There's a Dollmakers Contest in "Doll Creation" and a handdrawn contest in "Handrawns". Go and look for them.
As for the second, I haven't a clue, but it's probably got something to do with the fact that the site is expiring this year, and a lot of people are cancelling their premi. If you have any more questions about that, just read the following thread and ask them there.
http://www.thedollpalace.com/forum/d...ue-forums.html