Call Doll-ANON

As if I needed another thing to spend my money on or another thing to start collecting I just discovered Momiji dolls. While searching for more kokeshi I happened upon Momiji which are modeled after kokeshi but are made to appeal to a modern, younger audience rather than art collectors. Each one is a little character with a story. Check out momijishop.com to see all the little cuties and other kokeshi stuff like mugs and bags. I am not going to admit how much money I have already dropped on these. They are just too sweet to pass up. Hopefully before I end up living in an alley with a bag full of dolls people will start feeling the same way about MY little creations.

Lovely Little Ladies

My eight beautiful kokeshi dolls. After I had three I decided I needed to get a shelf. Now I need a bigger shelf.

A Gem in the Desert

Please excuse my absence. I took a much needed break from things here but I did bring you back some exciting things. I visited the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe for the first time. Odd that I have lived so close to this gem my entire life and had not been there. What originally caught my attention is a current exhibit called Needles and Pins: Textiles and Tools. The exhibit traces the origins of textiles across cultures throughout time. There are astounding examples of knitting, weaving, tatting, and embroidery. There are some pieces that truly took my breath away with their beauty. The exhibit isn't very large but it is worth a trip even if that is the only thing you have time for.
Additionally we spent hours on the permanent Girard Foundation Collection. The collection was all donated by one couple and is remarkably huge. Most exciting to me was finding a small set of kokeshi dolls and an Ada Lum doll among the treasures. There are so many cultures represented and all different art forms. There are a ton of dolls and small figurines and toys, whole little armies. We finally realized that the sun had shifted significantly in the sky and we should see what time it was. About four hours had passed and we had only made it through about half of the museum. What a phenomonal place to find inspiration and feel ready to get back to making my own things with a renewed spark. Needles and Pins runs through April 13. Highly recommended.

Fan Dancer

Little Betty Bento my newest felty on Etsy. I almost don't want her to find a new home cause she's a cutie!

She's Older Than Me

My first kokeshi doll got here from Japan. She's probably from the 50s or so. The new ones have nice lacquer painting on them but the vintage ones are usually cheaper, quirkier, and have nice patinas from being old. She's cute, huh?

Discovery

I have discovered another type of doll that I am smitten with. They are Japanese Kokeshi. Some are antique children's toys from as early as 1880 but they make modern ones too. There are master artists who carve and paint them and then compete with different themes and things (think "Spring" or "Happiness"). Good thing: Cheaper than Blythe, individual art, handmade. Bad thing: Love a ton of them. No more room in house.