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
How to Add Volume to Fabric Art Dolls and Stitched Figures
A convincing stitched figure begins beneath the surface: choose the right support, build the major forms, and test the pose before adding fabric and …
Care & Display
How to Preserve Natural Materials in Art Dolls: Safety, Stability and Display
Before a woodland-inspired figure enters your collection, treat its bark, cones and twigs as potentially active organic materials—not simply …
Collector's Guide
Making a Memorial Handmade Figure for a Beloved Pet
Plan a meaningful memorial figure with clear references, realistic expectations, suitable materials, and a documented commissioning process.
Process
How to Add Volume to Embroidered Figures: Cores, Padding and Armatures
Dimensional embroidered figures depend on what supports the surface. Compare textile cores, padding and armatures, then build, anchor and test volume …
Care & Display
How to Care for Art Dolls Made with Bark, Pinecones and Other Natural Materials
Natural-material art dolls need slower handling, stable surroundings and careful observation. This guide explains how to reduce risks without …
Process
How to Embroider a Doll Face: Gaze, Expression and Stitch Direction
Map the face, test the gaze and build from major planes to fine highlights for a more convincing hand-embroidered expression.
Process
How to Add Volume to Textile Art Dolls: Stuffing, Armatures and Internal Forms
A textile figure gains its shape through a relationship between fabric surface, internal core and optional armature. Here is how to choose and combine …
Care & Display
How to Display and Store Embroidered and Wire-Worked Art Dolls Safely
Protect delicate art dolls from dust, light, snagging, deformation, pests, and unsuitable storage with a material-led care routine.
Materials
Designing a Convincing Gaze in an Embroidered Art Doll
A focused gaze comes from the relationships between eyes, not from realism alone.