Miss Indigo and the Snow, a Natural Fiber Art Doll
I finally have some time to come and show you Miss Indigo. While I have already shown her sweet face via the socials and Patreon, I have not properly introduced this little girl.
Indigo was the last custom doll of 2022 and she is the first doll I will ship in 2023. I think she is the perfect transition between these years: a doll who somehow embodies winter but with an inner light to pave the way for the new year.
If you have been around the fig&me block, you might remember another little girl with blue hair. In these 14 years of doll making I have made but a handful of girls with blue hair, but Indigo was made inspired by her older sister Blu.
As much as I can try to make the dolls similar to each other, I actually never sculpt the same face twice. Also, the dolls are very willful and they impose their own personality as I make them. So Miss Indigo has a very distinct vibe than Blue, though they have something very much in common: innocence.
They were both born in winter, so of course my hands immediately gravitate to all things cozy.
Initially I wanted to make her beautiful leather boots, but she gave me such a look! She thought they would be too cold to play outside, she wanted something more cozy on her feet.
I don’t see why not? I replied. I got to swiftly making her a pair of lambswool booties, with reinforced soles so they keep the snow out.
Since we got invited to a Christmas soiree, I made her a pretty velvet dress with a Liberty of London square collar.
I do love traditional clothing for my wool children, but they always make it a bit more “modern”. As long as they don’t start asking me to dress them in neon and tie-dye I am happy.
We both got up bright and early, trying to catch the snow meadows before they were reclaimed by the squirrels and crows. One does not want to importune the wild life when they go about procuring sustenance in the harsh Canadian winters.
Indigo dressed herself up, with my help to close the snaps at the back of her little shirt.
Going through a confounding winter week with very mild temperatures, she decided against wearing her matching wool chenille duffle coat. Since I am no spring chicken, I wore mine. While we might make accommodations for coats, mittens are a must.
I wore my fuzzy pompom hat, she wore her fuzzy pompom ear muffs.
Our plan was to build a snowman. She asked about it a few times before, but we encountered some wardrobe issues.
The first time, she didn’t have underwear to wear. No going commando to play outside.
The second time she asked, her boots were in pieces over my workroom table. Can’t go outside with no shoes, you will freeze your toes off!
The third time, this time, while the wardrobe was on point and the weather even smiled on us, the snow threw us a curveball.
Too crunchy, too powdery. Not enough wetness to hold. Indigo was very disappointed and I felt it was all my fault.
To make her day better I started telling her The Story of the Snow Children. This is a book I used to read to my girls when they were little and they loved seeing the illustrations of the snow children playing with the little girl.
That seemed to do the trick, she changed her mind about building snowmen or ice forts and instead wanted to gently crush as much snow with her boots as possible. The sound of crunchy snow is very healing for the pouting child. I would say most nature sounds are extremely healing, for the apprehensive child or the stressed adult, so if in need: try to find nature.
After inspecting all the dried seeds, the naked branches full of cold mushrooms and noticing the squirrels were starting to get upset at us, she decided to head back inside.
Milk on the stove and a big chunk of hard chocolate went in it. While I busied myself with melting chocolate, she took her snowy boots off and grabbing the jar of mini marshmallows and the book of the Snow Children, she plopped herself on the couch.
Ready for a morning of hot chocolate kisses from this girl and adventures to be had through children’s literature I sat next to her.
The day was young and maybe we would venture out once more I thought while looking out the window; to feed the cedar waxwings or leave something for the cranky squirrels? Who knew. So many adventures to be had in wintry days.
Such is the life of a doll maker, entertaining her doll guests until they have to go home.
But first I have to show you her winter dress because she looks just too cute. Let’s hope she remembers her ear muffs are meant to warm her ears and not her chubby cheeks!
See you tomorrow.
PS. When I looked the book up to show you which one, a few more interesting titles popped up. So now I want to buy them to check them out! but the one we have is the one by Sybille von Olfers. I think you are going to like it.
