One Show Ends...

The IADR Marine Characters Juried Show
for
August 2026

Yes, we may have just wrapped up the May's Myths and Legends show and now it is time to mark your calendar for our next juried show.  Since this is an extra online show, I wanted to point it out as submission for it doesn't start until June 15th, but with summer activities, it is never too soon to be thinking about it.

Award of Excellence Event

The Award of Excellence is now open for submissions. This Juried Show is NOT an IADR Show.  This event is sponsored by the ART DOLLS Magazine and will continue in the same similar manner as it has in the past. 

Something new is the category of one-of-a-kind Fiber Arts in the competition.

For a list of the rules for the Award of Excellence (AAE) and submission form click the link. 

World Doll Day

The ART DOLLS Magazine is also celebrating World Doll Day (June 13, 2026), by having a favorite doll from your collection or a OOAK (one-of-a-kind) doll that you may have made.  This is also a great opportunity to be seen on the ART DOLLS Magazine website.

It's FREE and a wonderful way to celebrate this unique day.  The way to submit your doll is by using the form here.

Look for the Red Highlighted information in the Free Submission form area.

2026 May's Art Doll Convention Highlights

Showing Stevi T Florence, Italy in the rain.

What a fantastic event this year's convention was here in Florence, Italy.  Stevie T (Stephanie Tiongco) as our Guest Speaker was great.  Especially loved the laughter and the ooohhs as we saw the sheared lamas in her presentation.

The contributions of Patrizia Cozzo's doll "On a Wire" and Stevi's "Small Bunny" were appreciated greatly by the IADR and the receivers of these gifts, Maria D'Anna and Angela Rinaldi.

The Art and Aperitivo evening was full of excitement, great food, and even some loving "intervention" by some creative doll artists.  You know who I am talking about don't you, Anna Esposito, Maria D'Anna, and Adelaide Santini. *smiling*

Also, Congratulations to our Winners of the Myths and Legends Juried Show: Yindie Yang, Adelaide Santini, Natalie Ruis, and Loredana Salvo in the Sculpted Category and Anna Esposito & Stevie T in the Fiber Art Category.  You can see their impressive artwork on the Winner's Award page on our website here.   

With this in mind, I created a special 2026 Convention Highlight page where we posted pictures of our fun event. Also check out the unique talent of Anna Esposito who created some insightful interviews for Instagram and our webpage.  Click here to view and remember to mark your calendar for Florence, on Italy May 7, 8, & 9th, 2027. 

Welcome new members to the IADR.  First, Kellie Beckett, who is a new member from the USA.  She shared that she is a School clinic nurse and she will be creating her favorite little mini-baby dolls in polymer clay.  She also plans to sculpt more 1/12 scale babies and toddlers.

Welcome also to Riva Bryson.  She creates sculptures, dioramas, and mixed-media artworks inspired by mythology and folklore. Using found objects and natural materials gathered from the Wirral, England coastline. Through Flotsam Fables, she invites others to embrace the enchantment found in the overlooked, to listen to the whispered tales of forgotten objects, and to rediscover the mysterious interplay between the material and the spiritual.

Welcome to the IADR!!