Concept sketches for the shoes.
Wax models of the shoes in the works. I hope to finish the second one by Wednesday and begin molding. It's probably the most challenging pair I've made so far. I'm worried about the mold design and the inject-ability of these molds and hope to find out if they work by the end of the week.
Tonight I've got lots of writing to do, but it's hard, because I can't stop thinking about these unfinished waxes sitting on my desk.
For the last few months I've been concentrating on completing several one of a kind projects I started a while ago, but never finished for one reason or another.
Read MoreThis box contains about 60 of my old paper dolls made between 1990-1998, that survived a move to Canada.
Read MoreRemember when I said that three birthday contestants guessed my current projects?
Read MoreYou know what I just realized, I never think to announce my upcoming media appearances in advance. Usually, there is a gap of a few weeks to a few months between the time I do an interview to when it actually comes out.
Read MoreWe had a visitor today at the Enchanted Doll head quarters.
Read MoreLast week all the shoe orders from January with the exception of two pairs have been mailed out to you guys. So, expect them in the mail in a couple of weeks. They are so yummy looking; I just want to eat them up!
In the meantime, enjoy some pictures of a several new shoe finishes I've been playing around with. They are also available to order now.
I added three more colors to Marie-Antoinette 24k gold plated and synthetic-enameled Macaroon Collection. From left to right are Creme Macaroon, Fuchsia Macaroon, Rose Macaroon and Lavender Macaroon. I left the soles uncovered, because as my new assistant had told me: "Marina, deliberately covering up gold is ridiculous. Don't be ridiculous please". I've decided to heed her her advice. This time. They are $485 CND each.
These are new and adorable additions to the Hopscotch enameled Candy Collection. From left to right are Red Candy, Lavender Candy and Turquoise Candy. These are synthetic-enameled bronze. No gold plate this time, but they totally could be. Hopscotch Candy shoes in un-plated bronze are $350 CND and $385 CND for plated.
Which one is your favorite Candy?
You can find more information on the shoes here.PS: Post about a birthday contestant guessing my current project #2 is up next.
Some more shots of the three shoe pendants mentioned in my last blog post.
Read MoreProbably like many other girls, ever since I was little, I was infatuated with the notion of Cinderella's lost glass slipper.
Read MoreLike I mentioned before, there were three contestants who've actually guessed my current projects. It felt weird; as if these people were peering into my soul. Here is guess number one, made by Noxy. This is her entry.
And this one is my current project: Domestic Abuse.
Although our concepts are a little bit different, the theme of captivity and abuse are shared. In my project this captivity is emotional and figurative, while in Noxy's proposal it is physical and literal, with a bit of a kinky slant.
Noxy, you get a little gift for guessing this doll!
I wasn't going to show her until much later when she is finished and costumed, but when I saw your proposal, I thought it was a sign from the universe to unveil and expedite this project.
Actually, once I had taken this photo, I became really disturbed by it, as it reminded me of the infamous murder and crime scene of  Black Dahlia. It was unintentional on my part.
My doll is not supposed to be dead; just battered by her abusive, controlling and jealous husband. It's still in progress. I'm deciding what kind of costuming would me most appropriate for a message of awareness. It's scary for me to think that there are many, many men in this world who objectify women as if they are only dolls to be possessed by them and shared with no one.
Well, on that note: Guessed project number 2 is coming up.
Now that I had a few days of rest from the contest-related work, I would like to come back to it with some thoughts.
Read More..................AMAL!
From the moment I saw this entry in the email inbox, I knew it was a contender. It encompassed everything that I hoped this contest would be, from the early brainstorming stages to the final presentation. I can see the process involved, yet it isn't overwhelming and excessive in it's information. She stuck to the contest outlines, and came up with a great entry. I look at them as a triptych, but really, it's the Doppelganger idea that is the true winning entry. It has this mysterious "how would that look in 3d" feel to it that keeps drawing me back to it, as if my mind is trying to solve the puzzle of how to make it. I love working out projects, and I sense that with this piece.
The 7 runners up will receive special gifts from me, while the 2nd and 3rd entries will receive even more special gifts, but the grand prize of the nude doll goes to Amal for her beautiful, thoughtful, and challenging submission. The grand prize doll will be a variation of a Lily doll.
THANK YOU to everyone who entered, I loved all the entries. I've been going back and forth through them all day and I am still amazed at all the great ideas. Congratulations are in order for everyone, as you all came up with very creative ideas. I'm already looking forward to the 4th annual contest next year!
Once again, Congrats to Amal!
I liked this one when I looked at it, but became really intrigued by the idea of a transparent filigree torso, once I read the proposal. This hadn't occurred to me before. I like how the artist addressed the practical issue of the fragility of porcelain given such a narrow waist, but proposing that it's made entirely of metal. I want to make this doll!
by AmalI love this project not as three separate entries, but as a triptych. They are most effective not separately, but together. The most intriguing is the idea of capturing the idea of time travel and non-linear perspective within one doll. I think It's a very challenging concept to address, and a very ambitions one to propose. I would love to see more cards in this series!
amal
by MauraI adore this entry for the beautiful rendering of Anne Boleyn and the rendering of the idea of her being the mother to Queen Elizabeth the Great through a gorgeous tattoo. I particularly like the creative solution to the clothing vs tattoo conflict:
 one usually has to exist at the expense of the other, but in this piece both function together as a whole. The top ten candidates all displayed a completeness that I look for in the entries: An interesting, coherent idea, effectively articulated and combined with a beautiful presentation, originality and emotion. It was very hard to choose, and I wish I could make twenty winners instead of just one, because there are many good proposals.
These are the top three that really speak to me, but who will be the winner?
I'll decide by midnight. That's all I've been doing all day. :)
It was a very difficult ordeal to try and pick a winner from all the fabulous entries. A big thank you to everyone who entered, such great and diverse talent out there. I'm honored to have such fans.I have narrowed it down to my ten favourite entries. One amongst them will be named the winner.They are listed in no particular order:
She is the shadow of Anne Boleyn."
Anne Boleyn by Iris
by Amal
My birthday is here, which means the annual birthday contest is also here.
All the entries have been posted online, here.
There are so many great entries that I'm still narrowing it down. A final announcement will be made later today.
Thank you to everyone who entered and to everyone who wished me a happy birthday.
So check out the entries and choose your favourites while I choose mine.
I almost can't believe it: After two years of work and with only a few more weeks of embroidery left to go, Empress Cixi's extravagant robe is almost complete! This is a bad snapshot, though. But I was too impatient to set up the proper light kit for an unfinished piece.
Over the last two years, it required a ridiculous number of hours to embroider this mammoth; so many, that i lost count somewhere after six hundred. This is my Titanic.
I haven't began making the shoes yet; a pair of pretty Manchu slippers on tall pedestals. However, I've been having second thoughts about them lately. This is supposed to be her 'wedding' night robe when she became Xian Feng Emperor's concubine, and I'm beginning to think that the shoes would be almost inappropriate in this composition. But I do love making shoes just for the sake of making shoes....so...it's a tough call for me. Perhaps it could be some sort of a variation of high pedestal bed chamber slippers, I donno.....What do you think: shoes or no shoes?
Nothing new, just assembling lots of shoes for February orders. This and sorting out the contest entries have been my primary objective for the past week.
Annina, this one is for you.
As my 29th birth day creeps closer and closer, Chad and I are sorting through hundreds of submissions for the 3rd annual Enchanted Doll birthday contest, where I give away a porcelain nude for the winning entry.
I'd like to thank everyone who participated this year. There are lots of fantastic ideas, some of which even corresponding with my own. In fact, one participant has guessed my current project, submitting an idea for a doll I'm already working on! This goes on to show, that there is no such a thing as completely original thought, only its interpretation, and that there are great many people of like minds, who think along similar lines.
I really enjoyed these year's entries. In a few days, all of them could be seen online. And now I will choose the winner!
The illustration in the banner is from an entry by Nigel.
Enchanted Doll was featured on the cover of a Chinese lifestyle magazine "In-door". I'm told that the magazine is dedicated to reporting on furniture, decorative art, aesthetics, and designers.
I haven't received a copy yet. Has anyone in the area seen it on newstands?
