Sep 28

Sep 28 Athelstan, a Natural Fiber Art Doll ready to play

Some boys seem to wake up at the break of dawn and with nothing in their belly for sustenance, they head outside at the first crack of the day. One must always follow to witness their imaginative adventures (and keep an eye less they break a leg in the process).

Natural fiber art doll Athelstan, by Fig and Me.

This little fella right here is no different. Some days he wants to go outside before I’ve even had the chance to remind him to wash his face and brush his teeth. I literally run outside with one shoe barely fastened while he is already halfway up a tree.

He likes to inspect the woodpecker holes and see if there are any branches broken from bear late night visits.

His pride and joy is when he finds scats or ‘leftovers’ from a nocturnal meal. Grinning widely he shows me with fervour only boys can muster at such sights.

Obviously if getting him to brush his teeth seems like a daily Grecian battle, don’t even get me started on the hair brushing.

He will evade a hairbrush at all costs. Hides under blankets, runs laps around you, climbs the highest branches, plays you an unwilling game of hide-and-seek.

I think he loves to be chased to be honest, and his giggles while you try to catch him will melt even the most uncooperative doll helper. So I am told. Because I love dolls so it takes very little to melt my heart when it comes to them.

Boy dolls are far and few in between in this neck of the boreal forest. I am not sure why that is but when one decides to grace my studio table with their boastful presence, I am ever so thankful.

Chasing little boys through the woods, being a helping hand climbing trees, digging in the sand for treasures…it’s all in good fun!

Luckily Athelstan also has a bit of poetic nature. After a good exploring session, he likes to lie down on the moss or atop beds of leaves and watch the clouds go by.

We count geese and we quietly observe the tree branches dance in the wind, with the chorus of little yellow leaves.

Every now and then a leaf falls on our face and it makes us giggle. Then Athelstan wants to climb the wood pile, much to the despair and constant reprimands of the resident woodworker.

We tried to be good today…but we were unsuccessful.

After all the morning play a boy works up an appetite, let me tell you. Sausages, baked beans, two fried eggs, hash-browns, several slices of thick seed bread, a cup of yoghurt with berries picked that morning and a glass of very cold milk. All gone before your very eyes.

And if you think rain or snow will stop this little dynamo, you are sorely mistaken. He puts his raincoat on and bob’s your uncle!

I hope Athelstan finds a kindred soul out there that can accompany him in his morning adventures. Someone who can be calm and quiet to appreciate nature’s poetry but who is not afraid to dig themselves into gnome holes, go chasing squirrels or thoroughly inspect hedges for nests and berries.

Someone who grins like him as he chases butterflies or blows fireweed seeds in the air. Maybe who can be an example in the morning hygiene department 😘.

Athelstan is ready to find a home of his own. He is fiber art doll made with all natural materials, except for some of his clothing.

He is a 16” doll, made with my Petite Fig pattern. He is made with Swiss doll skin, stuffed and sculpted with Canadian wool and weighted in his belly with glass beads.

His head rotates and he has a lot of movement in his arms too. He can sit and be propped, but he loves to be held.

His hair is made with Suri Alpaca locks and dollmaking mohair yarn. His eyes are embroidered and freckles hand-painted.

Athelstan wears a plaid cotton shirt, underpants and overalls with flat leather ends on the straps. The overalls open at the back for easy dressing and have reinforced inner knees to support his climbing adventures. He also has pockets both in his shirt and on the back of his overalls, you never know what he will need to carry.

He is wearing a weatherproof raincoat made of Nylon, with a hood, two pockets and metal snaps.

His crochet “rain boots” and his cosy toque are made in chunky Icelandic wool and compliment his wardrobe. He chose all the colours himself so I think he has some fashion sense!

He is an art doll for a collector 12+ years and up.

If you would like to give Athelstan a home and adopt him, you can enter your details in the form below. His price is $1565 USD and shipping to the US and Canada is $68 USD. He travels with insurance and tracking number. International homes will need a revised shipping quote.

Athelstan’s entry form will be live until Sunday October 1st at 5 PM Toronto. At said time we will delete the form and choose a family for him at random. This person will then be notified via email and a Paypal invoice will be sent. Payment is due upon receipt.

We ask PLEASE that you only enter your details if you are personally interested in bringing him home and after careful consideration of his personality, care and traveling expenses. Thank you.

Little Athelstan has found a home. Thank you to everyone that opened the doors of their home to him. If all goes well, he shall be traveling soon to his new family and spend a lifetime of exploring and play.

We hope Little Athelstan’s morning adventures have brightened your day and maybe inspired you to go and play with your dolls or go for an exploring walk.

If you are considering bringing him into your home, we deeply thank you. As you can see, doll making is my passion and I can only continue with the support of all of you.

Best of luck to the kind souls who have been ensnared by his gentle smile ❤️ We shall see you all on Sunday.