Stephanie Finnegan, Author at DOLLS magazine | Collecting Dolls

Henry & Zofia Zawieruszynski: ‘Retired’ Dollmakers Continue to Create

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Collectible Dolls, Dollmakers, Zawieruszynski |

When Henry and Zofia Zawieruszynski decided to “retire” after 30 years of creating memorable dolls...

Kidding Around: Judy Porter’s BJDs Celebrate Children

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD), Collectible Dolls, Doll Artists and Designers, Judy Porter Dolls |

Being able to see the world in a quirky and comical way is a blessing. That was particularly true during these past few years when a global pandemic and its attendant fear circulated across countries and communities. During these isolating and unusual days, doll artist Judy D. Porter looked around, took stock of the situation, and knew that a special brand of protective dolls was called for. Enter her enchanting line of Little Guardians.

Lights! Camera! Laura Tuzio-Ross’ Lifelike Dolls Draw Filmmakers as Well as Collectors

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Baby Dolls & Reborn Dolls, Collectible Dolls, Doll Artists and Designers |

Laura Tuzio-Ross, who was voted this year’s Artist of the Year in the Dolls Awards of Excellence, has been pleasing collectors for nearly two decades with her vinyl reborns and silicone baby dolls. Her life-size sculpts are so realistic that she’s also become a go-to woman when a producer needs a lifelike baby doll. Her incredible sculpted infants have a thriving life as actors, stand-ins, and supporting players. It’s a path that Tuzio-Ross never would have envisioned for herself, but she is walking it like a red-carpet luminary.

Connie Lowe’s BJDs Pay Tribute to Family Memories, History

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD), Collectible Dolls, Connie Lowe Dolls - Marbled Halls, Doll Artists and Designers |

Doll collecting is a very special hobby. It permits people to hold on to memories and to physically cradle their connections to childhood in their hands. Doll collecting and doll artistry are indeed powerful pastimes — and the term “past” and “times” are extremely relevant to Connie Lowe’s Marbled Halls 2022 lineup of dolls.

Zwergnase: German Dollmaker Builds on Tradition

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Collectible Dolls, Dollmakers, Zwergnase |

For almost 28 years, Zwergnase has been making dolls that cause collectors to do double takes. Photos of their dolls, frequently posed against natural landscapes, make viewers wonder if they are witnessing actual children at play rather than exceptionally well-crafted dolls.

Virginia Lee Embraces Technology That Helps Her Create Dolls Filled With Personality, Charm

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD), Collectible Dolls, Doll Artists and Designers, Forever Virginia - Virginia Lee |

Growing up, Virginia Lee’s supportive and caring family encouraged her to discover her own path and to trek it bravely and confidently. Today, Lee lives in the small town of Edwardsville in southwest Illinois, just a few hours away from her family’s farm. That proximity underscores the connection and appreciation she carries in her heart.

Enduring Legacy: DOLLS Celebrates Dianna Effner’s Lifetime of Achievement

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Dianna Effner, Doll Artists and Designers, Doll Awards & Competitions, DOLLS magazine Lifetime Achievement Award |

The recipient of DOLLS magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2022 is the late Dianna Effner. The accolade is a posthumous acknowledgment of Effner’s lifetime commitment to doll artistry as an educator, mentor, creator, and entrepreneur. While Effner was lauded for making dolls and doll molds, she was simultaneously making dreams come true. Through her hands-on seminars, classes, and workshops, combined with her business that provided molds and instructional videos, Effner ensured that other women who aspired toward professional success in the doll world would be able to follow their porcelain path.

Anna Maryina’s Dolls Capture the Many Facets of Female Beauty

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Art Dolls, Collectible Dolls, Porcelain Dolls |

The fairy tale of The Frog Princess has influenced Russian artists across all media. Maryina...

Beautiful Dreamers: Dianna Effner’s Family, Friends Continue Her Legacy

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Collectible Dolls, Dianna Effner, News and Notes |

Dianna Effner passed away Oct. 14, 2020, but her legacy lives on. Collectors around the globe have acknowledged the charm and innocence that her dolls convey to all who bought them. Effner’s dolls truly were Little Darlings, the name that succinctly captured their appearance and their appeal.

Enduring Legacy: Madame Alexander Offers Lovely, Classic Designs for 2022

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Collectible Dolls, Doll Collecting, Madame Alexander Dolls |

The Madame Alexander legacy defines the pursuit of the American Dream, along with the traits that delineate a successful and creative soul. Madame Beatrice Alexander was a successful self-made businesswoman. Born Bertha Alexander in New York, the enterprising young woman borrowed the name Beatrice from Shakespeare’s plays for its more sophisticated and stylish sound. When an advertising executive noted that she looked French, she gleefully added the “Madame” as a nod to fashionable European aristocrats.

Barbie Bonanza: Mattel’s fashion queen is more versatile than ever in 2021

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Barbie Dolls & Mattel, Black Dolls & Ethnic Dolls, Collectible Dolls, Dollmakers, Fashion Dolls, Play Dolls |

For 2021, Mattel’s Barbie designers are more committed than ever to creating dolls that mirror real-world collectors and their icons.

Simply Elegant: Edith Schmidt’s clothing designs are lovely, lyrical

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Doll Accessories, Doll Clothes |

American fashion designer Rachel Zoe once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” This is particularly true in the case of Arizona doll costumer Edith Schmidt. Schmidt, who designs under the name Edith’s Editions, creates beautiful fashions for BJDs. Her doll models can’t tell you what they want or what they aspire to be. Instead, their completed wardrobes do the talking for them.

Angels to Zombies: Dolly Dames creations reflect both artist’s faith, love of scary movies

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Collectible Dolls |

Dolly Dames’ Exstasie Harvey is a walking contradiction. Raised in Ohio, the artist creates her one-of-a-kind (OOAK) cloth dolls from her current Las Vegas home. From a childhood filled with Cabbage Patch Kids to her adult years lit by neon, Harvey knows that her lifestyle and her handiwork are truly unique.

Judy Pollard conjures up winged creatures, fantastic friends in doll form

Posted by Stephanie Finnegan | Ball Jointed Dolls (BJD), Collectible Dolls, Doll Artists and Designers, Fantasy & Popular Culture, J Pollard Creations - Judy Pollard |

When Judy Pollard watches a fantasy movie, she could almost claim it as a business trip! While viewing one of these epic films, Pollard finds herself immersed in the costumes, the characters, and the quests. Then the artist meticulously takes these magical cinematic moments and translates them into her lovely fairy dolls. Her outpouring of dolls is like a big movie cast. Each of her creations is a character in its own right.