Jenin: Palestinians fear escalation after destructive West Bank assault
The atmosphere in the West Bank refugee camp feels like Gaza after wars with Israel, says Tom Bateman.
1970-01-01 08:00
Artist who used to collect Barbies boasts a room full of dolls worth £19,000
A Gothic artist has dedicated an entire room in her house into a "shrine" for her "creepy doll" collection, as she believes it “makes life so much more interesting and fun”. Victoria Grossman, 53, began collecting Barbie dolls in her 20s, and since watching the horror film Annabelle she “became fascinated with creepy dolls,” so began collecting and creating them – she has sold more than 400 of her handmade dolls. Victoria has spent a staggering £19,000 on her collection, which includes over 300 dolls made from “porcelain with Gothic painted features”, which she hopes people think are “haunted” – her favourite frightening figurine is a hand-painted Wednesday Addams. Victoria’s dolls typically have “mysterious eyes”, Victorian style clothes and “menacing expressions”, and despite their scary appearance her loved ones are “big fans” of her collection. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Victoria’s creations have been featured in a movie, Dementia 13, after a producer approached her at a doll convention and bought three dolls. Victoria said it was “amazing to see them on screen”. “Collecting just makes life so much more interesting and fun – I could not see a life without collecting,” Victoria told PA Real Life. “I love the hunt and love displaying them – I want to see my stuff, I want people to see them and get inspired, and maybe start a collection of whatever turns them on.” Victoria began collecting Barbie dolls in her 20s, building a collection of more than 200 figurines, but this eventually turned into a fascination with creepy dolls. She said: “One day, I saw this Gothic doll on the television, and I thought it was so different and, being an artist, I wanted to recreate the doll – so, I did, and it was great, but I didn’t think much of it. “It wasn’t until I saw Annabelle, the horror movie, in 2014, that I became fascinated with creepy dolls. “I decided to recreate her, and I put her up on eBay, and it sold for like 120 dollars to someone in Las Vegas, and then I started to collect creepy dolls.” Over time, Victoria has accumulated over 300 horrifying dolls worth approximately £19,000 ($25,000) and keeps the majority of them on display in her studio. She said: “I’m not into anything gory – I like them to look artistically creepy as if you have found them in an attic, and I want people to think they’re haunted dolls. “Most of them are porcelain with Gothic painted features like mysterious eyes, Victorian style clothes, menacing expressions.” Victoria’s loved ones are very supportive of her unusual collection, she said: “My son has grown up with it, so he doesn’t think much of it, but he loves them; he thinks they are really cool. “When people come to the house, they instantly want to see the doll room or doll shrine, and my family always want to bring their friends over to show them off. “They all love to take pictures of them, they’re big fans – it’s the same at conventions. As well as frightening dolls, Victoria also has a collection of celebrity memorabilia worth more than £78,000 ($100,000). She said: “I have Barbra Streisand’s vanity, which is gigantic and beautiful. “One of my prized possessions is Madonna’s jewellery which she wore on the Like A Virgin album cover – I have the pin that’s on her bustier and the bracelet from the inside cover. “I used to go to Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses in New York for celebrity items in my twenties and thirties.” Alongside collecting, Victoria continued making dolls, which she sells for £118 ($150) apiece online and at conventions. She explained the process: “So the base is a regular porcelain doll, and you put a base paint on them, maybe some crackling on their face to make it look old and weathered. “I often paint on top of their eyes, especially when I’m making it into a character, like Pennywise from the movie It. “I make the clothes by hand – for example, when I made Wednesday Addams, which is my favourite doll that I own, I handmade all of her clothes and stockings, braided her hair, and painted on make-up.” Victoria has sold more than 400 dolls to date and has customers all over the world. She said: “I had no idea it was such a popular thing – I started taking them to conventions, and they did really well, I made the equivalent of £500. “One of my clients has around 40 of my dolls – it’s addictive, you can’t just have one. “Most of my customers buy the dolls for their Halloween display and end up adding to their collection and become full-on collectors.” Victoria’s dolls have even been featured in a movie – she explained: “When I was at a convention, a producer came up to me and said, ‘I love your dolls, I would love to put them in a movie’, and I just thought he was kidding. “But, they later came to the house, and they bought three dolls – they starred in a movie called Dementia 13 in 2017, it was amazing to see them on screen.” Looking to the future, Victoria is hoping to extend her collection to reborn dolls – dolls which are hyperrealistic portrayals of babies. She said: “To buy reborn realistic dolls is usually over $1,000, but I’d love to sculpt one and make an entire doll out of clay – I wouldn’t treat it like a baby like some people do, though.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
Michael Rubin's July 4 'White Party' Featured Absurd Cast of Famous People
A truly wild affair.
1970-01-01 08:00
Here's why Celtics might not sign Jaylen Brown to an extension yet
Jaylen Brown is eligible for a huge contract extension this offseason. There appears to be a reason why the Boston Celtics have yet to sign him yet.The Boston Celtics almost did the impossible this past playoff run in overcoming a 3-0 deficit. However, after forcing a Game 7 in the Eastern Confe...
1970-01-01 08:00
USMNT rumors: McKennie to BVB, Balogun to Brighton, goalkeepers...
Today's USMNT rumors includeWeston McKennie being in talks with Borussia Dortmund. Folarin Balogun has been linked with Brighton butthere are uncertain futures for a couple of American goalkeepers.USMNT rumors: Weston McKennie to Borussia DortmundWeston McKennie used to play for Schalke 04,...
1970-01-01 08:00
Taylor Swift fan goes viral for nailing Eras tour choreography
Swifties attending Taylor Swift's The Eras tour are going all out, whether that be with their outfits inspired by the singer's different looks, or making Swift-themed friendship bracelets. And also learning stage choreography is all part of concert prep, like one fan who was spotted nailing the dance routine from her seat and the video has since gone viral on TikTok. In the clip posted by Aubrey (@a.n.m.44), Swift performed her song Ready For It? from her 2017 album Reputation on stage at one of her Cincinnati shows. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter And one fan in the audience was definitely ready for it (pardon the pun), judging by her dancing... Viewers noticed a small figure in the background as she danced her heart out to the track and her moves were in sync with Swift's too. @a.n.m.44 she can be my jailer #tserastour2023 #cincinnatinight1 #cincinnati #erastour #taylorswift Since sharing the video, it has received 1.7m views and 214,000 likes with people loving the fan's dedication to the dance along. One person said: "The girl in the back doing the choreo with Taylor makes this entire video." "PLS THE GIRL IN THE BACK I LOVE HER," another person wrote. A third added: "Girl in white shorts was READY for this." "The girl in the white shorts is LIVING!!!!" a fourth person replied. Someone else commented: "The girl in the back ATE," and a different commenter similarly responded: "girl in the back is SO REAL i was the only one in my section doing the dance!!!!" The dancer in the video has since identified herself as Ashley Casebolt (@Ashley_8123) who duetted the original video and put a spin on a Taylor Swift lyric: "It’s me, hi, I’m the dancer, it’s me." @ashley_8123 #duet with @aubrey It’s me, hi ?? I’m the dancer, it’s me. ?? #CincyTSTheErasTour #swifttok #taylorswift #erastour Elsewhere, pregnant Taylor Swift fan documents waters breaking at concert and Taylor Swift fans most extreme strategies to get UK tour tickets. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
'The Witcher' Season 3's weapons are full of hidden clues
Despite appearances, a sword isn't a sword isn't a sword in The Witcher. Season 3
1970-01-01 08:00
Morgan Stanley cuts oil price forecasts, sees surplus in H1 2024
Morgan Stanley on Wednesday lowered its oil price forecasts, predicting a market surplus in the first half of
1970-01-01 08:00
Tom Cruise fulfilled childhood fantasy of 'throwing train off a cliff' with ‘Mission: Impossible 7' stunt
'We always wanted to throw a train off a cliff or blow it up. It was quite spectacular'
1970-01-01 08:00
Who is Michael Rubin? Ben Affleck, Kylie Jenner, and other stars flock to billionaire's 4th of July bash
Michael Rubin holds an all-white party every year on July 4, an event that is on every major celeb's coveted list
1970-01-01 08:00
Andrew Ridgeley recalls the last time he saw George Michael before his death
Andrew Ridgeley is speaking about his longtime friend and Wham! bandmate George Michael as Netflix drops a new documentary about the successful '80s pop duo.
1970-01-01 08:00
More travelers get cozy with glamping, even amid high costs
More than 10.5 million North American households took a glamping trip in 2022, up from 9.6 million in 2021
1970-01-01 08:00
