Kouklitas

Inspiration

2009-10-12T17:01:00.002-04:00

A look back : Ismene

2009-10-12T16:53:00.004-04:00

Earlier this year my mac expired, taking with it hundreds of photos and lots of writing. But luckily, thanks to the massive amounts of information technology, I managed to salvage a few of my favorite old pictures. Mainly of Ismene, the first custom nude doll I sold, and the only one who wasn't properly shot in a studio. Here are a few for your enjoyment-- she was so sassy.

Flashback

2009-10-06T12:54:00.003-04:00

Beautiful Crissy!! When I was a kid a friend of my mother's gave me one of her old Crissy dolls. Her hair mechanism was totally broken, but I spent a lot of time working with what was left. She disappeared into the void of thrift store donations before I could recognize her real value.

SPECTRA! I always remember seeing these sorry creatures at the Deseret Industries ( a Utah thrift store where i did most of my doll shopping as a kid. ) Maybe I should make a Kouklita spectra out of some metallic suede! I've been toying with the idea of making a robotic future girl since I started the line, but robot and rag doll don't really seem to work. I'm going to figure it out though...when Mary Beth my downstairs neighbor was moving out she had piles of electrical cords that I thought would make a really cool outfit. Maybe next collection!

And of course I love me some Lady LovelyLocks. But where, I must ask, is Duchess Ravenwaves?

EVB INTERVIEW!

2009-10-06T12:22:00.003-04:00

Who know fall was going to be such a busy month? The official website has landed. An interview I did for popular queer culture site East Village Boys dropped two days ago. I'm thrilled with all the great feedback I've received. I actually love the interview-- minus some of the expletives! (Sorry mom...) Who knew I was so vulgar?

The interview was amazing because I got the chance to work with some really awesome photographers. Allison Michael Orenstein came over one beautiful morning and we had fun on my porch and on the floor of my bedroom.

And David Kimelman followed me to the National Doll and Teddy Bear convention back in August, shooting the glamorous life of doll conventioneers.

Custom Girls

2009-10-06T12:06:00.005-04:00

Here's a selection of a few of my favorite custom girls I've done in the past.

My Dolly Parton- with a custom body, handmade wig, and one of a kind dress.

Custom Alyssa Doll, complete with freckle and birthmark details.

Custom Doll for Sharon Alexander's midtown hair salon/studio. Official studio pics to be going up on the main site soon.

Wed Viewings

2009-07-29T14:24:00.002-04:00

As part of my effort to update on a more regular basis, I am going to be posting doll related videos I love every Wednesday. Look forward to it!

The Quay Brothers - Mars Volta Music Video

Barbie Commercial - 1963

Basil Twist - Puppets Alive

Antique Collector

2009-07-28T16:55:00.002-04:00

Here's an eerie passage from a book my friend found in Boston, it was an antique doll collector who had photographed her entire collection, and written poetry about them...I think I've discovered my book idea.

Meet Ingrid

2009-06-05T18:27:00.002-04:00

Ingrid the One Eyed can see all. Her dress deconstructs into a bevvy of looks with about 4 major pieces. The purple was a dye color I developed to match her eyes- and her afro wig was created from what was once a straight ponytail cap.

News

2009-05-29T18:06:00.003-04:00

The Kouklitas are well on their way to getting their own website. Finished the gown for Evelyn, pictures below.

Evelyn's bodice is made out of a loosely woven cotton, the blouse+top layer of her dress is a vintage scarf from the 1930's I picked up in Paris, and the underskirt is two yards of silk organza. Because Evelyn has been asleep for almost two centuries, the entire gown was tea dyed post construction.

In other doll news, check out my friend Filep's blog Un Nouveau Ideal, scroll down to the May 24 entry to see his interview with doll collector Thanos Samaras, who makes his own line of gorgeously packaged doll wigs. Here is a video of Thanos' entry into the annual Blythe dressup contest.

A few new girls....

2009-04-22T17:26:00.002-04:00

Snejana is excited for springtime!!

And some new pics a few new/not so new girls for Spring......
more pics to come soon!

Bloomingdales Open See

2009-04-09T19:06:00.000-04:00

Blushing Muslin

2009-03-23T15:54:00.005-04:00

I had my first showing of The Kouklitas at the end of Fashion Week in New York last month, and lots of wonderful things have happened since then. I've been laid off from my job (I'm probably the only happy person about this given the state of our economy.) Which means I can work full time on the dolls while collecting unemployment--and looking for another job of course (cough, cough.)

Blushing Muslin was staged at Red Flower, a small shop on Prince Street between Elizabeth and Bowery that sells a line of high end bath, beauty, and home products made from the most wonderfully organic variety of flowers and scents. The booze was flowing, music was playing, and about 70 people came in and out the doors over the course of the evening. It was a wonderful crowd, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Thanks friends! The next show will be bigger and better. Stay tuned for more news from the Kouklitas.

There were thirteen dolls on display, some you may have seen and some who were finished hours before the doors opened. The gallery was up through Mid-march. I have since brought all the dolls back to my apartment with the exception of the few that were sold, and although the girls are glad to be home, I have to prepare them for another trip -- To Henri Bendel's!

Stay tuned....

Artist Spotlight: Marina Bychkova

2009-01-20T15:56:00.004-05:00

Marina Bychkova's porcelain creations are well known in the high end collector's market. Her aesthetic is timeless, and her talent limitless. I have been a fan since I saw a picture of her dolls pasted on the inspiration board for Basso S/S 09 (The design house I work for.)

I have a lot of fun reading her blog-- her latest entry was about recreating an outdoor photoshoot, indoors. Aside from being a phenomenal artist, she is a brilliant writer.

The thing I love the most about her dolls is their timelessness, she truly creates them to be heirlooms--to outlive their owners. Reading about her process is fascinating--each porcelain doll goes through several stages of firing, and are strung together using industrial steel. Each joint is lined in suede, enabling the doll to maintain her pose.

Check out Marina's work at Enchanted Doll

*Photographs by Chad Isley

Doll Preview

2009-01-20T15:52:00.005-05:00

Here are two more Kouklitas in the works. Both are dressed dolls. Stay posted for their individual shoots and ordering information.

Bianca

The Lady Marjory

Integrity with Style.

2009-01-20T14:46:00.006-05:00

Bravo to Integrity Toys! Every new collection tops the last. They are one of the only fashion doll manufacturers that continues to sell out their product before the dolls arrive to the dealers and stores.

They breathed new life into Gene Marshall, bringing a 20th century movie star into the 21st century. Madra Lord also made her dramatic return, pictured above with jet black hair and a gorgeous face.

Their Fashion Royalty line is continually astounding in its quality and attention to detail. They truly bring high fashion to the doll market, like the Burberry reference via Pierre De Vries.

And I'm also excited about their new Hollywood Royalty collection. They did a spot on Lana Turner last year, and they are coming back with a gorgeous Josephine Baker.

Integrity toys is truly living up to their name.

Duo Debut

2009-01-05T21:13:00.007-05:00

Meet the first two dressed dolls available in the Kouklita Collection. Each doll is hand sewn, stuffed and crafted with many hours of love and attention. They are made from muslin and stand at about 26" tall.

Veda is a clever fashionista who's style can be described as High Street meets Harajuku. Her scarlet red hair is an attached wig handmade from mongolian lamb, complementing her turqouise eyes and sideways smile.

Her dress breaks down into about three looks. The overskirt is constructed from over 40 swatches of Ralph Lauren houndstooth and check wool, hand shirred and attached to black silk taffeta; it closes with a wide waist sash and doubles as a halter dress as pictured below. The dress underneath is made from additional wools, pieced together in squares, with a silk tulle bubble petticoat.

Accessories include a pair of crocodile boots, bobby pin, bracelet, a tulle hat that doubles as a shoulder wrap, and a scarf with brooch. Prices are available upon request.

Bonnie is a modern Irish princess who is always trying to be a little edgy, despite her massive trust fund. Her copper wig is attached and styled into a mound of curls with just the right fringe for her feathered lashes.

Her gown breaks down into about five looks. The overskirt is made from a soft wool tartan, with two rows of pleated ribbon and double ruffles -a row of plaid on top of black silk taffeta. A 4" band of horsehair is attached to the bottom of the skirt. The sash is a dark green grosgrain ribbon. It may also be worn as a dress alone (not pictured).

When the pleated tartan under-dress is worn as on top of the overskirt instead of the petticoat, the gown becomes floor length.

When worn alone, with or without the shoulder wrap that doubles as a scarf, the short dress brings out Bonnie's inner punk. Her accessories include fishnet gloves, and crocodile boots.