Hey folks!

Great News! After much refining work, my book is going to print tomorrow. I’m so excited and relieved. When I got the first proof in December, it already seemed complete to my eyes but my wonderful editor has been kind enough to find and eliminate a whole bunch of errors in the text. Together, we polished it and refined it and cleaned it and improved it until I almost went crazy, but the manuscript is now truly perfect. Despite hating her a little bit at times during the process, I am truly grateful to have had her on board for this project. Thank you, Lindsay.

The printing and binding will take three weeks, and at the end of February we expect to begin shipping out the books to you guys! The edition is almost completely sold out, but there are still a few books left for those yet to order one (click here to order a copy).

The peeks continue: for the past few weeks I’ve been working on this little side project as a way to relieve stress. Yeah, sometimes I relieve work-related stress by working some more, but I digress.

This is a Sleeping Beauty face pendant. It’s cast in sterling silver and designed to be versatile and customizable. There are 10 discreet holes and loops in the pendant that allow for extra accessories such as jewels and chains to be attached and suspended from it. The pendant can be as minimal or as extravagant as desired. They are almost like dolls that can be dressed up or down. I’ve made only two fairly conservative combinations because I only had three tests pendants cast and didn’t really have time to play with them. I’ll post more pictures next week. Today there is more book editing to do.

My editor is in the process of polishing up my writing for the book before it goes to print in two weeks. I took a day off molds in order go over the latest revisions she had sent me and spent most of it editing at my alternate (and rather comfortable) working station until my laptop got tired, said: “Adios Amigos!” and promptly crashed. Thank software engineers for auto-save. The deadline approaches…it’s the nature of deadlines.

I love my job.

Some more peeks of my current projects. Making more molds. These shots were taken just this morning. So tired… I wish I could just go to sleep, but my mind is restless…13 hours spent in clay, water and plaster up to my elbows don’t think I can stand the feeling of clay on my hands any more…skin is so dry and tight, I just want to jump out of it, like a lizard, God I wish I were done with this already but there are so many more…oh my god I hate making molds so very much alas, that’s what it takes to make what I want to make and I will make it so help me god…at least I’ve got a few more episodes of the Tudors left why is the iPad screed so shiny and reflective? is my nose too long? why did Henry the 8th come to hate Anny Bolyn so much? did he really believe she was a witch? my fingers are so pruney I wonder how much water they can absorb before the skin starts falling off the bones… can that happen? if only this part would just set already so that I can take it out and clean up I should also sweep before I drag these plaster crumbs all over the place I really need to clean  this place up, if only I were finished with these stupid molds already…I need some hand cream…

…man, my orange tree is going to freeze outside if it keeps getting colder, I wonder if I ought to pull it back in? I should stop dropping my flipflop every time I tuck my knee under so that the chair wouldn’t roll over it and get stuck every time I move, and why do I have to tuck my knee under every time I sit down anyway? I, like, don’t even notice how it happens…god, my knee is so sore I wish I would just stop doing that, when is this mold going to set already…?Ouch! pay attention when you’re using dental tools if you want to keep all your fingers…perhaps a knife would be better to trim this seam…this towel is covered with clay I need a new one…Chad? Chad?! damn, he is wearing headphones in there…I’ll have to put this down and hope it holds for a few seconds…ohh for crying out loud, that stupid flipflop!!……

This is a sketch I recently made for a doll-related project. I can’t say which project or how it’s relevant exactly, yet, but I’m very excited about it. This project has been confounding me for a couple of years, and I think I’m finally going to be able to pull it off.

It’s heavily inspired by my favorite Sulamith Wulfing drawing, but I still had a very hard time with it, as symmetry and geometry are not my strengths. I love Gothic architecture though. My passion for it was sparked in a grade six history class, when we were first introduced to different styles of architecture. Like yesterday, I remember turning the page of my textbook, and glimpsing a picture of the magnificent Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral). It took my breath away. It seemed so light and ethereal, stretching, seeking to be closer to infinity with its pointy spires…as if it could just lift off and float away.

I loved Gothic architecture since then, but having seen Duomo di Milano with my own eyes and having climbed up to the roof and walked amongst those painfully intricate arches and spires, I love it even more.

This is another project for 2012.

This is one of the projects I’ve been working on for a few months. Can’t tell you what it’s for yet, but soon you will see. Or perhaps you can guess which doll I’m working on based on the vibes from the embroidery? I’ll give you a hint: It’s inspired by a fairy tale.

Happy New Year, everyone!

I’ve had a great holiday, a wonderful end of 2011 and a fantastic beginning of 2012! I’m so excited about this year! With all the new things I’m working on, I can just feel how awesome it’s going to be! I’m bursting at the seams with creative energy and can hardly contain myself.

The Enchanted Doll book is undergoing final edits and will be going to print in three weeks, on February 1st.

I, in the meantime, have been sketching out new project ideas, creating rough machetes and making new molds. You know how much I like to keep things secret until they’re finished and until I know 100% that the are going to work, but I’m very compelled to give you a few sneak peeks of what I’ve been working on. Perhaps I should. Perhaps I will…

Alright, meet me here next week for some peeks.

Back to work now. Art can not wait to get made!

Dear Fans,

Enchanted Doll would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for all your support. It moves me, inspires me and drives me to work. Having it means a lot for an artist, and for that, my dear Enchanted Doll admirers, I Thank you!

Regarding Enchanted Doll book: I’m going on holidays tomorrow (Dec 24th) and will be away until January 2nd. Chad and I are heading up to the mountains for a week to celebrate the Old Year and to greet the New Year with some old friends. We’re looking forward to doing winter activities, such as ice skating on the lake, snow shoeing and downhill skiing. I hope there is also a hot tub. In the meantime….

…Those of you who wish to reserve a copy of my new Enchanted Doll art book in our absence, may do so by placing a deposit of $75.00 CAD (Canadian) through Paypal at your soonest convenience, and we will get back to you with a confirmation immediately upon our return to work on Jan 2nd. Those of you who have emailed us with a request already, but haven’t heard back yet, may proceed with a deposit to reserve your copy as well. A copy number will be assigned to you upon payment. Available copies of the limited and signed First Edition are depleting fast, and may even run out before they see the printers in three weeks. I hope everybody who wants it, gets to have one.

This deposit is just to reserve a copy of the book. When the books are ready, we’ll contact you by email regarding shipping.

Here is the paypal account: marina@enchanteddoll.com

Or you can click this button and it should take you through step-by-step on how to place your deposit, and you don’t need a paypal account.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

See you all in the New Year! It will be better than last year- I know it!

So, I know I’ve been missing from the blog for a while, but for a very good reason. I was working on a very special project, and the last two months was a crunch time. And now please allow me to introduce to you the fruits of my labor, the first Enchanted Doll art book! Eeeee!

This beautifully illustrated compilation of doll photography and autobiographical narrative spans 7 years worth of work and contains 150 pages that are filled with 193 photographs, 136 sketches, supportive project descriptions and 12 Chapters about my journey to becoming a doll artist.

These are the samples of the inside spreads. The dolls are listed in chronological order and accompanied by concept sketches and written content to show the evolution of Enchanted Doll over the years…

….while the chapters interspersed throughout the book contain the narrative about my personal and creative evolution as a doll artist. The photograph below, for example, depicts a chapter titled Enchanted, which relates the origin tale of the brand name Enchanted Doll.

I would like to thank my dear Chad, in helping me complete this great, big labor of love. Thank you!

The first edition of the book is a special limited run of 500 copies, each one numbered and signed by me. Printing begins January 2012 and is now available for pre-order!
The edition will be sold in ascending order, and the sooner you order, the higher your copy’s collectible value. Printed in Canada.

Price: $75.00 CAD

Now, who wants the first one?!

Email me!  inquiries@enchanteddoll.com

I’m expanding my accessory line based on the fragments of dolls with new face pendants. These silver pendants are made from the face impressions lifted from my dolls: Cinderella and Clymenestra, and adapted for metal casting. The pendants come with a crown bail and an adjustable metal ball chain, but can also be ordered as a key chain, without the bail.

Key Chain.

Prices:

Pendants $185 CAD

Key chains $170 CAD

To order, email inquiries@enchanteddoll.com