Hello, Digital Darling,

I spent most of the day yesterday with Helen Kish - and let me tell ya - big things are on the horizon for all of us in June! Helen Kish will be teaching beginner doll face painting and doll sculpting classes at the June Virtual Convention - isn’t this just SO exciting? I can’t wait to see the doll artists emerge out there that didn’t know they were doll artists, and for current artists to pick up a trick or two from one of the most accomplished artists in the world. We can all learn something from these classes and even if you don’t take part, isn't it just so thrilling to see an artist in action? It will be the best time! Helen’s classes (and all convention activities) are included in your $25.00 cost of registration. The add ons of kits, dolls, and extras are just that - extra fun!

Below you will find a first look at the upcoming Kish Doll Class Kits, two new dolls, and a note from Helen’s new blog.

I was able to see the optional sculpting and painting class kits that Helen designed for her Virtual Classes at the June Convention. They are ‘Kish Kits” and they are beyond amazing. Helen totally went above and beyond with them - as usual! There are two kits, and they give you all the basic tools for learning the primary skills of sculpting and painting. (You won’t be making an actual doll with the supplies and the clay is not meant to be fired.) What I love about each of these kits is the quality of the tools, and each kit comes with a head. The skulls for the sculpting kit are SO COOL. The sculpting kit comes with three kinds of clay that you will use to put over the skull to sculpt your face. Tamas was busy making them when I arrived yesterday. The painting kit comes with special colors that Helen mixed herself - colors you can’t purchase anywhere. The kits are the exact same tools that Helen uses in her studio. They are tried and true!

Helen made a very limited amount of the kits (25 of each kit for the first edition!), and we will be debuting them LIVE from her studio on my (Rachel Hoffman’s)Facebook page on Wednesday May 22nd at 1 PM MDT. Here is a sneak peek at both kits! They are priced at $200.00 plus shipping and you will purchase them directly through Helen. I will send you links at 12 PM MDT on the day and post them inside the June Convention Group. As always, the kits are totally optional for the classes at the Convention but if you do not already have these materials, it makes it a lot easier to get them in one convenient package. I feel these kits are a deal - and I can’t wait to chat with Helen about all the things contained inside them.

ALSO! Helen debuted two new dolls that are Virtual Doll Convention Exclusives AND all hand painted by Helen! We will open up pre-orders for these dolls on Wednesday as well. You will receive the links in the same email as the kits. Here is a first look at 12” Runa (limited to 20) in her delightful spring frock and 14” Piper (limited to 15) in darling corduroy overalls. Runa is $375 and Piper is $450.00. You can also upgrade to a custom eye color on each of these dolls for an extra charge if you desire. Helen is busy painting them as we speak!

Helen Kish is also busy building her new website for debut on this upcoming Wednesday but here is an excerpt from her first blog on her new site:

Rumors of My Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated…

Several years ago, someone shocked me by asking if was enjoying retirement. Looking back, I think rumors of my retirement were spurred by the disappearance of our Kish & Company website.

I despaired of ever getting another one up! Then, we got involved with Rachel Hoffman’s June Virtual Doll Convention. Rachel kindly offered to help us set up this new website just today! She is wonderful!

It will take us some time to fill out the empty pages as we learn how to navigate new waters. But bear with us and hopefully it will one day be complete.

I never ceased creating new dolls, although the number of designs certainly diminished. Now that prices have skyrocketed in China, we wonder if we will be able to produce our designs there much longer. But, that doesn’t mean the end - it is merely a bend in the road.

I still have dreams about getting my hands in earth clay once again….

I think it is safe to say that there is no demise in sight for Helen Kish and Kish & Company. It is a dream for so many of us collectors and artists to learn from and share in the great art of dollmaking and collecting with Helen and Tamas Kish - and with each other through our Virtual Doll Convention. It is truly OUR Convention.

If you had asked me 6 months ago if all of this would be happening right now, I wouldn’t have believed it. But it IS happening…and all I had to do was ask. I asked you, and you said YES to this adventure. Watching all of you go after something you love continues to be one of the greatest privileges of my life.

In Love and Dolls,

Rachel

Click below to register for the June ‘Art of the Doll’ Virtual Doll Convention. (If you are already registered and inside, thank you so much!)

Thank You to Our 2019 Art of the Doll Advertising Sponsors

Title Sponsor Partners {Highest Level} $1,500.00

The Grovian Doll Museum & Carmel Doll Shop

Billye Harris of Ashley’s Dolls

The Carmel Doll and Toy Study Group

Alan Scott Pate Antique Japanese Dolls

Dollspart

Turn of the Century Antiques

Event Sponsor Partners $500.00:

NC Museum of Dolls, Toys, and Miniatures

Susan Sirkis - The Wish Booklets

Doll Artisan Guild

Kathy Turner - Virtu Doll

Ohio National Doll Show October 5 & 6, 2019

Gail Lemmon - All Dolled Up

Steiffgal Rebekah Kaufman

Paula Walton’s A Sweet Rememberance

National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA)

Bradley Justice Yarbrough of The Swell Doll Shop

Business Sponsor Partner $250.00:

The Paper Doll Shoppe

Lee Feickert ‘The Little Ones’

Toledo Doll and Bear Show

Doll Show USA