Image copyright Tattered Rags

What was the very first doll you made, and do you still have it?

The very first doll that I made with the Tattered Rags name was a dead bride, and she was sold. If I could remember to whom, I think I'd contact them and offer to make them a new doll... that one was kind of a mess hehe!

What is it about dolls that you find so fascinating?
It's strange... I never really liked dolls much, but have been intrigued by them my whole life. I have always found myself looking at them and imagining what it is that I would change about them if I could. Which is why I think I enjoy making them so much. I dig the history of dolls, they have been around a while... since the Babylonian period. That amazes me! I like that they are frozen in time to appear how I want them to, I like that all dolls can be looked at as creepy, and the joy that they bring to the people who buy them constantly drives me to make another.

You say your interest in horror greatly influences your artwork, what is it that you find most inspirational in horror?
Everything about it... I love scary movies, creepy imagery, and gore! Creatively speaking, I think that my unrelenting desire to be different has led me to feeling quite at home in the Dark Art genre. I love beautiful things as well, but when it comes to artistic expression... I'll take more gore please!

Image copyright Tattered Rags

What do your family and friends think of your creepy dolls?

My husband couldn't be more proud of me and the creative outlet I have found in the dolls. He's the one who prodded me to start this endeavor. He'd like to see me return to sculpting, and try my hand at some smaller scale monster type dolls one of these days. My kids who are 17 and 12 think that the dolls are cool, but they like the studio doors to be closed when friends come over, and the rest of my peeps think I'm whack and have some serious deep rooted issues that come out in my dolls!

Image copyright Tattered Rags

And my favorite... the buyer wanted a beautiful bride in a white dress just perfect... then she requested that I plant a knife in the center of her flower bouquet and cover her in blood as if she'd just killed her mother- in- law. This same person later ordered a doll with an anatomically correct heart ripped out of her chest with lots of blood, which has turned into one of my very favorite dolls.

So, what does the future hold for Tattered Rags?
I can't see myself ever setting the dolls aside for long, but I am planning on expanding into several different areas. I've been having fun with water colors lately, and I'd hopefully like to one day be satisfied enough with my painting abilities to offer them for sale on my website. I always miss sculpting and would very much like to offer my collectors some creepy little clay dolls as well. I'm also in the beginning stages of bringing some other ideas I've been stewing on to life... some very cool, very gothy, and very unique handmade corset's that I plan on launching sometime in 2009. In fact I plan on trying my hand at enlarging many of the outfits you see on my dolls into people sizes! But the dolls are definitely here to stay!