Molly, From Childhood Dreams to Adulthood Doll Collection

This little doll is full of her Mom’s childhood memories. A golden spot back in time to which she can always return to in her hours of need, a soft and blurry but warm space where her young memories can bring her comfort, and her Grandparents can still hold her hand as they walk together to the fishing hole.

I do hope we all have great memories of our young lives, especially with our grandparents. Do you?

When making Molly I had to read her mother’s notes to me constantly. Not because I forgot easily about them, but because the notes themselves made me feel warm, safe, collected. They sort of transported me to her childhood, and by mere osmosis, to my own. To that sentiment of full acceptance we always feel from those older souls that love us.

I too have many memories of spending summers with either set of my own grandparents. I spent an inordinate amount of time (by today’s standards) under the cataract-riddled eyes of both of my Great-Grandmothers. Though they were almost exact opposites in personality, they always seemed to be the more welcoming humans of my fledgling storytelling voice.

Their deeply wrinkled faces gave so much input to my enacted tone of voice or my story crescendo…in a way, they were the perfect sounding board as I built worlds of my own and retreated under their busy working lap from the hard summer heat; they were always holding a knitting project, a colourful embroidered tablecloth in process or one of those magical doilies that seemed to sprung out of their hands in mere minutes. I liked to sit on the cold floor and look up through their work, mesmerized by the movement of their bony and aged, very freckled hands.

When I think about them, something Molly made me do quite often, I can recall almost instantly the smells of their rooms, their embrace, their ‘old lady’ giggles once I pushed it too far with ‘my stories’.

I think Grandparents in general, and Great-grandparents more specifically, have a very tender spot for their young descendants. It’s the last link of their heritage. That’s probably as far as they will see out into the future. They connect different eras, don’t they?

My favourite childhood pastime was hearing them talk of their own memories when they were little.

It all seemed like a movie to me, were things really that different? What a magical place and time they grew up in. Full of terrible and dangerous things, amazing adventures, tomfoolery!

I certainly tried my best to imbue Molly of the warm, sunny, brimming with kindness energy that transpired from the recollection of her mom’s childhood years.

You must know that when I embark on a custom doll creation, I like to ask many questions from my expectant “doll mothers” so I can attune myself to their vision, to the energy the doll must embody, and so I can create a doll I deeply connect with. Not just tick-off a number of boxes of pertinent requests. I am not a doll manufacturer. I am a dollmaker.

The nuance can be hard to pin-point, as sometimes life can get busy and we all lose our spot in the big scheme of things. But for me, dollmaking is a realm I inhabit, where I feel mostly like I am pulling dolls from the wool. I don’t necessarily make them… I channel them?

They spring up from a playful dance of memories and ideas, contributed by their mothers and me. They take a life of their own most certainly once I am about to dress them, and easily change their minds when confronted with button sizes or lace options.

One has to be quite cunning to convince them otherwise. A battle I lose much too often 😅.

In the process of creation, I try not to let the anxiety get to me, though it’s very hard not to. You are constantly wondering wether you are moving in the right direction, bringing the right doll to life, will she be loved?

In almost every case, I am happy to report, the dolls are very loved. They seem to connect with their mothers from the get-go and they are welcomed with open arms.

That is all a dollmaker, like me, can ask for: appreciation for the hard work, a true love for the created doll, and many years of play and enjoyment ahead.

I know most people believe that doll collectors don’t play with their dolls, and I am sure some don’t. But, for these soft and tender little dolls, you would be crazy not to play with them!

They beg to be picked up, cuddled, dressed, sat on a couch to watch a movie with you. They especially love a cozy shelf to watch the world by and sometimes they look at you with their embroidered eyes, as if they know the kind of day you’ve had.

I think of dolls as mirrors. They reflect how you are feeling, and some dolls, like Molly for example, have a way of reminding you of precious moments and immediately bring back to you that beautiful energy, that cherished memory. Who doesn’t need that every now and then? Major life hack.

And so it is, with great love and gratitude, that we now must send Miss Molly to her rightful home. Hoping she brings play and laughter and joins her Mom’s carefully curated doll collection, where she will meet many a wooly friend.

Thank you Nicole, for sharing with me so much of your early years, those memories are like pearls to me now. Your words were a balm, your photographs so wonderful, and your patience and trust priceless to me.

I hope Molly gives you back many hugs! Even though she is little, she packs a big heart.

And for those that come here for the doll specs and chit-chat. Miss Molly is a 14” Little Fig doll. You can make a similar doll using this pattern, but she is the most updated version taught via this online class.

Her overalls and hat greatly inspired my most recent doll clothing tutorial. Her fishing rod was a flash of inspiration and if you’re a longtime fig&me visitor, our dear Yukki wants one now too.

Thank you for coming to read about Molly. She makes me happy, but it’s time for her to go home. Safe travels Miss Molly 🧳.

Give me some time to finish editing a little video where you will be able to see some behind the scenes of her making.