Inside the Studio
A Day in the Life of Mira Petkova's Workshop
Light, repetition, and carefully timed pauses shape a working day in Mira Petkova's Sofia studio.
ArtDoll archive
Stories
Studio visits, artist conversations, collecting guides, and essays on material culture.
Collector's Guide
How to Document Authenticity When a Handmade Figure Uses AI-Generated or Copied Designs
The strongest authenticity record is a dated chain from concept and source materials through construction, revisions, edition records, and sale—not a …
Materials
How to Turn Thrifted Textiles into Well-Fitting Art-Doll Clothes
Before cutting into a shawl, curtain, sleeping bag, or tablecloth, learn how to assess its condition, behavior, scale, and suitability for collectible …
Process
How to Make Wire-Supported Embroidered Leaves for Art Dolls
A practical stumpwork method for making flexible, neatly finished botanical details that can withstand careful handling on collectible figures.
Collector's Guide
How to Verify Handmade Craft Provenance When AI-Generated Designs Enter the Market
Build a clear chain from designer and maker to materials, process, sale, and ownership before deciding what a craft object represents.
Care & Display
Clear Casting and Suspended Objects: Display Risks for Handmade Figures
Clear materials are not interchangeable or automatically permanent. Learn how to identify display risks, inspect changes, and care for suspended …
Materials
How to Make Durable Botanical Accessories for Art Dolls
A practical guide to making doll-scale leaves, petals, and stems that hold their shape without adding unnecessary weight or snagging on handling and …
Collector's Guide
What to Record When You Make a One-of-a-Kind Art Doll
A clear provenance record preserves an art doll’s identity, making history, materials, ownership, and changes without turning uncertain details into …
Materials
Repurposed Fabric for Doll Clothes: A Material-Safety Checklist
Before cutting a thrifted shawl, curtain, coat, or sleeping bag, test its condition, behaviour, scale, and compatibility with the figure.
Process
How to Make Wired Stumpwork Leaves for Art-Doll Costumes
Build small, poseable embroidered leaves that hold their shape without sharp edges, excess bulk, or unnecessary strain on a handmade figure.