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
Needle-Felted Doll Faces: How to Prevent Pilling, Cracking, and Distorted Features
A wool-sculpted face should have a firm structural core, broadly integrated features, and care suited to a delicate fiber object—not a washable toy.
Process
Building Stumpwork-Inspired Textile Figures: Armatures, Wired Leaves, and Stable Embroidery
Use internal supports to carry weight, then build raised embroidery and delicate textile details as tested, repairable surface elements.
Collector's Guide
Documenting Handmade Art Dolls for Provenance: A Maker and Collector Checklist
One living record, begun at completion or acquisition and updated carefully, makes a handmade doll easier to identify, care for, and transfer …
Materials
Wire Armatures for Textile Art Dolls: Choosing Gauge, Joints, and Padding
Choose the least complex internal structure that supports the intended pose, surface work, and handling of a collectible textile figure.
Process
Needle-Felted Doll Faces: How to Shape Features Without Weak Spots
Build facial planes first, then integrate each feature across a broad, blended base to reduce fragile protrusions, hard spots, and visible needle …
Materials
Turning a Sentimental Garment Into a Memory Doll
A memory doll from clothing works best when the original textile is assigned a role it can safely carry, rather than being forced to bear every …
Care & Display
How to Store Handmade Textile Dolls Without Crushing Clothes, Hair, or Embroidery
Support each doll individually, separate materials that may snag or transfer color, and use a roomy box in a stable indoor space rather than a tight …
Process
Needle-Felted Doll Faces: How to Sculpt Features Without Weak Spots
A firm head core, broad fiber joins, and slow, balanced refinement help wool facial features stay clear and integrated.
Collector's Guide
Documenting Handmade Art Dolls for Provenance: A Maker and Collector Checklist
Build a linked record set that keeps a handmade doll connected to its maker, materials, edition terms, condition, and known history over time.