The fog was lifting, finally. After endless rain, and much welcomed due to recent surrounding forest fires, we felt a little respite in the air. We could open the windows, put the kettle to boil and pen to paper. Mary was making a list.

Mary Shelley, natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.

They say children take after their parents, and I am sure this is not always a correct assessment. In this case and while I am not her parent, Mary has grown by my side and she has seen endless lists come out of my hands.

Shopping lists, cleaning lists, bills-to-pay lists, fabrics to purchase and patterns to write. She is well mystified by the movement of the pen and how these symbols can mean different things to different people.

I guess it’s pretty much like dolls. A doll for you might be one thing, a doll for me is an invitation to dive into a very deep world, full of seam monsters, childhood memories, heroines of my past and future, beloved authors, sensory cornucopia of delicious fabrics. And I make lists so I can come back, every now and then, to the real world. Someone has to do laundry after all.

After her wardrobe lists, which were extensive and much happy to have obliged, Mary started writing a different list. This one felt more personal, less to do with things for me to check off, but for her to accomplish.

I felt a little apprehensive of her list. Some items on there have been on some of my lists. I wondered if I had transferred some adult anguish into her little soul, but she put me at ease. These are her wishes, her most fervent dreams.

It made me feel a little better knowing she has deep yearnings. I think it makes for an interesting and driven life.

One of the items on her list was “to write a novel”. Oh dear. That old monster that has been pestering me at night for many years now. But given her name I think she will (or did?) succeed. Not any novel either. The Modern Prometheus. What a masterpiece.

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter:

Letter 1

To Mrs. Saville, England.

“St. Petersburgh, Dec. 11th, 17—.You will rejoice to hear that no disaster has accompanied the commencement of an enterprise which you have regarded with such evil forebodings. I arrived here yesterday, and my first task is to assure my dear sister of my welfare and increasing confidence in the success of my undertaking.

I am already far north of London, and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh, I feel a cold northern breeze play upon my cheeks, which braces my nerves and fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze, which has travelled from the regions towards which I am advancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy climes. Inspirited by this wind of promise, my daydreams become more fervent and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded that the pole is the seat of frost and desolation; it ever presents itself to my imagination as the region of beauty and delight.” Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelley. Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus.

I do wonder about this Little Mary, and the connection she may have to the woman that inspired her. To the woman that made her. To the person who will be so lucky to offer her a home. While I make dolls I always wonder about just so many things.

How can our thoughts, memories and feelings get so mixed in with a fibre being? How is it that embroidered eyes can transmit so much emotion, even without the help of eyebrows? Is this mysterious smile wicked and full of mischief, or friendly foe? Are those freckles absolute necessity? Yes, yes they are.

I’m pretty sure you can see by now that Miss Mary is inspired by the brilliant author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. I have been talking about her non-stop anywhere anybody would listen. Residents of this house are quite sick of me, but since I always make sure to be holding the doll while I preach, they are seduced by her beauty and their responses are mellowed. I know the game I play. I’ve been playing it for 16 years.

Every so often I make a doll where I am truly astounded. How did I make her? Did I actually? I know I did, it’s taken me this long time to do it. But somehow the finished “object” always looks much prettier, and feels more magical, than I anticipated. Even though I witnessed the birth from the wool and I worked on those eyes and those clothes, it’s as if someone else was doing it and I am just here for the ride.

This was the first image I shared of her and that was quite a while ago. You must forgive me but as you can attest, this wardrobe is a thing to behold. Let us talk a little about it so you know all the wee things that come with her.

In all fairness, the tulle petticoat was not meant to go with this dress, but most of her clothes play really well together. Something we discovered with pleasant surprise. This comfy dress is made with repurposed fabric and adds just an extra sweet touch, I find something very kind in her face, don’t you agree?

She is also a little bit of a chameleon. You put her in one outfit and she looks so young. Then you dress her in something else and boom! she’s more grown up.

I think that’s because Mary is at a very magical age, just when children start losing their deep connection to their magical childhood years and embark on the emotional rollercoaster of teenagedom.

Frankie, a doll for Mary Shelley. By Fig and Me.

I have talked about Miss Frankie before, so I won’t repeat myself here. If you want to read more about her, the story of how she met Mary and all of that, you can go here: Adventures in Cloth Doll Land.

Let’s just admire how well they look together, shall we?

Mary Shelley is a natural fiber art doll, sculpted entirely in wool with an inner armature and joints, that allow her to pose, sit and stand (with some help). She has a rotating head and can be articulated in many ways. Her doll is made of linen and wool and wears a vintage dress and silk ribbon.

Mary’s hair is made of camel fiber and is extremely long. It can be brushed and styled like normal hair. Her freckles are hand-painted and her eyes embroidered. The rosy childish glow she has is made with the help of red beeswax. Mary is 16” tall.

Mary, aside her doll, comes with the following items:

~ A pink dress, with long sleeves, made with repurposed fabric.
~ Long, white, cotton, cabled socks.
~ Lady underwear.
~ Pink velvet maryjanes (I didn’t make these).
~ Cotton and soft tulle petticoat.
~ Light grey, linen gauze underdress, with no sleeves, and embroidered detail on neckline.
~ Dark grey linen dress, with long sleeves, straight collar made of vintage lace, sleeve plackets and pintucks on the skirt.
~ Wool tweed cape with velvet ribbon applique and handmade matching fabric buttons. Cape is lined with the same linen as her dress.
~ Melton wool, light grey boots, lined, with warm soles and leather ties.
~ Wire and paper flower crown.
~ Lace bow attached to doll metal hair pin.

I know. I went a little overboard but we were having fun! Also…the more I sewed for her, the longer I got to keep her with me 😊.

Mary is looking for a loving home, where her passion for reading and writing can be indulged. She promises to help with tackling long to-do lists, if only with words of encouragement and enticing you to play so you can have a little mental reset.

Mary and Frankie’s price is $1695 USD, plus postage. This doll will ship from Portugal with tracking number. Import duties may apply and are not included in the price. Shipping quote to the US and Canada is $75 USD with Portugal’s Postal Service (this service has tracking but no insurance. If you want a different service I can ship DHL but we will need a revised quote). Other countries can be provided with shipping quotes. European residents will be charged VAT on top of price.

If you would like to bring Mary and Frankie home, we ask that you please enter your details in the form below (only if you are personally interested in bringing them home). We will leave this form open until Saturday October 19th at 5 PM Lisbon (12 PM EST, Toronto). At that time we will delete the form and pick a name at random from the list. An invoice via Paypal will be sent then, which is due upon receipt (but we allow a grace period due to different time zones). If payment is not made within 24 hours, I will choose another person from the list. Please keep communication open with me 🤗.

- FORM HAS BEEN DELETED. Mary and Frankie have found a loving home where their love for reading and writing will be kindled. Thank you so much to those that offered to bring their home. I shall have a couple more dolls available for sale before the year comes to a close.

We thank you for your kindness and support, wether that is by bringing one of my dolls home, your beautiful and encouraging comments or your attention to this corner of the world where I document my doll making adventures.

If you are entering the form to bring Mary and Frankie home, we wish you the best of luck! We shall talk soon ⭐️