Where do we even start? A whole year of handmade natural dolls, many friendships, new patterns and fresh products. Where will 2015 take us? Let's first start by going over what I did this year, shall we?
I am always afraid of calling them my most special dolls but in so many ways they truly are, for me anyways. Not only do they require incredible amounts of work, planning and creativity to create them, but I seem to be able to make like only two per year. Melina and Nouveau were the only two Mannikin dolls created this year, each one of them etched in my mind so vividly. My wish for 2015 is that I can expand the Mannikin style and maybe make a few more than two. Big wishes, big, big wishes.
Now let's go over all the dolls in the order they appeared.
So that gives us 12 figlettes, 3 babies, 2 mannikins and 1 Fig&me 14" little fella. These were a total of 18 dolls made this year, of which 8 were auctioned and the rest were made available comment-style.
Now let's go and see the custom dolls I made this year. Oh so much happy!
Wow. Did I ever go hard this year! Those were 8 custom dolls, only one spot was auctioned at the beginning of the year, and Beatrice was made from that spot. Going over all these dolls I know for a fact that the custom dolls were THE hardest, but also the most rewarding ones. I don't know what is with me, but working with customs is such a thing: bitter but sweet, hard but I love it, trying but so inspiring. My biggest wish is to be able to offer a custom spot each month next year. I know, right? I giggle to myself at the madness. I think I have a severe case of missing doll making already because I am making so many plans. Dear Lord, help me!. If my math serves me well, that's a total of 26 dolls made from my hands to yours. Some of them had bigger wardrobes, I made bedding and friends and what not. I am not even counting all the Wee Babies or the Minipocket ones I made as well, or the spa treatments and extra clothes I offered. But let's do go over all the woodworking that came out of my talented husband's hands, shall we?
His artistry leaves me speechless most of the time. He thinks I don't like his creations most of the time but I just find it so hard to articulate with proper words what I feel about what he makes. To me, his toys are the most beautiful works of art. Expertly created, playful and oh! so precious. I know I am biased.
This year also marked the appearance of two different styles of Wee Babies to the family of bunnies, deers, reindeers, bears and kittens, we now have lambs and foxes. I also designed a new pudgy baby called Rumbly Tumbly of which this little sweet one was the first one ever made.
I also created a different kind of pocket doll called Mignonette. Sadly I didn't have much time to make more of them, the dolls in the summer were very demanding, but I hope I can make many more when the weather turns the right shade of green and my hands get inspired. Please meet the Mignonettes.
And to close the year with a golden bow, we had the largest group of dolls ever available on this side of crazy: 25 cloth figs. After not making them for almost two years I went all out, not without the help of everyone around me: my husband cooking, cleaning and tending both children and our animals: ducks, chickens and a rowdy puppy. My mother, at the helm, making me endless cups of tea and bowls of porridge, sewing, making hairdos, stuffing arms, sewing buttons. My children, who graciously allowed me to work as much as I could, never said a peep, always went to Dad when they were hungry and came randomly to the studio to approve of the makings. Without them all I would have never accomplished half of what came out of my hands this year.
So there you have it. 26 dolls in all manner of shapes and sizes, 25 cloth figs, and God only knows how many Wee Babies, Rumbly Tumblies and Mini baby dolls left this corner of the world. One thing is for sure, I am dedicated to what I do. One of the many things I learned this year was how to work more effectively, how to turn inside when the time comes and spend endless hours in the world I have created for my dolls. A doll full of stories, soft music, fabric, ribbons, wool and knitting needles. A cozy corner of my home, where many, many little wool children see the light of day for the first time, and then off the go, traveling near and far to bring little pieces of my world and my life into yours.
This year was brilliant, full of unexpected events, full of dreams. Thank you for making it possible!. May 2015 brings us more challenges, more wool and linen and lace, and hopefully more smiles too. Happy holidays!
