Double-jointed neck roll animation

That's how it moves.

New Double-jointed hips for Enchanted Doll

For several years now I've been wanting to give my dolls a more articulated hip joint, which would allow them to tuck their knees up to their chests. I've been torn over this, because adding more articulation inevitably breaks up the flow of body lines, interfering with the aesthetics of the doll. The last few months I've been tinkering with the hip joint, trying to come up with the most balanced solution to the conflict of form and function. It was the most difficult joint I've had to design, but I'm quite pleased with the result.

Those of you who are not fans of this new anatomy, not to worry, this is just an alternate hip joint to the original one, not a replacement. From now on, both of them will be featured in my dolls. It's something I needed to try in my search for growth and that elusive perfection. Can't expect to get anywhere interesting doing the same old thing over and over again, can you?

I'll post more pictures within a couple of days, but in the meantime, what d'ya guys think? First impressions?

Tight Security at Enchanted Doll shows

No Casualties this time. ;)

Enchanted Doll Books

Just a little bit of housekeeping with the Enchanted Doll Book. All the books have been sent out, except for a small handful that are still waiting for the shipping fees to be paid. I think our emails might be going to "Spam" or an outdated email address, so just making this post as a reminder. If you haven't received any information regarding shipping of your copy of the Enchanted Doll book, please email me at inquiries@enchanteddoll.com and we'll get it straightened out.

Now that the first edition has been (mostly) taken care of, the second edition can begin production. I will announce when pre-orders will be available soon, so keep an eye on this blog for details.

Long Weekend Map Project

I've been feeling a little bit worn out, uninspired and travel-sick lately, so this long weekend I took time off dolls to draw another map of my recent travels in Europe. It was either that, or vegging out on the couch and feeling sorry for myself. At least I did something productive. I believe these maps are a side effect of my obsessive-compulsive tendencies towards sorting, organizing and compartmentalizing my experiences, memories, feelings, goals and possessions. And since I'm a visual and a sentimental person, this tendency sometimes manifests in maps. (click for larger images)Charting out travels is somewhat cathartic, but it doesn't cure my wander-lust, only makes it worse. So much of the world still needs to be seen! And I intend to keep adding new routes and journeys to this map until there isn't any blank space left to draw on.

These are my mementos of distance. They are fragments of rocks and flora, collected from different places in the world which I've visited and brought home with me. Like the rest of my world, they are neatly compartmentalized and labeled. I open one vial, inhale the scent of volcanic pebbles and remember being atop Mt. Vesuvius and the sensation of my earrings swinging against my neck in the strong wind as I look down in wonder at the sprawl of Naples below; I open another, and smell the salty surf breaking on the rocky beach of the Pacific coastline of Vancouver Island; I open a third one, and get transported to a tree-shaded park in Prague, where Chad and I fell sleep one hot summer afternoon while counting clouds...These little bottles are time capsules and I'm a time traveler.

I also keep this old Flammarion engraving framed where I can always see it, because I find it to be a deeply profound visual representation of human curiosity and our relentless search for new experiences and knowledge about our world and beyond. It shows us needing and reaching for something larger than ourselves and our immediate surroundings. This simple and brilliant drawing deeply resonates with my own longings and inspires me every day.

There is a blank scroll at the bottom of the drawing where I want to insert a quote by R.L Steventson, which says: "There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign".

The Rubenesque sisters

My Aurum and Muse, before they were separated. I think they miss each other.

I love them both, but I made them each with different personalities in mind. Can you guess what they are? How would you describe their temperaments based on their facial expressions and features?

Wearing the Lantern pendant

Here you go guys; you wanted some shots of the lantern pendant being worn, you got it.

I snapped these really quickly just now, so the lighting and picture quality is not the best, but they convey the message well enough, I think. It can be worn casually on a long chain over tops, sweaters and even coats, and it looks very pretty on a shorter chain with low cut evening wear as well. The good thing about the complimentary chain included with the pendant, is that it's very long and can be adjusted to a desired size to be worn low on the chest of close around the neck. Or you can use your own, favorite chain altogether if you prefer.

The batch of orders for next month is nearly full, so if you want to have your little lantern by the end of June, then email inquiries@enchanteddoll.com with "Lantern Pendant" in the subject line. The pendants are $350 CAD. International shipping is available.

Let me know if you have any more questions regarding this Lantern.

The Silver Lantern pendant

Hey folks!

After much debate, I've decided to make the silver lantern pendant available to order. It wasn't an easy decision, because this piece is quite difficult and time consuming to make, requiring a special assembly and a technical casting. But, having gotten a bunch of requests for it, I think I can pull off a very limited number of orders per month.

I love this Lantern and wear it as a reminder of the things I've already done and those I've yet to do. It helps me stay focused on my priorities, because whenever I get distracted or lazy, its weight on my chest reminds me that there are still too many dreams yet left to pursue to be lying around on the couch. To me, this little Lantern is a symbol of inspiration, guidance and direction. It's a beacon of light and hope in a relentless pursuit of happiness which constitutes the essence of life. Perhaps my little charm would mean something profound to you as well.

Metal: Sterling Silver

Weight: 26 grams

Size: 2"x 1" (5.1 cm x 2.2 cm) + 3/4" (18mm) crown bail

Price: $350 CAD

Comes with a crown bail and an adjustable ball chain seen in the picture. Production time is 4-6 weeks. Email me if you are interested in having it made at inquiries@enchanteddoll.com, with a subject line of Lantern Pendant.

Also, which one of the four pictures is your favorite? I can't decide which one to make the principal shot and need your input.

Enchanted Doll in 'Flawless' exhibition in Berlin

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Hey, just a reminder you all, that my first rubenesque doll "Muse of Art Nouveau" will be in the exhibition at Strychnin gallery in Berlin. The show opens on May 11th, but the preview begins today for those who may be interested in this special doll (contact Strychnin for more info).

Also, the gallery has one signed and numbered copy #268 of the sold out, 1st edition Enchanted Doll book available for sale.

Dolls and Diplomats

Hello All!

This is not directly related to my recent projects, but does have everything to do with dolls. Rather, with my dream of the day when a doll is no longer thought of as just a toy, but a separate art form.

Last week I've had a the pleasure of meeting the Honorary Consul of the Russian Embassy in Canada, Mr.Bardin, had paid a visit to my studio. He can be seen in the picture holding my new rubenesque doll. And since such serious people have begun to pay attention to dolls, it may be that my dream will soon come true!

I am doubly pleased that the Russian diplomats in Canada are interested in the life of Russian citizens abroad.

Cover Girl - Enchanted Doll on the cover of Cinder

So, I think it's pretty cool that my doll Cinderella has been chosen to grace the Spanish language cover of the New York Times bestseller novel Cinder: The Lunar Chronicles, written by Marrissa Meyer.

I just don't know which cover I love more, the original English version or the Spanish one, featuring my work. They are both so pretty. The publishers requested to use my work for this title a few months ago, but due to the chaos of releasing my own book, I totally forgot about this one until a fan had recognized the image on the cover in Barcelona and written me recently.

The novel is a futuristic fiction about a cyborg girl from New Beijing who struggles to overcome her circumstances and discover her purpose in life. Although I haven't read it myself yet, it sounds like a pretty intriguing take on the traditional fairy tale. If any of you here have read this book already, I'd love to hear what you think about it.

I love the back cover too. I'm very pleased altogether.

Anyway, thought I'd share this little bit of news while I'm signing my own Enchanted Doll books and shipping them out. My wrist is so busted from the repetitive motion, that I now have to break up signing sessions into just a few dozen copies at a time and take long breaks. You will be receiving a confirmation email before your copy is mailed to you. If you haven't received a confirmation yet, don't panic, it just means your copy is still being prepared for shipping. Thanks for your patience everyone. You won't be sorry.

Making a Lantern Ornament

You've seen this sterling silver lantern featured in my latest project The Muse of Art Nouveau. I've been wanting to make a tiny lantern for doll ornamentation for a year or so before I was finally able to find the time and put the work into making it.

My sketch was heavily inspired by an actual street lantern in Nice. When I saw it, it took my breath away and I resolved to make a little replica of it. I think I have a thing for lamps and lightscaping, because my place is lit by over a dozen different table lamps. I really hate the harsh ceiling lights, and prefer the warm, muted glow of lamp-lit interiors.

I made detailed schematics for computer rendering. If the scale allowed it, I would have carved it myself, but I found it impossible to translate the richness of the ornamentation of the original into a miniature scale with my human hands. In some ways it was harder than just getting right down to it and carving away, because instead of working organically and relying on my own instincts and my hand-to-eye coordination, I had to approach it from a geometric and mathematical standpoint. I had to transcribe the shape from my imagination as accurately as possible, to make the technician understand exactly what I had in mind.

In some ways, working out the precise measurements of each part was pure torture. Every few hours I would find a mistake in the proportional calculations, lose my composure, curse and yell at the graph paper in frustration, throw my pen against the wall and curl into an upright fetal position in my chair, rocking and crying quietly. Then I would put myself back together and begin measuring and drafting my model all over again.

When the model was finally built, molding it was another can of worms while nearly half of the models fail to cast properly due to the extremely technical casting, but I really love the result and the effort that went into creating it. I had made one into a pendant for myself to wear. I frequently catch myself touching it and pretending that the tiny lantern is some sort of an ancient talisman which allows one to see things hidden from human eyes as it illuminates a path through the dark maze of its wearer's subconsciousness.

And finally -The New Enchanted Rubenesque!

Well, it's been a long wait and a lot of work, but it was all worth it. I am very pleased and excited to finally unveil to you my new curvaceous doll - The Rubenesque!

Now, before I hear another word (!!!) about how she is not technically, and I quote "fat enough" to be called a Rubenesque, please allow me to point out that the dictionary definition of Rubenesque states that it is: "Plump or rounded, usually in a pleasing or attractive way". Now, look at the comparison of my two dolls and tell me that she is not pleasantly rounder than my other doll. I rest my case. She IS a legitimate Rubenesque.

She is also slightly taller than my first doll. The feet are the same size though, as are the hands.

I haven't had a lot time or space to photograph her in a variety of poses or settings because my studio is filled with stacks of books and boxes right now, but sometime this week you will get to see more of this doll. In a brand new head ornament I made for her. It's pretty awesome. You'll see.

This very FIRST Rubenesque doll will be available for sale from the Strychnin gallery at the end of the month. More information and pricing coming in the next post.

So, tell me. How do you like her compared to my slimmer doll?

Like her, love her or, dare I say it, hate her?

Signing books

...And boxing them up for shipping into custom boxes with a custom stamp. Chad had the boxes made, while I had the stamp carved. I sign them, he packages them. That's the division of labor in our relationship. He also does the cooking. Cha-ching!Anyway, when you see this box in the mail, you'll know what's in it. ;)Now back to signing.

The Books Are Here!

Greetings collectors! It's been a long wait, but the first edition of the Enchanted Doll book has arrived! I hope you are all as excited about it as I am.

We've been sorting them out all day today, and I hope to sign and ship out the first 150 copies to you guys by the end of this week, and tackle as many more as possible over the long Easter Weekend.

Shortly we will begin sending you confirmation emails regarding the shipping status of your copies. If you bought a copy but haven't made any shipping arrangements yet, then please email inquiries@enchanteddoll.com at your soonest convenience. If you didn't buy a copy, I'm sorry to say that the first edition has been sold out, and we want to get this edition taken care of completely before moving on to a second edition.

They are coming!