The Divergent Doll Maker

When you're an artist working in any creative field for a long time, you see a lot of change. You grow, you evolve and you walk a tightrope between expressing yourself authentically and creating something that other people value and want to buy ... and that's not always easy! So, how do you know when it's time to move on and do something different? Find my art here Follow me on Instagram Watch the...

If you're starting out as an artist, selling your work can be daunting. Should you open an Etsy shop? Can you sell on social media? Do you need a website? This week, I'm here to guide you through some of the options for selling art, both online and in person, and give you some ideas you might not have thought of! Sign up for my weekly newsletter Find me on Instagram Find some of my art dolls at Ga...

In this episode, to mark the creation of my 700th one of a kind art doll, I reflect on the things I've learned about doll making, running a creative business and life in general. Video episodes can be found on the  Spyderthread Youtube channel Find me on Instagram Buy me a Coffee   Here's where you can find some of the tools and materials I use regularly:   Quilting clips Quilting c...

These days it seems like everything is getting more expensive, so if you want to start a new hobby like doll making, or even turn it into a business to help pay the bills, buying everything you need can feel overwhelming, but don't worry! In this episode I have 7 tips for doll making on a tight budget. Video episodes can be found on the Spyderthread Youtube channel Find me on Instagram Buy me a Co...

When you're starting an art or craft business, the online world can feel like a very crowded place, so how do you stand out from the crowd and find your own unique artistic voice? See what art dolls I currently have for sale Check out this book for doll making techniques and inspiration: Susanna Oroyan - Designing the Doll: From Concept to Construction [As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifyin...

In this episode, I share how my doll making journey began, and discuss some of the things I wish I knew as a fledgling doll artist, including the best places to find information, the difference between making art dolls and toys, choosing the right materials and navigating copyright. Here are some of the doll making books I found (and still find) helpful: Susanna Oroyan - Designing the Doll [From c...

Welcome to the Divergent Doll Maker Podcast, hosted by Jo Hards, the artist behind Spyderthread art dolls.   Jo is best known for the creepy cute, button eyed characters they bring to life on a narrowboat in Wales. As a late discovered autistic human, making dolls helped Jo to recover from a long period of burnout and opened the door to a full time career.   If you’re a new doll maker, o...