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.
Materials
Choosing Fabric for Doll Clothes: Scale, Weight, Fray and Finish
The best fabric for doll clothes is not always the prettiest swatch: test scale, thickness, drape and a sample seam before cutting.
Care & Display
How to Display Art Dolls Safely: A Practical Care Checklist
A room-by-room checklist for displaying textile, painted, paper, wood, metal, and mixed-material art dolls while reducing avoidable risks.
Process
How to Fit Clothes on Small Art Dolls Without Losing Their Shape
Good doll clothing begins with the figure: measure its posture and joints, plan for ease and bulk, then test every garment before committing to final …
Materials
How to Choose and Use Stuffing for Handmade Art Dolls
The right art doll stuffing depends on the figure’s scale, surface, structure, and intended use. Here is how to compare fillings and build an even, …
Collector's Guide
A Provenance Checklist for Handmade Dolls Made from Found, Vintage, or Repurposed Materials
Create a reliable record for the finished doll and every significant reused component, without turning family stories, visual clues, or pattern …
Care & Display
How to Frame, Mount, and Display Textile Dolls Without Flattening Them
Choose the least restrictive display that supports a textile doll, leaves room around its details, and allows regular inspection.
Materials
How to Choose and Combine Materials for Handmade Doll Faces
Choose the face structure first, then add materials whose weight, flexibility, porosity, texture, and finish can work together.
Care & Display
How to Display Handmade Dolls: Light, Dust, Stability, and Safe Supports
Create an attractive display without inviting fading, tipping, dust, compression, or accidental damage.
Process
Armatures for Handmade Dolls: How to Choose Wire, Foam, Wood, or Cardboard
Choose an armature by matching the figure’s scale, pose, weight, handling, and outer covering—not simply by choosing the stiffest available material.