Enchanted Doll Birthday contest 2013

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Hey there, Enchanted Doll lovers! The Annual Enchanted Doll birthday contest is under way, with over a hundred entries received so far! The entry criteria is simple this year: Send me a travel post card to enter an Enchanted Doll. The deadline is Feb 28th.The contest has been a blast. Every morning I wake up and look forward to receiving a new batch of cards, wondering which new places I'll get to see today. My mail man is starting to get a bit weird-ed out and amused. Although hand-made was not a requirement, I am surprised just how many cards I've been getting, were hand crafted. Thank you for making that extra effort.

I look forward to more cards tomorrow! Keep 'em coming!

My Inspiration Board

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There are lots of things pinned up on the inspiration board above my work desk, but I think this picture of Chad and I, is the most important one. Others around it come and go; get put up, get taken down and replaced with new ones, but this one's been there for 12 years.Happy anniversary Chadasaurus. YOU are my Inspiration.Your Marinamal. 

Live Interview tonight at 11pm EST!

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Tonight, I'll be giving a live interview on the CIUT (University Of Toronto) radio station Sex City, which is dedicated to ongoing discussions of sexuality in relation to culture, art, politics, activism, health and sexual practice. You can listen to me talk about my dolls here http://www.ciut.fm/listen-now/

If you miss the live show, then you can find the recording in the archives 48 hours after the live event.

This is a photo of me speaking at the Emily Carr University about my life and times as a doll artist, on Sept 28th, 2012. And the other one is me getting ready to present and being very nervous about speaking on stage for the first time.11 pm EST or 8pm PST. Sex City Radio http://www.ciut.fm/listen-now/

I'll 'see' you there!***EDIT***The interview can be downloaded here, in MP3 form (13.5 minutes long, 9.8mb).

Interview with SexCity Radio (right click, and select "Save As" to download the file)Thank you to everyone who listened live!

Doll sketch

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I had made this sketch around the same time last year. At the time, the Lantern pendant hadn't yet materialized and was in the early working stages. After I drew this and saw how cool it would look, I began to work on it aggressively and completed it two months later. It's nice to look back and see concepts, longings and dreams realized. I haven't made this doll yet, but I will, I will.

Should I include this sketch into the next edition of the Enchanted Doll book?

Also: Attention birthday contestants! This is a modification to the mailing rules:

You may mail your cards in envelopes if you have concerns that cards might go missing in the mail. They won’t be disqualified.

 

The Annual Enchanted Doll birthday contest!

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Dear Friends, I'm back from my travels and I'm very pleased to announce that the annual 2013 Enchanted Doll birthday contest, where I give away one doll on my birthday, is now open!

I was drawing a map of some of my recent travels when I came up with the submission criteria. To enter the contest, send me a beautiful, captivating and wander-lust-inspiring travel postcard depicting any thing or any place in the world you want. It can be contemporary or vintage, commercial or custom printed, store-bought or hand-made, from your home town or another country, color or black/ white, featuring a painted, drawn or photographed image of nature, cathedrals, cities, mountains, ocean floor or outer space -whatever. Anything is admissible as long as it's in a standard post card format and it stirs your imagination, longing and compels you to visit that place.

Your Rules:

One Card per person. No envelopes-just the postcard. Cards arriving in envelopes will be disqualified. Submission Deadline February 28th, 2013. The winner will be picked from elimination stages starting on March 1st. All the entries will be posted online on March 1st. My top favorite Cards will be selected on march 2nd, and then eliminated randomly in daily draws, until one winner is announced on March 16th.

Your Prize:

In honor of the new Enchanted Doll resin line, the winner gets a painted, wigged and fully costumed resin Enchanted Doll Good luck and Let the games Begin!

Hiking in Hong Kong!

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After a brief stint at home upon our return from Europe three weeks ago, Chad and I are on the road again. This time in South East Asia. I've hardly been home since September and I'm really starting to miss staying put for more than a few days at a time.

I'm looking forward to working on the resin line in the studio next month. Notices for the first batch of pre-orders from the wait list will be sent out just before Christmas along with a news letter and an opening announcement for the 2013 Annual Birthday contest!

I'll "see" you guys soon.

Tallinn - I'm coming! (with the dolls)

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Over the last 9 days I've been making my way North to Estonia from the sunny Italy, stopping over in Croatia, Hungary, Poland and Finland on the way. Tomorrow I will finally arrive in Tallinn to take part in the Shocking Art of Dolls exhibition at the Estonian Doll Art house. It is a month long show, but Enchanted Doll is making a special appearance there only for the 1st opening week, and then we're heading home.

 

I will be there in person from the preview opening on Nov 9th, also 10th, 11th and evenings on the 12th and 13th. While there, I will be signing 100 copies of the Russian language Enchanted Doll book. So, if you are in Tallinn, come and see me, pick up a copy and get a personalized signature.

See you there!

 
 

Piceno fashion doll convention

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Wow... what a show! The Piceno fashion doll convention had wrapped last night, and I can honestly say that I've never  been to an event like this before - I thought it was a bit atypical for a doll convention, as it was jam packed full of entertainment, dinners, performances and celebrations every night. We even had a private audience with the mayor of the city, who welcomed us in the ancient town hall, and fireworks at the end of the show. It was simply fantastic to see people from different parts of the world and life, all united by Dolls.

And Italians seem like such warm and jolly people! At one point during lunch at a large table, full of laughing, talking and gesturing people, who passed plates full of food to one another, I had a very surreal feeling that I was in a movie. It was lovely and I shall never forget it. Italy, you were so good to me!

 

A big, huge thanks to all the organizers of this event, especially to Rosalie, Nikis, Pamela and Martina.

Finished Doll

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I'm having a really fantastic time at the Pieceno Fashion doll convention and will post some pictures when I have more time. In he meantime here is a picture of the most recent completed doll. You might recognize her face. I made the nude for a Vogue photo shoot this August, but I have just finished the head dress I've been working on for a while. It's another incarnation of my Light series. This one is cast in bronze and plated with Rose gold. I'll tell you more about her later. Now I've got to go.

Enchanted Doll in Italy and Estonia

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Hey guys! Remember this doll when it was still unfinished? She is coming as a part of my traveling porcelain collection to my upcoming shows in Italy and Estonia this fall. Oh, and by the way, I have a show in Tallinn, Estonia one week after Italy. Surprise! Totally forgot to tell you, but it's going to be awesome. It's called Shocking Art of Dolls, and it will take place at Estonian Doll Art house, in the oldest building in Tallinn! I'll post more info about it soon.

If I have any resin dolls left over from Italy, then they will be made available to buy at the Shocking Art of Dolls in Tallinn. Also, I've been putting the resin wait list together going back to 2010. Those of you who are on it, will be getting an email within 24 hours to inquire if you wish to remain or get taken off. This wait list will go in effect in December and production will begin in January 2013.My production capacity is very small, only about 10-20 resin dolls a month max. I want to avoid mass-production and keep the quality and rarity of these dolls. At this point I have plans to produce resin for 1 year, and then either stop or keep going for another year or two, or many, depending on how I feel. I will evaluate the situation every 6 months.

Unfortunately, the rainy season in Vancouver had started this week and prevented me from completing as many resin dolls as I originally wanted to bring to the Pieceno Fashion doll convention. It's new and strange for me to have to rely on external factors, such as good weather, to be able to make dolls. There is no such a thing with the porcelain doll-making process. Vancouver is a pretty rainy city, so, I don't know how many more resin dolls I'll be able to make this winter. I'll have to paint then and put them away until sunny breaks, or something. I'm sure I will figure something out.

Stay tuned for pictures of the new resin dolls.

Enchanted Doll in Moscow, Russia.

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Hey guys! Just a little update from Russia, while I have a spare minute during breakfast.

I'm in Moscow right now, promoting my book and the new resin line of dolls, with Chad and my dad helping me at the show.

So, for the last three days I've been doing a lot of book signing, taking pictures with doll fans and chatting to them about my new resin line, giving TV and paper interviews and networking with other artists and event organizers. I finally met the Popovy sisters, and even bought my first artist teddy (who is actually an elephant)! With so much going on, I hardly had any time to breathe.

It's been really busy and exciting, and I want to thank the organizer Svetlana Pchelnikova for putting on this event, and of course everyone who came to the show. And a big, huge thanks for all the flowers, you guys! It means more to me than you know.

Gold doll shoes

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Wow, you guys. Thanks for all the awesome name suggestions. I'm making a short list of my favorites. Here's a picture of some 14k gold-plated shoes I'm making for the Doll Salon expo in Moscow next week.

I'm getting on the plane in 48 hours, and there is still so much to do....