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.
Process
Needle-Felted Doll Faces: Sculpt Features Without Distorting the Head
A firm core, a clear facial map, and small blended additions make expressive wool faces easier to shape and repair.
Collector's Guide
Documenting One-of-a-Kind Art Dolls: A Provenance Checklist for Makers and Collectors
Build a portable object record that preserves what is known about a handmade doll without overstating authenticity, ownership, condition, or value.
Care & Display
How to Pack and Store Handmade Art Dolls Without Crushing Delicate Details
Protect handmade dolls with an individually assessed, reversible support system that prevents pressure, rubbing, bending, accessory loss, and …
Process
Wire Armatures for Art Dolls: How to Stop Limbs from Sagging, Twisting, or Breaking
Build the armature for the pose your doll must hold, reinforce its load points, and limit reposing before the finished surface is at risk.
Collector's Guide
Documenting Handmade Dolls and Dollhouses for Family Provenance
Build an updateable family record that separates what an object shows, what documents support, and what relatives remember.
Care & Display
Repairing a Plush or Soft-Sculpture Mouth Without Changing Its Expression
Before closing or tightening a textile mouth, identify how it was built and test the smallest possible adjustment.
Process
How to Build a Stable Wire Armature for Art Doll Legs
Stable art doll legs begin with load planning, a continuous leg-and-spine structure, deliberate feet, and balance tests before sculpting.
Collector's Guide
How to Document Handmade Art Dolls for Provenance, Care, and Future Collectors
Create a portable object record that helps future owners identify, care for, and contextualize a handmade figure without overstating what incomplete …
Process
Armatures for Handmade Figures: Choosing Wire, Joints, and Soft Structure
Choose the least complex internal structure that safely supports the pose, weight, material, and level of movement your handmade figure actually …