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*

​The articles that are sharing what our dollmakers around the world are doing is a wonderful way to travel without the additional cost of a room and plane ticket.  We both agreed that we thought our magazine was amazing!

What does the IADR Art Doll Magazine have to do with your marketing need?  The IADR magazines stay on our website for anyone to view or purchase months or years down the road.  Plus, if an IADR member is currently submitting with the new issue, again it is a way to be seen at no cost to the member.  Here are four ways members make use of the magazine for their marketing?

Just saying... if you are finding it hard to market, don't like marketing, don't know how to sell/market, or just want to inspire others with your artwork... IADR is here to help.

Otherwise a fantasy animal with your character is totally acceptable and would be really cool to see *smiling*.  If you have any questions regarding the jury show then contact me through Facebook Instant Messenger or email me at [email protected].

MARKETING - You can't sell if you can't be seen.  With your IADR membership you have the opportunity to create your gallery of one-of-a-kind art dolls on our IADR website at no additional cost.  You can showcase your dolls and your work in progress in your own Artist's Studio page.  Not only are you not limited to how many dolls you wish to add to your page, but you are also able to add links to where they can be bought or to learn more information about them.   Plus with the Peoples' Choice Event that will occur this fall, an additional boost of Marketing power is added with all the people that will take the time to look through ALL of the studio pages.  It was a fantastic reach that we hit last year and hoping for even a bigger one this fall.

AUTHENTICY - There is piece of mind that goes with the registration of your OOAK artdoll in our IADR Registry.  Customers can receive a certificate with one of our templates for you to use as an IADR member at no additional cost to assure them that indeed they are receiving a unique and handcrafted piece of artwork.

ADVERTISING - There are four ways to easily advertise your artwork in our IADR Art Doll Magazine.  (1) First just grab some advertising space by creating a Do What You Love page.  (2) Second is by entering our juried shows as all entries for our shows will be featured in our magazine.  (3) Let me know if you would like to be featured as the IADR Doll Artist of that issue and (4) Write a short article to send to me to be featured in our magazine.  All this advertising reach is included as a benefit to all current IADR members as well as receiving the magazine free.

YOUTUBE - (Which is outside of Facebook and Instagram) is another platform the IADR uses to be seen.  We do work to have our members seen and have the opportunity to inter-react with each other through our Facebook group and our Instagram account, but we also reach out to be visible on other platforms as well.  At the moment our podcasts are our biggest contribution to the Youtube media.  But we are always working on different ways to be seen there like, for example, our past video of the Winter Blues juried show.  Again all entries are featured in each presentation. 

As an IADR member there is also no additional fees to join in our JURIED SHOWS EVENTS.  You also receive the perk of having your art doll critiqued and the possibility of winning that category certificate (and prize), but there is the proud ownership feeling of knowing you are also helping the IADR grow.  The Juried Shows are our biggest marketing and advertising draw.  

To have access to a website, to have your work visible through advertising, and to maybe be featured in our magazine are all included with your annual IADR membership.  Unleash your power - take control and expand your horizons. 

We also reach out through our own website and blog.  This week alone the reach was up 163% for visits to our site.  This is when I realized that since not all of our members are even on Facebook and don't realize that we have been growing, it's time to use one of our best reach-outs which is through our own blog.

I would like to take this time to welcome our newest members:  Nina Lazareva (Russia), Guia Della Santina (Italy), and Andy Tatler (United Kingdom).  Also I would like to welcome some of our other new members that have joined in the past few months for those that aren't on Facebook: Vincenza Rito (Italy), Cherie C Davidson (USA), Natalia Eremina (from Ukraine now in the Netherlands), Alexandra Sandu (Romania), and Julie Trent (USA).

Speaking about Youtube, why not drop on over to view the video showcasing our entries from the Winter Blues Juried Show?  Thank you to the participants for sharing their art with us to inspire and illuminate our world. ​The video can be reached at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Hy8OIri6Q or click on the picture below.

But there's more!  This is where our worker bees have been a buzz'n.  Check out Amanda Parkinson's article on her experience of selling at her first Doll Show.  Learn about Cold Porcelain with Angela Rinaldi which is very interesting as well as visit Jerry Knegtel's magical fantasy land with her Candy Floss Fairy.  Adelaide Santini also shares her visit with doll artist Laura LaFauci and there is still even more.

Get your copy of the IADR Spring Issue and enjoy being inspired, informed, and illuminated!

This month we are looking at fairy wings.  I just finished my pair that I did by coloring on fabric with crayons (something we did in a past meeting) and I enjoyed trying out this new process.

Also make sure to double check your time with us as here in the USA as we just "Sprang Forward" an hour for Daylight Savings Time.  I am hearing through the buzzing of the bees that the rest of the world will change later in the month.  So, come play with us and if you haven't joined in before, simply instant messenger me in Facebook or send me an email at [email protected]​ in order to get the Zoom link to join us.