Almost 14 years ago, Dolldom had the honor to host a friend's Lace doll for photography. The entry, titled "What Ever Happened to Lace?" aimed to celebrate not only the doll but the concept that her creator, Ann Sullivan, had presented to dollectors during the last decade of the 20th century. Lace, as created by Sullivan, was, already in 2012, a mythical creature that only a few dollectors were lucky to enjoy.
Fast forward to 2025 and Sullivan's Lace is ready to fulfill the dreams of many with a new version recreated by artist Joey Versaw, creator of Miss Mary doll. Dolldom sat down with Versaw recently for an interview while production of an exclusive photo portfolio was underway.
Dolldom: Tell us a bit more about your connection with Lace and her creator Ann Sullivan.
Versaw: In 1992, a new icon emerged. Ann Sullivan, a mother of four and artist, felt unfulfilled by the existing fashion dolls available, prompting her to create something unique. Thus, Lace was born. Meticulously hand-sculpted and cast in resin within her home, Lace quickly captured the hearts of many, marking the dawn of the indie fashion doll era. At that time, only one other doll, "BillyBoy*’s Mdvanii," had tapped into this burgeoning market.
Dolldom: We're talking the dawn of the independent doll artist! So how is Lace coming back to us?
Versaw: Historian and curator Eric Dupree originally contacted Ann Sullivan about her dolls and started building a website for Lace. Eric and I had been talking and becoming friendly over my Miss Mary Magpie doll and I don’t remember who threw the idea out there, whether it was me or him or us together, but we decided that it would be fitting to contact Ann and inquire about her interest in re-issuing her doll. Eric is the one who drew up the contract and got the agreement from Ann.
Dolldom: How is Lace being offered?
Versaw: Lace 2.0 is a one-of-a-kind 3D printed resin doll and extremely exclusive to only twenty pieces. I carefully studied and re-sculpted the original as best as possible and from the ground up.
Dolldom: Tell us more about this new iteration.
Versaw: This version stands about 11 ½ inches tall and will fit most fashion doll clothing like Barbie and similar size dolls. Doll is strung and has five points of articulation. Each doll is handmade and hand painted. Due to the nature of being handmade, there will be small differences in face paint and resin color as this is not a factory made doll, keeping with Lace's original concept. This is an art doll, artist-made to honor another artist. Each numbered doll comes in a Brani Mladenov illustrated box with a lace teddy, a rose choker, and 3D printed shoes. Two interchangeable wigs, supplied by Ann from her surplus of original wigs used on the Lace doll, are also included.
In this exclusive entry, Dolldom profiles the talent and vision of both Sullivan and Versaw with photos of the exquisite Lace 2.0 wearing fashions from our archives by Cindy Marut, Marirose, Juliet Whorton, Rosina Haskell, Tania, Lawrence, LizRetros, and AFD Group Atelier as well as the two gowns by Travis Kaller that her original version wore in the 2012 entry.
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