This might be a link often over looked as you are completing the Registration form.  It is right in the middle of the Registering page (after the section explaining "what dolls we do not accept") for a show.  See where it says "NOTE"- These certificates are available FREE to all IADR members.  They are for your use to give out to your customers with your creations.  The certificate indicates the date and IADR number that is associated with your doll certifying the doll's authenticity.  These certificates can be used with any doll that is registered with the IADR, whether you are submitting it for a juried show or not.

There are five (5) new forms and they are in jpg format.  That way, if you want to download them and put your picture of the doll in the form, it should be easier to do.  Enjoy, and as always, if you have any questions please email me at [email protected].

It does take a little imagination and a lot of play to capture these magical creatures.  But they aren't the only source of inspiration.

Stories are a great resource.  Tales we read growing up like Knights fighting Dragons, Dragons befriending a Princess or even the tales of far off countries where there were young peasant boys saving the princesses from evil.  Don't forget about the boy who defeated the evil that we dare not mention.  Heroes show up in the most interesting way.  We all have a favorite and what better way to bring those fun loving memories to life, than by creating a special character through sculpting.

I hope you enjoy finding that special magical moment and can't wait to see what has inspired the inner child within you.

Doll judges or judging should not be a matter of choosing 'a who is popular' type of an event.  Doll judges have chosen to be judges because they have the skill level that we desire to achieve and they are willing to share their expertise with us.  In most competitions, and the ones I have submitted an entry into (as well as in the IADR Juried Shows), entries are sent to the judges without names.  The judges don't have a clue who they are judging, they are just looking at the body of the work.

Polymer judging is a little different than Porcelain judging too.  Overall, the appearance of the doll is always going to make the biggest impact but then comes the tie breakers.  Tie breakers are the additional details that are added by the artist to their creations.  It is those tie breakers that the judges will look at that will help them decide on one doll over another for skill level.  In the competition I entered, porcelain doll makers aren't judged on a full body sculpture unlike in a polymer competition (porcelain doll makers are required to use molds to pour in our liquid porcelain).  More often than not, it is the sewing for the porcelain doll that will be the tie breakers as well as the China-painting skills.  That is why it is nice to know what is important to the judges for their scoring.

Since the IADR Juried Shows are open to all type of medias from polymer, porcelain, cloth to fiber art - what is it that the IADR judges are looking for when scoring?  There are three areas that the IADR judges take into consideration.  Each area has a value of 1 to 5 points with 5 being the highest. 

Those three areas are:
(1) The Skill Level in creating your doll (how well it is sculpted and is the doll in proportion/well formed);
(2) Interpretation of Theme of the IADR show you are entering in; and
(3) The Overall Appearance of your doll.  The big impact look as I like to call it.

​Knowing what the doll judges are looking for helps the artist entering their submission for the competition to focus on for those tie breaker judging elements.

Not to say it isn't fun when our entry wins a category or achieves a win at a certain artistic level, but also if we don't win this time to remember - dust yourself off and start again.  Don't take it personal, instead take what the judges say into consideration for improving your skills for next time.

As I leave the doll convention this week, my doll (Faun) as a sculpted OOAK (one-of-a-kind) doll, did win in it's category.  Faun will go home with her ribbons, but I'll be dusting myself off for my attempt next year.  Without trying I wouldn't have learned what I have learned and would like to think that next year's submission will even be better! *Smiling*