Let me preface this book review by briefly explaining the term "Dada". Dadaism, as it refers to art, and therefore, doll making, is a movement which began during World War I. It was a reaction to, and against, political ideas of the time. As the term applies to art, it means, in a nutshell, making art from nothing.

This is the perfect title for this book, the dolls are made from items that would otherwise be discarded. Who's Your Dada, Redefining the Doll Through Mixed Media by Linda and Opie O'Brien is a fascinating look at creating works of art with found objects. For fans of "art dolls", this book is a must have. For those of you, like myself, who prefer more traditional dolls, there is a wealth of usable information and inspiration in this book.

I will admit, the dolls in the book are not pretty, in the traditional sense of dolls. Most of the dolls are downright ugly. But, that being said, the concept of the book is a beautiful one: recycling. You would be amazed by the variety of items that can be transformed into a doll! These dolls are assemblages of found and created objects which almost anyone can find or make, with what you already have in your craft supplies or garage. The introduction is very inspiring, read it first and you will want to keep turning the pages, even if the dolls leave you scratching your head.

This book is filled with instructions and "how-to's" which make the process seem quite simple and doable, as well as fun. Many of the materials discussed in the book are materials that doll makers are already familiar with, such as polymer clay. The color photographs fill the book, including the sections about materials and tools.

This book may not be for all doll makers, but I think it has more to offer traditional doll makers than you might think, and is worth a look.



Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls
Ebook with patterns and instructions to make 5 cloth dolls as well as chapters on general doll making techniques.The book includes 21 inch Lalena Doll, 21 inch David Doll, Bear Dolls, 9 inch Destiny Doll and 15 inch Annie Doll, all together in one handy book. 53 pages.Making and Dressing Cloth Dolls.