Profile of doll artist Marlene Slobin
“My very favorite thing is to embellish a doll.” – Marlene Slobin
In the timeline of her life,
doll artist Marlene Slobin came late to the craft. She lived a lifetime in her
primary career, but creativity was always a part of her personality. Now
retired, she “works” on her soft sculpture and mixed media dolls, and is a
legend for her prolific but meticulously created creations.
We first met Marlene at Fall
International Quilt Market 2012, when she created a gorgeous Kreinik doll for
our exhibit. A bundle of energy, Southern charm, and creative passion, she was
also working the Treasures of the Gypsy (doll company) booth at International
Quilt Festival. “The older I get, the more I seem to do,” Marlene says.
Marlene
retired from the world of public education in 2002. She authored two books
during that career, Making Social Studies Come Alive and Making
Social Studies Happen, With Standards, but she still found time to
concentrate on her own creative endeavors in her spare time. Even today, though
no longer in a classroom, she provides support and training to teachers in the
Houston area through the Teacher Mentor Corps.
It
wasn’t until 2000 that she discovered doll making as her creative outlet. This soon became a passion, and Marlene
took as many doll making classes as possible. With each class she began to
discover her own style. She is a good teacher and mentor to other doll
enthusiasts now, but she is toughest on herself. What excites and challenges
her with each new doll creation is the high expectations she sets for herself.
Marlene wants to improve with each creation, and it is obvious, as she creates one
marvel after another.
Marlene
has exhibited at the Arts Alliance Center at Clear Lake and the Brazosport Art
League. Her dolls have been at the Houston International Quilt Markets and
Quilt Festivals, and in fact she won the Treasures of the Gypsy Best of Show
award at this year’s festival. Her work has also been in various publications
including Art Doll Quarterly, Soft Dolls and Animals, Cloth Paper Scissors,
Doll Crafter and Costuming. This year, she won the Soft Dolls and Animals “You Did What with that
Pattern?” contest with one of her designs. She has also written articles for The Treasures of the Gypsy Challenge.
She is a member of the Texas Association of Original Doll Artists as well as
Material Girls of Houston doll club.
Marlene
husband of 48 years, Lester is her most ardent supporter. We are big fans of
partners who encourage sewing, stitching, fabric collecting, mess making, and
all the other qualities that come with creative people. We thank you, Marlene,
for sharing your doll creations with us.
To
view more of Marlene’s dolls, visit her Pinterest page at http://www.pinterest.com/
