We all know the famous Shakespearean line, “All the world’s a stage.” I like to expand on it, turning it into one of my favorite philosophies—“All the world’s a stage … and a playground, too.”
Reborning… it’s a topic that draws mixed reactions from both those who have collected and created dolls for years and from those in the general public.
Have you seen all the new things we have going on? First off, our June/July 2010 issue just hit with the latest beautiful incarnation of “Vita” by Horsman on the cover. Themed pop culture, this is one of my favorite issues of late, especially because of the crazy-cool story it has in it about the Estonian pop star, Kerli ...
When people ask me what I do for a living and I explain DOLLS magazine, non-collectors don’t get it. Their immediate assumption is either the magazine is about the type of playthings seen at big box stores … or at most, they imagine cheap and trinket-y porcelain dolls that can be found at dollar stores across the country. But they don’t realize that dolls are art.
Ball-jointed doll (BJD) designers (and collectors) are famous for pushing boundaries and redefining norms in the doll world. One example of that is the facet of BJDs growing in popularity which are anthropomorphic in nature.
You say potato; I say potato. Banal, right? Doesn’t matter how you pronounce it. … The person on the receiving end of the communication will understand and that’s all that matters. Well, in light of the recent controversy over what it is exactly that one 3-year-old’s interpretation of what her new Hannah Montana doll is saying, the nuance of pronunciation matters after all.
Some folks are of the school of thought that doll collecting is going away. I happen to believe it’s just changing in a big way. One factor I believe has changed the timbre of doll collecting is pop culture.
This weekend I was lucky enough to attend the Jason Wu Event VI: Iconic in Schaumburg, Ill. This was the sixth annual event put on by Integrity Toys and throughout the years, it has gained the reputation of being the "Cadillac of doll conventions." After attending one myself, I certainly wouldn't argue that statement. For breakout events, no extravagance is passed over: from the fine cuisine to the luxe table decor, live music (Chicago Catz), guest of honor (Jason Wu) and breakout dolls, the company brings nothing but the best to the table for their collectors.
Tomorrow I leave for The Jason Wu Event VI: Iconic, during which the fashion icon will celebrate a decade with Integrity Toys. Our next issue features coverage on the convention collection and will be released exclusively to collectors in attendance at the event this weekend in Schaumburg, Ill. The print and digital issues will be mailed to everyone else on Oct. 5.
This morning I jumped in my car on my way to work only to discover a box containing the dolls I had won at the UFDC 60th Annual Convention. What a delightful discovery.
I was lucky enough to spend the weekend in Orlando at the first annual Goodreau-Creedy Convention. Beautiful dolls, great people and fun events sum up the event in a nutshell. Besides hosts of the convention Paulette Goodreau of Goodreau Doll and Berdine Creedy of Berdine Creedy Originals, guest artists Greg Ortiz, Beverly Stoehr and Kimberly Lasher, among others, were in attendance.
Part of the beauty of doll collecting is that it can be interactive and in fact, encourages participation. Fine art—paintings, sculptures, photos—are beautiful to admire and of course, they inspire by virtue of their beauty, but that’s as far as they go.
Just closed with the November issue today, so now on to December, which is exciting for several different reason (most of which I can’t talk about yet). But one story than I can hint about will delve into the whole, “What is a BJD really?” issue.
I love dolls. Don’t get me wrong, but today I had an experience that suggests to me that perhaps I’m not cut out for doll play like I was as a child. I had to change a doll’s full outfit for a photo shoot, and it was a painstaking and, at times, emotionally traumatizing process. Taking off tights, shoes, jacket, skirt, shirt, underwear, tie and wig wasn’t too bad but then I had to change feet, and here’s where the emotional part comes in.
Well UFDC, the largest doll convention of the year has come and gone. Which means we are in the second half of the year, and I must now concentrate on the dolls I need for next year, and all the loose ends which need tidying up. So this week I am spending my time sculpting, sewing, and drawing.
A couple of weeks ago an Albert Marque doll brought the highest amount ever paid for a doll at $263,000—a world record. It’s fascinating to me that a doll less than a century old could command such a dollar amount.
Growing up and into adulthood the gender divide apparent in toys, and dolls, in particular, always struck me as odd. When I was a kid, boys were not to play with dolls and if they did, mom and dad quickly set them straight and steered them on the path of more “manly” toys—matchbox cars, fire trucks, tractors, construction equipment and action figures (and aren’t those dolls anyway?).
We all know the famous Shakespearean line, “All the world’s a stage.” I like to expand on it, turning it into one of my favorite philosophies—“All the world’s a stage … and a playground, too.” 
