By Marina Shadrina
Photos courtesy of Marina Shadrina
Greetings to all!
I’m delighted to welcome you to this wonderful magazine. My name is Marina (in the doll world, I’m known as Marina-AllforDoll), and it’s a great honor for me to share with you the story of my love for dolls.
Like many girls who grew up in the Soviet Union (I was born in the 1970s in Siberia, on the shores of Lake Baikal), I had a lot of dolls. They were gifted to me by my parents, relatives, and family friends. I remember how my father made a long, tall shelf for me that stretched along the entire wall of my room — my dolls sat and stood in a neat row on it. By the age of 14, I had around 30 different dolls in my collection. I took great care of them: I admired them, talked to them, and would dust them all monthly.
But as often happens, my interests shifted in my teenage years. My “doll era” ended, and I gradually moved away from dolls. Almost the entire collection was given to my nieces, the children of friends, and neighborhood kids — something I’m honestly happy about, as my dolls found new, kind little hands. I kept three of them — my most beloved ones.
In 2004, I moved to the United States, to the state of Colorado. Dolls remained in the past, until one accidental moment changed everything.
My mother, a professional seamstress, had spent her life sewing children’s clothing, especially outerwear. After retiring, she couldn’t just sit idle, but with age, working with large patterns became more difficult for her. I could sense her frustration and loss of inspiration. I wanted to find her a sewing-related activity that would be less physically demanding.
Then one day, I came across a stunning doll on the internet — elegant, a bit larger than Barbie, and dressed in a luxurious coat trimmed with faux fur. It was Gene Marshall (though I didn’t know her name at the time). I asked my mom, “Do you think you could sew for a doll like this?” Without hesitation, she replied, “Easily!” So, I bought the doll for her and opened a small online store where she could sell her fashion doll clothes. My mother came back to life.
Helping her, I got completely drawn in: I read many books and magazines, browsed countless websites, and came to realize the doll world is an entire universe. I was hooked. My forgotten love returned. I was “sick with dolls” again — and this time, I’m sure, it will last forever.
I began dedicating my free time to doll museums, exhibitions, and events in Colorado. I became especially fascinated with porcelain dolls. At first, I was afraid to even touch them — they seemed too fragile, like one wrong move would shatter them into pieces.
If someone had told me then, “Marina, you’ll be making dolls like these. You’ll learn how to make slip and even paint their eyes yourself!” I would have said, “Oh, come on, are you joking?”
But fate introduced me to a wonderful person — Delores Gray. At one exhibition, she was representing her school, Dolls Anonymous. I took her course and learned how to pour doll molds, work with greenware porcelain parts, and paint porcelain dolls with china paint powder, just like I’m doing now and like they did in the ’80s and ’90s. She shared her secrets and knowledge with me, and I’m endlessly grateful to her.
As for painting faces, I’m self-taught. I think my years in art school helped (I studied for nearly six years as a child). My teachers used to say I had talent, but I believe talent alone isn’t enough — you have to work hard and constantly improve.
Creativity brings positive emotions. And emotions are what make this world real. The world of dolls is a special kind of reality, and if you give yourself to it with love, it will definitely respond in kind.
When I “met” Dianna Effner’s dolls, it was love at first sight — especially with her porcelain dolls. There’s something unexplainably magical about them. I never got to meet Dianna in person, but I’m sure she was a bright and incredibly kind soul. She left a deep imprint on doll culture, and I’m so happy I can be part of her legacy.
In 2024, I acquired the Ultra Chic porcelain slip company. The slips (Ultra Chic and China Silk) were developed by Tony Tanner and are considered among the best in the world. They’re perfect for porcelain dolls — they pour easily, don’t need supports during firing, and create a flawlessly smooth surface for painting. Produced chemical-free, they’re simply the finest quality on the market. All of my dolls are made using this slip.
Both types of slip are sold in pints and gallons and can be purchased immediately through my online store. Colors are all premixed and range from soft and sweet to bright and dynamic.
Today, I offer additional products for those who dream of making a doll of their own. If you visit my website, you’ll find a section called Bisque Doll Kits. Porcelain doll kits are available here, with which you can create a beautiful piece. It’s your doll to customize as you wish. You can also find a lot of interesting information on my blog.
People often ask me: “Are you a collector?” The answer is no, I’m not a collector, but I do own a few valuable pieces. And I have one particular hobby: I love “rescuing” dolls — finding old, forgotten, broken ones and bringing them back to life.
Even though it may seem like it, maybe nothing truly happens by chance. The most important thing is to believe and never give up. I’ve had to overcome a lot, but I’m endlessly grateful to God and to my family for their support, honesty, and love. And the feeling is mutual.
I would also like to acknowledge the people who’ve supported and cheered for me along the way — the extra encouragement truly means a lot.
We, as a community, have a special gift — a love for dolls. Not everyone is given this. Cherish this gift, value it, and share it with others. I sincerely wish you happiness, inspiration, and the fulfillment of your dearest dreams.
With love,
Marina-AllforDoll-MAFD
