Traveling Collection 2011 in St.Petersburg

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This is a group shot of my traveling collection, minus Snow White, Prince and Dunyazada, who didn't fit in frame (out of aesthetic considerations). Most of these dolls are mine, kept in my own personal collection for traveling shows, however, there are some new, recently finished dolls such as Cixi, Crystal Chandelier, the Wife, Stepmother (formerly Aisha) and an upgraded Swan Princes with a new face and body (didn't like the old one). A few of those dolls are for sale. Price list and individual photos of the new dolls coming up shortly. Sorry to keep you guessing still, but we're just so busy right at this moment, tying all the loose ends here, in St. Petersburg. We haven't had time to see anything yet, due to the show preparations. Our hotel right across from the Hermitage museum, which is awesome, because that's the first place I want to visit once we're done work.

Stay tuned.

Upcoming show for summer 2011

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Attention Russian and EU Enchanted Doll fans: The Enchanted Doll Traveling Collection of 25 dolls is coming to St.Petersburg this summer!

 

I have two upcoming shows in St.Petersburg: first one is the Musical Olympus foundation charity ball at the Ekaterininsky Palace on May 21st, Here:

And the second one is a Doll Time International doll exhibition at the Union of Artists exhibition center from June 10th-13th. Here:

I will be attending both events, but while the first one has a restricted access, the second one is open to the public!

The three day event will take place from June 10th-13th, at the  Exhibition Centre of St. Petersburg Union of Artists, st.Bolshaya Morskaya, 38., featuring Enchanted Dolls as a special guest. I'm very honored by the invitations to both shows and excited to attend.

The new doll Crystal Chandelier will be among the 4 recently finished costumed dolls I'll be showing as a part of this traveling collection, plus my first version of Cinderella and an upgraded Swan Princess. Full list and pictures of participating dolls will be available here any time between now and Tuesday. We're leaving for Russia on Wednesday.

In the two weeks between the events, Chad and I will be hanging out in Finland, Sweden and possibly Norway. Due to the intensity of the preparations for the shows, I've had no time whatsoever to plan anything else or even buy a dress for the ball yet......Gahhh!!!!

Work in Progress: Shoes for Cixi

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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.

 

More ED shoes

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Last 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.

Enchanted Doll contest guess #1

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Like 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.

and the Winner is....

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..................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.

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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!

The top Three candidates to win a doll

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Valentine by KarolinFelix

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!

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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. :)

Top Ten Candidates

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Cixi dress near completion

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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?