The January 2008 issue of Soft Dolls & Animals magazine has an Interpretive Doll Challenge with a pattern by Aletha "Ike" Putney.  The due date is March 1, so I spent all day yesterday sculpting and painting her face.  This is a simple doll, with lots of opportunity for imagination.  The entries I've seen so far have been wonderful.  They are on the Yahoo group vintageclothdollmaking, as Ike is a member.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageClothdollmaking/
This is my doll "Lydia" so far.  She just needs her costuming, and hopefully that will be completed today.