June 2009

The country's financial predicament has hit home in more ways than one and we are directly affected as artists.

 

I am a porcelain doll show promoter and I see first hand that our dealers are unable to make as many shows as they would like, some have completely closed their doors and others are relying exclusively on the internet for their sales. We hear "shows are not as large as they once were" and many complain that the attendance is down from years past. With this in mind, the rates for the rental of our showrooms have not dropped, food and gas are not discounted, nor is there anyone that is going to change things so that we can afford to continue to get together with our friends and fellow artists to share our knowledge and our love of our art....that is, except for a handful of volunteers and the show we are producing in 2011. I have thoughts on a show that will incorporate  our love of dolls and introduce other mediums in to that art as well as introduce the doll to artists that had never before thought of incorporating porcelain in to their work!

 

Doll artists are not usually exclusive to their chosen medium. Use me as an example.

  • I love porcelain, wax and oven baked clay dolls, large dolls and those oh so special miniatures.
  • I am a quilter with more ideas and fabric than the law should allow.
  • I am nuts for scrapbooking and I haunt the local scrapbook shops for just the right papers. Did you see those wonderful dolls with paper dresses? Marvelous!!
  • I want to learn more about reborn dolls and refresh my knowledge of china painting on a beautiful blank coffee set just waiting for color and that perfect touch of a brush.
  • I want to see and enjoy the latest creations by our cloth doll artists because I have several ideas in mind that will utilize both porcelain and cloth . I love doll hands made of cloth and those incredible miniature hands in porcelain so small that you almost have to have a magnifier to see them!
  • I sew and am nuts about the latest machine embroidery and when you see me at the shows I will be wearing shirts that reflect my latest embroidery pattern on cd I have purchased!

 

If you look at all the hand made arts and crafts that we all do, they will eventually have a "tie that binds" because an artist and lover of crafts experiments with one medium and another utilizing all the textures, colors and visual gratification that they offer. Many times these trials lead to that perfect piece they dream of creating. I want to see this offered to the public in a show format where we can teach, sell,  and share our love of creativity with one another.

Several years ago a leader in the porcelain doll industry wrote that we would do best to band together and join forces with other mediums within the world of dolls. I want to go further in my quest. I want to see a showroom that is decorated with booths containing wonderful fabrics, paints to use in all kinds of projects with quality brushes for the artisan in each of us. I want to see creations by doll artists in clay, fabric and vinyl. I want to be  drawn to the newest in sewing machines and fantastic patterns available for those that are into decorated clothing for themselves or their work. I want to see demonstrations and lovely ribbons, tiny handmade shoes and patterns that would fill anyone's head with dreams. I want to see members of the Porcelain Doll, Reborn Doll and Cloth Doll community  and  artists from the China Painting Guilds, Scrapbook and Altered Art Artists, and Art Doll Creators with papers, stamps and works of imagination.  I also want to see men and women that are awed, inspired, encouraged, intrigued and having the time of their lives attending our show and finding special items that encourages them to create.    

 

To accomplish these things I need your help. My name is Karen and I am the owner and promoter of a show in Grapevine, Texas named Les Belles Poupees (translated that is The Beautiful Dolls). This show has a reputation for being imaginative, fun, offering great seminars, classes and lectures, having great shopping in our showroom and providing a well planned weekend for our guests.

 

I am now searching for new artists, vendors and dealers that sell supplies and specialize in any of the previously mentioned arts and crafts or any artistic medium that will add to the delight of our guests. As suggested, I am seeking to encourage all of these groups to get together and support one another by putting all our talents together for the most extraordinary weekend of sales, learning, and working together to provide a show like no other.

 

If you are an artist specializing in one or more of these mediums, join with those of us that are answering the call. If you would like to add your Guild, club or ideas for getting these folks together, please contact me. I will design the showroom to reflect the various groups and mediums and if you are a promoter, the opportunity is still there for your group to make money too. Suppliers and artists alike are needed. When was the last time you went to a show that offered a competition in your chosen field of creativity? Our doll competition has been solidly successful for many years. I look forward to adding many other artistic endeavors to this arena. Imagine a place where you can enter your porcelain dolls, your latest scrapbook pages and your miniature shadow box and your china painted ornaments all in one show! I am looking not only for dealers but other show promoters or association organizers that  can understand my ideas and want to work together for a common goal. Ask yourself, do you find that it is harder each year to cover all the expenses of your group's convention? Is it more difficult to find a hotel willing to work with you and meet your needs? Is the cost of doing this just getting astronomical and you have to dig into the club treasury to pay the final bill? Or are there several of you that want to get together and have a small show to showcase your work but there isn't a place that is affordable ? We can work together and I would love to talk to you.

One show, one incredible show experience!

 

Karen Welch

victoriaskaren@suddenlink.net

Or write me at:

Karen Welch

1203 North Frances

Terrell, Texas 75160

 

 



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