The Mists of Creation | A New Mannikin Fiber Art Doll
Following my adventures in sculpting art dolls, using wool, armatures and needle felting techniques, has been a slow journey, I know. And every doll I make, I change something here or there so we are never quite sure where the path will eventually take us.
Nieves, a natural fiber art doll Mannikin style (wool sculpture over armature) by Fig and Me.
I remember the first time I made one of these dolls. I remember it like it was yesterday. My daughters had left home, to spend a few summer weeks at their Grandparents (back then we lived in Southern Ontario) and I had so much time to dive very deep into doll making.
I had this inkling, this “itch”, to create a doll over an armature so she would be posable. The year was 2013.
My needle felting techniques were still very much in the evolving stage, I was learning a lot about doll construction and creating patterns left, right and centre, so this felted art doll was an adventure of magnificent proportions!
Nieves, a natural fiber art doll Mannikin style (wool sculpture over armature) by Fig and Me.
As it is my usual style, I took it slowly. Letting the doll speak to me, taking breaks so my burning wrists could catch up to the madness of my heart.
Going from my then Figlette dolls (usually around 20” tall) to this tiny being felt like working on a Thumbelina-esque world. I was so determined to make tiny hands, tiny feet and tiny clothes to boot.
The result of course was Cygnet. As a doll maker supporting her family through the work of her hands, I had to part with Cygnet and it was one of the hardest things I have done. I don’t regret it one bit, but at the time it felt like ripping an arm off.
Natural fiber art doll Nieves, by Fig and Me. Sculpted entirely in wool over an armature, she is a poseable doll.
Now, this young thing has again a few adventures of mine. Like most Mannikins nowadays, she has an articulated head.
And just like Yukki, she has a sort of mix between joints and armature for her legs. She can stand very well, but she mostly needs to be propped.
Unlike Cygnet, her hair is not made of commercial wefts. Cygnet had camel hair, while Nieves has wool locks that I wefted myself, one by one, to create her luscious mane. You can watch a little reel I made of the process on Instagram.
Nieves, a needle felted fiber art doll by Fig and Me.
Miss Nieves is finished and will be looking for a home later this week. We have thoroughly enjoyed this slow-burn of creation and hope that she wins the heart of someone out there who can enjoy playing with her, letting her big blue eyes and kind expression tell them stories.
Nieves has two very pretty outfits and all we need now is to photograph her in her natural setting and share that with you. So please come back later this week to check it all out.
She will be looking for a home, as usual, via lottery or what I call “comment style”. You can find how that works over here.
Nieves, a natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.
Thank you so much for coming to see her and hope to see you soon.
