ISBN 1-57120-024-X, Softcover, 144 pages, C&T Publishing, P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549, phone 510-677-0377, orders 1-800-284-1114, or website http://www.ctpub.com and email ctinfo@ctpub.com .

This is a beadacious extravaganza doll book! This inspirational book can be appreciated by all. Susanna Oroyan has been a dollmaker and teacher for many years and I have read many entertaining articles about her in doll magazines. Anatomy of a Doll offers page after page of color images of dolls created by today's dollmakers. Oroyan blows us away with fantastic dolls splashed across the page and then includes all the instructions you need to make your own creations. I was so inspired with this book, I immediately sat down and made a mini bead and fiber crocheted mermaid to go on one of my purses. This design was not in the book, but looking through all the images made my imagination spin with new ideas. This book is a festival of fun, a gift of happiness and joy and an excellent reference book. Oroyan includes the work of 106 doll artists and opens with a dedication and thanks to these artists and others who helped contribute to the book. This page includes a color image of two dolls created by Oroyan, like a tasty morsel or appetizer before the main course.

The Table of Contents sprinkles dolls between the sections and chapters and then we come to the Preface where Oroyan explains how the instructions are laid out and what to expect. Oroyan states that dolls are made of all mediums and it does not make any difference which one chooses, the instructions will still be applicable. She notes the directions are not for an exact doll, but figures in general and ideas to help you create using your own designs.

Introduction - Designing Original Dolls has many statements about design and creativity that is true in all artwork and excellent input. The creative process is explained followed by the design process and each page has awesome dolls to view as you read the text.

Finding Your Idea gives you hints on choosing subject matter and Deciding Characters offers tips and thoughts on making the doll's character evident through shaping, color and other physical additions.

Evolution of the Doll - What is a Doll? This chapter has a complete section of doll illustrations to help clarify and define what they are. A little history of dolls is included and a hint of the wide spectrum of materials and forms used to create dolls. Then specific sections identify various forms.

Elemental Forms contain abstract figures and natural forms used to make dolls, that is found objects such as sticks, wood and stone. Page 14 displays three color images of elemental forms and 'Not a Chance: Spirit of the Fine Frosty Friday' by Margi Hennen is no doubt on my wish list. This doll touched me deeply and I wanted to take it out of the pages and hug it. The doll is made of leaf printed cloth, embroidered and found materials added. It evokes a deep feeling I would not know how to express and I am sure some of the dolls throughout this book would do the same for you.

Primitive Forms are dolls that are made by using wrapping, tying and knotting techniques, including yarn dolls and handkerchief dolls. Simple Forms are dolls that can be created quickly and with minimal amount of stitches and easy embellishment. Illustrations for making the simple forms are shown in a step-by-step process. Basic Forms includes star shapes that can become figures, circles that can become faces and folded paper that can represent basic shapes. The star shaped women doll examples are humorous and fun, they have already brought another design idea to mind for me.

The Outline Form starts into a little more stitching and shaping with the needle than the previous chapters. These figures have the appearance of more movement than those in previous chapters. The outline form has great expression in some of the outlines with little added embellishment or completion of all facial characteristics. The illustration at the lower left of two figures is extremely powerful as just line drawings.

The Basic Rag Doll has a one piece pattern and a pattern cut in pieces for a second choice. Variations take the basic form to new heights with slight shaping and changes to the original form and then unique finishes. Who would believe the dolls on page 26 began with rag doll forms.

The Head - Adding Dimension offers ideas for making faces more realistic, three dimensional and creating more complex shaping to the head. Turns and Curves explains forming a two piece head, four piece head, possible shapes for head patterns and using more curve and placement of the head in different positions for interest. Darts and Contours allows the creation of chubby cheeks, wrinkles and shaped chins. Illustrations offer many ideas for chin gussets and dart placement.

Fully Sculptural introduces armatures and built-up cloth covered faces for needle sculpting. Appliquéd Features has delightful ideas to add fabric on top of the basic form to make the face features. The color image examples puts the idea across quickly.

Beginning Needlesculpture discusses raised sculptural features by stitching the surface fabric to the inner fabric or stuffing to secure the stitching. Here is where you can make a really wrinkly ancient face or funny shaped critter face. Three categories are covered. Beginning Stitches takes you through the actual steps in stitching onto the face to needle sculpt. Page 42 has an extensive breakout of illustrations for side views and front views of features and movement of the stitch around raised areas. Page 43 has color images with close ups of these type stitches. These typical stitch patterns continue with alternative mouth, eye and cheek shapes and include more color examples. Beginning to Sculpt indicates the many uses of new materials such as paperclay and additional cloth layers to sculpt realistic faces. Pressed Cloth indicates the use of styrofoam shapes and pressing in facial features as a base for heads prior to fabric or other fiber applications.

Fabric Covered Sculpture begins with a sculpted head of polymers, plasticine clay or wax or other material and then a stiffened fabric is pressed over the head form. A method for the pressed head and for a poured solid head is explained, as well as shaping the coated fabric over the sculpted head. Blended Method gets into the nuts and bolts of anatomically correct heads and the use of layering and new materials to create lifelike forms.

Masks immediately got my attention! I definitely find this an area of interest and possibly a future project. Three methods are explained with illustrations. Color images of the 'Trickster' by Peggy Flynn with a ceramic mask, 'Gold Goddess' by Susanna Oroyan with a Super Sculpey mask mask and 'The Chess Players' by Akira Blount with needle sculpted, gesso and fabric painted masks certainly offer a diverse choice of mask creations. However, my eyes popped out when I saw 'Monkey Masks' by Andra Dunnon with paper mache masks. These masks exude character and mood that is captivating.

Painting encompasses using light and heavy body paint, application and materials. There are close-up color images of several faces with paint application as examples.

The Body - The Basic Body includes a pattern for a realistic feminine body. This pattern can be adapted to each dollmaker's specific needs. Body Contours offers a contoured pattern for more shaping. The dolls by Nancy Laverick indicate just how much the doll can be changed from an original pattern. 'The Generic Chess Knight' is one very zigzagged being. Traditional Japanese Body explains body shaping, attaching the head and positioning the body forms. Shaping the Bust includes variations in shapes. Actually, the seam contours on the pants of 'Art and Dottie' by Kate Cameron caught my eye in this article before I began to look at bust making. Page 72 includes more color images of busty figures and illustrations on page 73 show how to make undergarment forms. Hands has many illustrations and methods for posable hands. Feet are next with positions and methods.

The Puzzle Form explains creating forms that appear to have movement and yet do not necessarily have armatures. Patterns by Draping explains shaping of materials on the modeled figure and pattern attachment. Pages 86 through 95 is a gallery of inspirational work by doll artists. Each figure is individual, original and desirable. Body Joints - Decorative Joints gives details and items to use for the joints in legs, necks and arms. This section is broken into Joint Options, The Bead Joint, the Stitched Bead Joint, The Button Joint and variations. I never knew beads could be used in so many ways when making dolls.

Assemblies - Working the Wire includes wire gauges and types and then includes illustrations for each section; The Wire Armature, Inserting the Wire, Covering The Wire and Fixed Figures. A gallery section of color images follows on pages 118 through 127. Each group of gallery images include information about each specific doll.

Finishing The Figure - Techniques starts with general information on costuming and techniques and then goes to specifics of the Hair, Shoes, Bases and Embellishments.

The Appendix A - Teaching Yourself the ABC's of Dollmaking has A to Z thoughts, ideas and suggested experiments.

Appendix B - Sources lists two publishers of doll magazines and books; a list of doll artists and symbols to indicate those who sell patterns, books and teach classes and one material supplier and the bibliography.

About the Author, a list of C&T books and the Index is on the last page.

As you can see, I am sold on this book. It has everything you ever wanted to know about contemporary dollmaking. However, there are glorious inspirational color photos throughout the book that is worth purchasing the book whether you ever make a doll or not. This book goes next to my bead and fiber work area so I can get my hands on it often. Oroyan also authored Fantastic Figures - Ideas & Techniques Using the New Clays.