By being listed in the Directory is another avenue of being seen on another website through the ART DOLLS Magazine in an easy to find format starting as soon as you sign up as well as being showcased for all of 2027 and at the end of the year in the 2026 Special Issue.  

I was asked if Mermaids came under Marine Characters for the upcoming juried show.  Yes, they do.  Also so does Poseidon, god of the Seas.  Another idea can also be Libra, the water bearer zodiac sign.  Anything in the water or touches water qualifies for this juried show.  Good luck and can't wait to see how the creativity flows!

One way is to enter the IADR juried doll shows.  All online enteries are included in the video created for the juried show.  The clip I created of Andy Tatler's entry from the Winter Blue event for this week just received 555 views.  Thanks Andy for sharing Quintessa with us. 

The second way is to collaborate with the IADR YouTube channel.  If you are creating a video that you would like to share with the IADR, then get the collaboration link and share it by emailing it to the iadregistry@outlook.com.  You can double your reach by putting it on your YouTube Channel and now the IADR one as well.  This is just one way to shine this summer. 

These are two sweet deals that the ART DOLLS Magazine is offering this summer.  Great way to receive a free listing in the Directory of the ART DOLLS Magazine just by buying ad space.  The Directory is located on the website which makes looking for a doll maker or supplier, the easiest way to find them.  Plus at the end of the year, we will be creating one special magazine issue focused on the Directory.  For more information, email artdollsmagazine@outlook.com.

Shylock Doll Gathering is meeting Tuesday, June 16th at 12:30 pm MST via  Zoom.  Contact Lesley if you like an invite to this informal meeting of doll lovers. 

3. Your Artist's Studio page is where you can create and show your work on your Artist's Studio page... even works-in-progress.  This is your gallery and also where you can link your page to your other selling sites.  The Artist's Studio page is used for the People's Choice Event which comes up later this year.  It was great to also use QR codes that linked your page at our last convention and the MIDA event.  It has been proven by statistics that when someone comes to an Artist's Studio page, they don't look at just one artist's work but several.

4. J​uried Shows are fun and can be a good learning curve.  But don't stop just there!  For the Online Shows all entries are shown in the ART DOLLS Magazine.  One may not win their category but to be seen competing is still priceless.  All exposure is good when it is showcasing your work

5. ART DOLLS Magazine has increased our exposure and reach through the ART DOLLS Magazine and the ART DOLLS Magazine Facebook page.  Plus don't forget our YouTube reach also.  Enter your new doll in the Doll Scene section of the Magazine.  Write an article about an experience at a doll show (again it doesn't have to just be the IADR's).  Show us how you create or offer a tutorial.  Those are all free advertising opportunities for a doll artist to use.  If you have an idea but not sure how to start it, just email Lesley at iadregistry@outlook.com.  We'll make it happen!

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. 

But, now it is time to pack up and return home.  **Remember ladies to please send me your pictures that we can share them with others through the ARTDOLLS Magazine and here on the website**.  

And yes, we are already planning our convention for next year. We hope that you can be a part of it by attending or supporting us with your likes and shares as this convention comes together for 2027.

We also want to welcome to the IADR new members - Sabrina Negro and Caterina Seoli.

​MIDA was 9 days of sharing our love of dolls with the crowd.  I am so grateful to Maria Ciobanu, Claudia Raddi, and Loredana Salvo for being there during the week. This event wouldn't have been as successful if they hadn't changed their schedules.

People were amazed at the artistry of the dolls and one such doll collector who collected only pieces that emotionally move her was in awe by ALL of the amazing art she saw.  The woman with her was actually brought to tears.  There is no way this would have worked as well by trying to sell the dolls at the same time. An artist always is the best one to sell their own work and the space would have not accommodated this.  Again, this was a learning curve and that is exactly what we are going to look at when determining how successful MIDA was for us.

Thank you to Claudia Raddi and Anna Esposito for getting those printed so we could give them out. ​

And remember, our IADR Convention will be held at the Hotel Albani Firenze in Florence, Italy and we still have tickets available for the ART & APERITIVO Night Event and Juried Show Awards.  (To read more - click here).  See you there!

Security was intense and we needed to show our passes just to get inside the Fortezza da Basso.  For those of us that are unfamilar with the Medici Fortress, it is the fortress of San Giovanni Battista or a.k.a. Fortezza da Basso where Renaissance and contemporary architecture comes together within the walls of Florence.​

Then decide what you are submitting and click on appropriate form.  Here is the link to the new page for the forms for submitting to the ART DOLLS Magazine - https://www.international-art-doll-registry.com/how-to-submit.html. 

It’s the perfect ending to a memorable night and a rare chance to experience the artistry before the public viewing begins.  To purchase a ticket click here.   

​At ART DOLLS Magazine, AI will not be used to create realistic images of people, but may be used to enhance graphic images such as this heart warming puppy. (Do you know how hard it is to make a puppy sit still and how many pictures it would take to get the right look... let alone go find a puppy when you don't own one?)

​We will not use AI in writing articles for the magazine and writers submitting an article must state that AI was not used to write the article or generate a doll image.

​It also means when ART DOLLS Magazine publishes Updates, Posts, and in each issue of the ART DOLLS Magazine it does not use AI when using doll images or people.  There is no question of “is this AI or not?”  If it looks “real”, it is real.

Because of that, when it is time to get out information sometimes there needs to be a catchy image to go with it.  Then we use clip art and sometimes AI generated images but only when there is no doubt that the image was AI generated.  That is why the cartoonish graphic art look to the images.  It is intentional.  Just as the graphic art of “Tony, the Tiger” was created for Cornflakes and the three little chefs for Rice Krispies cereal created with computer software to make them move, AI may be used to catch your eye, but never to mislead you here at ART DOLLS Magazine. ​

​In this world where it is going to be harder to know what is real and what isn’t, ART DOLLS Magazine doesn’t want to add to that confusion.  When people send in their images, we will use them.  We will use graphic programs for enhancements, such as removing backgrounds, but we will not generate “real looking” people or dolls for promotion or articles.  This is the trust we at ART DOLLS Magazine hope to build through understanding what it is real and true to the ART of communication.

Also these cool bookmarkers designed by Anna Esposito will be handed out promoting our IADR Art Doll Convention.  English on one side - Italian on the other side.  Thank you to Patriza Cozzo and Maria D'Anna for their contributions too.

This year's May Juried Show is an in-person event at the convention (where the doll must be present) with the theme being Myths and Legends.  Non-members can participate with a small fee. This event is open to Sculpted art and Fiber art.  Come join us at the Hotel Albani Firenze for a fabulous evening of food, festivity, and art.

Beside the new look and content to the magazine, the IADR is lucky to have members like Adelaide Santini who has assisted us and continues to help with our Italian translations.  Add to that, Tatiana Tofaneto who has volunteered to assist us in translating the magazine in Portuguese. A Big Thank You to both of you ladies for making this possible.  IADR members can now access the Portuguese issue on our website in the magazine section.

​

The Registry is your record and one reason why it is under the IADR Membership side only of the website.  So how does that make it any easier to find what you have registered?  Well one way is to scroll down the page since the entries are in numerical order.  That is the long hard way, inspiring - yes - but the long, long, long way to do it.  

One step easier is if you think you know when you might have submitted in a registration - then go to the Archives.  Now on a desk top the Archives are on the right side of the website Registry page.  On a phone, it might require you sliding over another page.  From there, scroll down to the month and year you think you might have submitted the entry and click on it.  The Registry will now show registrations during that month/year. 

But the really-really easy way to find out what you have registered is to continue down under the Archives section until you see the names of the doll artists.  The Artists are listed by last name first and in alphabetical order.  When you click on an artist's name... whether it is your name or an artist's work you want to view, you will see all the registered pieces linked to that name.  And that is the easiest way to find your pieces you have registered.

If you are not already a committee member or would just like to join the meeting, please send an email to IADRegistry@outlook.com for an invite.

2026 Art Doll Convention Workshops in Florence, Italy on May 8th - 10th 

Registration is required and deadlines are fast approaching.  Sign up now and secure your spot!