Hello!

Hi All, I see I am being drawn out of my chronic lurking, probably for the best!
I am a 20 year old student living in southern England, and doll making has been my main focus for the last couple of years. Jointed dolls are my main inspiration, and I have spent a very long time trying to perfect my own jointing system for use with porcelain. While using the form of a strung ball jointed doll as the basis for my ideas, my own design has veered away from stringing, to using isolated friction within each joint to allow posability. Because my studies are very brief led at the moment, I haven't had much time to work on a whole doll, and am mostly producing samples and experiments. In the past my dolls have been quite mythological figures, based arounds stories and poems I have written, and there is a definate bird/anthropomorphic theme, stemming from my quest for the mystical in the natural world.
Most recently I have been feeling an unsuppressable urge to work in metal, and have realised that this material may in fact be more suited to my designs and personality than ceramic. I am really excited about the possibilties that could be opened up by expanding my skills in fine metal work, maybe encorporating ceramic, plastics and textiles! Also featuring in my ambitions for the near future is to become more competant at plaster mould making and slipcasting.
I guess I'm not a cut and dried bjd artist, but I really value the opportunity to interact with and see the work of other active doll makers, and with a definate dearth of exciting doll making in the UK, the internet and books are a vital source of inspiration and support for me.

Glad to meet you all!
Bettie