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The lazy dazzy days of summer are quickly disappearing. How do I know that? Because 'To Do' lists are starting to pop up. Do you make them?
They are an important tool that helps us keep organized and not forget important things to do.
Like vote in the 2026 Juried Show Theme Poll. This is your chance to help shape the upcoming juried shows for 2025. There are two areas to vote for: One for the 2026 May Art Doll Convention show AND then for the 2026 August online Juried Show.
Click the link to let us know what you would like to see for themes - https://www.international-art-doll-registry.com/polling.html. Deadline for voting is September 5th.
People's Choice Event - Deadline for entering this event is September 5th. If you are thinking ahead to the Year End Competition, keep in mind that one of the requirements for Year End is that you have had to participated in at least one juried show this year. So if you weren't in the Winter Blues event, or didn't compete at the IADR Art Doll Convention in May - The People's Choice Event is the last event to enter so that you can qualify for the Year End Competition.
Also, it is a fun way to participate since you are having friends and family vote for your work as well as the public. You can't sell dolls without being seen, as this is our best event for our Artist's Studio pages to be seen. The reach is always tremendous. Keep in mind that if you want any updating to your Artist's Studio pages, let me know so we can make those changes. You can email me at iadregistry@outlook.com.
Also, it is a fun way to participate since you are having friends and family vote for your work as well as the public. You can't sell dolls without being seen, as this is our best event for our Artist's Studio pages to be seen. The reach is always tremendous. Keep in mind that if you want any updating to your Artist's Studio pages, let me know so we can make those changes. You can email me at iadregistry@outlook.com.
Congratulations to Nade Jankovska for her Shout Out in August/September 2025 DOLLS magazine. Great job!
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2024 People's Choice Winner
We're being busy little bees here at the IADR and we need you! The People's Choice Submission is now open for you to submit a favorite creation made within the past year. Remember, this is for IADR members only. Also, I am looking into how to expand People's Choice voting for the Instagram accounts but since the voting hasn't started yet, more will come out on that next week. Now it is just the time to submit and be a part of this year's People's Choice competition.
2026 Juried Show Themes Polling
We would also like to hear from you regarding the themes for 2026. We created a poll that you can access by clicking the link. You are voting for the theme for the IADR Art Doll Convention in May as well as for the online juried show for August. The themes with the most votes will be picked as the winners. It will only take a moment and a great way to share your ideas as well as be involved in what the IADR does.
We are currently working on the next issue of the IADR Art Doll magazine. Do you know we are just one of the few doll magazines still out there? Magazines are a great way to advertise and be seen... and lasts longer than any other social media platform. Plus it is free to IADR members! If you are wanting to submit something to the magazine...(HINT - especially a Do What You Love page submission) please send it in now or contact me by emailing at iadregistry@outlook.com.
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Where is the party? Where has the summer even gone? As quickly as this year is flying by, there are still things to mark your calendar for.
People's Choice will start taking submissions beginning August 18th. The Deadline for submissions is September 5th.
People's Choice will start taking submissions beginning August 18th. The Deadline for submissions is September 5th.
People's Choice Event will begin the voting starting September 8th and run through until September 22nd. Keep in mind the Winner of the People's Choice will be featured on the cover of our next IADR Art Doll magazine.
At this time the IADR Art Doll magazine is planned to be released October 6th. This year we are also having the IADR Doll Sale in October to make it easier to order and maybe have by Christmas for those wishing to purchase something special and unique.
Also we are already thinking of next year events and a poll will soon be out to see what type of themes you would like to have for the IADR Art Doll Convention in May as well as themes for the August juried show. The Winter Blues juried show is pretty much "winter, blues, or anything in between" for that event *smiling*.
There are many things happening at the IADR, don't hide behind a mask. Get involved with thinking about what you might want to submit in the People's Choice competition. Do you want to put a 'Do What You Love' submission in the IADR Art Doll magazine? Deadline for magazine submissions is September 19th. If you like a theme to be added to the POLL, please send it to me soon at iadregistry@outlook.com as I hope to have the poll ready for next week's blog.
The Shylock Doll Gathering is meeting TODAY (Tues, Aug 12th) at 12:30 pm. The next IADR Art Doll Convention Planning Committee is meeting September 10th.
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No, I am not ready to die (Rest In Peace) or give up on my art *smiling*. But I decided I would share a thought about the art making process as I am still learning new things with it. In sculpting a new character, I am applying some new techniques and observations that I picked up this summer. Some are even actually working for me! (*smiling*) This brings up the question – why couldn’t I have known this 10 years ago... or even 20 years ago as I have been teaching myself how to sculpt for the past 40 years?
That’s when I had one of my “aha” moments. If I knew everything when I was beginning my art path, then I would have nothing new to learn now. For me, my art is all about the experience of expressing myself through my creations. If my art sells, that is a wonderful benefit and I am glad for it, but it isn’t the motivation as to why I create it.
To continue my "aha" moment I also realized people learn and remember more with pain than pleasure. Sad but true. For every moment I got frustrated or fed up with a piece I was working on, I tend to remember those moments more than my successes. But that is okay if I also took away from that experience a new understanding or progressed in my art. For art is truly practice - practice - practice!
So this blog is for any of you that are in one of those "moments". Especially with all the changes to the market, AI development, and at times even the feeling of lack of support or community, remember you are not alone in these feelings. For myself, even as frustrated as I can get with my art, I am glad I have the ability to still do it and the passion to continue to follow it... where ever it leads me. As someone recently asked me, "Do you believe dolls can heal?" I absolutely believe that and that they can teach us about ourselves and also make our world even a little better.