In The Doll World™, doll podcast and YouTube channel

Magazine Leader, Diana Jones, Owner of Dolls Magazine

• Host: Georgette Taylor

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A journey into the heart of the doll industry with our enthralling guest, Diana Jones, the dynamic owner of Dolls Magazine.  www.inthedollworld.com 

As a child, Diana enjoyed altering her dolls' hair, creating unique looks for each of them, Diana has since navigated through life's turns, acquiring a microbiology degree, raising seven children, and eventually taking the reins of Dolls Magazine. Her tale is a testament to the power of passion she has for what she does.

As we converse with Diana, we delve into the captivating transition of Dolls Magazine from print to digital media and navigating through the tumultuous waters of the doll industry in 2020-2021. She shares her insights on exclusive collaborations with doll artists, creating unique dolls for the magazine's ardent audience, and the thrill of interacting with industry icons like Jack Johnston.

In the concluding segments, we go under the hood of Dolls Magazine, discussing innovation, marketing, and the magazine's future trajectory. Diana imparts insightful anecdotes about the continuous evolution of doll artistry and the role marketing plays in the magazine's success. From her early days at the company to her heartwarming fangirl moments and awards, Diana's narrative is a gripping saga of aspiration and determination. Join us on this fascinating journey in the world of dolls.
#dollsmagazine #inthedollworld #georgettetaylorITDW #inthedollworldpodcast

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Speaker 1:

Hello everybody and welcome to In the Dawn World, a show spotlighting the passion and the people of the Dawn community With your host, georgia Taylor, former vice president and co-founder of Big Beautiful Dolls. Join her as she talks to fascinating Dawn artists, customizers, avid collectors, redesigners, authors and all the people in between, as they share their journeys, give us glimpses into their processes and will propel their passion and drive that help to keep the Dawn world moving and shaking. Welcome to the show, hello everybody and welcome to In the Dawn World. I'm your host, georgia Taylor, and, as always, I'm so excited to just bring you amazing guests to the show. And today we have another amazing guest. My name is Diana Jones. She is the owner of Dolls Magazine. Thank you so much, diana, for joining us today in the Dawn world.

Speaker 2:

I'm so excited to be here with you, so thank you for having me.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so welcome. I'm so excited to talk to you about Dolls Magazine and also your journey with that. So can you share a little bit about who you are, where you come from. You know what was your journey with Dolls before you even started becoming the owner of Dolls Magazine.

Speaker 2:

Sure, I have quite the varied background. This is not where I thought I would be. So as a kid I collect, you know. I wouldn't say I collected dolls. Okay, I cut their hair. I, you know. You change their outfits, you make them look the you know the way you want them to be and you put the outfits on that you want and you create little vignettes. At that time I would never have called it a vignette, but you know they have their house.

Speaker 1:

I'm sorry, I didn't know what that was.

Speaker 2:

No, and.

Speaker 2:

But you know, we had an extensive collection of blocks and I loved building homes for my dolls, and so and you know, over time, you know, as I grew up and went to college, you know, dolls stayed back at my house. The interesting thing, though, is my mom. She started actually making dolls when I at the end of my high school career and into college. So I was as, when you contacted me, I was like, oh my gosh, my mom did this and I had, and it's like I had forgotten. So I called her. She actually sent me some pictures of the dolls she had she had done and she goes. Diana, don't be impressed, she goes. I bought the bodies, I bought the heads and I bought wigs, and I put them all together and I was like don't worry, bob. And then she said to me she goes, and I think your your grandmother, she, she was a. My grandmother was a ceramics teacher, because I'm pretty sure she did porcelain dolls, and I was like oh my gosh, so I had no idea.

Speaker 2:

So you know it was so. Just by you contacting me about this, it kind of brought some stuff out of the woodwork. And then went to college, I actually got my degree in microbiology.

Speaker 1:

That I am not using Okay.

Speaker 2:

Yes, exactly, and you know, and then I had seven kids, and then you know, life just okay, let's back up.

Speaker 1:

let's back up Microbiology and seven children.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Yes, okay, well, you were busy.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I had. I had no time for much of anything, which is fine, yes. So I had this. You know my, my goal was to be a microbiologist and working in a lab, and you know, create things that way and then, as life takes you on different journeys, you end up not where you think you will. And I, actually I, we moved up to this small town, iola, wisconsin, which is where I currently reside, and my father-in-law actually owned Dolls Magazine and actually he, we started off. We had, over the course of many, many years I should have looked back when we, when he started, but we have we had Doll Reader, doll Crafter and Costuming, doll Artisan, and, and over time, all of those titles ended up, you know, kind of melding into another one, just as kind of as the market had changed and we, we actually used to run the um. I think it's the Dolls Expo that was out in DC and out on the East Coast. I think our last one was 2010.

Speaker 2:

I joined the company in 2011. I worked my way through in different areas, but I started as an editor of a totally different publication. Then, by 2014, I was the operations manager. That's when I realized I really love the company. My father-in-law wanted to retire. I approached him in 2016. I said, hey, what do you think? There was a different family member I'll just say it's a little tricky and complicated that was going to take over the company, but they really didn't want to do it. I was like, oh, I love what I do, that's. When I approached him about hey, what do you think? He was like this idea has merit. He said go ahead and push it forward.

Speaker 2:

The other person was like this is a win-win-win for everybody. Go for it, diana. Year later I acquired the company. Before that time, though, as operations manager, I was involved in all of the production of the magazines, just everything that went along with it, not as much content. When I knew I was buying the company, I was like I need to get in. There were other people that had been doing the different things. That's when I started really getting involved. I have a passion for almost anything I do. There's different things with dolls that we've done where I get so excited Different book projects we've done. The exclusive dolls we've done Every time I meet. We just got back from Modern Doll Collector's.

Speaker 1:

Convention.

Speaker 2:

Just meeting collectors and the artist.

Speaker 1:

It's such a treat.

Speaker 2:

Yes, it is. These are the best people in the world because they're just so kind and generous and just lovely, I got to say.

Speaker 1:

I really. They just want to show their work.

Speaker 2:

They just want their work to be appreciated.

Speaker 1:

I have a really soft spot for Dolls Magazine because when me and my friend Audrey created the Big, beautiful Dolls back in 1999, good, that was like forever ago we really wanted to get into Dolls Magazine because that was like a prominent magazine back then, even amongst all the other doll magazines that were out. We actually wanted to get an article written about us in Dolls Magazine. It was just like we won the lottery. It was just amazing because we were so excited that they actually acknowledged what we were doing to women trying to break into the doll industry with a plus-sized fashion doll. What is that about? I really have a soft spot for them. They just always had such great content in there too. Plus, they were the ones that was doing the Dolls.

Speaker 2:

Magazine Thousands of words of excellence.

Speaker 1:

Yes, we were nominated and we got to see our picture in the magazine. It was just great, I mean. So I really have a soft spot for Dolls Magazine because you guys, I think you've always done a really wonderful job at featuring artists and giving them a platform. I want to thank you for that.

Speaker 2:

Gosh. Yes, you know what the big our goal as a brand is to bring the collector together with the artist. You need each other, you absolutely need each other. That just brings me joy when you see oh gosh, when you saw the people at the show and they get the doll that they've been like I was coming to the show for this and the joy that it brings them, it's probably the best feeling in the world.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I was going to ask you to share some memorable stories or experiences you had while working with Dolls Magazine, but before that, I wanted to ask you a question, because you mentioned that you just enjoyed the job that you did. Were you always working with just Dolls Magazine or you're working with the other publications? And if you were, why did you enjoy that, especially since your career path was?

Speaker 2:

so different. Oh gosh, I think you know what. You could stick me in a sewer and tell me to clean it, and I'd be like, okay.

Speaker 1:

Oh, that's so great. So you just have a great, great ethic for working and participating and giving.

Speaker 2:

Right and I'm very task-oriented. So if you give me tasks to do, I just feel like I accomplished something, and I think that's why so I've always I've been working on every title, only because we have six brands. And the nice thing about having six you know, six brands in different industries is that when one is, when the economy is down in one, you can usually compensate with another. So it allows us to keep keep what we have and keep doing it well, even if you know, like, like, in a 2020, 2021, you're not able to manufacture in China the way you were With the for the dolls.

Speaker 2:

And so then people, they're like I don't have any inventory, I can't get them made. And so then it, you know, it did it put a wrench in the industry of what we're able to do. And so then you know, and that's when people are like gosh, I can't advertise, I don't have any inventory, I have nothing to sell, right, and we're like we understand we, but we're gonna be here, we're here for the long haul. But, yes, I think, anything I set my, anything that's put in front of me, I, I love to do things well, probably, hopefully, be the first to say I don't do everything well, but I, I do my best and I'm I'm just grateful for what I have you know I'm so much to be grateful for yeah.

Speaker 1:

I love that. So what I wanted to know is when did dolls magazine transition over to digital? Were you involved in that conversation as to like why you guys would do that?

Speaker 2:

Okay, so that was way before my time. I started in 2011. I know it was before that.

Speaker 2:

I'm guessing it was mid 2000s, maybe it might have been later than you know, then maybe it should have been at that point. I do know that when I started, I, like when I bought the company, I was looking at all of our brands and I'm like, okay, where do we want to be in two years, five years, ten years? And I can tell you that things are changing quicker than I ever thought they would. Digitally, you know, like, you look at, like with the artificial intelligence now, yes, like, and I'm gonna be very honest, I'm not ready, I'm not jumping on that bandwagon. I want to provide a place for writers, photographers and everyone to be able to showcase their skills and not have to worry about, you know, that artificial intelligence factor. When it comes to dolls magazine, I, I'm, I'm old school, but also I'm looking forward to the future.

Speaker 1:

So right, so how has the subscription you know, because obviously you know you a lot of your, a lot of income and stuff comes from Subscription and ads and things like that you know did it decrease a lot when you went digital opposed to you know them getting a printed magazine?

Speaker 2:

So we still have the print and we won't get rid of the print, not for any time soon. No, and I'm the kind of person too, and actually Statistics have shown that if the price is the same between a print and digital item, even the younger generations would rather have print, and I think there's so much value to it. You get the you get to.

Speaker 2:

You know it's in your, it's in your head yes, you feel like you can set it down. You can come back to it when it's in an email. I hate to say it, but how many emails do we get a day now? Thousands, it can be hundreds to thousands. I, yes, I if I told you how many unread emails I have, be like Helper, somebody help her. It's almost 10,000 emails that I have not that are unread. Well, thank you for my mind.

Speaker 1:

I appreciate that yes.

Speaker 2:

Well, and so if it's a real person, like spam, you know most of that is spam, just.

Speaker 1:

But I haven't taken the.

Speaker 2:

I haven't taken the time to delete it either, the spam. But yes, that's probably my biggest downfall is if people see my, my unread emails in my inbox, they freak out for me but I do read the email. I make sure every day that I've I've gone through every email that is a person that. Persistence pays off, but yeah. But I would say, like, as far as print goes, we're strong.

Speaker 1:

I'm very.

Speaker 2:

I'm very happy with you know where we're at.

Speaker 1:

So so, so you subscribe this kind of stay because you do still have print. Yes how do you got, how do you collaborate with, with, you know, with the doll artists and the collectors and the industry professionals like to bring unique and engaging content to the magazine.

Speaker 2:

So we work a lot with artists, obviously, because in order to feature them, they have to have to share their, their photos, their right of genius, so to speak, with us. So, and one of the things that I'm really proud that we've done is our doll exclusives. So we work with that. We partner with them to promote an exclusive doll just for our audience, and it's usually a smaller run, but we've done quite a few now. So that's that's one great partnership and it's great for the collector too, because you get. You get a, you know, one of a good, not a one of a kind, maybe a one of 30 of a kind.

Speaker 2:

Yeah yeah, and and then the other thing we've done is we've done a few books. I think my favorite book right now this was working with Anne Monday she she did the Jean Marshall yes book. She has every I think she has every single doll in outfit. That is I. That book is like one of my favorites.

Speaker 1:

It is.

Speaker 2:

It's beautiful and it tells such a great story about Jean and her friends and.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so that I have to say that that's one of the favorite, my favorite projects that we've done here. So that's, that's been exciting. And, as far as the artist, one of the things that we kind of pride ourselves in is Share your collection with us, share it with our readers. So that's one of the things we've been doing. We also like to ask our our collector survey and we like to send out surveys, asking questions. You know what you want to see as far as articles, or okay, how do you do this? And some of our future plans are working with collectors and Artists who have skills that they want to teach.

Speaker 2:

And bringing some of those yeah yeah, bringing some of those Digitally digital like training and yeah like that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, they do videos and that kind of a thing. Okay, that's really cool, that's cool.

Speaker 2:

Now how do?

Speaker 1:

you. How do you get your art? I like in the beginning I'm sure it was different, right, but how do you get your artists? Do you or do you have a pool that you just draw from, or do you also? Do some of your artists also come from people referring them to you, or or you finding somebody on you know some Social media and say, hey, we might want to feature that person. How does that work? Or is it a combination of all three?

Speaker 2:

I think it's a combination of all three. So sometimes people contact us, other times will be at a show. So at this last, at modern doll it was we met. Anomalies is the name of the company. Okay, oh my gosh, I have to say it. They're fun and we did a video with them. It's on our Facebook page, which is Facebookcom backslash dolls magazine. It's really cool what she's doing and, yeah, I would suggest you check them out. Yeah, and it's a little unique through a little. I guess the word odd is in the name for a reason, but but they're ball jointed and they're just. It's really neat what she's doing, she's and she's, she's a. Well, I guess we're all young. Yes, we are.

Speaker 1:

She's younger than I am?

Speaker 2:

Yes, she's younger than I am. She's all young. Yes, we are, yes, but so we're always looking. We're always looking for you know what's the latest? Who's got a great story, a great product, something they've created that they're proud of and that we can share.

Speaker 1:

That's pretty cool, though. So they just emit stuff to you, right? They just find out who to submit stuff to. Okay, so you guys doing any more like? Do you do any more events that are hosted by Dolls Magazine?

Speaker 2:

We have not not since 2010.

Speaker 1:

We haven't done a show.

Speaker 2:

Okay, yeah, it's been a long time and I wasn't even around for that, I don't, so I was like I should ask my father-in-law why, why that went down. It was a lot of work, yes it is.

Speaker 1:

I know that I guess that it is, that it is.

Speaker 2:

I have. I have such a high level of respect for those who are putting on, you know like. Debbie Hood, you know of Austin, bjd and UFDC and Modern Doll and all the Doll shows that are out there. Like you go, you guys rock it and we. Just one of the things we like to do is partner with the shows as well. So, in depending on where the show is at in time of year, we will actually like we went to Modern Doll a few years ago our editor went to UFDC.

Speaker 2:

We definitely we want to be a part of what other people are doing in the Doll industry to support them.

Speaker 1:

So I know, I know you've had a lot of amazing experiences and stories and stuff like that while you've been working not just well for the company, I'm sure, because, like you said, they have such diverse magazines too, it gives you opportunity to see all these different genres, right. But when you're working with Dolls Magazine, what was like? Was there an artist that you've really, really, really just wanted to meet and connect with and highlight that you got a chance to do that, and who was that? I'm not trying to call anybody out, I'm just saying I have. You know I love a lot of Doll artists. My favorite Doll artist was Byron Lars, because he really helped me start collecting Dolls. You know so. But you know you always have those fangirl moments. So what were your fangirl moments, I guess I should ask, from you, you know, working on working in Dolls Magazine?

Speaker 2:

It's like I mean Jack Johnston, oh yes, oh my gosh, yes. So, Joe, my father-in-law was a really him and Jack have been good friends for forever. And Jack came to us and asked if we could publish one of his books and I was like I'm like, yeah, so we published his book and I helped with that, you know, with the editing. And then I obviously I am no designer, I'll tell you that right now so designer put it together. But I had talked to him so much over the phone and was very excited when I found out he was coming to.

Speaker 2:

It was the International Doll and Teddy Bear Show and I think we were in. It was either in North Carolina or Orlando, I can't remember when it was, but he said he was going to come and he would stand in our booth with us and work the booth. And I was like, oh. So I would have to say that was one of those where I was so excited to meet him, just because of his history and the industry. Thank you he. Also he won our lifetime achievement award. I don't remember what year that was, but and anytime I get to meet a lifetime achievement award winner in person. So like for Dean creedy.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh Met her at the international Valentine's show. That was I. I gave her her award and then she actually had a giveaway at the show and I won one of her dolls and I was just like I, I, yes, I think that was. That was a really cool moment, to just be like, wow, I, I have a pretty creedy original and that was, I think, her last show and then retired. So that made me feel even better. No, you got you got to see her.

Speaker 2:

Right, yeah, so I think those, I think those two people are probably the ones that I was most. I mean, I'm excited when I meet anybody.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I understand that, yeah, but I mean, but it's, it is those fangirl moments, it is those moments where you just like overwhelmed but and excited at the same time. But, yes, I can't believe this is happening to me.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, yeah, exactly, exactly.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I remember we first started, when I first started the in the doll world show, I mean I had a list, of course. We had a list of who we wanted to be, you know, on the show and I cannot tell you how Excited I was when Mel Odom came on. I mean, like all the people that you like, you said a Maya and just loved their dolls. And when he said yes, I was just like I just couldn't believe it.

Speaker 2:

I was like oh, this is so amazing, you know and then I have to say that's one of my favorite interviews you've done. Oh yes, and I've talked to him a few times and I would love to meet him. Especially now that we, since we've done that book, yeah, oh yeah, it's.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, the book is fabulous. How do you guys keep up with all the you know the trends and innovations, stuff in the doll industry? Like, how does that, how does that work, for you guys is as a publisher of a doll magazine.

Speaker 2:

One of the things I always look at is Facebook. To be honest, Maybe that's cool just because you can like a lot of the artists, so our our dolls Facebook page follows you know, if a dollar just comes to our attention, we will follow them.

Speaker 2:

And so if you are a doll artist out there, like our page, because then we can follow you back. But to me, like that's where the innovation is happening is and you know it's not always easy to find, but that's why that's to me that's really a good resource is just seeing what other people are doing out there, and you know, everybody is so unique in what they create. I just like the uniqueness of everybody's creation and I think they deserve to have a voice and a place to share. Yeah, what they're doing, you know, as opposed to you're not trending, so sorry.

Speaker 1:

Feel good about that. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2:

I understand that, yes but and I think every doll, well I would say every doll artist I know, is always looking at how they can, you know, change their product, make it better. What's the next thing they can do? I have, I Met a few people who you know they're, they're creating one of the kinds and then they're like, oh my gosh, you know what I bet I could do. You know a large run of my doll now, and so it's neat to see how they progress, you know, over time, right with even how their business is working. So it's very exciting.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, how do you Look at marketing for what you do? You know, I mean, how does, how does marketing play? I know marketing plays a big role in that because you, you, you're bringing in artists and you're saying, let us feature you, but then you still have to market them because they're in your magazine, right? So what, what type of marketing do you guys do as a magazine?

Speaker 2:

so a lot of what we do is we reach out to the the doll shops so that are throughout the United States, but also so if there's a doll shop out there that watches this, please contact us about getting set up to get magazine shipped to your store. And Then the other thing is working with doll clubs.

Speaker 1:

And doll in the different doll shows.

Speaker 2:

Just because there, that's where you know if you're a doll collector your audience is right yeah. Yes, you go where people are like-minded you know, and it's.

Speaker 2:

It's a very Targeted market in all honesty, like me putting an ad for dolls magazine into US news in a world report. I don't even are any of those magazines still out there, but you do, you know what I mean. Like yeah, that was useless, you know. But so the goal is to to get the word out just by reaching out to people who, who we know, are part of that community. So yeah, that's what it looks like for us.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that definitely makes sense because, like you said, it's the market, the market is there. So, whether you, even though you have doll artists that you're featuring, you still have to be in the doll space right to tell other artists about these dolls but also give the other art, is that you're talking to an opportunity to be part of your magazine?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and then we also like, if an artist is featured, one of the things that they just need to ask. Let us know if you want, if you would like a copy of your article digitally that you can post on you know, post on your website, put out on Facebook that you can send out to the world. Please just ask and we'll provide you, you know, with whatever you need to help market you.

Speaker 1:

Now on you, when you have you have outside writers that write for, for the magazine. Yeah, two questions how big is how big is the staff? And then, how are those? Are those writers Divided into different categories to write for, or do they just bring everything to the table and then you guys sort it out? It's a really good question.

Speaker 2:

so we have some just regular contributors that have their own column like Glenn Mandeville has his own column and and I'm trying to think we have and then we just have set writers that write for us all the time, I would say, and we probably have gosh. There's probably a pool of 10 writers that we will pick from each issue. Sometimes we write in-house, you know, depending on what time looks like, Because sometimes if we get an article idea that comes in really close to deadline, it's really hard. Most writers are going to be like I need more time.

Speaker 2:

So, then we'll just be like you know what, we will write it in-house and we'll do the interviews and talk to people. It's kind of rare, but it does happen, do?

Speaker 1:

you have writers for each particular area.

Speaker 2:

Well, and the thing I can tell you is we kind of know what the writers are good at. I think that's probably the way to say it, but I'm really grateful for the writers we have, just because they have that knowledge. And, oh my gosh, I got to tell you so at Modern Doll, when it was their last banquet. We were at this table of amazing women whose doll history was so extensive, the stories they shared, that Betsy was sitting, that was sitting next to me. Oh my gosh, I was like we need to connect afterwards because I honestly think these are the people who have like this she does research on dolls, on various historical dolls, and I was like, oh my gosh, we need you know. I would love you to write an article for us.

Speaker 2:

So there's always those moments as well, like as we're, you know, meeting people at various events, where we're like holy cow, how do you know so much?

Speaker 2:

Right, you should be writing a message or something right, yeah, yeah, and so here at JP Media I've got about 20 people on staff for our six different brands. And then everybody pretty much knows Andrea. She does our advertising sales, but at least maybe the collectors don't put the artists do. And then we have a new editor, hannah. She's actually been with the company for over a year, but she trained with our last editor, joyce. Joyce was the editor for gosh, I think, since 2011. Oh, wow, okay, I know, and she just retired. She was kind of sad, it was bittersweet, you know, but Hannah, hannah has some big shoes to fill, but she's filling them great.

Speaker 1:

No, that's wonderful.

Speaker 2:

There's probably throughout the company. I bet there's eight to 10 people who work on dolls in various facets, be it from all the way from editorial to graphics to digital, and then, of course, accounting, because they're important too.

Speaker 1:

Yes, it kind of lets you know, just being a float of things.

Speaker 2:

And my employees appreciate getting paid, so that's important.

Speaker 1:

That's useful. That's useful. Yes, I think really good writers that way.

Speaker 2:

But oh gosh, yes.

Speaker 1:

Yes, you do. Yes. Let me ask you this Is there at least one future plan you could tell me about? We?

Speaker 2:

have some exclusive plans for the next year, for 2024. So I'm not going to go into who they are yet, and I'm hoping to do more book projects. Oh, okay, nice, everything is still in the works, so I can't say anything. You know what I mean.

Speaker 1:

That's why I said do you have like one? Maybe you could share with us. Just one, okay, so you have some future things coming up. Yeah, yes, you're going to be doing some more books, so that's great. I love that.

Speaker 2:

Yes, yes.

Speaker 1:

I just do believe that Doll Magazine has to like shape the future for a lot of things in the doll industry because they are connected with so many artists and people within that community. How do you envision this role now in shaping new artists and people within the doll community?

Speaker 2:

Well, my hope is that we can reach the younger generations and give them a love for collecting dolls. And I do think with a lot of the new like there's some new innovations that artists are coming up with that I think makes it a little easier maybe for somebody to get in collecting. Okay, For example, if I'm a new collector, I'm at a doll show and a doll cost $1,000. And I'm a new collector and I'm like I didn't realize dolls were $1,000. I need a price point I can get in on, especially if I'm younger. And so I think, just providing an avenue for the younger collectors to move in where it's a feasible hobby and passion and love that they can have. And as we get older and we work and make money and decide how we're going to spend it, then you can start making decisions like.

Speaker 2:

the $1,000 doll is in my budget because I put it there, but I do think a lot of. I really do want to see younger people coming in, the people who have been doing this for a while, people like maybe us and older who are still young. Yes, age is just the number, that's true. There is so much history and so much passion that they can share with that younger generation that I would love to see that bridge built. So that's something I'm passionate about.

Speaker 1:

And how do you think that is for the artists too in general? I mean like seeing younger artists create things, because there's so many different new ways to create dolls nowadays. Is that something that you think would be envision your role, I think, in being a magazine? You know, helping shaping that role too for artists, for younger artists to come in and also more diverse artists, Sure.

Speaker 2:

Yes, well, and I think where we can really play a role is being able to showcase the younger generations as they come up in their artistry. I do think that's part of the goal is, you know, I like to think that we can be all things to all people.

Speaker 2:

You know what I mean, like in the collecting world you can't please everybody all of the time, and I know there are times where why is it ball jointed and why aren't there fashion dolls and why are the reborns, and you know, and there's this whole like yeah, I want this, so I we're not going to be able to please everybody you know, but we do. We do want no-transcript, you know. Provide an opportunity for artists to be seen by the collectors.

Speaker 1:

That's how they get started, yeah that is the truth, and then you do that well, so I want to thank you so well.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, I appreciate that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, you really do, Okay. So if anybody has never heard of Dolls magazine, I know who that would be. But if they have not, how can they find out about your amazing publication?

Speaker 2:

Sure, so best, best places to start is our website, dolls magazine calm, and if you are not a subscriber, you should just go there and subscribe. It's Fairly inexpensive in my opinion, so I'll leave that there, but please, please, visit there and then also on our Facebook page. If you go to Facebook com, backslash dolls magazine. We are.

Speaker 2:

I've I've got quite a few interviews on there from the modern doll collectors Convention, and then there's a few videos that I put together. So, and I did a really, I have to say I'm I'm proud of it, but it's. It was Diana Eppner dolls, so I interviewed Casey and it was. It was a fun interview, nice, heard a little bit about what they're doing, but they have one of the convention dolls, and somebody else shared a hilarious story of Making the convention doll that you probably don't want to miss. Okay, so Facebook is the place to find that one. Yeah, and I think that one is actually on our website as well, but I, I have to say, like everybody was roaring, laughing from from the story. So, and they, I think they said they would never do a convention doll like that one.

Speaker 1:

Well, I think it's probably a story Everybody would love to hear about. So they yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I plan. My goal is with our team. I have to say I love our team is great. So Hannah and Andrea, like they're kind of the Hub of it all and they're amazing and we could. I can't do what what I do without them. But we plan on doing more video interviews and just to get the artists out there.

Speaker 1:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

In front of the collectors. I understand that cool.

Speaker 1:

Well, thank you so much, diana, for being with us on a doll wall and sharing your experience and and and and everything that goes into Making and sustaining a doll magazine, because I'm sure it is not easy to do that. But we really appreciate how long Dolls magazine has been around and we really appreciate the fact that you are at the helm and you're Making sure they continue to stay around in digital form and in print form, because I do love print. Honestly, I'm not a big reader on digital as far as magazines or anything like that. I like to have it in my hand and you know, curl up on a bear with one. So I appreciate that that is still something that you will continue to do. So, again, thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate you being a guest in the doll world with us.

Speaker 2:

You're so sweet. Thank you, it's always a pleasure to talk to you.

Speaker 1:

Oh, thank you so much, diana. Bye, guys, bye, hello everybody. Thank you so much for listening to in the Doll World. I hope you enjoyed the show. Please don't forget to share the podcast with other doll enthusiasts, such as yourself. They can find us at Facebook, instagram and Twitter at in the Doll World. The show can also be downloaded on all apps with podcasts or streamed To see videos of our interview. Please visit our in the Doll World YouTube channel and don't forget, in the Doll World is also on Alexa. Just ask Alexa to open Doll World. Did you know that you can now leave a voicemail or give us a review? We would love to hear from you or suggest a guest for the show. You can do all that by visiting wwwinthedollworldcom and, until next week, add a little play into your life by collecting a doll, sharing a doll or giving a doll a home. And again, thank you for listening to in the Doll World.

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Georgette Taylor

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