The Doll Dreamer Guild presents a Showcase of dolls created in the studios of our members.
Some are the work of their original sculptor, Dianna Effner. Some are the work of the guild instructors
and professional artisan members. Some are the work of apprentice level members who have received
high honors in the Doll Dreamers Guild Showcase/Challenge. They are displayed here for your enjoyment.
Some of the dolls are also available for purchase. They are shown with contact info in case you
have questions and would like to contact the individual artisan.
Dolls by Dianna and friends…..Doll Collaborations
Although I love to make costumes for dolls almost as I love sculpting and
painting the faces, my busy schedule doesn’t allow much time for this delightful activity.
For this reason I have been an advocate for collaboration on studio dolls.
Most of my dolls are the product of collaborations with various professional costume designers.
“Kinda Stylin’” is one such example which is the work of Londie Philips and myself.
I send Londie a naked doll and she creates a one of a kind costume taking her inspiration from the attitude,
mood, personality and coloring of the doll. She has a definite flare for whimsy and is particularly
interested in the element of ‘movement’ in her designs.
This piece stands just under 16 inches high including the stand. Her dress is made of silk.
It has metallic lace and bead embellishments as do the fanciful sandals and purse. Her wig is mohair.
She is a one of a kind rendition from the Sweet Petite Series. The head is from Expressions mold
‘Madeline.” Her blue green eyes led Londie to her selection of delicate tones for her costume.
Her hands were altered to hold the purse. Watch for more designs by Londie Phillips
Price: $1250
“Annalisa” is collaboration with a German artist named Barbel Saksi who does amazing
things with knitting needles. She created this whole beautiful one-of--kind ensemble for Annalisa in baby wool,
including the shoes and lambkin doll Annalisa is Dianna’s latest baby mold modeled after her niece
she looks so warm and cuddly in her gorgeous new outfit.
Price: $1250
Little Lou with Antonia by Dianna Effner
Edition of 10,
Little Lou is an all porcelain doll, 10 1/2 inches in height. She is holding the antique doll,
Antonia, from her Great Grandmother's collection.
Her blue voile dress with hand dyes silk ribbon embellishment was designed
by Nedra Newson. She comes on a wooden stand with invisible support.
Price $750
Little Playmate
Dianna had some dolls produced overseas as a companion doll for a souvenir
doll that she designed for a UFDC Luncheon in 2004. Since there were some dolls left over she decided
to some fun with them and repaint them as one-of-a-kinds. She sent dolls to various costume specialists for new costumes.
These are the ones that have come back home. Little Playmate is about 10 1/2 inches tall. She has porcelain legs and
hands and is designed to cuddle her baby doll. Each doll comes in it’s own box, complete with a wooden stand and
of course her all porcelain baby doll.
Here are the Little Playmates that have come back. We will display others as they become available.
“Trick or Treat Playmate”
She’s ready for Halloween in this adorable outfit was designed and made by Rosie Fabiano a professional
designer and teacher of pattern making, drafting and clothing construction. This darling costume is made of
Gold lame trimmed with lace and wire edged ribbon. The shoes, baby clown, wig and face paint were
added by Dianna. Watch for more designs by Rosie Fabiano.
Price $300
“Heirloom Playmate”
She looks so, so sweet and simply elegant in this heirloom dress by Sandy Daniels.
Playmate and dolly are both adorned in French lace and Swiss cotton voile. Sandy also made her
leather high button boots. Repainted with tender brown eyes by Dianna Effner.
Watch for more designs by Sandy Daniels.
Price $300
“1908 Playmate”
She’s a little bit old fashioned in this stylish dress of dusty peach dupioni silk with tatted lace trim
designed by Professional designer and guild instructor Nedra Newson. Even the baby is stylish in her tiny
dress with plaid trim. A straw bonnet completes the outfit. It had to be brown eyes of course this young lady
dressed in warm subtle tones. Watch for more designs by Nedra Newson.
Price $300
“Lovely in Blue Playmate”
Here is another heirloom design for Playmate designed and made by Lois Fisher who teaches
heirloom sewing classes. She’s a vision of femininity in a pale blue gown of cotton Batiste trimmed with
French lace and hand embroidery. Ensemble includes heirloom gown for baby, bonnet and under things
embellished with heirloom detailing. Dianna just had paint blue eyes to go with this costume gown so she’d the
only blue-eyed Playmate in the bunch….so far.
Price $300
2 Little Girls
Here are 2 small dolls by made and painted by Dianna Effner wearing
lovely silk dresses by Aria Von Es of Australia.
”Ivy” is a one-of-a-kind doll from the 10 inch Portrait 1 mold. She is dressed in a beautiful
Ivory silk dress with delicately hand embroidered rose trim. A pale peach straw bonnet was
dyed to match the roses on her dress. Her wig and bear are made of mohair. Her eyes are soft blue gray.
“Jessica” is wearing a pale blue plaid silk dress with tan braid trim and delicate embroidered roses.
She holds an artist designed mohair bear named Jodie by Teresa Yang. The bear is trimmed
with silk ribbon roses. A hand made straw bonnet completes her outfit. Her hair is synthetic mohair.
She has blue eyes. A sprinkling of freckles grace her little pixie face.
Price $550ea.