Making Empress Theodora doll

She'll be premiered at Spectrum fantasy convention this weekend in Kansas City, along with two other new dolls. I won't have anything for sale at the event this time, but we will be giving away posters and if you come, you will be the first ones to see the new dolls!

Oh my god, I've got so much to do today...

The hands of Gloriana - My new large, porcealain Doll!

I've had many 'firsts' these past couple of months, experiencing processes that are familiar to me, yet never tried before (by me) on this scale: First large molding (which was kinda horrible), first time casting large parts (which was awful), first time firing them (not so bad), first time cleaning ( a little weird)  and first time painting them (just what I expected).I've still got one more 'First' left to do tomorrow: Assembly - the moment of truth.

If it works, this doll will be premiered this weekend, at the Spectrum Live convention in Kansas City. Well, I'm already committed to going, so I'll be taking her there with me either whole or in pieces. I hope she's whole.

Come and see her!http://spectrumfantasticartlive.com/

Enchanted Doll Book is ready to print!

Eeeee! I just got the final proofs of the 3rd english-language edition of Enchanted Doll book from the publisher (BabyTattoo Books) and approved them for publication!

The colour reproduction is really impressive. All the photos are so juicy and saturated with rich, velvety tones! I love it. It's getting Fedexed to the presses in Hong Kong today! All that remains for me to do now, is sign off on the new cover proofs and two months from now I will have a crisp, luscious new book for you. Can't wait. It's going to be so beautiful!

Just when I think it stopped raining...

...It starts right back up again.

What, another mystery doll?

This lady is from the Byzantine Empire. Her, I'm going to show you the moment she is finished! My completion target date is end of March. Stay tuned.

And the new Mystery doll is.....Phryne!

Some of you guys knew it right away! Boom, spot on - first try! Pretty impressive. I suppose that my work aesthetic and thought processes are familiar enough by now to anticipate the direction I'm going to take. I guess I'll have to surprise you more in the future.

And speaking of surprises, Phyrne, although competed, will stay hidden for now. She is for my eyes only for the next little while, but you can glimpse her pretty legs. And read my artist statement about this project. Thanks everyone for playing my guessing game!

Phyrne the Courtesan.

A Courtesan is a high-class Prostitute. Courtesans were well-educated, cultured and independent career women of loose morals, who traded sex and companionship to the wealthy and powerful men in exchange for money, luxuries and social status. They were often skilled conversationalists and entertainers, adept at using their wit, femininity and sexuality to achieve wealth, success and sometimes real political power. Some were gifted entrepreneurs and negotiators who became so influential, that history still remembers them.

One such woman was Mnesarete, otherwise known as Phryne. She was a famous Greek courtesan in 4th century BC, who became a model for Praxiteles’s statue of Cnidian Aphrodite, one of the most extraordinary sculptures of antiquity.

She was not only a beautiful woman, but seemingly a clever, persuasive one too, because when she was put on trial for impiety, which in 4th century Athens was a capital offense, she was able to convince the jury of her innocence and avoid the death penalty. Although it is rumored that she bared her lovely breasts in court to elicit sympathy and mercy from the judges, I believe that her wealth, status and a network of powerful lovers probably had more to do with her acquittal.

Ultimately, it was her social prowess and an ability to manipulate people and situations to her advantage that gave her personality a winning edge, while her beauty became immortalized in stone as Aphrodite – the Goddess of love.

Materials: Crown: 18k gold-plating, sterling silver, bronze, 21 Garnets, 18 Fresh water pearls, carved Water Buffalo bone, lost wax casting, construction. Gown: Gold applique embroidery on fine tulle, 24k gold bead embroidery, 300 Swarovski crystals, 63 Fresh water pearls, sterling silver, bronze, 10k gold-plating, Czech glass beads, 1 Garnet, 1 Rhine stone. Doll: Ball-jointed, bisque porcelain, china-paint, steel springs, magnetic mohair wig, leather lining, 24k gold fired-on applique jewelry on arms and legs.

Watching the Snow

Just another day at work. There are five new and ongoing metal accessory projects visible in this picture, some completed and some nearly there. You will see them very soon. And I think you will like them. Very much.

Guessing the identity of new mystery doll

You guys are such good guessers and history buffs! You've just come up with a fantastic list of great women and potential future dolls for me to make!

Below is a short list of Candidates named in the first round. The new mystery doll is one of them! You just have to guess who. Remember the criteria - this woman lived in 4th century BC Greece and was not a deity, neither a royalty, nor a myth. And these are her feet. Go!

The Candidates named so far are in order of vote majority:
Phryne - hetaira (courtesan), artists' muse. 4th c. BC Greece.

4 votes
Thais - hetaira, wife of king Ptolemy. 4th c. BC Greece.

3 votes
Hypatia- mathematician, academic, professor. 4th c. AD Greece.

3 votes
Cassandra - Trojan princess, oracle of Apollo. 13th c. BC Troy.

3 votes
Sappo - great lyric poetess, an intellectual. 7th c. BC Greece.

3 votes
Agnodice- 1st female physician, midwife, gynecologist. 4th c. BC

2 votes.
Aspasia - hetaira, an intellectual, socialite. 5th c. BC Greece.

2 votes
Cyniska-1st woman Olympic champion, Spartan princess. 5th, BC

2 votes
Penelope - queen, wife of Odysseus, mythological Greek character.
Oracle of Delphi - an order of Apollo priestesses. 8th c.BC-4th c.AD
Pythias - wife of Aristotle. 4th c. BC Greece
Rhodophis- ex-slave, hetaira, queen, original Cinderella 6th c. BC Greece
Archeanassa - hetaira, companion of Plato.  5th c. BC Greece
Gerpilise - I can not find anything about this name. Who is this?
Lais of Hyccara - hetaira,  socialite. 4th c. BC Greece
Lenaia - Maenads, female worshipers of Dionysos. 5th-2nd c. BC Greece
Lysistrata - peace activist, fictional character 4th c. BC Greece
Myrrhine - wife of Kinesias, peace activist, fictional character. 4th c. BC
Ariadne - Cretan princess, mistress of the Labyrinth, mythological figure.
Roxana - Iranian princess, wife of Alexander the great. Persia. 4th c. BC
Artemisia - female navy commander of king Xerxes. Persia. 5th c. BC
Pandora - mythological First human, all-giver, unleasher of all evil.

There, I hope these clues will help narrow it down a bit.

So, who do you think these pretty feet belong to?

Finished a new costumed doll!

Here is a sneak peek of her hand before she was assembled. Her lower arms and legs feature fired-on 24k gold applique jewelry.

This doll is based on a historical woman from 4th century BC Greece. Care to guess who I made?

Let me give you a clue: It's not a goddess or royalty of any sort. Definitely NOT Helene of Troy, although I'm working on her too ;)

New shoe design for Enchanted Doll

Check out what I've been working on lately. These are Gothic Lolitas in sterling silver. This is my first test cast. I think I'll make a gold&enamel one too. Soon to be available for preorder, but not just yet. Inquire if you wish to be put on the wait list.

Birthday Contest 2014 postponed to next year

Hi all, I know that my birthday contest has become a beloved Enchanted Doll tradition that many of you look forward to every year. Sadly, I must postpone this year's contest until next year. I'm afraid that I'm feeling particularly overwhelmed, and can not handle the responsibility of organizing and judging a contest this year.

My birthday contest is a really important event to me, and I don't want to tarnish it with anything less than a 100% commitment on my part, but I don't have it in me this year. I think I've maxed out my multitasking capacity.

This year I would like to have a quiet birthday, and maybe even take a few days off work as a special treat. I hope you all understand and I look forward to your entries next year! 

Baby it's cold outside! - Winter fashion for Enchanted Dolls

With Polar Vortex snowstorms raging in North America, I decided that my dolls needed some luxurious warm clothes, so I had some made for them. These are one of a kind, faux fir ensembles of matching hats and coats, made in the Russian tradition of winter wear. They fit both porcelain and resin dolls, although it's a roomier fit on resin dolls and a tighter fit on porcelain.1) Winter Romance.1) Midnight Train.3) Siberian Tales.4) Bohemian Beauty.5) A Night in St. Petersburg.6) Northern lights.7) Moscow Dream.

Moments of Canadiana

My Darlings! Happy New Year!

I'm back from my vacation and I have something personal to share with you today - a commemorative short film of the 9th annual, week-long New Year's Extravaganza with a couple dozen of my closest friends. It's a tradition of ours to rent a house some place remote, cold and snowy, preferably with a frozen lake in the back yard and riding slopes near by, and spend the last week of each year together. We skate, play pond hockey, ride and ski, play board games, dance, hold wine and scotch tastings, cook big meals and watch movies together while it's snowing outside. Also polar bear swim. Life doesn't get better than this. It's pure Canadiana!

Big thanks to the group cinematographers, our own Benjamin Taft, Lewis Bennet and Adam Bognar, for capturing these precious moments of happiness which we can revisit until it's time for us to celebrate the passing of yet another year together. I can't wait. Love you guys!

Join me briefly for 8 minutes of my life beyond dolls. Click on the Vimeo icon in the corner to view it on viemo.com in HD quality. There are two parts: Ice hockey and Polar bear swimming. Enjoy my Canadiana!

A happy Vaseux Lake new year celebration from Benjamin Taft on Vimeo.