Grace is a natural fiber art doll, custom made by Fig and Me. She is finally ready to travel home. But first let me show you a bit more about her.

Grace, wearing one of her bonnets, showing off the embroidery she designed. by fig and me.

When you are writing a story, especially about a doll you make, you are bound to come to the realization that much of the creation of said doll has little to do with you, and so much more to do with the doll. When the doll in question is a budding designer and though she agrees to anything you show her, you will soon realize she is the one guiding your hands.

I have tried to express this “realization” to many of my dollmaking students, to my friends, to my newsletter readers, to my blog readers. But I guess it won’t dawn on you until you actually take the time to listen to your doll and most importantly: until you sit down to create with no expectations. We all know the hands sculpt the wool and sew the fabric, but what is behind that intent? Few of us know. The dolls know.

Grace, wearing her Liberty of London blouse and her corduroy pants, by fig and me.

Now, I am not talking about the “intention” to create a doll, replicate something you’ve seen, or create your best doll ever. I am talking about a very specific energy exchange between your hands, your heart, your memories…and the actual materials…that ends up taking the form of a doll. It’s a magical process. I keep telling you! But it’s true.

Not everyone creates this way though, I know I didn’t create like this 11 years ago, but I was guided like a blind pit-pony into the dark mine of creativity. Now, now you must think this is all nonsense and can I just go straight to the doll, please? If you did say that I would giggle.

I would giggle from recognition, knowing I was too like that. Superfluous, after the “final product”, wanting to see the whole thing finished. Yes, that energy in me still exists and perhaps it’s what keeps me going to actually finish a doll, wanting to see her finished, but I also know of this other more ethereal energy now: the one that feels like spring skies, filled with pallid light. This other energy makes me cherish the process of creation more than I could ever cherish the finished doll.

Embroidery details, doll clothing by fig and me

Embroidery details, on doll bonnet, by fig and me

Now, of course I love my dolls. I love everything about them: the shape of their hands, their expression, the way they feel, their eyes full of childish curiosity. But I love much more how they make me feel: playful, inspired, creative.

They incite my storytelling muscles and bring forth stories from unknown realms. They help me expand my sewing and knitting knowledge. They support me financially. They are constantly making me giggle. They make me appreciate time and its passing with a kinder eye. I have slowed time into doll years!

They are portals to eras of my life: I can see a doll and travel to the time I was learning to knit, to when I was reading 300 books per year to my then homeschooled children, to when I discovered a new technique.

Grace, wearing her autumnal corduroy dress, art doll by fig and me

I guess that is perhaps one of the reasons so many customers ask me to make dolls in the likeness of a family member, their children, their mother. Either to freeze them “in time” or to remember them as they must have been. Memories are beautiful don’t you think? They are slowly fading…but a doll sits there. Serving as an anchor for your memories.

Whether that love is the love of dolls, of children, of your childhood, of fiber arts, etc. the doll is there.

I hope my dolls inspire you to create, to be playful, to see life with a hopeful eye.

I know for a fact that having these wooly children around you will too soften your edges. Perhaps one day you will go by the doll, take her in your hands, squeeze her little belly, admire her clothes, knowing that I loved every single minute making them, and make you smile. That smile is the reward. Those few minutes you spend playing with her is the reward. The way it makes you feel it’s the reward. My reward already came to me as I made her and for that I am FOREVER grateful.

Grace, natural fiber art doll by fig and me.

Forever grateful to the kind human that allowed this experience to walk into my life. For having all the patience in the world as I so-painfully-slow let Grace come to me. For her complete trust of the process. For just letting me do whatever I felt like and creating a doll just for her. I do hope Grace makes her feel just the way she makes me feel: happy, hopeful, content.

Grace in her soft merino bonnet, by fig and me

Now, this time I won’t go into all the hundred and one details of her clothing. I shall describe them to Grace’s mother, my budding doll student and friend, but I just wanted to mention one more time: doesn’t Grace have great taste, especially when it comes to bonnets? I mean!

So now, while we contemplate the thought of finally sending her home, wrapping her up and making all those wee packages, we shall too take time to journal her creation and her departure. Closing one chapter. Always means I get to open another.

Thank you for reading all this, hope you leave here today feeling a little happier.