Doll Shelf-life

Hola doll lovers! You may or may not have noticed, but this summer I literally put doll-making on a shelf and left it there for 3 months.

This little favourite of mine has been sitting on this shelf in her fancy Chinoiserie house robe for 2 months, with no one but a tin fish-pet for company. My lovely Pilea plant demonstrates the time's passage quite well, as it gradually swallows her up with its growing juicy foliage. Another month in this spot, and she'll disappear from view!

There have been some rumblings of discontent and a growing restlessness at my prolonged absence and 'abandonment', but I really needed this time off due to a quite severe burn out. I love making dolls, but that is not the only thing I love doing. There are numerous non-doll art projects that have been simmering on my back burner for several years because dolls always took priority. It got to the point where I could no longer paint another doll eyelash or sew another bead on yet another doll dress without feeling sad and resentful and pressured by expectations.

So, this summer of 2015 was my creative break from dolls and my indulgence in other art forms. I built furniture! I designed interiors! I reorganized and cataloged all my beads and began renovating my art studio. I delved into horticulture! I went on wilderness adventures! I hung out with friends, sometimes in the wilderness. I took (and passed) a swift river rescue certification course in Montana! I even ordered a colouring book on Amazon (Secret Garden by Johanna Basford) and spent days laying in the grass, sipping cold beer and blissfully colouring in somebody else's drawings without any concern for my doll output - something I would normally consider to be utterly pointless and detrimental to my productivity! But it wasn't - it was a pressure release valve.

And today I walked into my studio and noticed this doll on the shelf half-swallowed by a plant, and I thought:" Hey you. Long time - no see"...and I began to dream of dolls again.

New Costumed Resin Doll Available

Where does the time go? One minute you're excitedly digging out your bathing suit and sun-dresses, and the next moment summer is almost over! I'm sorry I haven't been blogging more, too much time spent outside, and then when I am inside I'm furiously working on whatever has currently captured my attention. I hope everyone is enjoying the warm months and getting plenty of chances to explore the great outdoors.

On to dolls. I present, another little Echo sister in French Resin as a part of a promotion for the Chinese Enchanted Doll book, release by my publishers TXRiver! This Oriental beauty is another variation in my ongoing limited edition 'Echo' series, featuring a brand new hair ornament - a set of five tiny silver hair combs! I've been dreaming about making a lovely comb set for my future Enchanted dolls every since I read 'The Gift of the Magi' in my junior-high literature class. And now this Echo Sister is the first doll to be wearing them in her luscious hair. Woo! Another dream realized!

How do you buy this doll you ask?

The doll will be sold through my Chinese publishers TXRiver, and they are having a draw. Only those that order a book directly from them (http://world.taobao.com/item/43715713846.htm?fromSite=main)  can enter the draw,  and the randomly selected participant will have the opportunity to buy. The doll is being sold for $5700 USD. The draw will occur when this edition of the book has been sold out, which I'm being told is almost upon us! (Still some left, but going fast!).

Take a look! You can order the book here: http://world.taobao.com/item/43715713846.htm?fromSite=main

Birthday Contest Prize Resin Doll

On Friday this doll was shipped out to the winner of the 2015 annual Enchanted Doll Birthday Contest Kristen V, for her tattoo idea inspired by gender equality issues! The contest took place back in March, at the time of my birthday, but it took me a little bit longer to finish the grand prize. Kristen, I hope you like your doll. I really enjoyed making her for you, and I look forward to making one for next year's Birthday Contest!

The prize resin doll for Birthday Contest winner!

Last week I took a few days off engraving my new porcelain doll codenamed: 'Madman P', to finally finish making a resin doll prize for this year's winner of my annual Birthday Contest. It was a welcome change for my engraving hand and my routine after a few months of doing basically the same thing. Even art can get boring without variety.

I had spent oh, maybe 2-3 solid days fighting with all of my mohair to make a wig for this girl. With the drought going on right now, it was so static-y and frizzy....and with the glue drying so wonky, I basically just wanted to set everything on fire in my bathtub and watch it burn. But, as usual, it all worked out in the end. Can't make a good doll without a good struggle, and this doll turned out extra-good! Stay tuned for more pictures next week.

New Enchanted doll!

So for over a year now, I've been steadily working on a project under the code name of Madman P.

I'm not going to tell you much more about her just yet, as she is at the stage where she will begin to reveal herself pretty quickly from now on. The thought makes me giddy. I've never thrown my doll a wrap-party before, but I think she may warrant one, as she had nearly taken my sanity to the kiln with her. Although, at two-thirds of the way through, there's still time to lose my mind.

Before I can begin painting Madman P., I've got to test some brand new china-paints, so now I'm going to get on my skates, or possibly a Razor scooter and roll on over to the local tile shop for some porcelain tiles to paint. This brand is geared more towards painting dishes than dolls, so I'm not sure if the flow and consistency will work, but I'm hoping to be able to adapt them to my application. Time to go and finish Madman P. before I go mad-my-self. 

Unboxing the Chinese ED Book

Hey Folks!Long time no post! I've been busy working on a new tattooed doll (which will be unveiled soon) and getting the final details of the Chinese book release sorted. I have some more news on the book front: The publisher sent me this series of photos to show what to expect when you order the Chinese edition of the Enchanted Doll book. There's a limited number of books that I have signed, and I'm told they are only a few left!You can order the book here: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=43715713846& If you need any help navigating the book site and ordering, please contact yuanmuhe@qq.com, they will be able to help you with ordering even if you don’t know Chinese.

Chinese Enchanted Doll Book Update

Small Update on the Chinese edition of the Enchanted Doll book. I designed a stamp in Chinese that will be used only in this edition of the book.  I wish I could show you the stamp, but it will be kept a secret until the book is released. Instead, I'll post a picture from my recent trip to China.

Speaking of the book, it's almost ready! I'm being told it's in the final stages!

Pre-sales have started, you can order the book here: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=43715713846&

If you need any help navigating that site and ordering, please contact yuanmuhe@qq.com, they will be able to help you with ordering even if you don’t know Chinese.

Camilla D'Errico Print

Meenie_Miny___Mo

Hey hey folks!

I've got some news to share with you about my friend and fellow artist Camilla d'Errico. She'll be releasing a new fine art print "Eenie Meenie Miny & Mo" this upcoming Friday, May 8th. It is a timed release, meaning it will only be available for 72 hours, starting at 9am PST on May 8th.Those of you who own the third edition of the Enchanted Doll book, have already been introduced to Camilla d'Errico, as she wrote the lovely foreword. If you aren't familiar with her work, she is a very talented painter and illustrator, and an inspiration to me. To find out more info about this beautiful new print and learn about her artwork, head on over to Camilla's page. And don't forget, the 72 hour timed release starts at 9am PST, on Friday, May 8th!Prrr-prrr, meew-meew!

Chinese Book Edition Update

Exciting news guys! The Chinese edition of the Enchanted Doll book is almost ready! There will be 999 signed books available. That may sound like a large number, but an even bigger number is 1,357,000,000 which is roughly the population of China. Another number is 21,196, which is the size of the Great Wall of China in kilometres. Numbers are fun.

Pre-sales have started, you can order the book here: http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=43715713846&If you need any help navigating that site and ordering, please contact yuanmuhe@qq.com, they will be able to help you with ordering even if you don’t know Chinese.

The book is expected to be ready to ship by May 2015

Tiny hair pins - jewels for dolls and people!

This comb design was loosely inspired by an antique French Ivory comb I had seen in Paris a few years ago. I longed to wear it in my long hair, but as a recent art school graduate I couldn't even imagine being able to afford such luxury. Perhaps it's still out there and I'll find it again one day.

The full set of different doll combs, from which this jewelry was made, hasn't been photographed yet, but will be very soon. I'm very excited to show you!

I made a set of silver combs for my dolls earlier this year, and then realized that I wanted to wear them too - as jewellery! The smallest comb was my favourite of the set, so I converted the design into a pair of human earrings and a pendant, thus killing two birds with one stone. Disclaimer - no birds were harmed in the production of this jewelry. I love birds.

In the meantime, email me if you're interested in having these little Haircomb Jewels for yourself. They are available in sterling silver as a set of three or separately. Each comb weighs 2.4 grams. Hooks are hypoallergenic surgical steel, chain is not included. Pendant is $190 CAD, Earring set is $380 CAD. A full set of all three is $550 CAD. I've some available to ship right away, and can take several pre-orders for May.

And now I'm back to working on a new porcelain doll that will be wearing these! 

Enchanted Doll is back on: I'm un-retiring!

Having spent the whole afternoon yesterday arranging my house plants, I've decided to end my retirement from doll-making effective immediately. Turns out one can't just quit dolls. To celebrate my return, I made these shoes. It's good to be back!

April Fools!

I'll never retire from dolls. I'll die at my desk, while making a doll at the age of 125! That means roughly 90 more years of Enchanted Doll!