When the summer lull comes to you full swing, and the wet grass tickles your feet, that's when you sing for peonies. Peonies, peonies, peonies every.where. Not on your feet, oh no! Not on your dress, no, no, no! Not on your…head? Oh yes, please oh maketh!, sew and gather, and fluff my peony on my head. But what should we call it, a Noemie Demay or a Sarah Bernhardt? We can call its-whatever-we-likes!.
Oh Marion, just cut to the chase, would ya? Stop gallivanting with your crazyness and tell us all about "yerself". Eager eyes (and ears) await. Yes, yes I do know I am the one supposed to write it, something about wool-filled hands not being able to properly type, but you could just *start* spilling the beans. No, not the actual beans, the tell-tell ones. Oh! would you stop it!. There is no way of trying to make her to actually sit and say something useful so I will speak *for her* now.
Miss Marion is a bit of magic. And a lot of spunk. I am not sure where she came from, she just suddenly appeared on my work table one foggy morning. I was supposed to be working non-stop on one very special custom boy, yet somehow, somewhere, the hands strayed and Marion was there. Shazam. I have been scratching my head all week trying to understand her, to follow her, to see what she means, to anticipate what she likes or needs. To no avail. She mostly came out just like that, I didn't know she liked linen, yet she suddenly was dressed in it. Or green stripes. Or big freaking gi-normeous peonies either. It all just happened. That kind of magic is rare, and one has learned to appreciate it and be thankful for the sweet moments of respite it brings. When the doll makes herself.
I like to say that my dolls speak to me, yet of course, they don't. And then they do. They speak not in a language of words, but of emotions, sentiments, yes? Certain fabrics spark memories (like, did you know the fabric used for her peony head piece-de-resistance was/is the same fabric I used on the dress of the very first figlette I ever parted with? Yup. Miss Tatjana Buttonloop herself), certain strands of wool bring me to revisit moments of creation, and then the train of thought lands on whoever received the doll at the time, and what I was doing when I sent her away. Things like that. So I call this a conversation. Albeit a tad monotonous, in perpetual thought-monologue, it is a conversation with myself. My life revisited through fabric and wool. And I love it, and I thank the dolls themselves for bringing me close to touching that piece of fabric or that yarn. Those buttons or said stripes. For allowing me to constantly walk the-path-less-travelled, which is by now pretty darn trodden on.
I won't bore you with the details of all the things Miss Mimi Marion (we just call her Mimi because she is so cutesy and little and we like to make things cutesy and purdy-sounding in this house) and I discussed. Some were surprises, others painful to acknowledge. Miss Mimi has taught me a wee lesson. One more thing to write in my doll making book. I am thankful to Mimi, and to whoever wins her heart and brings her home. I am thankful to whoever opens the doors of their home to this spur-of-the-moment creation, and allows her joy and love for peonies to infect their lives. And so without much ado, I will get down to business, I know you are waiting.
Miss Marion, a.k.a Mimi, is an 18" figlette made with swiss jersey and stuffed with canadian wool. She is a very petite-constructed doll, with lots of movement to her arms and legs. She has a sculpted face, and a wispy mohair wig. Blushed red cheeks and pretty feet. Miss Mimi wears a cotton interlock a-line dress with tulle on the sleeves and pearl snaps on front; stripe leggins with fancy elastic and a fan-tabulous linen pinafore with lined bodice, tie straps and pearl snaps on back. Her comfy shoes are made of linen canvas. She comes with two ridiculously-cute accessories: a wool purse that closes with a shell she stole from Grandma, and a gigantic peony head band. Please do not make fun of her head band because she is most proud of it. She happens to think she looks so IT when she wears it, and refuses to comb her hair or wear it any other way but over her front wisps. She is a bit particular like that. Her price is $675 USD plus postage ($35 US/Canada, International needs special quote upon country and shipping method).
If you would like to bring her home, and indulge this little lady with all things floral (and keep her away from your shell collection…), please fill the form below. Only one entry per household please, and only if you are personally interested in bringing her home. We will leave the form open until 9 PM EDT (Monday June 30th) and select a person at random to proceed to purchase.
— FORM HAS BEEN DELETED.
I wish everybody good luck in bringing this little muffin home. Hope she finds just the right corner to sit and watch things by, and hoping she keeps dusting me and all those around her with her spunky magic. We will see you all later.
** Mimi Marion has chosen a home! If all goes well she should start her journey to becoming a massive flower collector. Thank you all for your kind offerings and delightful comments. Now I must return my attention to some dollies in need of their new outfits, and two handsome fellas (if I say so myself) that are also in need of some doll making assistance. Good night!.
