furthermore, why isn't transfer paper SEE THROUGH? Wouldn't that be so helpful?!

Solution: Glad Press & Seal

Feel free to contact me with gifts and cash prizes for that little nugget of info. (You can still use it even without sending me gifts and cash. It is the season of giving after all)

Gorgeous Graffiti

You might've seen these gorgeous canvases from Gorgeous Graffiti. You might have coveted a couple or 12 of them and then you might've seen the price tag and died a little inside.

Well, have no fear! You can DIY it. Yes you can!

There's a really lovely and oh so smart lady, Virginia, who has figured out possibly the greatest trick known to man.....er woman. Whatever.

First, pick your font. Type your word(s). Print it out

Second, place wax paper over your print-out.

Finally, Go trace over the font onto the wax paper with puffy paint. Let it dry. (You gotta be patient here, you're almost done!)

Once it's dry, glue it to your canvas. You can spray paint the whole canvas once you've got the letters on it if you like but it's totally optional since you can just use white puffy paint.

Of course, you can always just buy the little wooden letters from the craft store, glue those on to your canvas and spray paint. It costs a good bit more than the option above but it's still a ton cheaper than buying them already made (and way more fun!).

Personally, I like Virginia's version because you can choose your own font. I like choosing my own font. I like fonts. Don't you?

You can find Virginia's project, here.

Happy Holidays to you and yours,

ADO Featured Artist: Marcie Hart

2011-11-10T15:15:00.001-05:00

This week's artist feature is Marcie Hart of A Work Of Hart Fine Art Dolls.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?

My name is Marcie Hart of a A Work Of Hart Fine Art Dolls.

I live in a beautiful area in the mountains outside of Boise Idaho with my husband and menagerie of animals.

What makes me tick is a combination of creative endeavors. I am not content with just making dolls. I would go stir crazy if that is all I did. I create in many different fields such as oil painting, needlework, graphic art, mixed media, doll restoration, furniture restoration, and interior decorating to name just a few. ;-)
I feel that they all contribute to one another in many ways and that is what keeps my art fresh and unique.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

I have been sculpting and creating dolls since the late 1980’s. I first started with cloth dolls which I still love to this day and still create whenever I get the chance. I sold in local shops, bazaars and my own little business for a while. Then one day I came across an old doll reader magazine which featured an article and the works of artists such as Linda Kertzman and Anna Abigail Brahms. I was intrigued by the beauty of the work in which they were creating. As time went on I discovered other doll artists that were creating in similar ways and after that I wanted to learn everything I could about sculpting a OOAK doll. I read everything I could get my hands on which at the time wasn’t very much and worked at it every day. I was determined to make something come out of that clay that I would be pleased with.

I have always loved dolls from the time I was little, but to see these ethereal fairies and whimsical, mythical creatures which were geared towards grown-ups brought back that passion I had as a child. To be able to incorporate all of my passions into the making of a doll was very exciting to me.

At the time I was helping my husband with his business and raising our two boys I needed something of my own in which I could make some extra money and to fill that ever ending void for the “Need to Create” that was constantly in my soul. Whenever I could get a free moment I would grab the clay and start sculpting. I worked in between football practices, bookkeeping, commuting from our home 35 miles away whatever and whenever I could steal a few minutes of my own. There were many frustrations, tears and joy along the way. I just kept at it because I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

Many things influence my work. I never know where it will come from but when it strikes I know it. I am eager to get started on the new idea I have swirling around in my head. I love paintings from the old masters, children’s book illustrators such as Arthur Rackham, Jessie Wilcox Smith, Scott Gustafson and many more. I have an extensive collection of vintage children’s books that always keep the creative juices flowing. I also read a lot and sometimes out of nowhere something from a book will stir a new creation into reality. A beautiful piece of fabric can sometimes be the inspiration for a particular doll. Inspiration comes from everywhere and I am sure glad it does. It is what keeps everything humming along like it should be if it isn’t I know I am having a “OFF” day and those are no fun at all! ;-)

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

Well…it is a little different for each doll. Depending on the size of the doll I will either do a full body sculpt with wire armature or a fabric wrapped and stuffed armature underneath. It really depends on the doll itself and the particular scene or action the doll is doing. I always start with the sculpting of the head. Once the doll appears and is to my liking, I then proceed on with the armatures. Most dolls start with a diagram that I have printed out for the skeleton of the doll to determine the length of the wire. I have many of these diagrams for different sized dolls. From there the process begins whether to have a wire/cloth armature or go on to a solid sculpted body…it just depends on the particular doll I am working on. I mainly sculpt with Fimo clay. I have worked with it for years and have found it to be the best medium for me. I think mainly because I am used to it…trying other clays seems more difficult for me to work with. I do love cernit, and on occasion will work with it too. My latest piece “Sarette and her Fairy Attendant” is sculpted out of cernit. The fairy is out of fimo. I do some preliminary sketches when I am working on a piece such as shadow boxes etc. Odelle’s Opera Dream had many sketches done as I was working out the dimensions of the box, doll and items in the box in which she would be sitting. All these things had to be worked out ahead of time to make the whole piece come together as it should. Most of my tools are the same as most polymer clays artists. Good clay, brushes, paints, and sometimes the odd tools that we pick up along the way work better than the expensive tools we buy in the stores.

Do you have a favorite doll? ? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production

When I was little I loved my Troll dolls a lot! I sometimes think that maybe they had a lot to do with my desires to create faeries and magical creatures. But I loved a doll by Madame Alexander doll called Kitten along with other dolls and many stuffed animals. I still have almost every doll I ever had as a child. I took very good care of them which I am glad I did now, and plan on passing them down to future generations if they want them. I am currently in love with restoring old composition dolls from the 1920’s – 1940’s and I have a wonderful collection of antique german bisque dolls that seems to be ever growing! As far as my own dolls…yes I have kept a few of my own dolls. A friend of mine told me once that I should keep a few of my own dolls for one day I may not be able to create them and it would be a shame not to have at least a couple. We never know what the future holds but I thought that was good advice. As of right now my favorite is Princess Sarette and her Fairy Attendant my most recent piece. I am very pleased with the way she turned out and her face to me seems like what a true princess would look like. She is serene but innocent at the same time. She incorporates everything that I like about doll making, faeries, princess’s, antiques, beautiful fabrics and trims. Some of my favorite things!

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

My day usually starts with a morning “Hello” to our 3 horses, checking their well being and mucking out their pens. From there I attend to our yard which consists of about 1 ¾ acres. I love gardening and my husband and I have created a little utopia here on our property with a pond, waterfall, gazebo and many flower beds. It was totally bare ground when we moved here years ago…every rock, tree and plant has been hauled in by us. We transformed it into a wonderful place to sit back and have a barbecue or a glass of iced tea and enjoy the vast array of birds that come to visit our waterfall. It is tirelessly hard work but we enjoy our efforts tremendously. Living in the mountains we have a lot of wildlife that pop in from time to time such as elk, deer, bear, coyotes and wild turkeys to name a few. We love the country and can’t imagine our lives in the city…it is ingrained in our souls. I love horseback riding and we ride whenever we get the chance in our beautiful Rocky Mountains. I also bought an old 1960’s era travel trailor 3 years ago and totally remodeled it inside with a cowgirl/retro look to it. We like to go camping in it whenever we get the chance. It is a cool little vintage trailer with a lot of character… our home away from home!

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

There are many favorite movies, books etc., but some that come to mind are, The Horse Whisperer, SeaBisquit, Last of the Dogmen, Secretariat. I love stories about horses but I also love movies like Marie Antoinette, Tim Burtons wonderful movies, Somewhere In Time and many more.
As far as authors go…I love Susan Vreelands books. They are based on artists lives back in the Renaissance era and are wonderful , creative reads that make you feel like you are right there living with them in that time period. You can almost smell the paint in the artists studios as she takes you along in her books.

I love inspirational books, the Bible and many, many more!!!
I am crazy about magazines….currently some of the ones that are on my coffee table right now are: Mary Janes Farm, Where Women Create, Digital Studio, Imagine FX, Corel Painter, and off course Doll Collector and Dolls magazine along with Art Doll Quarterly. Can’t have too many magazines!
My favorite foods are bruschetta, pizza burgers, and huckleberry pie! Right now I am making lots of batches of bruschetta as our tomatoes are going to town! I am known by friends and family for my bruschetta recipe! Yummm…. LOL ;-)

When I am working I listen to a lot of different kinds of music. I love country, classical, jazz, classical guitar and rock. Some of my favorite musicians are East Mountain South, Tingstad and Rumble, Brad Paisley, Patsy Cline, George Straight (yea I know…I am a true hick) lol ;-D , Allison Moore, Kim Ritchy, Matchbox Twenty and many, many more. I also love to listen to my son Westin play. He is a great musician and plays the mandolin and guitar beautifully!
My favorite TV shows are the Home and Garden channel and PBS stations. I also love old classic shows like I Love Lucy.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I have thought about that and yes I would love to experience living in Italy or perhaps France for a while but when it comes right down to it I am very happy right here where I live now. I have many happy memories here. We have raised our family here, and grown to love this place we call home. Every square inch of it has been tenderly formed and cultivated into the place it is now. I am most content working with my horses, in my garden and especially in my studio with my pets underfoot. It is here in my studio where I find the most contentment, and can be totally at ease in the process of creating.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

One of my favorite quotes is “Always Saddle Your Own Horse” I think it has fit my life well over the years. No one can live your life and live it the way you want except YOU. It is up to us to make the most of each day, pave our own path, be independent, strong and find our happiness. I hope to still be riding my horse, creating dolls and working on new projects all along the way. Staying active and working hard is a trait that runs deep in my family roots and I believe… is the key to living a long and happy life.

As my dad used to say…..”HOLD THE REINS IN ON HER”

Thank you for the fun interview!!

XOXOXO

♥´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Marcie ♥

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

Website: http://www.marciehart-aworkofhart.com

Blog: http://marciehart-aworkofhart.blogspot.com

Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/people/aworkofhart?ref=si_pr

Ebay: http://myworld.ebay.com/aworkofhart

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-11-08T16:28:00.002-05:00

Thank you to Ilona of Lightpainted Doll for sharing her beautiful art dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK page. To see more of Ilona's work CLICK HERE for her website, CLICK HERE for her Facebook page, and CLICK HERE for her Flickr.

If you would like to perhaps see your doll's on ADO's blog, be sure to share them on our Facebook page. Be sure to include links to your website, Etsy shop, ect. so that we can include them in the blog post. We especially like to see doll makers participate in our MMC's or Quarterly Challenges. Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' work will be featured on ADO's blog. Thank you so much, and please keep sharing your work on ADO's Facebook page!

Today's treasury!

2011-11-07T04:52:00.001-05:00

New Member Spotlight - Trudie Averette

2011-11-06T08:14:00.002-05:00

Hello and welcome to another New Member Spotlight. Today we shine the spotlight on Trudie Averette of TruCreations. Trudi lives in South Africa (don't you love how ADO artists are from all over the world?!) and she says she "spends every free moment creating art dolls." Her delightful polymer clay dolls are full of personality and charm so we can be very glad that she finds the time, despite being mom to 4 children, to create them! You can find more of Trudie's work in her Etsy shop, on her blog, and in her Flickr feed. Welcome to the ADO team Trudie!

~ TREASURY ALERT ~

2011-11-05T23:41:00.001-04:00

Wednesday's Question

2011-11-02T00:30:00.000-04:00

This year at ADO there has been some wonderfully themed challenges and looks like next year is going to be just as exciting.
It's also been terrific to see so many people participating in the challenges...how do you think these challenges have inspired you and what was it about these challenges that made you take part?

~ Treasury Alert ~ five in fact!

2011-10-31T08:56:00.002-04:00

It's getting cold outside.... Happy HALLOWEEN folks

New Member Spotlight - Jeannette Neelans of Studio Odd

2011-10-30T11:07:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween weekend, ADO readers!
We have another New Member Spotlight shining this morning on Jeannette Neelans of Studio Odd.
Jeannette is a doll artist from Utah who says she enjoys all types of fiber arts from spinning (her hand spun fibers are so lovely!) to knitting in addition to making art dolls- which are both sculpted and plush. She says her tastes run "anywhere from kawaii cute to morbid and most everything in between" which she says make her work very eclectic. I like that!
Get to know Jeannette and see more of her work by checking out her Etsy shop, blog, Flickr account, and Twitter feed.
Welcome to the team, Jeannette!

ADO Featured Artist: Nancy Perennec

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

This week's artist feature is Nancy Perennec AKA Little Bit Wired.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?

My name is Nancy Perennec. I live in Mississauaga, Ontario Canada. What makes you tick? I love to be inspired by the things around me but the true ticking happens when something I have imagined comes to life in my hands.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

I used to work for a company in Winnipeg Manitoba and the receptionist there was a member of the Canadian Doll Artist Association. She made cloth dolls and she used to bring them in and I’d ask her all kinds of questions about how she made them. She encouraged me to try different patterns. These were my first, I called them Prairie Faeries.

With each doll my enthusiasm grew and the next year I joined the association too and we attended a doll conference in Fort Erie together. I took a couple workshops, one of them a full body sculpt workshop with Kathryn Walmsley. I made this silly looking doll out of Cernit… but I was hooked!

My next piece was a little better. I made a grouping of four called Solstice.
I actually sold this one.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

I read. A lot. Urban Fantasy mostly. I get endless inspiration from the books I read, the work of other artists whether they be illustrators or 3 dimensional works. My ideas usually evolve from that but aren’t meant to be copies of anything. I could be inspired by a pose, a hair-do, colour choice, props and then my ideas kind of blossom.

For instance, Davy’s secret was inspired by these two things

and evolved into this with

Jessica’s Secrets Tutorial. Which was a lot of fun.

And my Red Riding Hood was based on a scene in the movie that came out in March.

And Elena my Angel Warrior was inspired by the book by Nalini Singh.

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.

As I said, my ideas are mostly in my head. Sometimes I’ll do a little sketch so I don’t loose the thought but I never do any detailed drawings or anything like that. I might do a wire sketch to pose the doll but everything else comes as I progress.
If I’m doing a cloth doll, I’ll draw more because I’ll develop a pattern from that, then I’ll sew it together and build an armature to fit inside it and a base to support it.

If I’m sculpting I’ll do up a little pose sketch and figure out the base I would need to support the doll. Then I’ll start with the head, then hands and feet and then add the armature, wrap it with fibre and then do a wash and detail face up on the doll. The hardest part for me is costuming. Sometimes I just know what I’ll do, what fabrics I need other times I have to hunt them down. I wish I made costumes that were full of all the little details, tiny little pocket watches, embroidered flowers and such but I don’t have it in me. I’m too impatient to see what it will look like when it’s done. I work pretty quickly but it still takes about 80 hours of work to

complete a doll.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

I never actually liked dolls when I was young. I played with the occasional Barbie but I didn’t really get it. I suppose I don’t really get it now either. I don’t collect them. For me the joy is all about creating them and the things I learn along the way. I usually work in complete silence. No tv, no radio, just the sound of my breathing, the birds through the window and the occasional patter of little feet and meowing of my cat Peepers.

I loved the way my work is progressing so I guess the favorites of mine are the last ones I worked on. I’m a fan of many doll artists for different reasons. Frankly I’m envious of all who can make a living out of creating these wonderful figurative works.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

As I said I read. A lot. I commute to work each day for about 3 hours. I work as a Project Assistant for a team that builds Ontario’s Infrastructure. My daytime is filled with chasing paper and setting up meetings. Boring stuff. But it’s a job doing “the work of the people”, I enjoy my co-workers and do all my “play” in any other moment that I can. In fact it’s taken over my holidays too. Helps me regenerate my spirit. I also teach and blog my work in progress. I take pictures along the way. I found it hard to learn without taking workshops so I want to be able to inspire others new to doll making and help them find their way. My blog helps me do that whether it be making dolls, knitting, crochet, making puppets or making jewelry I like to open minds to things people haven’t experienced before. I teach a regular lunch and learn at the office where people pay to learn new things and the proceeds go to our Charity.

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

I love watching American Idol, all the dancing shows, Amazing Race and pretty much any movie. As for music, I love anything that keeps me dancing… well as long as no one is watching me!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Close to an art supply store, fabric and bead store. I admit I am lucky I have that now. I haven’t travelled much but I’d like to pretty much go anywhere. As long as they have the above list.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I’d love to be supporting myself as an artist. I can’t see that happening though so I guess I’d like to see more of my work in publications, art galleries and such.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

On etsy:

www.nancyperennec.etsy.com

and

www.littlebitwired.etsy.com

on ebay I’m littlebitwired

and my blog is

http://littlebitwired.blogspot.com

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-10-25T06:44:00.002-04:00

"The Ghost of Old Possessions"

Thank you to Deb Jackson of Jenny Sparrow for sharing this amazing Art Doll on ADO's FACEBOOK page. Please be sure to CLICK HERE to visit Debbie's Etsy shop, and CLICK HERE to visit her website.

Please be sure to share your latest Art Doll creation on ADO's Facebook page. Be sure to participate in our Quarterly Challenge or our MMC. The last Quarterly Challenger for 2011 is Goth, the October MMC is Tragic Endings, and the November MMC will be A Child's Dream. Please include links to your Etsy shop, website, ect. PLEASE NOTE: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' work will be featured on the ADO blog. Thanks so much, and be sure to keep sharing on Facebook!

~ Treasury Alert ~ x two!

2011-10-24T16:52:00.000-04:00

New Member Spotlight - Soury Alexandra

2011-10-23T08:24:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Sunday and the chance to meet another new member of the Art Dolls Only Team. Today the spotlight is on Soury Alexandra of Cute Amalia Dolls. Soury lives in France, has 3 sons, and makes beautiful air dried clay dolls with such delicate features. You can find more of Soury's lovely dolls in her Etsy shop, her Blog, and her Flickr stream. Welcome to the ADO team Soury!

Wednesday's Question

2011-10-19T01:53:00.000-04:00

Storage, it can be a big problem if your dolls are starting to populate and overtake your working space. And if you're selling your dolls, you don't want to have them on display for too long.
How do you store and protect your dolls from damage, sun, dust and rodents?

2011 september mini monthly challenge: Dia de los Muertos, paper dolls!

2011-10-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

Double theme for this mini monthly challenge: dia de los muertos, and paper dolls! It was hosted by our very own Ayala!
Although our members remained free for creating with the medium they liked, most of them tried themselves in two dimensional doll making. How exciting!

By Ayala from Ayala Art

by Anastasia from anastasia dododolls

by Evelyn from Evelyn 's Wonderland

By Jenna from The Land of Honah Lee

by Paula from Spirit Dolls by Paula

By Rosanna Pereyra

By Alexandra from Cute Amalia

By Yve from Freaky Little Things

We hope you enjoyed the tour, next mini challenge will be "tragic endings!"

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-10-17T11:34:00.002-04:00

New Member Spotlight - Sahaya James of Radical Miniatures

2011-10-16T11:23:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday morning, ADO readers!
Today our New Member Spotlight shines on Sahaya James of Radical Miniatures.
Sahaya is an artist from the UK who started making art dolls in 2010 and has quickly fallen in love "with every aspect of creating a doll and the challenges of combining ethical and environmental consciousness" into her characters. Sahaya's dolls are registered with the Vegan Society and are made with only vegan and eco-friendly materials and with concern for animals and the environment. She also says she loves "all forms of art, particularly the less appreciated ones — the underdogs, subcultures and primitive arts" and all styles including Gothic and anthropomorphic.
Get to know Sahaya and see more of her work by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, and website.

Welcome to the team, Sahaya!!

Tips & Tricks Friday ~ Tell a Story

2011-10-14T16:01:00.000-04:00

I remember the very first art show I did. I was all in a panic because it was the first time I needed inventory instead of just creating whatever was in my head, one piece at a time. That proved harder for me than I thought it would because I really do just create whatever moves me in that moment and it often comes out looking completely different than what I had in mind. I always felt like my pieces told me what they wanted to become instead of the other way around. For that reason, each of my pieces have always had their own stories....and names.

Once I had my "inventory" complete I toyed with the idea of labeling each of my pieces with their stories and names. Then I had a moment of panic where I wondered whether buyers would think I was a little nutty and whether they would want the artwork to come with thier own names and stories or whether they'd want to come up with their own. So, I left off the names and stories.

And the prevailing commentary at that artshow was...."They should have names!" and "What's her story?". Gahhh! So, I learned my lesson. Always tell a story and, for goodness sake, give them a name!

Here's an example:

Cute piece, good pic

But what about this....

Twas nigh on midnight
When the lightning did flash.
And then,
A loud bang and a crash
Was that just the storm or was someone in the house?
He tiptoed to see.
Quiet as a mouse.
It was then that he saw it.
His stomach felt sick.
It was the last thing he felt.
Now he's a head on a stick.
~ ©Jamie Lott

Even better, no?

So when in doubt, even if they do think you're a little nutty, they want a story!

ADO Featured Artist: Dessa Rae Greenwood

2011-10-13T11:00:00.000-04:00

This week's artist feature is Dessa Rae Greenwood.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?

My name is Dessa Rae Greenwood. I live in the great state of Utah, USA. I am 59 years old. I have been making dolls for 33 years, and I have been sculpting for 27 years. I am a self taught artist, learning by trial and error.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

When my daughter was 1 year old my sister in-law came over and showed me a doll she had made for her daughter. I went and bought a pattern and drug out my old singer sewing machine ( with only one type of stitch) and began sewing rag dolls. I loved my cloth dolls but for me there just wasn't enough realism in them. One day I saw an ad for Cernit, I ordered some and went from there.

I have received two Dolls Magazine Awards of Excellence nominations, ( for my sculpting) once in 1995 and again in 1997.

I have received the Froud Artist of the Month award for May 2007. My dolls have had the honor of being featured in Dolls Magazine, Doll Reader, Doll Crafter and Costuming.

There are so many dolls to create and not enough time. I alternate my time between sculpting, cloth dolls, and Reborning.

I have been Reborning dolls since 2003. I love transforming these beautiful doll kits into realistic works of art. There is something magical about these dolls.

Once I had Reborn my first doll, I was hooked, and the rest is history. My Reborn Baby Sawley was featured in Doll Reader Magazine September issue 2008.

I love the feeling I get when I hold my little creations in my hands and know that it started out as a lump of clay. It makes me happy to sell my creations, and to know that my art is going to a good home.

I tell everyone I know that you are never too old to play with dolls.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

The Artist that inspired me the most when I was first starting out is Anna Abigail Brahms...I love her ethereal dolls.

Since I make all kinds of dolls in all mediums, my house is one big craft store. In fact my daughter calls it the Greenwood craft store. I have bolts of fabric piled high in my closets and dolls, and doll parts stored downstairs in all of the closets, I have bins of Reborningkits and supplies...lol The process is different for each doll and it seems like I never do it the same way twice..lol

With my sculpting, I usually start with the head first, then I can gauge how big to make the body. If its a cloth body doll, I then make the pattern especially for that particular doll. The arms and hands are the last to be sculpted.

With my newest dolls "Bonus Bundle Babies" all that is sculpted is the head. The body is a one piece design made to be very floppy. I weight them with glass beads.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

I think my favorite doll is one I made called a Pixie Moppet. Her head and arms were sculpted from Fimo and her feet were glittery cloth. Her name is Brigitte...She is 3 1/2 inches and is jointed at the neck, shoulders, and hips with very tiny buttons. Her body was made from Swiss Batiste, and she was dressed in vintage lace and trim.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

When I am not making dolls I am busy with my wonderful husband of 40 years, my beautiful children (all grown), and my precious grandchildren.

I LOVE to create mohair bears...I love to make jewelry, and I love to belly dance.

I can get lost in the antique shops, and I love to participate in the local doll shows in my state. I participated in the New York Toy Fair for two years and I also participated in the Doll and Teddy Bear Expo in Washington D.C. for two years.

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

I love funny movies, any kind of comedy...because I love to laugh!!

I can't create unless I am listening to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity...I am a radio talk show junkie...

My favorite TV shows are Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Glee, American Idol, and Hell's Kitchen.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

If I could live anywhere in the world it would be here in Utah, because I am close to my family and I love the four seasons...

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

I see myself still making dolls in 1 year...5 years, and 10 years...It has been a lifelong passion with me.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

My website: http://www.wix.com/dessadolls/droad

My Blogs: http://dessaraeartdolls.blogspot.com/

http://sweetmemoryreborn.blogspot.com/

My eBay id: dessarae123

My Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/dessadolls?ref=si_shop

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-10-11T07:20:00.003-04:00

Thank you to Alexandra Soury of Cute Amalia Dolls for taking part in our Dia de los Muertos MMC Challenge! To see more of Alexandra's work CLICK HERE for her Etsy shop, and to visit her blog, CLICK HERE.
We invite you to share your dolls on ADO's FACEBOOK page, especially if you participate in our MMC's or Quarterly Challenge. The MMC for October is Tragic Endings and the 4th Quarterly Challenge is Goth. Please note: there is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' work will be featured on ADO's blog. Thank you so much, and please keep sharing on Facebook! :o)

~ TREASURY ALERT ~

2011-10-10T17:09:00.002-04:00

New Member Spotlight - Laura Lee Burch

2011-10-09T09:14:00.002-04:00

Another Sunday and another chance to meet a new member of the Art Dolls Only team! The spotlight for today is on Laura Lee Burch, who sells her dolls under her name and the name Laleebu. Laura is a needlefelting and cloth doll artist living in Israel who, in addition to lovely dolls, also makes amazing felted masks. The expressions on her dolls are just wonderful, telling a complete story with a raised eyebrow or twinkling eye and the artistry is fantastic! But don't take my word for it, do yourself a favor and check out her work in her Etsy shop, blog, website, and Flickr stream. welcome to ADO Laura!

Did you miss our 1st Ezine?

2011-10-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

Well, if you did... click on the image ......

It's absolutely brimming with interesting, educational and fun stuff! not to be missed!!!

3rd quaterly challenge, Marrionettes!

2011-10-04T14:32:00.014-04:00

For this 3rd quaterly challenge , our doll makers had to think theater, strings and lights!
Marrionettes was the inspirating theme , and as you see, those who participated had fun again.
The challenge was hosted by talented Moriah Betterly.
Enjoy your visit!

by Marina

by Mary Esther Ward from

Cottonwoolbaby Studio

By Mindy Bush from

Little Bird Artistry

By Patricia from Papillon Bleu

By Rosanna Pereyra

by Brigitte B. Doerner from Dark Smile Studio

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-10-03T10:15:00.002-04:00

New Member Spotlight - Athena Workman of MissMillificent

2011-10-02T09:45:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday morning, ADO readers!
Our New Member spotlight this morning shines on Athena Workman of MissMillificent.

Athena is a doll artist living in Tennessee who says " a series of circumstances" led her to making dolls
and she soon discovered how much she loved sculpting. Most of her dolls are made of paper clay with recycled fabric and vintage lace and trims. Athena considers herself to be a folk artist and calls her one - of -a - kind creations "weird, odd and gothic art dolls with unusual and sometimes disturbing stories." I found out that she was once a horror writer, and she also makes and sells mini food jewelry and scale dollhouse miniatures as well as being a mixed media artist and photographer.

You can check out Athena's work and get to know her by visiting her Etsy shop, website, blog, flickr, and twitter feed.
Welcome to the team, Athena!

ADO Featured Artist: Miss Oblivious

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

This week's artist feature is Miss Oblivious of Paynecreations.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?

My artist name since 1999 was Miss Oblivious (Paynecreation dolls)which in 2011 reformed into KOOK Teflon.

I am a California native that migrated to the NW (Seattle) in 2006 yet i spend as much time as possible in New Orleans.

I find inspiration from various eras such as vintage photography, seedy history, seaside ports and dust-bowl glamour.

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

I started focusing my art towards dolls as a steady pastime in 2005. I had collected decrepit Victorian and mod 60's type dolls about 15 years prior.

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

My biggest influence through art has been Madame Talbot, Dame Darcy,Claude Cahun, turn of the century Mardi Gras, Anita Berber,Marie Laveau, Haunted (United States) History and frequent visits to the Big Easy. I love recreating or creating historical persons. Sheri Debow is a big inspiration for me, she also introduced me to ADO.

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.  

The dolls bodies are all hand-stitched from new cotton or felt. I normally stride to use as much vintage fabrics for my dolls, most of the time the fabrics I use will come from antique dresses, doilies/hankies, or household items which i reform into the dolls attire. I also place a eucalyptus nut from 19th century trees planted in the San Francisco estate of former New Orleans resident, voodoo priestess and civil rights advocate, Mary Ellen Pleasant, in most of my dolls.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

My favorite doll i own at the moment is by Devout Dolls she is also a Seattle based doll artist and it is of Anabelle Lee which was Poe's lover and inspiration, she is in a white cotton gown and has beautiful long frizzy white hair with a gorgeous painted face! Anabelle Lee is in ghost form.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.

Other than being a doll maker , I am a photographer and capture the darker side of glamour, zine publisher,i also make surreal music films,I produce live cabaret/queer/no-wave shows and events,curator, a mother and wife,

and just began a new career as "A Pike Place MArket Ghost Tour Guide".

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

My favorite movies are Skeleton Key,Fire Walk With Me, Suddenly Last Summer,Angel Heart, Storyville, For TV you can find me watching shows such as Twin Peaks,True Blood, Treme,Haunted History,anything involving Rod Serling.

Some of my favorite bands are The Tiger Lilies,Death By Doll,Glass Candy, Dr.John's album "Gris Gris",Muddy Waters, Alabaster Choad,,Riot Grrrl era bands and 70/80's LA punk bands.

I love a few diff blogs such as

Stella Rose

Madame TAlbot

Christy Kane

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

If I could live anywhere in the world (you guessed it)it would be New Orleans inside of a big decrepit home in the french quarter with my husband and children,

I find inspiration from the air, streets,sounds, religion and stories of the quarter.

Where do you see yourself in one year? Five years? Ten years?

My one year goal is to have all my travel paid for, have my book finished which is based from a few diff collections of dolls i have created.

In five years I plan on being a full time Louisiana Resident and within ten years I'd love to own a specialty doll/art curio shop/gallery in the quarter, a house on Esplanade.

I dream of making dolls all day & night and owning a pet goat.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

You can find me online at:

Etsy

Blog

We proudly present..... Much ADO E-Zine.....

2011-09-27T19:49:00.000-04:00

Yay! The Art Dolls Only E-zine is published. Congratulations guys - you did an amazing job.

~ Click on the image to view ~

New Member Spotlight - Koo Koo Craft

2011-09-25T08:20:00.000-04:00

Hello ADO fans, it's once more time for the New Member Spotlight and today the light shines on Koo Koo Craft who hails from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Koo Koo describes herself as a "crochet & travel & dance addict who can never get enough of new yarn, interesting places or good music" and she makes colorful crochet dolls that are simply full of personality. You can find more of her dolls in her Etsy Store, on her Blog, Website, and Flickr Page. Welcome to the ADO team Koo Koo!

ThURsDaY's THeMe......ears

2011-09-22T11:25:00.001-04:00

Wednesdays question

2011-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Fingers on hands..five or four? I only do four...five just looks like too many to me..must be due to all those years of drawing animated characters!
But what about you, do you enjoy making those little digits?

Facebook Fan Page Photo Feature

2011-09-20T07:30:00.003-04:00

"Sad Sophie"

Thank you to Anastasia Georgiu of Dododolls for participating in ADO's Quarterly Challenge..Marionettes. If you would like to visit Anastasia's Etsy shop, CLICK HERE. Also, CLICK HERE for her website, which will be up and running in a few days.

If you would like to see your doll featured here, be sure to share it on ADO's FACEBOOK page. We welcome you to participate in one of our Quarterly Challenges or MMC's and then share them on ADO's facebook wall. Also, be sure to share a link to your Etsy and/or webiste/blog. PLEASE NOTE: There is no guarantee that all non-ADO members' dolls will be be featured on the blog. Thanks so much! Keep sharing those pictures on Facebook!

~ Treasury Alert ~ x two!

2011-09-19T10:21:00.000-04:00

We are full again :O)

2011-09-18T12:19:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who has shown an interest in joining our group, Art Dolls Only. We are once again closed.

New Member Spotlight - Traci Wood Reynolds

2011-09-18T10:11:00.000-04:00

Happy Sunday morning, ADO readers!

It's time again for our New Member Spotlight, which shines today on Traci Wood Reynolds of Traci's Dollhouse.

Traci is a doll artist from Virginia who, like most of us, has been making art for as long as she can remember. Her dolls are fashioned from clay, wire, and found objects - I personally really like her anthropomorphic pieces.

Traci says she is "heavily influenced by the spirits of animals,steampunk, & Victorian culture" and that her art "also celebrates all things magical and creepy"... Now, you know I appreciate that!

You can get to know Traci and see more of her work by visiting her Etsy shop, blog, website, and twitter feed.

Welcome to the team, Traci!

Want to join Art Dolls only?

2011-09-18T00:35:00.002-04:00

***Art Dolls Only is now open for New Members***

Please apply by emailing ADOMembership@yahoo.com and include ~

Your Name

Your Etsy Shop link

And any Website or Blog link you may have.

Please take a few minutes to read our Team Requirements and Guidelines, to make sure that our group will suit what you are looking for.
ADO Membership Information

Art Dolls Only is open to all Art Doll Artists, whether you are a beginner, or experienced, and must be able and willing to commit to our team requirements.

Places for new members are limited. Following your submitted application, we aim to contact you within a few days, to let you know if you have been successful on this occasion.

***Thank you for your interest in our group***

Saturday's WeiRD and wOndERfUl:

2011-09-17T12:18:00.004-04:00

Happy Saturday! This Saturday's post features photographs from Russian artists "Audrey and Lil." More specifically Audrey Yakovlev and Lili Aleeva. The pair are from Moscow, and you can view more of their beautiful pictures at http://ayakovlev.photodom.com.

What I love most about these photos are the felted creations, particularly the felted TV. I Want!!!!

ADO Featured Artist: Cate Avery

2011-09-15T13:09:00.000-04:00

This week's artist feature is Cate Avery of CateA331.

Please tell us about yourself. What is your name? Where do you live? What makes you tick?  

My name is Cate Avery and I live in the beautiful state of NH with my husband and Miss Darcy, our little 9 lb. Yorkie/Poodle mix dog, who doesn't know she's a dog ; ) We have a married daughter who lives an hour away in ME. I was born on the last day of March so I just missed being an April Fool's baby----phew!

When did you start making dolls? Why did you start making dolls?

Growing up, I was the only girl w/ 3 younger brothers so I always had my own room and lots of dolls. I had them all at one time: Barbie, Tiny Tears, Miss Revlon, Ginny, Chatty Cathy, Sasha, Madame Alexander, ad nauseam...I can remember my mother making clothes for them (this from a woman who can't darn a sock or hem a skirt...I don't know how she did it!) and I loved those outfits made from the same dress fabrics that my mother wore. I discovered the world of Art Dolls while taking a rug hooking class; the teacher had another student whose doll she had purchased and I was fascinated by this unusual piece, a Black Peter doll, if I remember correctly. I contacted her and my world changed . OK, that's a little melodramatic, but creating figural art is by far the most fun I've had using my artistic abilities. Unfortunately, I don't feel I'm consistent in my work; some pieces I think are really good and some are just all right. I struggle with feet and I'm not always pleased with my hands but my costuming is pretty good, even though I sew like a farmer ; ) Thank goodness I don't have to make the clothing removable with zippers and buttonholes, etc! You'd think that after almost 20 years I'd have this little hobby down pat but there's always something new to learn and a better way to do it!

Who or what influences you? Inspires you?

I'm inspired by fairytales and fantasy, Old Masters art books and advertisements in magazines---you name it and I 'm inspired by it.

Tell us a little about your dolls and your process for making them. Materials, preliminary sketches, inspiration, etc.  

I have sketchbooks filled with ideas because if I don't put it down on paper, I'll probably forget it. I love to go through my sketches and see the original drawings for my dolls and then look at the figures that actually emerged; rarely are they the same but the spark of the idea is there. My first dolls were made of Cernit, which I love, but now I use Super Sculpy.

Do you have a favorite doll? It can be handmade by you, handmade by someone else, or even (gasp) mass production.

I don't have a favorite doll that I've made, I think it's because I know all the little flaws or trouble it gave me. I'm a horrible perfectionist, everything's got to be PERFECT and it never is so I'm rarely satisfied.

Besides making dolls, what do you do? Job, other creative pursuits, hobbies, etc.  

I've become a duplicate bridge fanatic and I love to go to flea markets. I like to read novels and make jewelry. Someday I'm going to do watercolors; I bought all the supplies and a how-to book but that was 2 years ago so it's not looking very good ; ) Did I mention that I'm a procrastinator?

What are some of your favorite: movies, books, websites, magazines, foods, TV shows, music? (Any or all!)

I love movies and have too many favorites to mention, but The Help is a good current one to see! I'm not crazy about nonfiction or mystery books but I like horror and books about lawyers. The last good book I read was "The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus"

Fav magazines---- House Beautiful, Simple,and Martha Stewart Living;

Fav foods---again, too numerous to mention but Italian, Chinese and Mexican dishes are good. Love red wine, salt and sugar! Bad Cate!!

I tend to listen to classical music, also Chris Botti, Secret Garden, some New Age and light jazz---how's that for all over the place in my musical tastes?

I watch a lot of TV and some favs are 2 1/2 Men, Modern Family, and Project Runway. Another guilty pleasure was The Housewives of NYC but not the more recent episodes...

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

If I could live anywhere, I might choose somewhere that doesn't have winters like we do, maybe NC...? An overseas location might include England because I wouldn't have to learn another language and it's pretty centrally located to the other countries I'd like to revisit, Italy and France, maybe Greece.

Where can we find you on the internet? (blog, website, Etsy shop, eBay, et al.)

Etsy:

CateA331

Jewelry:

MadelineInMoonlight

august 2011, mini monthly challenge: HALF AND HALF!

2011-09-13T03:39:00.020-04:00

This month, Half and half! Have you found your second half?
Just fun dolls, with a lot of creativity!

By Abi Monroe

By Lisa Johnson from Skunk Hollow Country Store

by Jessie Lawson

by Marsha Mees from Sassy Mini Dolls

By Emma Whitley from Britpoprose99

By Evelyn Santiago from Evelyn's Wonderland

By Lorraine from PieCake Primitives

By Natasha Morgan

By Nicole Johnson from Mealey Monster Land

By Patricia from Papillon Bleu UK

By Rosa Grueso from Nenufar Blanco

By Nancy Perennec

By Wilma Simmons from Empress Wu Designs

Our next mini monthly challenge theme will be :Dia de los Muertos!

~ Treasury Alert ~

2011-09-12T17:53:00.000-04:00

New Member Spotlight - Jan Calloway-Baxter

2011-09-11T11:01:00.000-04:00

Good Sunday morning, ADO readers!

We have another new member to spotlight this morning: Jan Calloway-Baxter of GypsySystr Dolls.

Jan is a doll artist from Tulsa, OK who designs and creates a line of fabric goddess dolls (which are based on ancient goddess figurines discovered by archaeologists) as well as dolls inspired by the patterns of other designers. The fabrics Jan chooses help each of her pieces beautifully tell their story. I'm personally really digging her goddess dolls and according to one of her blog posts "They can be embellished or left plain and are great for carrying in purse or pocket or installing on an altar or hanging on the wall."

Get to know Jan and see more of her work by visiting her Etsy shop or blog.

Welcome to the team, Jan!