Hannah, a custom doll by fig and me
Miss Hannah is a natural fiber art doll, made with my figlette pattern, and she is finally ready to head home into the open arms of her patient mother. I am so happy I can finally start wrapping her little clothes and adding all those final touches to prepare her on her journey.
I started working on Hannah’s design process back in September 2020. You must think that is incredibly long but the truth is that my custom dolls, special custom dolls that take so many hours of my life and that are special treats for my supportive customers, take a really long time to design and bring to fruition.
Part of the issue was finding just the right fiber for Hannah’s hair. Also, for her Mom to make her mind about the skin tone that better represented the human Hannah, as this sweet little doll is inspired by a very kind human.
After many conversations back and forth, options discussed and a few tumbles buying supplies that just did not pan out, I was finally able to bring her to life.
We had to put everything on hold during the month of December, as I took a much deserved and needed break, but also because it literally took a hundred and one years to clean the mohair locks I used for her hair.
Though the process can be tedious, bordering on giving you a murderous stare towards anything fiber related, I do not regret one single minute spent opening those locks, brushing them, washing them, wefting them and then dyeing them into this gorgeous dark chocolate brown, to then be expertly sewn to a cap on her head.
It is the perfect hair for her, it gave her all the personality traits she needed on top of her gentle smile, her quiet stare, her all-knowing face.
I must confess that one of Hannah’s greatest qualities is not translated via photographs or even videos, because it’s how she feels in your arms. She is not stiff, but very alive.
Her legs move freely, her arms too and she has such a nice and shapely body that it is a treat to carry her around in your arms (much to the chagrin of the resident woodworker who cannot believe I still wander around the house with a doll on my hips…at all times).
This is part of Hannah’s second included outfit. We were going to go first with a spring affair but last minute her Mom decided to give her a coordinating wardrobe of fall tones.
I did make her an extra spring dress, you probably saw it in my Instagram stories. Once Hannah’s mom has her in her arms, then perhaps I will post more photos of that pretty dress, as it turned out quite cute!
I am honestly overjoyed at finally having the chance to make Hannah. Her mom and I discussed this doll literally ages ago, and it took a very long time for us to finally get down to it.
When you have been making dolls for so long as I have, you end up having this long-distance love relationship with many of your doll mothers, and over the years it becomes quite a pleasure and an honour to keep sending dolls their way.
You trust the dolls to their care, they know what to expect from you, and it always gives me a little giggle to imagine their joy at discovering a new body detail, an improvement in a doll pattern they know so well, or seeing my progress as a doll maker and dressmaker.
Thank you so much Heather, for giving me the chance to make your Hannah in doll form. I hope she is welcomed in your doll-loving home and that the older girls don’t give her too much of a hard time. Though it took very long to get us here, she is finally ready to be played with.
Much love,
Fabs
