Art Dolls & Figures

Updating this website, I stumbled upon these doll patterns, and decided to make them available again. All of these patterns are free to print and use. But… these are OLD patterns from ~15 or more years ago, designed to print on 8.5″ x 11″ paper, but at a very low resolution. (I’m working on improving … Continue reading "Free Cloth Doll Patterns Are Back!"

Last year, I began making sock dolls. I was inspired by the book Stray Sock Sewing. Here’s how I made my sock dolls for the Wild Art Dolls swap in July 2010. Sock Doll Supplies You will need one sock, some batting or stuffing, Fray-Check, and your basic sewing supplies. (Needle, thread, scissors, and a … Continue reading "How to Make Sock Dolls – Step-by-Step"

Q. Did you play with paper dolls as a kid? Do you have a favorite vintage paper doll that still makes you smile? A. Yes, yes… the Ginghams little girls from the 70s, and Betsy McCalls from my Grandmother’s magazines. I made a paperdoll of my Grandmother in her honor, it is called “Amazing Grace”. … Continue reading "JJ Buch – 2005 Paper Doll Artist interview – Part 2 of 2"

In January 2005, I had the great good fortune to interview paper doll artist JJ Buch. She’s one of my idols, because her art has a very clear “voice” and her concepts are consistently innovative and often delightfully witty. Here’s the interview*, on two pages: Q. How did you get started with paper dolls? A. … Continue reading "JJ Buch – Paper Doll Artist interview – part 1 of 2"

Q.  What’s your greatest influence today?  Do you get your ideas from other dolls, other art, or something else altogether? I read Soft Dolls & Animals, Art Doll Quarterly, and I belong to several internet doll lists. I love all of these, but things and people influence me the most. Things?  Well, here’s an example:  … Continue reading "Alice C. W. Dennis – doll artist interview – part 2 of 3"

Note: This is the second part of a two-part article tracing the history of paper dolls.  See The History of Paper Dolls, part one to read the first part. 20th century paper dolls – A brief history In the 20th century, other magazines followed this trend, including Ladies’ Home Journal  (Sheila Young’s “Lettie Lane”), Pictorial … Continue reading "History of Paper Dolls – Part 2 of 2"

Today’s paper dolls evolved from ceremonial and performance figures, and dressmakers’ fashion dolls. General history Paper was invented in China around 105 C.E. by Ts’ai-Lin, a courtier from Lei-yang. Although the word ‘paper’ is derived from ‘papyrus’, this early paper was not a papyrus product. With paper’s development in nearby China, it should be no … Continue reading "History of Paper Dolls – Part 1 of 2"