Annual birthday contest postponed to next year.

Dear Enchanted Doll Fans,

Time has ran away from me again. :( I had my hands so full the last 6 months, that I didn't notice my birthday creeping closer and closer. I very much regret to inform you that the 4th annual ED Birthday contest has been postponed to next year due to time constraints.

I apologize, since I know that like me, many have been looking forward to the contest. The Enchanted Doll book has taken a lot out of me, and combined with other commitments, I just couldn't come up with a contest theme in time.

I am very pleased to say however, that the Enchanted Doll book is nearly all printed and bound, and should arrive here in about 2 weeks. Just in time for my birthday! We have started emailing those who purchased it with rates on shipping. If you haven't received an email with shipping information, just hang on, as we will likely get to you soon.

In other news, I am working on a brand new doll for an upcoming (May) show at Strychnin gallery in Berlin, Germany. Stand by for more details. Right now I am nervously biting my nails while I wait to see if the crazy new head ornament I've spent over 150 hours designing and milling for it is going to work out. We shall see, we shall see...soon.

 

Book Goes to Print!

 

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. UPDATE: The first edition of the Enchanted Doll book has sold out!

New Doll Face pendants

 

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.

Editing the Enchanted Doll book

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.

 

Molds-behind the scenes

 

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!!......

New Molds

 

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!

Book Reservation Update

UPDATE: The First Edition of the book has been Sold Out.

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.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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

 

Line of Printed Aluminum Accessories

Good news everyone!

Due to many requests, printed aluminum accessories can now be ordered. Just in time for Christmas. These are double-sided, full color prints on aluminum, with images of Enchanted Dolls on the front and a brand logo on the back. The prints are permanent, non-fading and water resistant.

There are 22 designs to choose from, in any of the following options: Key chains, Dog tags and Deluxe pendants with a silver crown bail.

Deluxe pendants with a crown bail.

A standard ball chain comes with the dog tags and deluxe pendants. It's 30"(76cm) long, but can be adjusted to any desired length. The silver Satellite chain featured in the photographs is not included, but can be purchased separately for $22.00 CAD. Chain Length is 15" (38cm).

Prices

1) Dog Tag with ball chain $12.50 CAD
2) Key Chain $13.50 CAD
3) Deluxe Pendant with silver Crown bail + ball chain $28.50 CAD

The silver Satellite chain featured in the photographs is not included, but can be purchased separately for $22.00 CAD.

Please choose a design or two or several here......and email inquiries@enchanteddoll.com to order.

Key Chain

 

Post Moscow

I've been back from Moscow for a couple of weeks now, resting up after a pretty intense trip. The Salon show was fantastic and the Moscow weather was lovely. Very summer like. I've had a very long summer this year, because I caught bits of hot weather here and there in my travels. I'm really looking forward to staying put for a few months and working on a brand new collection.

I wanted to thank all those who came to visit me at the exhibition. Special thanks goes to Dima and Katya-thanks for the wine and a pleasant river cruise, Sasha and Lena-thanks for the roses, Katya- thank you for bringing us Chad's favorite chocolate truffles from St. Petersburg! Svetlana, thank you for organizing the show, there is just never enough beauty in the world. I hope to be able to attend again.

Hey, what is that? A doll hand zipper pull? :)While packing for this trip, I noticed that the zipper pull was broken on my favorite sweater, so I attached a bronze hand to it and now I feel like I'm shaking hands with my doll every time I zip. I think I might make some more.

Up Next: The map of my travels in China!