Life, Art and Fashion Dolls

Since 2012, I have been a part of a team of art lovers running a little neighborhood art gallery we call Art Gallery 21. The building used to serve as the Woman's Club and has now been re-purposed as a cultural center and home to the gallery.

On March 9th this year, we hosted an exhibit titled "The Art of Barbie." The international icon of fashion and style celebrated her 60th birthday and we were blown away by how many people came to the opening and to the exhibit in the weeks that followed.

It's not the first time I've been involved in an exhibit of Barbie dolls, but, this time ... this time, it was art. Beautiful art. Amazing art. Created by amazing artists.

We were blessed with the donation of two photographs from Sharon Wright, who I have the pleasure of knowing personally and whose career I have followed since she first took pictures of Poppy Parker. She's an Emmy Award Winning film maker, actress, model and all around terrific human being and the proceeds from the sale of her photos went to support the art gallery. I think it was extremely generous of her to donate her pictures and I love her for being so kind.

And, she wasn't alone. We also received a donated photograph from Rebecca Berry of "Inside The Fashion Doll Studio," which sold the first night! The artistic talent I've discovered in my journey as a doll collector continues to amaze me.

Which just goes to show you ... doll people are the best kind of people there are. They ARE artists. And, doll lovers. And, generous of spirit. And, I'm so lucky to have been a part of this. Thank you, Universe!

Let the wild rumpus begin!

When I get older
Losing my hair
Many years from now
Will you still be sending me a Valentine?
Birthday greetings?
Bottle of wine?
If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me?
Will you still feed me?
When I'm sixty-four?

You'll be older, too,
And, if you say the word,
I could stay with you ....

First verse of the song by the Beatles 


Some people make resolutions for the New Year. I'm not one of those people. I make resolutions on my birthday, which is a very good day to have a birthday, by the way. It's just far enough past Christmas that I never got cheated on gifts. And, it's far enough before Lent and Easter, so I never got cheated on gifts. (I still feel bad for those folks whose birthdays fall between December 24 and January 2.)

This year the theme is "When I'm sixty-four."
So, here is a list of the things I will accomplish while I'm sixty-four:

1. Print a book filled with 64 photographs by me. I will title it, "When I'm sixty-four." I hope it will be mostly portraits of people I know, but a few cat and dog photos will probably sneak in there.

2. Whittle my voluminous doll collection down. I have too many, my collecting habits have changed, and it's time to sell and give away at least 64 of them, sending them off to adventures with others.

3. Write 64 blog entries. Sounds easy, doesn't it? There are 365 days in the year, which breaks down to one blog entry every 5.7 days. That's more often than once a week, you know. Sometimes I have weeks go by when I can't think of anything to write about, so this one will be a real challenge. I need a good challenge though, so let's have at it, shall we?

Three things is enough, I think.
Besides, I still have three more days until my birthday!

Let the wild rumpus begin!

My new year (so far) in pictures ...

Viele Road, early morning. It rained the night before which makes the green grass shimmer like emeralds. Lucky for me, a heron decided he wanted to be in the picture!

My Soroptimist club hosted a poster contest for high school juniors and seniors. The purpose was to increase the awareness of human trafficking, an awful abomination against people. The students were delightful, the winners were ecstatic with their cash awards, and the kids all appeared to have a great time.

I had these two skeins of sock yarn. I tried three times to crochet a sock, but, it wasn't working. So, I started making little granny squares. Don't know what I'm going to do with them. Yet. But, I'll come up with something. I just love the colors of this variegated yarn!

Coming back to work, I took a ride along Anapu Road. It's much more scenic than the main thoroughfares. Then, I spotted this guy. Looking so alone and forlorn. I was glad I had my camera with me.

I've been "playing" with "To The Fair" Poppy Parker lately. She was the W Club upgrade doll two years ago and she's really quite stunning. I combed her hair out, so it's loose and it gives her a much softer appearance. I'm getting into redressing my girls, too. This is my zen.

My 5 Favorite Doll Photographers ~ Summer 2014

I love looking at pictures of dolls. Scientists have proven that looking at pictures of puppies and kittens can alter your brain waves and calm you. Then, there are those exciting, romantic landscape photos that give you a glimpse of another part of our planet. I love those, too! But, I love the doll photos best.

My favorite professional photographers are Annie Leibovitz, Mario Testino and Edward Steichen. They each have a distinctive and unique style and when you see one of their photographs, you know immediately who shot it. Their point of view through the camera lens is quite different from anyone else's.

In the doll world, we are blessed with many talented and creative doll photographers. It's a great deal of fun to see how each photographer's work changes over time as they learn new camera techniques, Photoshop tricks and all the other things that go with being a fashion doll photographer. These are my current Favorite Five!

Ready?

1. Sharon Marie Wright
She is a card carrying member of Screen Actor's Guild and an Emmy winning film director. Her experience is truly reflected in her photographs, too. Her images aren't just static pictures of dolls. Sharon's pictures tell a story. She's very artistic in her use of light to set a mood and her sense of humor is always evident. Often imitated, but never duplicated, she has raised the bar on doll photography since she emerged a couple of years ago.

Sharon is very generous as an artist, sharing tips and tricks about her techniques with other shutterbugs. But, even when you know how she did it, it's still difficult to make photos that look like hers. Sharon is one of a kind and much loved by her huge fan base of doll collectors and fellow photographers.

UPDATE: "Congratulations!" on Sharon's recent appointment by Jones Publishing as Executive Editor of Haute Doll Magazine. I'll look forward to seeing the next edition!

2. Deb Buckner 
(flickr handle: *disenchanted*deb)

Deb lives in Ohio, so I envy her the four seasons! (Here in Florida, we have a wet season and a dry season.) She often shoots her girls outdoors, and it's fun to see the changes in the weather through her doll photography.

I was first attracted to Deb's Poppy photos because she stages many of them in wonderful dioramas. She creates these dioramas, sewing, sawing, screwing and gluing things into place. I saw a vintage Susie Goose vanity in one of her dioramas that had been painted and I liked it so much, I messaged her and asked how she did it. Ever gracious, she told me everything I needed to know to make my own, including which paint works best!

It comes as no surprise that Deb is a talented seamstress, too! When I have admired her doll's fashions and inquired where they came from, her humble response, "I made it" just blew me away! We share a love of Poppy Parker and have become Facebook friends where I discovered she, too, collects the Fashion Royalty girls. We must be kindred spirits because we have a mutual admiration for Vanessa and Victoire Rouge. I've used several of Deb's photos for the banner photo on my Poppy Parker Fan Page on Facebook and I am extremely grateful that she is so generous in sharing her photos.

3. Barbara of Adelaide, Australia (flickr handle: poppybelle)

I cannot remember when I became aware of poppybelle. I think it was her Poppy Parker pictures that first drew me in. Browsing her flickr photos, I discovered that she does remarkable portraits of Poppy Parker and the Fashion Royalty Girls (I think Agnes is her favorite!).

I am particularly fond of how she redresses and restyles her girls, making them look so different from their original incarnations. The way she uses light and how she poses the dolls make her pictures clearly recognizable.

I am most appreciative of poppybelle's generosity in permitting the sharing of her photos. I am somewhat envious of her Poppy collection, too! She has many of the early dolls!

4. Lisa/Alex's dolls via flickr

This photographer gets around! Her travels take her to visit people and places which are reflected in her flickr photos. She photographs indoors and out, and I'm guessing she lives somewhere in the northeast, as her winter photos include snowy scenes!

I like Lisa/Alex's casual outdoor style a lot. She places her dolls in such a way that it appears to be perfectly normal for a doll to be there. Some people might find that a little strange, but I like it. It's why she's on my list.

She does really nice portraits of her girls, too. Her pictures clearly show her love of fashion dolls and that's REALLY what it's all about, in my humble opinion. Many thanks for allowing the sharing of photos!

5. Michaela Unbehau via flickr 

My opening photo comes from the lens of this up and coming fashion doll photographer. She was recently profiled in the Winter 2013 issue of Fashion Doll Quarterly.

Unfortunately, Michaela does not allow sharing of her photos. No. Pinterest. No Tumblr. No Facebook or Twitter sharing. Which is a big bummer for me. She creates these amazing images of fashion dolls and we all want to see them, but she doesn't make it easy. I apologize if it sounds like I'm coming down on her. I just don't understand why people participate in photo sharing web sites and then don't want to let anyone share their pictures. I just don't get that.

So, now you're wondering where I got these photos posted here, right? Yep. Figured as much!

I found them on Pinterest. There are only a few. Like I said, she doesn't permit sharing. But, I did find a few and that's all we needed for this purpose.

That said, you can click on the link and go to Michaela's flickr site where you can see her amazing photos. Enjoy!


A final thought: I encourage doll photographers to watermark their photos before they upload them to the internet. When they are watermarked, we know who they belong to and can give the proper credit. As a long time doll collector, the internet has provided a wonderful environment for us to share our hobby, most often through photographs. If you're a photographer, claim your work so we can "LIKE" it! Isn't that what it's all about?

around here ...

"Fakahatchee Strand" by Peter J. Nolan

watching the skies ... as the storms build in the west on most afternoons only to rain down on our heads when it's time to drive home from work

finishing the 'house' for the generator, which we'll need if a storm knocks out power

re-reading "Nature Girl" by Carl Hiaasen

"Beatnik Blues" Poppy Parker, dressed in white

taking pictures of my girls as I attempt to master aperture and shutter speed (still)

planting blue flowers around the gumbo limbo tree in front of the house






worrying about my baby girl as she struggles with administrative issues on her way to an MBA

listening to Joni Mitchell with my darling husband

"Turnpike Southbound" by Mary Watkinson

preparing for an art social on Friday evening for GIRL PLAY with 6 female artists, each of whom marches to her own drummer

spring is here?

Only five days left in March. It's such a long month, isn't it? 31 days. They say it's spring break this week, and the tourists prove it to be true. I heard it was snowing up north. Still. It was 55 degrees on my back porch this morning, and, I'm in south Florida. Go figure.

Around here, it's been busy. Still missing my dog though. It's been two weeks and one day, but if feels a lot longer.

cleaning closets and cabinets and sifting out some of the junk that's accumulated. Where DOES all this stuff come from? Can someone tell me that?

learning how to create documents using Photoshop instead of QuarkXPress.



designing a golf tournament brochure for my Soroptimist club;
it's the 20th year!

editing a database for the Pioneer Women of Fort Lauderdale to reflect their activity over the past five years; boy, was that tedious.

assembling the pieces for a scrapbook, which I'll share in another post.

making lists of my dolls in a feeble attempt to "thin out" my collection.

waiting for news of the Integrity Toys Convention in Orlando this year; they announced in February last year, so what's the holdup?

thinking about "Tea with Barbie" in July at Old Davie School.

taking lots of pictures at work related events ... and, it's not like taking "society" photos or portraits or landscapes either; it is an entirely different animal.

repotting plants to accommodate the new growth.

enjoying all the blooming in my garden!

waiting for spring ...

Photography 102

I love my camera. I have a Nikon D80 with an AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm zoom lens. The camera was a birthday gift in 2011 and the lens followed on my birthday in 2012. It's taken me ever since then to master the basics. (And, I use the word "master" very loosely here!)

I think I look at as many photos as I shoot. I've been on flickr for years and I have a daily routine that includes at least ten or fifteen minutes browsing doll photos and professional photographer's pics on flickr. It was actually on flickr that I discovered "depth of field." I had figured out how to do it with my camera on the "AUTO" setting, but I didn't know what it was called. This photo of Poppy Parker, shot in my backyard, is what it looks like ...

Recently I have been exploring "Exposure Compensation." Some days I think I understand it and other days, not so much.  With many dSLR cameras, exposure can be adjusted by changing either the lens f-stop or the exposure time; which one is changed usually depends on the camera's exposure mode. The setting I've been messing around with is called "aperture priority." This is a setting on some cameras that allows the user to choose a specific aperture value while the camera selects a shutter speed to match.  I didn't know what aperture was, so I looked it up on Wikipedia where it defines aperture as a hole or an opening through which light travels

My biggest issue has been eliminating the flash for shots where I know there is adequate light. I detest the ugly shadow from the flash. The "aperture priority" setting is the one that allowed me to shoot this stack of books and blur the ones in the distance while being clearly focused on the stack in the foreground. And, no shadow!

While I was goofing around, my cat took up a spot on the table next to me, so I started focusing on her. I fired off four shots and was so pleased to see them turn out well, with that depth of field I so love! And, no shadow from the flash, no red eye!

What's important is WHERE you focus the camera. That's the trick I'm trying to master. You have to be aware of the light conditions, too, because when shooting "aperture priority," the camera chooses the shutter speed. Which creates another issue; if the shutter speed is slow because there's not enough light and you're not using a tripod, you'll have camera shake show up in your pictures. One more thing to worry about!

Finally, I gave the setting a whirl while we were out and about and I got what I think is a really good shot of bees on a sunflower. No tripod. No flash. Lots of outdoor light.

Odds are I will never figure all of it out. These dSLR cameras do so many things! But, I'm learning one thing at a time until I've learned it really well. For now, "aperture priority" is my thing!

The Pleasure of My Digital Photo Albums

Malibu, Californa ~ November 2013

I love Flickr. I've been a Flickr user since 2007 and I am convinced it's the best photo sharing source on the web. And, Yeah! I pay the fee for a "professional" account that allows for unlimited photos, but, it is definitely worth it. Otherwise, I wouldn't use it.







I used to print photos and paste them up in albums. That was long before the internet and digital cameras.

Today, I have a cabinet full of photo albums and I'm sure one day, after I've left the planet, my kids and grandchildren may enjoy going through them. Now I take so many photos and there is little time for all the printing and cutting and pasting that would be required to keep up. After all, I have a full time job and like to take pictures. So, I use Flickr.

Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles ~ November 2013

Today I sent a link to one of my "sets" to a friend, and that was when I realized how great it is to be able to share a single photo or an entire set of photos with folks I care about. You can't do THAT with a photo album unless they come over to my house!

Mount Dora, Florida ~ September 2010

I like to shoot outdoors the best. Mainly because of the natural light. And, I'm here to tell you, we have some of the best lighting conditions available here in sunny South Florida.

Well, except when it rains, of course.

I like to shoot pictures of people, too, but there are  lot of people who don't like having their picture taken. I try to respect people's privacy, but humans are definitely my favorite animals.









And, then there's my dolls. I love taking pictures of my dolls and I love looking at other people's pictures of their dolls. It really is an addiction. Fortunately, I am not alone. There are many other doll lovers out there who enjoy taking pictures of dolls. We're a fun group, actually.

My first Poppy Parker Doll, "Coney Island"

So, here's a sampling of my pictures. The link, above, will take you to my Flickr "sets" page if you're interested. The photos are linked to my Flickr.

Some of them are pretty good for an amature shutterbug, even if I do say so myself.

I hope you'll enjoy seeing them! Cheers!

Happy New Year!

It's here! A new year!

My "to do list" for this year includes ...

taking individual photos of all my dolls, one doll at a time, as an inventory

organizing five years worth of photos a little better, so I can find what I want a little quicker

planning for the future of Art Gallery 21 at the Woman's Club of Wilton Manors

writing a memoir for the AARP contest (due February 15)

deciding when my darling husband and I are going on vacation to Germany

using my sewing machine more often

smiling at strangers every chance I get!

How about YOU?

Animal Cruelty

I discovered this picture on Tumblr yesterday. I was so disturbed by it that I downloaded it so I could study it more closely. I know that mice and rats are intelligent, but I have to ask: is this real? And, if it is real, who taught the mouse how to hold onto the swing? And, is this the right thing to do?

I am a regular donor to the Humane Society of the United States because they fight animal cruelty on so many levels. I came to HSUS because of the Canadian seal slaughter each spring ... an issue that HSUS has worked diligently to end. Then, I learned about the other work that they do. Rescuing animals from hoarding situations (dogs, cats, birds, exotics, etc.) and finding them new homes. Lobbying for legislation to put regulations in place for puppy mills, as puppy mill owners are among the worst abusers of animals I have heard about, breeding dogs to make money, with no regard for humane treatment of the animals. There's the dog fighting and cock fighting ~ issues that HSUS has achieved success with recently. And, the treatment of farm animals ... chickens, pigs and cows ... working with professional farmers and legislators to bring about compromise for the humane treatment of animals that we use for food.

So, back to the mouse in the swing ... is this cruel?

I cannot say for sure. There's no question that it is a startling and adorable photograph, but I wonder about the little mouse. His eyes are dilated and his ears are tucked down. In most animals, this is a sign of distress. So, I ask you: is this a good thing?

I say, "Poor little mouse." And, I wonder what is wrong with the person who took the picture ...

I've been taking quite a few photographs here lately. Just thought I'd share a few favorites ...


My darling husband and I drove out the Tamiami Trail for the first time ever. Neither of us had ever been there (after 30+ years of living here!) and following our adventures in the Redlands the week before, we decided it was time. The Tamiami Trail, for those who don't know, is a road that cuts east-west across the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. It cuts right through Big Cypress National Preserve in the heart of the southern Everglades. It's so far out there, as a matter of fact, that there's no cell phone signal. When you get out there, you are definitely way out in no man's land.

I shot over 200 pictures, but this one is my favorite so far. It's a lonely little flower peeking out of the sawgrass plains along the side of the road.




I attended an Everglades Working Group meeting at Long Key Nature Center and as I was leaving the building I noticed this tree. I once worked for a flower shop and we often used tree fern to fill in flower arrangements. This tree, however, made me think differently about "tree fern." Isn't nature interesting?



Here's my guy, Boris A. Flufoshinski, aka "Mr. Fluffy." He is the boss of our neighborhood! All the other cats watch him carefully and stay out of his way because they know he's trouble! Mr. Fluffy is going to be 17-years-old in the fall. He came tumbling out of a cardboard box at Christmas when my daughter was five and he's been the boss of us ever since! This is his favorite nap spot, as he likes to have a pillow to prop his head up! And, he always snoozes on my side of the bed, though I couldn't tell you why this is ...

I've never posted my "art" before. Oh, sure, I've posted my photographs. I posted this one last year, right after it was taken. But I've never posted any of my scrapping or journaling stuff. Until now, that is.

I've studied on this photo a fair amount, because the sky doesn't show up in the photo, but it is clearly reflected in the water on the ground. The water was from the fire fighters hoses. I made this shot just hours after the fire was put out. The building was torn down a week later. I still can't get over how quickly it was gone!

The book page is from a book by Ogden Nash called "Hard Lines." It's an old book of poetry I picked up in a book store that specializes in old books. This book cost $6, so I didn't feel to bad tearing a page out. I cut out the letters and added some paper, trying to follow my artist friend, Janet's, theory on "design."

Now, I'll wait and see if anyone comments. I've never claimed to be an artist. But, I've always wished I was one.

One afternoon last week I was stopped in the east bound lane of Broward Boulevard at Andrews Avenue and this gentleman was sitting on the sidewalk looking beleaguered and so alone. NPR was on the car radio discussing the economic crisis and how it was affecting people. Unemployment. Foresclosure. Crime is up. Consumer confidence is down.

So, there I was, in my car at the red light, watching this man and wondering what his story is. And, almost without realizing it, I was reaching for my camera on the seat beside me. I got a half dozen shots off before the light turned green and another week passed before I uploaded my photos to the computer. This shot was the last in that set and I think it speaks volumes for today's economy. God bless this man, whoever he is. (And, I've seen him around since this was taken.) And, God bless America and give us the wisdom and patience to do the right things until things change again ...

a day on earth

I don't know who made this picture, but it's titled "a day on earth."

Considering that it's a new year, it struck me that it's the perfect picture of my mood. Last year brought many challenges and while I know I cannot control this life, I'm really glad to look forward to this new year rather than back at the sadness and loss of the old one.

Whoever the artist is, thank you for making this picture.

It's quite beautiful ...