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
© 2009 Les Belles Poupees. All rights reserved. joeanns
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